It is common for us to receive praise and appreciation from others daily. Even though it’s great to be recognized for our efforts, modesty and gratitude to Allah are also important. One way of doing so is by reciting a dua when someone praises you.
We can make a great dua from learning the Prophet Muhammad’s (ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) friend Abu Bakr Siddiq (raḍyAllāhu ‘anhu) to respond to gratitude. This powerful supplication effectively shows our appreciation to Allah for bestowing us with the skills, abilities, and opportunities to accomplish our goals.
We will explore the significance of this dua and explore how we can incorporate it into our daily lives.
Effective Dua When Someone Praises You
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Praise is poison because it can sabotage a good intention by corrupting it (feelings of riya). If we are constantly praised, our weak souls rely upon and covet this praise so that we are compelled to do good deeds simply to receive praise. Allah SWT warned us in Surah An-Najm (32),
ٱلَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَـٰٓئِرَ ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْفَوَٰحِشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّمَمَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٰسِعُ ٱلْمَغْفِرَةِ ۚ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ إِذْ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَإِذْ أَنتُمْ أَجِنَّةٌۭ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمْ ۖ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۖ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ
“those who avoid major sins and shameful deeds, despite ˹stumbling on˺ minor sins. Surely your Lord is infinite in forgiveness. He knew well what would become of you as He created you from the earth and while you were ˹still˺ fetuses in the wombs of your mothers. So do not ˹falsely˺ elevate yourselves. He knows best who is ˹truly˺ righteous.”
Adi bin Arthah – rahimahullah – (a tabi’in scholar) narrated:
كَانَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا زُكِّيَ قَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنِي بِمَا يَقُولُونَ، وَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا لا يَعْلَمُونَ
“When one of the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was praised, he said in supplication to Allah), ‘Do not take me to task for what they say and forgive me for what they do not know.” [Sahih al-Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad (761)]
So, we need to stay out of this Satanic trap and focus on doing good deeds for the sake of Allah. When someone praises you, read the following Dua,
اللهمَ اجْعَلْنِى خَيْرًا مِمَّا يَظُنُّونَ وَاغْفِرْ لِى مَا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ وَلَا تُؤَاخِذْنِى بِمَا يَقُولُون
Pronounce: “Allahumma-ja’lni khayran mima yadhunoon wa-ghfir li ma la ya’lamoon wa la tu’akhidhni bi ma yaquloon.”
Meaning: “O Allah, make me better than what they think of me, and forgive me for what they do not know about me, and do not take me to account for what they say about me.”
Some salaf scholars also suggest the following supplication:
اللهُمَّ أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِي مِنْ نَفْسِي، وَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ بِنَفْسِي مِنَ النَّاسِ، اللهُمَّ لَا تُؤَاخِذْنِي بِمَا يَقُولُونَ، وَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
“O Allah, indeed You are the All-Knowing regarding the matters of myself more than me, and I know myself more than others know about me. O Allah, do not take me to task for what they say and forgive me for what they do not know. And make me better than the judgment of them towards me.”
Also Read: Dua For Everything Go To Well
Why Should We Make Dua When Someone Praises Us?
Being praised is a double-edged sword; it can uplift us, but it also poses risks to our spiritual well-being. When praised in Islam, we make dua (supplication), rooted in humility and recognizing our human vulnerabilities.
Human Frailty and Struggling with Praise
Even the greatest figures in Islamic history, such as Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu), struggled with receiving praise. Understanding that struggling with praise is a manifestation of our human nature allows us to approach this phenomenon with humility.
Making dua in these moments becomes a means of seeking strength and protection from the potential negative impacts of praise on our hearts.
Balancing Praise with Moderation
The Prophet Muhammad ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam emphasized the importance of balanced praise. Overpraising others, as cautioned by the Prophet, can be detrimental.
By making dua, we seek guidance to strike a balance when expressing admiration for others, ensuring that our words do not inadvertently harm the one being praised.
Seeking Allah’s Judgment
In alignment with the teachings of the Prophet, dua serves as a means to redirect attention to Allah’s ultimate judgment. When acknowledging someone’s virtues, the Prophet advised saying, “I think that he is so and so.”
This humble approach emphasizes that Allah is the ultimate judge, reinforcing the importance of sincere intention and preventing the one praised from being sanctified beyond reality.
Honest Self-Reflection through Others’ Eyes:
The story of a man questioning his virtues when praised underscores the importance of self-reflection. Making dua in such instances allows us to evaluate ourselves sincerely through the eyes of others.
It becomes a tool for constructive self-critique, helping us identify areas for improvement and reinforcing the principle of trustworthiness in fulfilling responsibilities.
Also Read: Most Effective Dua For Good News
Dua in Islam: Embrace Humility and Gratitude Towards Allah
When someone praises you, the dua holds immense importance in Islam, as it helps us maintain humility and gratitude towards Allah, the most merciful and gracious. This powerful supplication reminds us that all our accomplishments result from Allah’s blessings and guidance, and we should always give credit where it is due.
By reciting this dua, we acknowledge our limitations and accept Allah’s will.
It helps us build stronger relationships with others by promoting a culture of appreciation, kindness, and humility.
We must strive to incorporate this dua into our daily lives and practice it sincerely and passionately. May Allah guide us on the path of righteousness and bless us with His infinite mercy and blessings.
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