Where should one seek true honour?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Allah, The Most High, said:

مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلۡعِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡعِزَّةُ جَمِيعًاۚ

Whosoever desires honour, then to Allah belong all honour. To Him ascend (all) the goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it (the goodly words i.e. the goodly words are not accepted by Allah unless and until they are followed by good deeds), but those who plot evils, theirs will be severe torment. And the plotting of such will perish. [Surah Al-Faatir. Aayah 10]

مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْعِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ جَمِيعًا

Whosoever desires honour then to Allah belong all honour, power and glory]- Meaning, let him seek it through sincere obedience to Allah because he will not find it except through obedience to Allah. Some of the pious predecessors used to supplicate:

اللهم اعزني بطاعتك ولا تذلني بمعصيتك

O Allah! Grant me honour through obedience to you and do not humiliate me through disobedience to you].

Therefore, whoever seeks honour, let him seek it through sincere obedience to Allah through by good speech and righteous deeds.

An Excerpt from Bada’i at-Tafsir Al-Jami Limaa Fassarahu Al-Imam Ibnul Qayyim 2/346-347