One might receive excessive praise from people, which pleases | Ask A Muslim

One might receive excessive praise from people, which pleases him and he doesn't disapprove of it.

He thinks to himself that people's excessive reverence of him is a way to bring people to love his da'wah.

This way of thinking - in addition to opening the door to corrupting one's intention - has terrible consequences:

1. It was narrated that Zain Al-Abideen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Whoever praises you for a [good] quality which you don't really possess, will be quick to slander you for a [bad] quality that you don't really possess".

So whoever made you happy with his excessive praise, will be quick to sadden you by his excessive slandering, because those who shower people with excessive praise change their stances very quickly.


2. People becoming attached to you as a person turn them from being brothers who advise you when you make a mistake, to being blind followers who don't distinguish between what you do right and what you do wrong; so you carry their sins on top of yours - if you were to lead them to misguidance.


Thus, we must always encourage one another to side with the truth wherever it may be, and to adhere to the principle:

The truth is not known through men, rather know the truth to know who is upon; not to turn a blind eye to people's excessive praise no matter how much our own selves trick us into thinking that this excessive praise supports our Da'wah.


For the good lies in following the Sunnah*, and evil lies in making up excuses to please oneself.

And Allah [alone] is the One who grants success.
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*Abu Ma'mar reported that a person lauded a ruler amongst the rulers and Miqdad began to throw dust upon him and he said:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) commanded us that we should throw dust upon the faces of those who shower too much praise.