In Pursuit of Allah's Pleasure

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Who are you trying to please in your life? Whose approval are you trying to get by the things that you do in your life-- the way you live your life, the habits, the tendencies, the way you act, etc. Who are you trying to impress?

The Izza (honor, dignity) of a Muslim is Islam. If you are trying to gain dignity from any other source, you will not get it and you will go astray.

Allah's beloved Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) stated in a hadith that Allah's Pleasure must always be held above people's pleasure:

Whoever seeks Allah's Pleasure at the expense of people's displeasure, will win Allah's Pleasure and Allah will cause people to be pleased with him. And whoever seeks to please people at the expense of Allah's Displeasure, will win the Displeasure of Allah and Allah will cause people to be displeased with him.

(Narrated by Ibn Hibban in his Saheeh)

The greatest honor and gratification people can ever attain is Allah's good pleasure. Allah makes His servants pleased with Him through the multitude of blessings He bestows on them. In a verse of the Qur'an, the reward for believers who are pleased with Allah, and with whom Allah is pleased, is related as follows:

قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّـهِ رَ‌بِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿١٦٢

Their reward with Allah will be gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them and they with Him. That is for whoever has feared his Lord. (8)

[Qur'an, al-Bayyinah 98:8]

قُلْ إِنِّي أُمِرْ‌تُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ اللَّـهَ مُخْلِصًا لَّهُ الدِّينَ ﴿١١﴾ وَأُمِرْ‌تُ لِأَنْ أَكُونَ أَوَّلَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ﴿١٢﴾ قُلْ إِنِّي أَخَافُ إِنْ عَصَيْتُ رَ‌بِّي عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ ﴿١٣﴾ قُلِ اللَّـهَ أَعْبُدُ مُخْلِصًا لَّهُ دِينِي ﴿١٤

Say, [O Muhammad], "Indeed, I have been commanded to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion. (11) And I have been commanded to be the first [among you] of the Muslims." (12) Say, "Indeed I fear, if I should disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous Day." (13) Say, "Allah [alone] do I worship, sincere to Him in my religion, (14)

[Qur'an, az-Zumar 39:11]

Once having grasped the extent of Allah's infinite might, to forget His existence and remain heedless is merely to delude oneself. What Allah demands from human beings is that they seek to earn His good pleasure as their sole priority in life.

Since it is Allah Who created man, provided him his sustenance and all other such blessings, and Who promised him eternal life, it would be an act of ingratitude fora person to seek the pleasure of others, or the gratification of his own self, as his primary aim. The punishment for such ungratefulness is eternal Hellfire.

There are two choices a person can make; he can either find his life on Allah's good pleasure, and thus earn the reward of His Paradise, or choose the path that leads to Hell. A third option is not available for him. This is clearly expressed in the following verse:

أَفَمَنْ أَسَّسَ بُنْيَانَهُ عَلَىٰ تَقْوَىٰ مِنَ اللَّـهِ وَرِ‌ضْوَانٍ خَيْرٌ‌ أَم مَّنْ أَسَّسَ بُنْيَانَهُ عَلَىٰ شَفَا جُرُ‌فٍ هَارٍ‌ فَانْهَارَ‌ بِهِ فِي نَارِ‌ جَهَنَّمَ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿١٠٩﴾

Then is one who laid the foundation of his building on righteousness [with fear] from Allah and [seeking] His approval better or one who laid the foundation of his building on the edge of a bank about to collapse, so it collapsed with him into the fire of Hell? And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people. (109)

[Qur'an, at-Tawba 9:109]

Those values praised in the Qur'an are those founded on purely that which achieves Allah's pleasure.

Allah's good pleasure is not only earned solely by performing certain acts of worship at definite times. Allah's good pleasure is also earned by conducting oneself correctly throughout one's lifetime. The following verse informs us that a believer's entire life must be oriented towards a single goal:

قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّـهِ رَ‌بِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿١٦٢

Say: "My prayer and my rites, my living and my dying, are for Allah alone, the Lord of all the worlds."

