Chapter: On Acceptance Among the People

باب فی قبول الخلق — مخلوق کے پاس قبولیت کے بارے میں

بَابٌ فِي قَبُولِ الْخَلْقِ — On Being Accepted Among the People

فَلَمَّا رَأَيْنَهُ أَكْبَرْنَهُ وَقَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ وَقُلْنَ حَاشَ لِلَّهِ مَا هَٰذَا بَشَرًا إِنْ هَٰذَا إِلَّا مَلَكٌ كَرِيمٌ

"So when they saw him, they were greatly amazed and cut their hands and said: Perfect is Allah! This is not a human being; this is none but a noble angel." (Yusuf, 12:31). The author uses this Quranic reference to illustrate the concept of maqbuliyya — acceptance bestowed by Allah upon His beloved servants, such that people's hearts are drawn to them instinctively.

إِذَا أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ عَبْدًا نَادَى جِبْرِيلَ: إِنِّي أُحِبُّ فُلَانًا فَأَحِبَّهُ. فَيُحِبُّهُ جِبْرِيلُ. ثُمَّ يُنَادِي جِبْرِيلُ فِي أَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ فُلَانًا فَأَحِبُّوهُ. فَيُحِبُّهُ أَهْلُ السَّمَاءِ. ثُمَّ يُوضَعُ لَهُ الْقَبُولُ فِي الْأَرْضِ

"When Allah loves a servant, He calls Jibril: 'I love so-and-so, so love him.' And Jibril loves him. Then Jibril calls out among the people of the heavens: 'Allah loves so-and-so, so love him.' And the people of the heavens love him. Then acceptance (qabul) is placed for him on earth." (Agreed Upon — Bukhari and Muslim). The author: human popularity sought through show and flattery is worthless; true acceptance comes from above, granted by Allah, and causes hearts to incline naturally.