Author: Dr. Muhammad Zia-ur-Rahman A‘zami (رحمه الله)
Chapter: One Who Seeks the Pleasure of Allah at the Cost of People’s Displeasure
«باب فى من التماس رضا الله بسخط الناس»
✿ ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Whoever seeks Allah’s pleasure despite the people’s displeasure, Allah will be pleased with him and will cause the people to be pleased with him. But whoever seeks the people’s pleasure at the cost of Allah’s displeasure, Allah will be displeased with him and will cause the people to be displeased with him.”
[Ḥasan: Ibn Ḥibbān 276]
✿ Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Whoever angers Allah to please people, Allah will be angry with him, and the one whom he tried to please will also become angry with him. But whoever pleases Allah even if it angers the people, Allah will be pleased with him and will cause the one who was angry for Allah’s sake to be pleased with him — to the point that Allah adorns his speech and actions in his own sight.”
[Ḥasan: al-Ṭabarānī in al-Kabīr 11/268]
✔ Prioritizing Allah’s pleasure over social approval is a sign of sincere faith.
✔ Those who compromise on truth for worldly approval risk losing both divine and human acceptance.
✔ When a person remains firm on truth and sincerity for Allah’s sake, Allah supports and honors him, even in the eyes of people.
✔ True success lies in pleasing Allah, not chasing validation from creation.
Chapter: One Who Seeks the Pleasure of Allah at the Cost of People’s Displeasure
«باب فى من التماس رضا الله بسخط الناس»
❖ Earning Allah’s Pleasure Even If People Are Displeased
✿ ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Whoever seeks Allah’s pleasure despite the people’s displeasure, Allah will be pleased with him and will cause the people to be pleased with him. But whoever seeks the people’s pleasure at the cost of Allah’s displeasure, Allah will be displeased with him and will cause the people to be displeased with him.”
[Ḥasan: Ibn Ḥibbān 276]
❖ When You Prioritize Allah, He Beautifies Your Life
✿ Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Whoever angers Allah to please people, Allah will be angry with him, and the one whom he tried to please will also become angry with him. But whoever pleases Allah even if it angers the people, Allah will be pleased with him and will cause the one who was angry for Allah’s sake to be pleased with him — to the point that Allah adorns his speech and actions in his own sight.”
[Ḥasan: al-Ṭabarānī in al-Kabīr 11/268]
✿ Key Lessons:
✔ Prioritizing Allah’s pleasure over social approval is a sign of sincere faith.
✔ Those who compromise on truth for worldly approval risk losing both divine and human acceptance.
✔ When a person remains firm on truth and sincerity for Allah’s sake, Allah supports and honors him, even in the eyes of people.
✔ True success lies in pleasing Allah, not chasing validation from creation.
