In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious the Ever Merciful…
In an authentic hadeeth collected by Imaam Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh (no.276), the Messenger of Allaah (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) said:
مَنِ الْتَمَسَ رِضَى اللَّهِ بِسَخَطِ النَّاسِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، وَأَرْضَى النَّاسَ عَنْهُ، وَمَنِ الْتَمَسَ رِضَا النَّاسِ بِسَخَطِ اللَّهِ سَخَطَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ، وَأَسْخَطَ عَلَيْهِ النَّاسَ.
“Whoever seeks the Pleasure of Allaah while angering the people will have Allaah pleased with him, who shall make the people pleased with him [anyway]. Whoever seeks to please the people while angering Allaah will have Allaah angry with him, who shall make the people angry with him [anyway].”
The great scholar, Shaykh Muhammad Amaan al-Jaamee [d.1416] (may Allaah have Mercy on him), said in his explanation of Condition #7 of The Conditions of Laa-ilaaha-ill-Allaah:
The chosen Messengers of Allaah would be referred to by extravagant and arrogant people as insane. They would call them insane, as well as liars. With everything such people would say, the Messengers would remain patient and continue in their missionary work. Some of the Prophets from the tribes of Israel were even killed by their own people. Those who call to rectification follow [the same path as] the Messengers, and thus they face [similar] harm from the people of extravagance and disbelief, and they are likewise lied upon as well.
While Allaah is fully capable of guiding all of humanity, He leaves [many of] them due to Wisdom-based reasons which only He –the Exalted and Most High- knows. To Him belongs all praise as it relates to all things He has decreed. He is the most deserving of praise in all situations; He is praised throughout all affairs, the ones we like as well as those we do not.
When callers to the Truth are harmed they should remember how the people of the past treated the Messengers. Any caller who attempts to be loved by all the people, despite their varying social levels, agendas, affiliations, and groups is merely a person of [compromising] mutual flattery. A caller who tries to please all the people and not upset anyone from the various sects, parties, groups, and trends of thought is merely a mutually flattering hypocrite. There is no doubt about that, since pleasing everyone is impossible, just as Imaam ash-Shaafi’ee –may Allaah have Mercy on him- said:
“رِضَا النَّاسِ غَايَةٌ لَا تُدْرَكُ.”
“Pleasing everyone is an unreachable goal.”Pleasing all the people is not a goal we could hope for. Meanwhile, pleasing Allaah is a real goal that can be attained, something we are able to seek, for those whom Allaah grants success to and leads them to what pleases Him. A caller must keep this in mind throughout his work in the field of da’wah. Someone who is incapable of this should simply stay home!
Arabic source: Sharh Al-Usool ath-Thalaathah wa Mukammilaatihaa (pp.385-386), Daar Ibn Rajab in al-Madeenah, KSA, 1st printing, 1435.
Translation by: Moosaa Richardson
SubhānAllāh! What immense & powerful words from Imām Muhammad Amān al-Jāmi. What a mountain! Rahimahullāh. JazākAllāhu khayr Ustādh Moosaa for sharing such tremendous articles & benefits.
Assalamou alaikoum
Can we please have the arabic source ?
JazākAllāhu khayr
Wa ‘alaykas-salaamu wa rahmatullaah. It is mentioned above: the shaykh’s explanation of the Conditions of Laa-ilaaha-ill-Allaah. Since it was not a precise reference, I add more specifically: Near the beginning of his discussion of the seventh condition (qabool). Page 385-386 of the printed “Sharh Usool ath-Thalaathah wa Mukammilaatihaa” (Daar Ibn Rajab’s first printing, 1435). Wa jazakaak khayran!
Assalaamu alaik.
family are giving their so-called da’wah which is not the correct way (Yusuf Estes)
What shall I do?
Assalaamu’alaykum wa raHmatullaahi was barakaatuhu..
Ustaadh, is it correct to say that nobody, even the companions themselves were not free of hypocrisy in actions?
Wa ‘alayk as-salaamu wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh. The Companions are only mentioned with terms of honor and respect, as an essential matter of Creed. We don’t believe they were perfect, nor were they protected from error or sin. But we say about them: radhiyAllaahu anhum, They were the best generation of Muslims who we seek to pattern ourselves after.
Assalamualaikum.
لا إله إلا الله،
Is explained as :
لا معبود بحق إلا الله
And also
لا معبود حق إلا الله
I look for “haqqun” and “bi haqqin” in the dictionary, and I find many meanings (though close to one another in general).
My question is which meaning is chosen for above meaning of the kalimah, and what will the kalimah hence translate verbatimly in either cases.
جزاك الله خيرا
Wa ‘alayk as-salaamu wa rahmatullaah. It means by right, or deserving. Meaning: There really do exist things that are worshipped besides Allaah, yet none of them rightfully deserve such worship.
As salamu alaika wa rahmatuallahi wa barakatu, Is their any ruling about having a pinata in shape of ball for a children Activies ?
Wa ‘alaykum as-Salaamu wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh. In my culture, I know that a decoratively wrapped up a gift placed under a tree, for example, is an imitation of Christian practices, known to be clearly impermissible in my culture, no doubt about it. However, I do not know the culture surrounding the pinata enough to answer this question. May Allah bless you!