Question
Where can this be found? Please provide the source
‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said: “Whoever thinks that he will arrive without exertion is a wishful thinker and whoever thinks he will arrive through exertion is arrogant.”
Answer
Imam Ghazali (rahimahullah) has cited this as the statement of Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu), without a chain of transmission.
Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said: “Whoever thinks he can attain [success] without effort is merely wishful, and whoever thinks he can attain it solely through his own effort is self-reliant.”
(Ayyuhal Walad, pg. 4)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar
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التخريج من المصادر العربية
أيها الولد لمحمد الغزالي -ط. دار ابن حزم (ص: ٤)
وقال علي رضي الله عنه: من ظن أنه بدون الجهد يصل فهو متمن، ومن ظن أنه يبذل الجهد يصل فهو مستغن. (وفي بعض الطبعات: «فهو متعن» بدل «مستغن»)