Whose Pleasure and Approval Truly Matter?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Imam Muhammad Bin Salih Al-Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

If all the people were pleased with you and Allah is not pleased with you, then indeed it will not benefit you except the Pleasure of Allah, The Mighty and Majestic, for indeed if Allah is pleased with you, He will make people become pleased with you and make their hearts incline towards you, as it has been reported in a hadith:

“Indeed, when Allah loves a servant, He calls Jibreel and says, ‘Verily, I love this person so you should love him’. Then Jibreel loves him and makes an announcement in the heavens, saying, ‘Indeed, Allah loves this person and you should love him’, so the inhabitants of the heavens love him. Then he is granted the (pleasure and acceptance) of the (people) in the earth”, just as Allah said:

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ سَيَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ وُدًّا

Verily, those who believe [in the Oneness of Allah and in His Messenger (Muhammad)] and work deeds of righteousness, the Most Beneficent (Allah) will bestow love for them (in the hearts of the believers). [Maryam. 96]

However, if a person seeks after the pleasure of the people at the expense of Allah’s displeasure, the affair will be the opposite. Allah will be angry with him and will make the people become angry with him. This is why when Mu’aawiyah became the Khaleefah, Aa’isha, may Allah be pleased with her, wrote to him, saying:

“I heard the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, say, ‘Whoever seeks the pleasure of Allah at the expense of the displeasure of the people, Allah will suffice him against the people. Whoever seeks the pleasure of people at the expense of Allah’s displeasure, Allah will leave his affair to the people”.

An Excerpt from Sharh Riyad As-Salih 1/163