The Anguish of Fame

How refreshing it must be yet how seldom we hear of the beauty of simplicity and being unnoticed. Loving attention is the goal of so many people today that the one who turns away from it seems to be an endangered species.

Not wanting fame is a characteristic of the pious believers in Allah – and there were many of them from the righteous predecessors too numerous to mention. Their stories have been transmitted to us not because they wanted to be known but because of the superb example that they were to mankind. This may seem like a contradiction, but being known for the good things that a person does is an inescapable part of working for Allah. There is a famous narration in the saheeh of Imam Muslim on the authority of Aamer Bin Sa’ad who said:

This statement of the Prophet ﷺ shows us that the quality of being hidden away and inconspicuous is a praiseworthy characteristic. The opposite of this is loving fame and wanting to be known.

In another hadeeth narrated by Ka’ab Ibn Maalik, the Prophet ﷺ said;

It was said to Abu Dawood as-Sijistani:

As for the verse in Surah al Sharh;

there is no contradiction since this is in relation to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ who was sent with a mission and it was inevitable that people will know about him. How else will they know of the message that he brought?

Ibn katheer mentions in his tafseer the statement of Qataadah who said

This is a reminder to us as Muslims that our roles in the community are all important regardless of whether people see or talk about it. It is better to do good in secret and without one’s deeds being seen of people.

Allah says:

What is important is that one does good deeds seeking the pleasure of Allah alone. If a person becomes known because of his knowledge and the benefit that he brings to them, then this is something that he is not blameworthy for if his intention is to please Allah and teach His deen and spread knowledge, and this is inevitable according to the level that he attains because of the benefit that he brings to the people. He must however continue to struggle against his base desires that could lure him to seek praise and the love of it.

We ask Allah to make us from amongst His sincere servants, not seeking favour except from Allah the exalted!