Hadith #10413

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure progeny, and his noble companions.

The provided Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) emphasizes the importance of self-improvement and spiritual growth. Let us delve into the exegesis of this profound saying, exploring its key words and their meanings in light of the Quran.

The first word of significance in this Hadith is (dhillilu) "ذَلِّلُوا", which means to humble or lower oneself. This word highlights the need for humility and self-reflection in order to abandon negative habits and behaviors. The Quran repeatedly emphasizes the virtue of humility, as seen in Surah Al-Hujurat (49:13):

O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.

The next important word is (tarke al-'adat) "تَرْكِ العاداتِ", which refers to the abandonment of bad habits. This implies a conscious effort to refrain from actions that are displeasing to Allah. The Quran encourages us to leave behind evil deeds and adopt righteous behavior, as stated in Surah Al-A'raf (7:199):

Take what is given freely, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the ignorant.

The Hadith also urges us to (quduha ila fi'l al-taa'at)

قُودُوها إلى فِعْلِ الطّاعاتِ

which means to lead our souls towards acts of obedience and worship. This emphasizes the importance of actively engaging in acts of devotion and seeking closeness to Allah. Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:83):

And [recall] when We took the covenant from the Children of Israel, [enjoining upon them], 'Do not worship except Allah; and to parents do good and to relatives, orphans, and the needy. And speak to people good [words] and establish prayer and give zakah.' Then you turned away, except a few of you, and you were refusing.

Furthermore, the Hadith advises us to (hammiluha a'ba'a al-magharim) "حَمِّلُوها أعْباءَ المَغارِمِ", which means to bear the burdens of others' liabilities. This highlights the importance of compassion, empathy, and helping those in need. The Quran encourages us to support one another and alleviate the burdens of others, as mentioned in Surah Al-Balad (90:12):

And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass? It is the freeing of a slave.

In addition, the Hadith instructs us to (halluha bi fi'l al-makarim) "حَلُّوها بِفِعْلِ المَكارِمِ", which means to beautify our souls through noble deeds. This reminds us to strive for excellence and moral integrity in all aspects of our lives. The Quran emphasizes the importance of good character and noble actions in Surah Al-Qalam (68:4):

And indeed, you are of a great moral character.

Lastly, the Hadith advises us to (sunuha 'an danas al-maathim)

صُونُوها عَنْ دَنَسِ الْمَآثِمِ

which means to protect our souls from the filth of sins. This highlights the need for self-discipline and guarding ourselves against immoral actions. The Quran warns us about the consequences of sinful behavior in Surah Al-A'raf (7:33):

Say, 'My Lord has only forbidden immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed - and sin, and oppression without right, and that you associate with Allah that for which He has not sent down authority, and that you say about Allah that which you do not know.'

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) provides profound guidance for Muslims to improve themselves spiritually and morally. It emphasizes the importance of humility, abandoning bad habits, engaging in acts of obedience and worship, helping others, performing noble deeds, and avoiding sinful behavior. By following these teachings, we can strive to become better individuals and fulfill our purpose as Muslims. May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the ability to implement these teachings in our lives and attain His pleasure.