Friday 26 July 2013

Praise


Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem


Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi 'alayh)



It is mentioned in the Hadith: “When a true Believer is praised, he increases in his level of Imaan.”[1]


The person who is a Kaamil Mu`min understands that everything is a gift from Allah Ta’ala. Allah Ta’ala conceals sins and weaknesses and puts into the hearts of people, ‘Husne zan’ (good opinion).


In fact, this Husne zan or Thana-e-khalq[2] is one of the commentaries of the Masnoon Dua, where we ask for, ‘Hasana fid dunya’[3].

رَبَّنَاۤ اٰتِنَا فِى الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَّفِى الْاٰخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَّقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

 “Our Lord and Sustainer, grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and save us from the torment of the fire.”


What needs to be understood is that the person who is ‘Qaabil’ (efficient and hard-working) is not necessarily ‘Maqbool’ (accepted).


Maulana Sayyid Sulayman Nadwi (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) used to say:


‘Whether we live like this or whether we live like that,
What is left to be seen is how our stay there will be
(i.e. the Hereafter).’


So when someone praises us, we must not allow that to inflate our egos. Let it inflate our Imaan.


Recognize Allah Ta’ala’s Sifat of Sattaar (The One who conceals). Look at His great Mercy and Kindness… that He conceals our many, many weaknesses and sins. This will increase our Imaan and love for Allah Ta’ala because we see how loving, caring, compassionate and tolerant Allah Ta’ala is.


The nature of man is such, that he picks up weaknesses of people to broadcast them. People search for weaknesses in others and hasten to broadcast, circulate and publish. Newspapers and radio stations clamour to broadcast the vices and failings of others. They want the rights to publish. Look at Allah Ta’ala’s favour upon us - He conceals. سُبْحَانَ الله


When praised, we should make Dua: “O Allah, this is the good opinion of these good people. Make me as per their opinion, and even better than their opinion.”



[1] Mustadrak lik Haakim
[2] Thana-e-Khalq : Praise of creation.
[3] ‘Hasana fid Dunya’ : The good of this world.