الأحد، 26 فبراير 2023

Is it permissible to seek fame and love to be prominent in worldly matters?

 

Is it permissible to seek fame and love to be prominent in worldly matters?
Seeking fame is blameworthy in all circumstances. The believer should be modest and humble, and he should not like to be pointed out. One of the main factors that corrupt a person’s efforts to reach his Lord is his love of fame and prominence among people, and love of leadership over them.
At-Tirmidhi (2376) narrated – and classed it as saheeh – that Ka‘b ibn Maalik said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Two hungry wolves sent against a flock of sheep cannot cause more damage to them than a man’s eagerness for wealth and prominence causes to his religious commitment.” Also classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami‘ (5620)
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) explained that the damage that eagerness for wealth and prominence causes to one’s religious commitment is no less than the damage that two hungry wolves would cause in a sheep pen, and this is quite obvious. If there is sound religious commitment, there cannot be this eagerness, because once the heart tastes the sweetness of servitude to Allah and love of Him, then there will be nothing dearer to the individual than that, and he will give it precedence over other things. In that way, Allah diverts evil deeds and shameful acts from those who are sincere to Allah alone.
End quote from Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa (10/215)
This love of prominence and fame is one of the hidden diseases of the heart that may cause great spiritual harm, but people hardly pay attention to it until after it has gone so far that it is too difficult to fix the problem and rectify the damage it has caused.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
It is often the case that people may harbour in their hearts subtle desires that could hinder attainment of love of Allah, servitude to Him and sincere devotion to Him, as Shaddaad ibn Aws said: O Arabs, the worst thing I fear for you is showing off and subtle desires. It was said to Abu Dawood as-Sijistani: What are subtle desires? He said: Love of leadership.
End quote from Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa (10/214-215)
One of the worst outcomes of love of fame and prominence, and striving for it, is for a person to seek the praise of people, whether it is deserved or not.
Ahmad (16460) narrated that Mu‘aawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: “Beware of praising one another, for it is like slaughter (i.e., fatal).” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami‘ (2674)
Al-Mannaawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
Praise leads to self-admiration and arrogance, and it is fatal like slaughter, hence it is likened to it. Al-Ghazaali (may Allah have mercy on him) said: If someone does you a favour, if he is one of those who like to be thanked and praised, then do not praise him, because part of fulfilling his rights is that you should not approve of his wrongdoing, and his seeking thanks is wrongdoing. Otherwise, you may show him gratitude so that he will continue doing good.
End quote from Fayd al-Qadeer (3/167).
Hence Ibraaheem ibn Adham said: One who loves to be known is not being sincere to Allah.
End quote from al-‘Izlah wa’l-Infiraad (p. 126)
Ibraaheem an-Nakha‘i and al-Hasan al-Basri said: It is sufficient trial for a man to be pointed out with regard to religious or worldly matters, except the one whom Allah protects.
End quote from az-Zuhd by Ibn as-Sirri (2/442).
Something similar was stated by Ibn al-Muhayreez in Tareekh Dimashq (33/18)
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Once we understand this, there can be no doubt that it is safer for a man to prefer anonymity and be humble towards his Lord, and to refrain from seeking fame and prominence, even with regard to permissible worldly matters.
Muslim (2965) narrated that ‘Aamir ibn Sa‘d said: Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqaas was with his camels when his son ‘Umar came to him and when Sa‘d saw him he said: I seek refuge with Allah from the evil of this rider. Then he dismounted and said to him: You are busy with your camels and sheep and you have left the people contending with one another for kingship? Sa‘d struck him on the chest and said: Be quiet! I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: “Allah loves the slave who is pious, independent of means and hidden from the people.”
An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“hidden from the people” refers to one who is anonymous and is focused on worship and taking care of his own affairs. End quote.
Ibn al-Jawzi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
What he meant by hidden from the people is one who is not known, because the one who is not known is usually safe.
End quote from Kashf al-Mushkil (p. 167)
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
The one who is hidden from the people is the one who does not try to be prominent and known, and he is not interested in becoming prominent before people or being pointed out, or having people talk about him. You will find him going from his house to the mosque, and from the mosque to his house, and from his house to visit his relatives and brothers, keeping a low profile.
End quote from Sharh Riyadh as-Saaliheen (p. 629)
Al-Fudayl ibn ‘Iyaad (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
If you are able not to be known, then do so. What harm will it do you if you are not known? What harm will it do you if no one praises you? What harm will it do you to be blameworthy before people if you are praiseworthy before Allah, may He be glorified and exalted?
End quote from at-Tawaadu‘ wa’l-Khumool by Abu Bakr al-Qurashi (p. 43).
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Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
If the choice is between making oneself stand out and become prominent and keeping a low profile, then in that case he should choose to keep a low profile. But if he has no choice but to make himself known, then he must do so, by spreading his knowledge among the people, setting up lessons and study circles everywhere, and giving khutbahs on Fridays, on Eid and on other occasions, for that is something that Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, loves.
End quote from Sharh Riyadh as-Saaliheen (p. 629)
Imaam Dhahabi (rahimahullaah) stated in Siyar from Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn Mahdi (rahimahullaah) from Taawoos (rahimahullaah) who said: I heard Ibraaheem Ibn Adham (rahimahullaah) saying: ”A person who loves fame cannot be truthful to Allaah’’
[Siyar A’laam Nubulaa7/393]
قال بشر بن الحارث :
لا أعلم رجلا أحب أن يعرف إلا ذهب دينه وافتضح .
۸- حلية الأولياء ٣٤٣-
Bishr bin Al-Harith said:
I do not know a man who loves to be known except that his religion is gone and he is exposed.
Hilyat ul Awliya- 343-vol. 8
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