In this hadith, the word tadhlil means subduing.
In the area of morals, there are inconsistencies and incompatibilities in the nature of a human being (who has not undergone complete moral discipline), and the duty one has is to remove these immoderations and direct their morals towards an equilibrium. For example, one must direct their determination towards courage (shuja’ah) and not allow it to turn into the vice of recklessness (tahawwur). This is to be done firstly by identifying one’s traits, followed by planning, exercises, and discipline. Inadequate planning and hasty decision-making are ineffective and will not give favourable results.
However, there is an element that, if found, it will ignite an astounding revolution within them, and that is the elixir of Divine love. If one’s heart turns towards Almighty God, he will surpass the path of a hundred-year journey in just one night.
The Imam (a.s.) then advises us to accustom our souls to forbearance.
The meaning of forbearance is not limited to meaning not getting angry, but rather, it allows one to expand one’s capacity for patience and consideration. When one is faced with issues that anger them, aggravate their pride, or bring them futile pleasure, they must be like an ocean that calms down the roaring waves and consumes all these situations. These are qualities of good people, by which we are able to attract others towards good. As the holy Prophet (s.a.w.) has said:
إنَّكُم لَن تَسَعُوا النَّاسَ بِأَموالِكُم فَسِعُوهُم بِأَخلَاقِكُم
Verily, you will never be able to gain all people with your wealth, so win them over with your morals.
This means that while you may not have the capacity to draw all people towards loving you with your money, you have the ability to win over all or most hearts and bring them towards you through your morals.
If you are humble, if you are a truthful person, if you refrain from plotting against this or that person, if you are someone who stands firm with what you say–and these are all qualities people love– with such qualities and positive moral attributes, you are able to attract people’s hearts towards you.
;
