# Is it a sin to enjoy being praised? *Is loving praise a sin? The two conditions of the verse and the verb 'fariha'* - URL: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/onzjd7xmdhe/s/25/ - Date: 2025-10-18 · Kind: discussion · Transcript tier: machine · Recording: Br Muhammad MFG | Quranist Only Belief - A Dialogue | MindTrap #82 - Mufti Abu Layth (2:04:39–2:10:46) - Status: a view quoted in order to be discussed, not a position held - Watch from the start of the segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONzjD7XMDhE&t=7479s - Recording page: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/onzjd7xmdhe/ **Topics:** Tafsir and verse study; Quran-only movement; Guest conversations **Summary (not a quotation; machine-made, unchecked):** The guest holds that 3:188 describes people buying into the worldly life, exulting in what they have and loving praise for what they have not done, and that such people are punished; pressed, he confirms that anyone with these traits faces punishment. ## Longer summary Mufti Abu Layth asks whether being praised for work one has not done is therefore a major sin according to the guest; the guest asks where the word 'major' comes from, says he himself gets scared when praised, and says the Quran gives frightening verses so that one draws closer to God and avoids what he dislikes. Mufti says the question is not what the guest likes but what the verse says, and the guest insists the verse has two conditions, complaining of being cut off and of Mufti thinking he is running away. Mufti restates both parts, those who take joy in what they have done or been given, and those who love praise for what they have not achieved, with the example of a man praised as generous who was not; the guest agrees but says 'fariha' is not a negative verb by default, and when Mufti cites the verse that on that day the believers will rejoice, the guest says that is the day of judgement, whereas here it concerns material wealth. The guest says God is describing people who buy into the worldly life and have both traits, who will have a painful punishment, so a believer who reads it stops seeking such joy and praise. Mufti asks whether it is the guest's belief that anyone who finds joy in his achievements and in being praised will face excruciating punishment from God, and the guest says yes. ## Sources and names cited - Br Muhammad (MFG, MuhammadFromGod channel) - Quran 3:188 (those who rejoice in what they have done and love to be praised for what they have not done): https://quran.com/3/188 - Quran 30:4 (on that day the believers will rejoice) [?] (reference uncertain; possibly https://quran.com/30/4) ## Transcript (machine tier, 2:04:39–2:10:46) [2:04:30] So this is for you to recognize that if you're doing that to stop doing that so that you don't have a painful punishment. Yes, it is. So just to like being praised by things you've not accomplished. Yes. So so let's say for example somebody you've done some work and you've not done the and you get praised. This is a major sin in Islam according to you. Where is the word major coming in? I'm it's still you will have yes for the people. [2:04:57] Okay. So God I don't like to be praised. I don't love to be praised for things that I love. I get scared. But but this is what the Quran is. The Quran is telling you verses to scare you. So that when you're scared, you go and get closer to the remembrance of God. And then you know the things that God does not like. So you start to avoid it. So now I don't like being praised for things that I have done. And I don't extremely happy. [2:05:23] Not you see not what you like. What does this verse say? Right? I'm not saying you don't like being praised. I'm saying this verse says so don't do that. That's what So don't do that. Yes. The people who are going to So the people who are going to do that, that verse is fulfilled upon them. Anyone who's doing that, that verse is fulfilled upon them and they have a painful punishment. [2:05:49] Any person who dislikes being praised. So do you see that there's two conditions? So, so let me so let me There's two You see the two person came to you. You see the two conditions or is it one conditions? I mean I mean I you guys keep telling me to calm down and everyone's saying to me I'm not I don't understand like every time I try to make a point I keep getting cut off and I'm just making a simple point and he's thinking I'm running away. The thing that is very simple to understand running away. [2:06:17] Oh don't go to that verse. Don't go to that verse. Let's talk about this verse. But it's very difficult to have a conversation when you're not allowing me to express myself. Sure, please do. Yeah. So, just look. So, what I highlighted to you was here is a complete verse. Look, here's a complete verse of the Quran, right? Complete verse, right? Now, look, in this verse, it highlights that those people who take joy in what they have done or what they accomplished or has been brought to them. [2:06:46] And the second part and those who love to be praised by something they haven't necessarily they haven't achieved. So let's say for example a person came to me and said or let's say they went to somebody and said oh you know oh that's such an amazing guy so generous. Now imagine he wasn't really that generous but he liked the fact that he was praised. Now this verse says that those who like being praised by that which they've not done. [2:07:12] Yes it does. Yes it does. You see the do you see the and yeah so there's two and they love yeah and they okay so the first meaning the first condition so the first one that those who have who are pray who find joy in what they've done or what they've accomplished okay so if you so yeah so if you find what they've been given sure what you've been given what whether it's accomplishments whether it's like oh my god this is so awesome look at how amazing this is this is so cool this So cool. [2:07:45] Yes. Stuff like that. So if you're glad So if you're glad you find joy in something you've been given joy, it's not about satisfy. There's a difference. Yeah. Is Yeah. Is not a negative verb, right? So it's not a negative verb. The word is a little different than just No, it isn't. Right. Inah Allah says on that day the believers will find Yes, that's that's where the is on the day of judgment. [2:08:13] Not here. Perfect. Thank you. In the worldly life there's no no look listen that is speaking about the believers once that on that day that in the believers once they've been given once takes over what is it even though they've lost material riches yeah the victory of the believers is that I'm not the victory of them we have to understand the lang language for us to make at proper judgment. [2:08:46] So when the word is about is it about material wishes here? Is it about is it about is it about material wishes? Look listen. Listen, listen, listen, listen. But God is qualifying. You took me to verse 30 in regards to and you told me very simply that they're right with the victory of God and the ones on the day of judgment here God is so it's material wishes and prayed by you claim that there's two if we're correct is not a negative term in the context that's being displayed [2:09:25] here. Yes. Not by default. Cool. And the thing that we need to understand very simply here, God is telling you about the people who are buying into the worldly life. They have these two characteristics. The characteristics of being extremely joyful, being extremely joyful for what they were giving. And they want to be praised about things that they don't do. These are individuals that are buying into the worldly life. And that's why that's why these individuals will have these that's why these individuals will have a painful punishment. [2:09:54] So now as a believer who's reading the Quran and you've been warned so now you don't want to find joy in these things in the way that God has presented Lord you want to be praised for who what you what you have not done. So it's very straightforward and and and just to be clear just so I've understood you clearly so any person who finds joy in something that they've not done and something that they have achieved as well right be that wealth or whatever any person who finds any joy will find an excruciating punishment from God for that joy that is your belief you believe again the the verse has two conditions you keep playing which are those two which are those two [2:10:34] no I mentioned both I said by achievement of whether it's wealth or whatever by accomplishment and by that which you've not done you find joy in being praised for it in being praised for it. Perfect. They love like being praised, right? Yeah. You have a painful punishment from God that you will be punished by God for that. Yes. Yes. You don't you don't find that to be the opposite of merciful. ## Cite Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment ONzjD7XMDhE/s/25. https://muftiabulayth.org/r/onzjd7xmdhe/s/25/ Not a fatwa: these answers were given to specific people at specific times. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.