Beyond External Rules: Imam Ali’s (AS) Call for Conscience & Self-Guided Morality

Introduction

April 5th is recognised as the International Day of Conscience, highlighting the importance of an awakened moral compass in human life. In Islamic teachings, conscience plays a crucial role in guiding individuals towards righteousness and preventing them from falling into sin. The infallible Imams have emphasised that without a vigilant conscience, people are prone to errors in judgment and moral failings. Imam Ali (AS), the Commander of the Faithful, beautifully encapsulates this concept in one of his profound sayings, illustrating that internal moral awareness is far superior to external enforcement.

وَ اِعْلَمُوا أَنَّهُ مَنْ لَمْ يُعَنْ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ حَتَّى يَكُونَ لَهُ مِنْهَا وَاعِظٌ وَ زَاجِرٌ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ مِنْ غَيْرِهَا لاَ زَاجِرٌ وَ لاَ وَاعِظٌ (نهج البلاغه، ج ۱، ص ۱۲۲).

“And know that whoever does not help himself so that he has within himself a preacher and a deterrent, will have no preacher or deterrent from others.” (Nahj al-Balagha, vol. 1, p. 122)

The Relevance of This Hadith Today

This hadith underscores the necessity of conscience and internal moral awareness. Imam Ali (AS) teaches that external rules and regulations cannot fully ensure righteousness unless a person possesses an active conscience. In modern society, where ethical dilemmas arise frequently, this lesson is particularly crucial. Whether one is a youth, a parent, or a religious leader, nurturing an inner voice of morality is key to personal and social well-being.

Practical Lessons from This Hadith for Youth

1- Engage in Continuous Self-Evaluation (مراقبه)

Imam Ali (AS) highlights the importance of self-awareness by stating that one must have “a preacher and a deterrent” within. Regularly assess your actions and decisions before others critique them. This practice helps keep your conscience active and prevents moral blindness.

Practical Challenge: At the end of each day, reflect on one good and one bad action you did and think about how you can improve.

2- Choose Friends Who Awaken Your Conscience

Friends who justify your mistakes and encourage self-indulgence can silence your inner voice of morality and conscience. Surround yourself with people who guide you towards righteousness and discourage wrongdoing. A true friend acts like a mirror—just as a mirror reflects every flaw without distortion, a sincere friend reveals your shortcomings with honesty and care. They do not cover up your faults or flatter you falsely but help you become aware of your weaknesses so you can work on improving them. Such friendships are essential for moral growth, as they encourage self-reflection and push you towards becoming a better person.

Practical Challenge: Identify a friend who acts as a true mirror—someone who honestly points out your mistakes while encouraging you to improve. Try to spend more time with them and seek their advice on personal growth.

3- Be Honest with Yourself

It is easy to make excuses for one’s mistakes, but true growth comes from honest self-reflection. Recognise when you are making excuses and strive to hold yourself accountable. By confronting your flaws openly, you create the opportunity to learn from them and make lasting improvements in your character.

Practical Challenge: Write down a recent mistake and list three ways you could have handled it better.

Practical Lessons from This Hadith for Parents

1- Teach Self-Regulation Over External Control

Imam Ali (AS) warns that external enforcement alone cannot create lasting moral behaviour. While parental supervision and guidance are important, how effective is it in fostering long-term moral growth? Instead of relying solely on external control, isn’t it more beneficial to instil principles that help children develop their own internal sense of right and wrong? When children learn to regulate their actions based on an awakened conscience, their moral behaviour becomes more consistent and lasting, even when external supervision is not present. This inner control empowers them to make ethical decisions independently, preparing them for life’s challenges.

Practical Challenge: Have a discussion with your child about making ethical decisions when no one is watching.

2- Develop Their Critical Thinking Skills

Before negative influences shape your children, equip them with the ability to self-reflect and question their choices. Encourage them to critically evaluate their actions and learn from them. Research shows that critical thinking skills not only enhance decision-making but also strengthen moral reasoning, enabling children to distinguish between right and wrong more effectively. By fostering these skills early on, you are helping them develop the mental tools needed to navigate complex ethical dilemmas throughout their lives.

Practical Challenge: Ask your child to recall a time they made a mistake and discuss what they learned from it.

3- Encourage and Value Your Children’s Questions

Parents often silence their children’s questions, believing that constant inquiry is disruptive or unnecessary. However, questioning is a vital skill for awakening the conscience. By encouraging your children to ask questions, you are helping them engage in critical thinking and moral reflection, which are essential for developing a strong inner compass. Children who are taught to ask “why”, “how” and “so what” are more likely to question their actions and the actions of others, enabling them to make ethical decisions based on understanding rather than simply following rules. Instead of discouraging their curiosity, parents should value and empower this questioning ability, as it fosters an inquisitive mind and strengthens their conscience, guiding them to make choices that align with their values.

Practical Challenge: Encourage your child to ask at least one question a day about something they don’t understand or something that seems unclear to them. Create a space where they feel safe to express their curiosity and engage in meaningful discussions to explore their thoughts together.

Practical Lessons from This Hadith for Imams and Religious Leaders

1- Self-Reflection: Strengthening Your Own Conscience First

Imams and religious leaders play a crucial role in guiding others toward moral and spiritual awareness, but how can they inspire others to awaken their conscience if they neglect their own? Before calling people to self-examination and righteousness, they must first assess their own conscience with honesty and humility. A leader who lacks moral awareness or fails to practice self-reflection cannot effectively encourage others to value and strengthen their inner sense of right and wrong. By consistently engaging in مراقبه (self-evaluation) and holding themselves accountable, they set a powerful example for their followers, making their teachings more impactful and credible.

Practical Challenge: Take a few moments each day to reflect on your actions, intentions, and decisions. Ask yourself: “Am I practicing what I preach? Am I holding myself to the same moral standards I expect from others?”.

2- The Importance of Perfection in Every Action

The noble Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

“إِنَّ اللَّـهَ تَعَالَى يُحِبُّ إِذَا عَمِلَ أَحَدُكُمْ عَمَلًا أَنْ يُتْقِنَهُ.”

“Indeed, Allah Almighty loves that when any of you does an action, he should perfect it.”

This hadith emphasises the importance of excellence and precision in all actions. As leaders of the community, imams should remind their congregations, particularly during Friday sermons and other gatherings, that every task they undertake, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, should be performed with full commitment and care. When individuals approach their duties with perfection, it not only reflects their personal integrity but also demonstrates a deeper connection to their inner conscience.

Practical Challenge: Encourage the community to apply this principle by choosing one task, whether personal or professional, and performing it with exceptional attention to detail and quality. This will not only improve the outcome of that task but also help to awaken their inner sense of responsibility and moral awareness.