[Qur'an, al-An'am 6:162]

Allah has told us everything we need to know in order to please Him and earn Paradise in the Qur'an. All we need to do is follow the teachings of the Qur'an and its explanations and manifestations in the Prophetic Sunnah.

هَـٰذَا بَيَانٌ لِّلنَّاسِ وَهُدًى وَمَوْعِظَةٌ لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿١٣٨﴾ وَلَا تَهِنُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَنتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١٣٩

This [Qur'an] is a clear statement to [all] the people and a guidance and instruction for those conscious of Allah. (138) So do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true] believers. (139)

[Qur'an, AleImran 3:138-139]

Among the many things which we can do to please Allah, there are some which He especially highlights as things He loves and things He doesn’t love. One of the most powerful ways of earning Allah’s pleasure is to do the things He loves and avoid at all costs the things He hates. Therefore let us look at some of these things.

Things Allah Loves

1- Gratitude

To Allah

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا لُقْمَانَ الْحِكْمَةَ أَنِ اشْكُرْ‌ لِلَّـهِ ۚ وَمَن يَشْكُرْ‌ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ‌ لِنَفْسِهِ ۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ‌ فَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ ﴿١٢

..."Be grateful to Allah." And whoever is grateful is grateful for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever denies [His favor] - then indeed, Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy. (12)

{Qur'an, Luqman 31:12]

To Your Parents and Excellent Treatment Towards Them

وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍ وَفِصَالُهُ فِي عَامَيْنِ أَنِ اشْكُرْ‌ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ‌ ﴿١٤

And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination.

[Qur'an, Luqman 31:14]

وَقَضَىٰ رَ‌بُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلْوَ‌ٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـٰنًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلْكِبَرَ‌ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْ‌هُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِ‌يمًا ﴿٢٣

And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, excellent treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. (23)

[Qur'an, Al-Isra' 17:23]

Be extremely careful not to do anything to cause your parents to be angry towards you or make them weep because of you.

Narrated Anas ibn Malik, that Prophet (Alla bless him and grant him peace) says, "Whoever has pleased his parents, he has pleased Allah and whoever has angered his parents, he has angered Allah."

2- Patience

وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ

And Allah loves as-Sâbirun (the patient).

[Qur'an, AleImran 3:146]

Patience is a quality needed in every aspect of our lives. It is needed in obeying Allah’s commands and staying away from evil when we’re most tempted. It is needed in adversity, and it is needed in prosperity – in order to control ourselves from indulging in excesses. Therefore, it is a highly praiseworthy quality and one that Allah Himself says that He loves.

3- Self-sacrifice

It is valid only if the person does not expect anything for it in return, but rather only to attain Allah's good pleasure. It is related in the Qur'an that believers conduct themselves correctly only to seek Allah's Noble countenance.

وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ مِسْكِينًا وَيَتِيمًا وَأَسِيرً‌ا ﴿٨﴾ إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّـهِ لَا نُرِ‌يدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَاءً وَلَا شُكُورً‌ا ﴿٩

And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive, (8) [Saying], "We feed you only for the countenance of Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude. (9)

[Qur'an, Al-Insan: 8-9)

4- Justice

ا ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ

For Allah loves those who are fair (and just).

[Qur'an, Al-Hujurat 49:9]

Allah Himself is The Just, and He loves those who do justice towards others.

5- Tawakkul

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُتَوَكِّلِينَ

Certainly, Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him).

[Qur'an, AleImran 3:159]

One of Allah’s names is Al Wakeel, and we acknowledge that by putting our trust in Him.

6- Gentleness

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said,

إِنَّ اللَّهَ رَفِيقٌ يُحِبُّ الرِّفْقَ وَيُعْطِي عَلَيْهِ مَا لاَ يُعْطِي عَلَى الْعُنْفِ

Allah is Gentle and loves gentleness, and He grants reward for it that He does not grant for harshness.

[ibn Majah]

7- Repentance

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلتَّوَّٲبِينَ

Truly, Allah loves those who turn unto him in repentance.

