Whenever Praise Turns Toxic: Flee The Mutual Rivalry and Banners of Spin Doctors

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “Two hungry wolves let loose among sheep are not more harmful than a person’s craving after wealth and status is to his Religion.” [1]

Imam Muhamad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy upon him, said, “Two hungry wolves let loose on a flock! Then what will remain from the flock?! Even when a single wolf stops eating because its stomach is full, it still kills the rest of the flock, then what about two hungry wolves let loose on a flock!! Not a single will remain. Likewise, a person who craves for wealth or status will corrupt the religion. Because of this, it is obligated to a person that his intention is far removed from this- far removed from craving for wealth and status in the religion. We ask Allah to aid us to accomplish this”. [2]

The seeker of leadership – even through falsehood- is pleased with a statement that contains an exaltation of him, even if it is falsehood. He becomes angered by a statement that contains a rebuke against him, even if it is truth. The (true) believer is pleased with a statement of truth whether it is for or against him and he is angered by a statement of falsehood whether it is for or against him. This is because Allah, The Most High, loves truth, truthfulness and justice, and He hates lies and oppression. [3]

It may not be unexpected to encounter the unfairness that often accompanies the quest for leadership in social settings, the race for wealth, or even the competition and rivalry among peers in a particular skill. Imam Ibn Qudamah, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: “Envy usually occurs between contemporaries, peers, brothers, and cousins due to everyone’s competing aspirations, which causes strife and animosity. As a result, you will find that a scholar would envy another scholar but not a worshipper, a worshipper would envy another worshipper but not a scholar, a trader would envy another trader and a cobbler would envy another cobbler. The love of material things, which are limited for those who compete for them, is the root cause of this affair”. [4]

What cuts the heart most deeply is when one sees some of those men adorned with some knowledge of the Shariah, yet sinking into the dust of petty strife, lifting one name to the mountains and trample others beneath their feet, each raising and inflating the cause of his chosen beloved one whom they see as the vessel of people’s welfare, while branding rivals as obstacles to their climb toward renown. Praise be to Allah that many of them are not granted authority, because maybe their tongues would unsheathe like blades, and their rivalries would engulf the masses, dragging the unsuspecting into fire—into slander, division, and ruin.

All praise and thanks belong to Allah, Lord of the entire universe. From the lips of many teachers – in the East and the West- since the year of ninety-five, one message has echoed clear: That the great, senior scholars—Al-ʿAllāmah Rabeeʿ and his noble peers— stood at the forefront when storms of trial arose. They raised the banner for the oppressed, called the wrongdoer, cloaked in victim’s guise, to drop his pretense, to stand upon truth, and cease from deceit. Through every fitnah, this has been their way. Thus, we beseech Allah to assist us to concentrate on the good example they have established for everyone, protect us from blameworthy rivalry and guide us in following the way of the noble individuals mentioned by Imam Ibn Qudamah, may Allah have mercy upon him, who stated:

As for the afterlife, there are no restrictions because the one who loves knowledge and awareness of Allah, knowledge, and awareness of Allah’s angels, Allah’s Prophets, and Allah’s Mighty Dominion over the heavens and the earth, will not envy others after becoming acquainted with these affairs because they are not restricted by one another; rather, one particular individual (upright) scholar is known by thousands of (upright) scholars, and they rejoice because of the understanding he possesses. This is why there is no envy among (upright) scholars since their goal is to gain knowledge and awareness of Allah [Glorified be He and free from all imperfections], which is a vast affair. Their goal is to attain a high status in the Sight of Allah, and that which Allah has kept in the afterlife is unlimited because Allah’s loftiest blessing is the pleasure of meeting Him, which cannot be prevented or restricted, nor can some competitors in the affair make it restricted for others; instead harmony is enhanced as the competitors increase; but if wealth and status become the scholars’ goal, they will envy one another.

The difference between knowledge and wealth is that wealth does not remain in the hands of a single person, whereas knowledge settles in the heart of a scholar and the heart of the one taught by the scholar while remaining in the heart of the scholar. As a result, whoever contemplates the Greatness of Allah and His Mighty Dominion [i.e. pondering upon what Allah has created and upon the divine revelation], it will become the greatest delight for him than any other blessing, because he cannot be prevented or restricted from doing so. He will not be envious of anyone because even if others were aware of what he is aware of, it would not diminish his pleasure in the affair. You do not find people overcrowded to view the beauty of the sky because it is vast and unrestricted.

