Why Is It More Difficult to Please Allah, Than to Please People?
Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad
Question
When we love our spouse, we try to please them the best and never displease them. Yet when we claim we love Allah and want to be the best to Him, it’s difficult and requires a lot more effort to avoid sins completely and to act with utmost excellence (ihsan).
Why is it easier to be the best to one’s spouse, but difficult to be the best to the much greater love, Allah?
Answer
Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for your contemplation.
Abu al-Darda’ (may Allah be pleased with him), one of the Prophet’s companions (Allah bless him and give him peace), said, “An hour’s reflection (tafakkur sa‘a) is better than a night full of worship.” [Bayhaqi, Shu‘ab al-Iman]
Creator vs. Creation
The simple fact is that the pleasure of the Creator will be different from the pleasure of creation because one created the other, so how could they be the same? The Creator’s desires are more perfect, more just, more true, and always correct. A person might desire something artificial, simple, something that serves them, and not humanity, and doesn’t necessarily desire justice for all. Moreover, the creation cannot see in your soul, and judge its sincerity or whether the heart’s been purified. Therefore, pleasing Allah is a tall order, and I pray that you and I can succeed in this, by His grace and permission.
Please see much more detail in these links:
Advice: Seeking the Pleasure of Allah and His Messenger – Habib Umar
The Rawha DailyGuidance
Ramadan: The Fortunate Ones, by Shaykh Faid Mohammed Said
May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.
