As for freeing yourself from people’s praise and commendation, this becomes easy once you realise that no one’s praise can truly benefit you and adorn you, nor can anyone’s blame truly harm you and disgrace you, except Allah alone. A Bedouin once said to the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—“My praise is an adornment and my censure is a disgrace.” He replied, “That is Allah.” (1)

So turn away from the praise of those whose praise cannot beautify you, and from the blame of those whose blame cannot mar you. Aspire instead to the praise of the One whose praise is pure adornment and whose blame is unmitigated disgrace.

You will never achieve this except through patience and certitude. If you lose patience and certitude, you are like a man who sets out to cross the sea without a ship.

Allah the Exalted says: “So be patient, for the promise of Allah is true, and let not those who lack certainty make you impatient.” (30:60)

And He says: “And We appointed from among them leaders who guided by Our command when they were patient and had sure faith in Our signs.” (32:24)

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Each person’s delight is proportionate to the stature of his soul, the loftiness of his aspiration, and the nobility of his character.

The most noble of people, the loftiest in aspiration and highest in rank, find their delight in knowing Allah, loving Him, yearning to meet Him, and courting His nearness through what He loves and approves. Their pleasure lies in turning to Him and fixing all their ambition upon Him.

Below that are levels known only to Allah, descending all the way to those whose delight is in the basest things—filth, indecencies, and every vile word, deed, and occupation. Were they offered that which delights the first group, their souls would refuse to accept it or even look at it; indeed, they might feel pain from it, just as