things, what benefit are they if they are detrimental to us in the Hereafter? Everything in this world is temporary. Everything will perish.

What will we do on the Day of Judgement if our books of deeds are filled with sins? Where will we turn when we face disgrace and humiliation? We ask Allah to grant us honour in the Hereafter!

Undeserving praise

The Quran states:

لَا تَحۡسَبَنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ یَفۡرَحُوۡنَ بِمَاۤ اَتَوۡا وَّ یُحِبُّوۡنَ اَنۡ یُّحۡمَدُوۡا بِمَا لَمۡ یَفۡعَلُوۡا فَلَا تَحۡسَبَنَّہُمۡ بِمَفَازَۃٍ مِّنَ الۡعَذَابِ ۚ وَ لَہُمۡ عَذَابٌ اَلِیۡمٌ (۱۸۸(

 “Never think of those who rejoice over their doings and with that they be praised without doing (any good deed), never think that they are far from punishment; and for them is painful punishment.”^[1]

It is stated in Tafsīr Ṣirāṭ al-Jinān:

This verse serves as a warning for those who desire fame and respect; those who want to be praised, followed, and honoured. They want to be called scholars even though they are not. They want to be recognised as assets to the community. They want people to bow to them when greeted, and they yearn to be described with fancy titles.

Such people should look to the condition of their hearts, and if they have fallen prey to the love of status, they must cleanse themselves of it. Remember, spiritual diseases of the heart deprive one of the blessings of the Hereafter. It instils hypocrisy in the heart, the light of faith diminishes, and one becomes unable to adhere to the laws of Islam. The person who is afflicted