Hadith #9640

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure progeny, and his noble companions.

The Arabic Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states,

طَلَبُ الثَّناءِ بِغَيْرِ اسْتِحْقاق خُرْقٌ۔

This can be translated as,

Seeking praise without deserving it is foolishness.

Let us delve into the significance of this Hadith in light of the Quran. The key words in this Hadith are (seeking) "طَلَبُ", (praise) "الثَّناءِ", (without deserving) "بِغَيْرِ اسْتِحْقاق", and (foolishness) "خُرْقٌ".

In the Quran, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) repeatedly emphasizes the importance of seeking His pleasure and not seeking the praise of others. In Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah says, (Quran 98:5)

And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion

This verse highlights the importance of sincerity in our worship and actions, seeking the pleasure of Allah rather than seeking the praise of others.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Furqan, Allah describes the characteristics of the true servants of the Most Merciful, saying, (Quran 25:63)

And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace

This verse teaches us to respond to harsh words with peace and humility, rather than seeking praise or revenge.

The Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) warns against seeking praise without deserving it. This implies that seeking praise for actions that are not worthy of praise is a form of deception and foolishness. It is important for Muslims to be sincere in their intentions and actions, seeking the pleasure of Allah alone.

Seeking praise without deserving it can have detrimental consequences. It can lead to arrogance, hypocrisy, and a loss of sincerity in our worship. When we seek praise from others, we may be tempted to compromise our values and principles, just to gain their approval. This can lead us astray from the path of righteousness and cause us to engage in actions that are displeasing to Allah.

On the other hand, when we seek the pleasure of Allah and strive to do good deeds for His sake, we are motivated by a higher purpose. Our actions become a means of drawing closer to Allah and attaining His mercy and forgiveness. We are not swayed by the opinions of others, but rather focus on pleasing our Creator.

Reflecting on this Hadith, we should strive to purify our intentions and seek the pleasure of Allah in all that we do. We should not be driven by the desire for praise or recognition from others, but rather seek the reward and approval of Allah alone. This requires self-awareness, humility, and constant self-reflection.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a reminder for Muslims to be sincere in their actions and intentions. Seeking praise without deserving it is considered foolishness, as it leads to deception and a loss of sincerity. We should strive to seek the pleasure of Allah and not be swayed by the opinions of others. May Allah guide us all to sincerity and righteousness.