[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:222]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said,

If you were not to commit sins, Allah would have swept you out of existence and would have replaced you by another people who have committed sin, and then asked forgiveness from Allah, and He would have granted them pardon.

[Sahih Muslim]

8- Prayer at its proper time

Narrated Al-Walid bin ‘Aizar:

I heard Abi `Amr ‘Ash-Shaibani saying, “The owner of this house.” he pointed to `Abdullah’s house, “said, I asked the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) ‘Which deed is loved most by Allah?” He replied, ‘To offer prayers at their early (very first) stated times.’ ” `Abdullah asked, “What is the next (in goodness)?” The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “To be good and dutiful to one’s parents,” `Abdullah asked, “What is the next (in goodness)?” The Prophet said, To participate in Jihad for Allah’s Cause.” [Bukhari]

Things Allah Doesn’t Love

1- Extravagance/Wasteful

Islam encourages moderation in every matter. Allah said,

ۚ كُلُوا مِن ثَمَرِهِ إِذَا أَثْمَرَ وَآتُوا حَقَّهُ يَوْمَ حَصَادِهِ ۖ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوا ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ

. . . Eat of [each of] its fruit when it yields and give its due [zakah] on the day of its harvest. And be not excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess.

[Qur'an, An-Aam 6:141]

2- Pride and Arrogance

إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْتَكْبِرِ‌ينَ ﴿٢٣ ...

... Indeed, He loves not the arrogant (proud).

[Qur'an, Al Nahl 16:23]

إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ‌ ﴿١٨ ...

...Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful. (18) [Qur'an, Luqman 31:18]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, ‘No one who has an atom’s weight of pride in his heart will enter the Garden.’ [Sahih Muslim]

Allah Himself is Al Mutakabbir. Istikbar in human beings is akin to competing with Allah in His attribute. That’s why Allah said in a hadith Qudsi: Pride is my cloak and majesty is my lower garment, and I shall throw him who view with me regarding one of them into Hell. [Abu Dawud]

3- Transgression

Transgressing the boundaries which Allah has set for us is harmful for ourselves and others around us.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُحَرِّمُوا طَيِّبَاتِ مَا أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَلَا تَعْتَدُوا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ

O you who have believed, do not prohibit the good things which Allah has made lawful to you and do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors.

[Qur'an, Al_Ma'idah 5:87]

4- Dhulm (Oppresion)

Dhulm can be done to other people or to our own selves. Transgressing the limits set by Allah amounts to oppressing ourselves.

وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ فَيُوَفِّيهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ

But as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He will give them in full their rewards, and Allah does not like the wrongdoers.

[Qur'an, AleImran 3:57]

5- Obscenity

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said,

إِنَّ اَللَّهَ يُبْغِضُ اَلْفَاحِشَ اَلْبَذِيءَ

Allah hates the profligate and the obscene.

[Tirmidhi]

This is manifested in the life of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace)– he never for once used any kind of obscene language or behavior in his whole life.

6- Khiyanah (Treachery)

Allah said in the Quran:

وَلَا تُجَادِلْ عَنِ الَّذِينَ يَخْتَانُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ خَوَّانًا أَثِيمًا

And do not argue on behalf of those who deceive themselves. Indeed, Allah loves not one who is a habitually sinful deceiver.

[Qur'an, An-Nisaa 4:107]

Also,

وَإِمَّا تَخَافَنَّ مِن قَوْمٍ خِيَانَةً فَانبِذْ إِلَيْهِمْ عَلَىٰ سَوَاءٍ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْخَائِنِينَ

If you [have reason to] fear from a people betrayal, throw [their treaty] back to them, [putting you] on equal terms. Indeed, Allah does not like traitors.

[Qur'an, Al-Anfal 8:58]

If you look closely at the above examples of things which Allah loves and doesn’t like, you will notice that all of them are things which are of benefit to us, and harmful to us, respectively. Allah loves the best for us and doesn’t like it that we harm ourselves. Thus it is manifest how much Allah loves us.

May Allah grant us deeds that are pleasing to Him and protect us from those deeds that cause Him displeasure. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.

Wassalaam