The question being posed in our post today may make many to ponder deeply, while some may discard it for the obvious answer. Yes, we know the answer, but have we ever came across situations when love of the world overtakes the love for the Lord of the worlds?
Let’s explore this through the Torah, the Bible, and the Qur’an, showing that the Divine message across revelations has always been consistent: True success lies in pleasing God, not people. We will first give some references from all the Divine Scriptures about who alone is to be pleased and then will give some examples when prophets and men have to take firm decision to follow one path only:
Torah (Old Testament)
It is said in Deuteronomy 5:33
“You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may go well with you.”
Here Torah emphasizes walking in the ways of the Lord, not in the ways of men. Success and peace depend on obeying God alone.
The Bible (New Testament)
Jesus (ʿĪsā عليه السلام) taught the same truth as mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew 6:19–20:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth... but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”
That is focus on eternal reward, not temporary approval. Pleasing God brings everlasting peace; pleasing people is fleeting.
The Qur’an
Since I am a Muslim, I will quote a few verses that direct a man to follow which path:
- The Central Principle
- “And of the people is he who sells himself, seeking the pleasure of Allah. And Allah is kind to [His] servants.” — Surah Al-Baqarah (2:207)
- Explanation: The believer sacrifices comfort, popularity, or even safety to earn Allah’s pleasure (riḍwān Allāh). This pleasure outweighs all worldly approval.
- Warning Against Pleasing People over God
- “They seek to please people, but Allah has more right that they should please Him, if they are truly believers.” — Surah At-Tawbah (9:62)
- Context: This verse was revealed about hypocrites who pretended to support the Prophet ﷺ but sought worldly reputation. Allah clarifies that faith means prioritizing divine pleasure above human praise.
- The Ultimate Goal
- “Their reward is with their Lord: gardens beneath which rivers flow... Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him — that is the supreme success.” — Surah Al-Bayyinah (98:8)
- Lesson: The ultimate success is not wealth or applause, but mutual contentment — Allah pleased with His servants, and they pleased with Him.
Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
The message of the last of the prophets Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is none different as is Divinely said in the Qur'an. Herein under asre some of his hadiths on the subject:
- Allah’s Pleasure Over People’s
- The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever seeks Allah’s pleasure, even if it displeases people, Allah will be pleased with him and will make the people pleased with him. But whoever seeks to please people at the cost of Allah’s displeasure, Allah will be displeased with him and will make the people displeased with him.” — Ibn Ḥibbān (276), Tirmidhī (2414) — Ṣaḥīḥ
- Lesson: Pleasing Allah may seem costly in the short term, but it ultimately brings honor and inner peace. Pleasing people by compromising faith brings humiliation.
- On Sincerity
- “Actions are judged by intentions, and every person will have only what he intended.” — Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1907
- Meaning: The believer must act not for reputation or recognition but purely for Allah’s sake (ikhlāṣ).
Exemplifying the Subject under discussion.
Now let us share an example of Prophet Abraham ( Ibrāhīm عليه السلام) who is regarded as the father of all prophets by all followers of the Divine religions. He was born in a idolatry family but worshipping static man made idols never satisfied him. He knew there was some being greater than all who controls the world and lives of the humans. So, one day while the main temple was empty, he broke all the idols. Naturally this annoyed everyone, including his father. But the revered Prophet plainly refused to follow idolatry at the cost of annoying and losing his family. He preferred the unseen Lord of the worlds over the lifeless idols and severed the family ties specially with his father. This is the extreme love a man can express to please the Lord of the worlds and not The World.
Hazrat Bilal, known as Bilal Habshi, was a slave in the very early formatting time of Islam, who embraced Islam much to the annoyance of his master. He was pressurized to renounce his new faith and return to idolatry. When he refused, his master laid him on the burning sad of summers of Arabia and put a heavy stone on his chest which almost crushed his bone - yet he continue to murmur "Ahad - Al-Ahad (الاحد) - The One, The Only One. Seeing his plight, an uncle of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم bought him and set him free. He could have averted the severe pain and renounced Islam, yet for him love of Allah was more than the comfort of life of darkness, that is idolatry.
Relevance for Today
In a world obsessed with social approval, fame, and “likes,” this timeless command from all Scriptures reminds us:
- Faith over fame.
- Truth over trend.
- Allah’s pleasure over human praise.
When the believer’s compass is fixed toward the pleasure of the Lord of the Worlds, he finds tranquility (sakīnah) that the world cannot offer.
It may thus be said that to please the world is to lose yourself; to please the Lord is to find yourself. The Prophets, from Abraham to Jesus to Muhammad (peace be upon them), all lived for Ridhā Allāh — the pleasure of their Lord — and taught their followers to do the same.
However, despite the Divine commandments and the examples of those with a strong faith, we find our selves meek and weak when it comes to weight between the world and the Lord of the world. Many give way to the comforts and love of the world, thinking they will have ample time to repent and seek pleasure of Allah, the Lord of the worlds. We sacrifice our faith when confronting family pressures or official commitments and often make decisions that offend our Creator. Yet the love of the world keeps our eyes shut of the true reality, which only a few can sincerely fathom.
Let us quote a closing verse to really ponder upon:
“O you who believe! Indeed, among your spouses and your children are enemies to you, so beware of them. But if you pardon and overlook and forgive – then indeed, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. Your wealth and your children are but a trial; but Allah has with Him a great reward.” — (Surah At-Taghābun 64:14–15)
“O you who believe! Let not your wealth and your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah; and whoever does that — then those are the losers.” — (Surah Al-Munāfiqūn 63:9)
This theme appears in several Qur’ānic verses reminding believers not to let love of wealth, family, or worldly life divert them from Allah’s remembrance and obedience. Family and wealth are blessings, but they can become distractions or tests (fitnah) if they lead a person to neglect Allah’s commands or delay obedience. The believer must love them in balance, ensuring Allah’s pleasure comes first.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
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