Therefore, if you are merciful to yourself, then it is obligated that you seek the bliss in which there is no hindrance and pleasure that never ceases. And the only way to find this in the life of this world is to become familiar with knowledge and awareness of Allah and the magnificent essence of His Dominion (over everything). However, if your desire is weak and you do not yearn to acquaint yourself with the knowledge and awareness of Allah, you will not find or experience its pleasure. As a result, you’re not man enough because this is a man’s affair, and yearning for something occurs after experiencing it. The one who has not tasted will not know, the one who does not know will not yearn, the one who does not yearn will not seek, the one who does not seek will not find (anything), and the one who does not find (anything) will be among the deprived. [5]

All praise and gratitude are due to Allah. The senior scholars – Al Allamah Salih Al-Fawzan, Al-Allamah Abdul Muhsin Al Abbad, and Al Allamah Abdul Aziz Aala Shaikh are still with us; may Allah extend their lives in all that is beloved and pleasing to Him. Furthermore, may He also bestow long and prosperous lives upon their students, including Shaikh Salih Aala Ash-Shaikh and others. May Allah grant abundant mercy to all the scholars who have departed, both past and present Amin.

We ask Allah, the Most High, to shield us from mutual rivalry’s cunning tie. Step aside from its endless snare, for it even creeps in knowledge, while we are unaware. https://salafidawah.uk/2025/01/06/stay-out-of-it/

The goal is to leave this world free from Fitan! https://salafidawah.uk/2025/03/26/the-goal-is-to-leave-this-world-free-from-fitan/

We also ask Allah:
اللَّهُمَّ بِعِلْمِكَ الْغَيْبَ وَقُدْرَتِكَ عَلَى الْخَلْقِ أَحْيِنِي مَا عَلِمْتَ الْحَيَاةَ خَيْراً لِي وَتَوَفَّنِي إِذَا عَلِمْتَ الْوَفَاةَ خَيْراً لِي، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَشْيَتَكَ فِي الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ كَلِمَةَ الْحَقِّ فِي الرِّضَا وَالْغَضَبِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ الْقَصْدَ فِي الْغِنَى وَالْفَقْرِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ نَعِيماً لَا يَنْفَذُ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ قُرَّةَ عَيْنٍ لَا تَنْقَطِعُ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ الرِّضِا بَعْدَ الْقَضَاءِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ بَرْدَ الْعَيْشِ بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ لَذَّةَ النَّظَرِ إِلَى وَجْهِكَ وَالشَّوْقَ إِلَى لِقَائِكَ فِي غَيْرِ ضَرَّاءَ مُضِرَّةٍ وَلَا فِتْنَةٍ مُضِلَّةٍ، اللَّهُمَّ زَيِّنَّا بِزِينَةِ الْإِيمَانِ
وَاجْعَلْنَا هُدَاةً مُهْتَدِينَ

O Allah! By Your Knowledge of the unseen and by Your Power over creation, let me live if life is good for me, and let me die if death is good for me; O Allah! I ask You to grant me (the blessing of having) fear of You in private and public, and I ask You (to make me utter) a statement of truth in times of contentment and anger, and I ask You for moderation when in a state of wealth and poverty, and I ask you for blessings that never ceases, and I ask You for the coolness of my eye that never ends, and I ask You (to make me pleased) after (Your) decree; and I ask You for a life of (ease, comfort, tranquillity, etc) after death; I ask You for the delight of looking at Your Face (i.e. in the Hereafter) and yearning to meet You without any harm and misleading trials (coming upon me). O Allah! Adorn us with the adornment of Iman, and make us (from those who are) guided and guiding (others). https://salafidawah.uk/2021/01/01/o-allaah-let-me-live-if-life-is-good-for-me-and-let-me-die-if-death-is-good-for-me/

O Allah! Rectify my religion for me: https://salafidawah.uk/2021/01/01/o-allaah-let-me-live-if-life-is-good-for-me-and-let-me-die-if-death-is-good-for-me/

[1] Saheeh Sunan At-Tirmidhee 2376

[2] An Excerpt from at-Taleeq Alaa Siyaasah Shar’iyyah. pages 454-455

[3]Majmu Al-Fatawa. 10/600

[4] An Excerpt from ‘Mukhtasar Minhaj Al Qasidin’ page: 199-201

[5] An Excerpt from ‘Mukhtasar Minhaj Al Qasidin’ page: 199-201