Our judges may be known or unknown and they may be real or imaginary. They may be acquaintances such as those on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. They most definitely take the shape of family, friends and colleagues. Regardless of who they are and what out relationship is with them, they play a great role in shaping our understanding of how Islamic we are.
Islamic recognition can be beneficial or detrimental depending on our level of Iman and our personalities.
For some receiving acknowledgment and praise for our Islamic deeds gives a boost. It drives them to perform greater and better Islamic deeds. They may increase their Ibadah in private and increase public acts of goodness.
For an exhaustingly huge number of Muslims out there, fame makes for lame Muslims. The real meaning of lame - 'a person who is crippled' will be applied in this sense.
The Prophet peace be upon him has told us not to praise our brothers and sisters in relation to their iman.
This is a reminder to myself before anyone else. For those of us who are on YouTube, Facebook, Blogs and other social media sites, we really need to sit back and reflect on how Islamic we are according to Allah. Friends, readers and viewers will praise and applaude our iman and our Islamicness but we need to remember that the number of "likes", "comments" and "subscribers" does not determine whether or not we are safe from Hellfire in the hereafter.
We need to constantly be in the company of those whose iman and islamic efforts exceeds our own.
May Allah protect our iman and safeguard us both in this world and the akhira. Ameen.
Riyad as-Salihin (The Meadows of the Righteous)
by Imam Nawawi
360. Chapter: It is disliked to praise someone to his face as it is feared that it will cause him to be arrogant, and the permission to do that if the person is safe from that happening
1788. Abu Musa al-Ash'ari said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, heard a man praising another man, extolling him greatly. The Prophet said, 'You have destroyed him - or you have broken the man's back.'" [Agreed upon]
1789. Abu Bakra reported that a man was mentioned in the presence of the Prophet and a man praised him heartily. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Bother you! You have severed you companion's neck,' saying it several times. "If one of you must praise someone, he should say, 'I think such and such' if he thinks the person is like that. Allah is enough for him and no one should commended and praised in front of Allah." [Agreed upon]
1790. Hammam ibn al-Harith reported that a man began to praise 'Uthman and al-Miqdad went and knelt on his knees and began to throw pebbles in his face, 'Uthman said to him, 'What are you doing?' He said, 'The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "When you see praisers, then throw dust in their faces."'" [Muslim]
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