Quran Garden

Session 519

Chapter 3

Verse 188

Do not suppose those who rejoice in what they have done and love to be praised for what they have not done —do not suppose them saved from punishment, and there is a painful punishment for them.  (Chapter 3: Verse 188)

To "suppose" is to have ideas not necessarily aligned with reality because you lack proof or certainty.  To "rejoice" is to gloat and feel happy.  Those who "rejoice in what they have done" come in two varieties: the first kind is people cheerful for supporting falsehood.   When the hypocrites infiltrated the society in Medina and fooled the Muslims, they rejoiced for enjoying the advantages of Islam without embracing it.  God later exposed them as enemies of the Prophet.  The second kind is people who rejoice for supporting the truth.  The first joy – that of the hypocrites – is prohibited, while the second is encouraged.  God says,

Say, "In God's grace and mercy let them rejoice: these are better than all they accumulate." (10:58)

Allah directs you to what truly makes you happy and proud and warns you against being foolish.  He says,

Qarun was one of Moses' people, but he oppressed them.  We had given him such treasures that even their keys would have weighed down a whole company of strong men.  His people said to him, "Do not rejoice, for God does not like people who rejoice." (28:76)

When we encounter verses that forbid rejoicing and others that encourage it, we must understand that rejoicing itself is not discouraged but rather some of the reasons behind it.  Valid reasons would include supporting the truth and implementing God's teachings.  On the other hand, it is prohibited to rejoice for disobeying God's laws and fighting against the truth, as this is the kind of joy the disbelievers and hypocrites experience.  Such joy is a temporary sham and will always be followed by regret.  The only true bliss is that which is followed by more joy and Paradise.  Imam Ali, may God be pleased with him, said, "Nothing whatsoever can be labeled as good if Hellfire follows, and nothing whatsoever can be labeled as evil if it leads you to Paradise."  So what good is the joy felt by hypocrites, disbelievers, or those from the People of the Book who attribute falsehoods to God and earn themselves future punishment?

Indeed, Allah wants to grant immunity to the believers.  As if He is saying, 'Believers, you will face many camps that attack you.  They will be pleased with the damage they inflict, but do not let their joy get to you.  No matter how delighted they appear, such joy is foolish because it will only lead them to punishment.'

What action is the phrase "Do not suppose those who rejoice in what they have done" referring to?  What did they do?  It may refer to the people of the Book who suppressed the Prophecies of the coming Prophet Muhammad and his description from the Gospel as the previous verse stated: "God made a covenant with those given the Book: 'You must make it clear to people and not conceal it.' But they tossed it in disdain." They concealed this information from their followers and were very pleased with themselves for doing so. 

People commit sin, but most regret it afterward.  Such feelings of remorse are the first step toward repentance.  But when a person is pleased with sin, this joy, in and of itself, is another transgression.  The original act is a sin, and feelings of pride and happiness about it are an additional sin.  Sadly, there is still another step down this ugly road.  God says, "and love to be praised for what they have not done." It is the trifecta of foolishness: to sin, feel proud about your act, and then look to be praised by others for virtue. 

We ask: Are they looking for praise for what they did or didn't do?  God answers, "and love to be praised for what they have not done."  Take the example of the hypocrites who stayed behind when the Muslim army marched towards Uhud.  They were happy to steer clear of the hardships of marching and war.  Later, they came up with bogus excuses and fake-apologized to the Prophet.  At the time, it wasn't clear to the Muslims that these people were liars, so they praised them for their apology.  The hypocrites committed a sin by staying behind, felt joy for their act, and then wanted to hear praise for their excuses and insincere apologies.  It is a compound transgression. 

Is it forbidden to desire praise from others?  Or is the prohibition for wanting to be praised for what you didn't do?  Indeed, seeking and enjoying praise for what you haven't done is forbidden.  It is natural for people to crave praise and approval from others, and the Quran takes into account the complexities of human nature.  Allah, our Creator, knows that people naturally seek validation from others as it gives them a sense of value in society.  However, it is essential for you to understand that people don't praise your person but your actions.  Thus, most of us strive to do the things that will receive recognition, which in turn leads to improved performance and results.  This ultimately benefits society as a whole. 

God wants goodness to spread, so He does not forbid us from seeking praise as motivation to do better.  If praise were forbidden, only those with solid willpower would be motivated to work hard.  Thus, there is no harm in giving praise and recognition to encourage quality work and increase productivity.  At a much higher level, the righteous seek God's approval above all else, disregarding what others think.