We Cannot Please Everyone
Life, in the shade of the Islamic Creed, has taught me that we cannot please everyone.
It’s literally impossible to please all people. That’s it.
In that they are likely to have limited knowledge, and they are narrow-minded.
They follow their personal inclination and feel inferior.
They also perceive things so differently that you can never please them all.
So, who should you please in the first place?
You must please Allah (exalted be He) alone.
Here’s a man and his son, accompanied by their donkey.
As the father rode on the donkey and as they went on their way, they passed a group of men who said:
“Shame on that merciless rude father
to let his poor little son trudge along while he rides!”
So, the man got off and put the boy on the donkey, and they went on their way.
They passed another group of men who said:
“See that lazy youngster, he lets his father walk while he rides!”
So, they both rode on the donkey and passed another group of men
who said: “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself for overloading that poor donkey!”
So, they both got off and walked beside the donkey. They passed another group of men who said:
“You fools, what is a donkey for but to ride! And you are walking beside it!”
“And if the Truth had followed their desires, verily the heavens and the earth would have been corrupted.” (Al-Mu’minun 23:71)
Who Should We Strive to Please?
So who should you strive to please, brother?
Strive to please Allah, that’s it! He who pleases Allah although it was displeasing to the people,
then Allah becomes pleased with him, and will make the people pleased with him.
And whoever pleases the people although it was displeasing to Allah, then Allah becomes displeased with him and will make the people displeased with him.
There is no obedience to humans in disobedience to the Creator.
Pleasing Allah is possible and an essential requirement from the believers.
There’s only one path and there’s only one religion to Allah
“And, this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow other ways.” (Al-An`am 6:153)
Sheikh `Umar Al-Ashqar narrates in his book
a relevant story
Obey Him
A girl went home after school and came to her mother
sad, gloomy, and miserable. Her mother asked her what the matter was.
The girl, who enjoys good manners, replied:
“My teacher asked me not to wear such modest long sleeve maxi dresses.”
The mother said: “but this is how Allah (Exalted be He) wants us to dress”
The girl replied: “But the teacher doesn’t want it.”
The mother said: “The teacher doesn’t want you to dress that way but Allah wants you to; who would you obey then?”
The One who created and shaped you and bestowed favor on you?
Or a created being who has no power either to harm or benefit you?
With her pure human nature, the girl answered: No
I will obey Allah, no matter what.
The next day, she went to school wearing the same clothing.
When the teacher saw her, she yelled in anger scolding the girl who is acting against her will,
not listening to her, and not afraid of her threats.
As she continued scolding the girl, pulling her to pieces,
she couldn’t help but burst into tear.
The teacher was chocked. She wiped the tears away,
The girl said some words which came as a complete shock to the teacher.
“By Allah! I don’t know whom should I obey? You or Him?
The teacher asked: “Who is he?” The girl answered: “Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.
“Who created me and you, and shaped me and you. Or should I obey you, dressing the way you want and displease Him?
Or should I obey Him, what means disobeying you? No.
No.
I will obey Him, no matter what.
No matter how bad it is…or how bad it gets…I’m going to make it
The teacher was so overwhelmed with shock that she uttered no word.
Who is she speaking with; a child or an adult?
The teacher was completely nonplussed by her reply.
The teacher went away.
The next day, the teacher called the girl’s mother to tell her:
“your girl did teach me a great lesson.
“ I have repented to Allah
“I have put myself equal with Allah until your girl came and showed me who I am! “
“May Allah reward you for being such a good parent”
Here
Allah’s Pleasure
We urgently need to strive to seek Allah’s pleasure.
We should know that the truth reaches the heart when it comes from heart of those believing in and living by it.
While empty words are just words. They never reach the hearts.
So, you must strive to seek Allah’s pleasure alone.
If something is yours by destiny, from it you cannot flee.
And no one, wherever they are, is invulnerable to harm of people
“If you obey most of those on earth they would mislead you far from Allah’s way.” (Al-An`am 6:116)
“And most of the people will not believe though you desire it eagerly.” (Yusuf 12:103)