for whatever He wills comes to pass, and whatever He does not will does not. If you blame them for what has not been decreed, that is a sign of your weak certainty. So do not fear them, place your hope in them, or blame them on account of your own interests and desires. Rather, whoever is praised by Allah and His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, deserves praise; and whoever is condemned by Allah and His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, deserves condemnation.
When one of the delegation of Banū Tamīm said, “O Muhammad, give me something, for my praise brings honor and my blame brings disgrace,” the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, replied, “That is true of Allah, Mighty and Majestic.”
Ā’ishah wrote to Mu‘āwiyah—and it is also reported that she attributed this to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him:
“Whoever pleases Allah by incurring people’s displeasure, Allah will spare him the burden of dealing with them. Whoever pleases people by incurring Allah’s displeasure, they will be of no avail to him against Allah.”
This is the wording of the report traced back to the Prophet. The wording of the report attributed to Ā’ishah herself is:
“Whoever pleases Allah by incurring people’s displeasure, Allah will be pleased with him and cause people to be pleased with him. Whoever pleases people by incurring Allah’s displeasure, those who praised him will come to blame him.”
This is the wording transmitted from her, and it contains some of the profoundest understanding of religion. The wording traced back to the Prophet is more accurate and more truthful. Whoever pleases Allah by incurring their displeasure has indeed feared Him and become His righteous servant. Allah takes care of the righteous, and He is sufficient for His servant:
“And whoever fears Allah—He will make for him a way out”
“And will provide for him from where he does not expect.”
Thus, Allah will undoubtedly spare him the burden of dealing with people. As for all people being pleased with him, that may not happen. Yet they will be pleased with him if they are free of personal aims and the eventual outcome becomes clear to them. Whoever pleases people by incurring Allah’s displeasure, they will be of no avail to him against Allah. He is like the wrongdoer who bites his hand, saying:
“Oh, I wish I had taken a path with the Messenger.”
“Oh, woe to me! I wish I had not taken that person as a close friend.”
As for those who praised him turning to blame him, this happens often and comes about in the end, for the final outcome belongs to righteousness. This does not happen at the outset, when their desires hold sway. And He, glorified be He, knows best.
Monotheism is the opposite of associating partners with Allah. Thus, if a servant upholds monotheism, which is Allah’s right, and worships Him