The Love of Jāh
Delivered by Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq on Sunday 6th March 2022 at Al Kawthar Academy, Leicester
Video: https://youtu.be/Ru5qbzctpqY
The talk explores the concept of Jāh (fame, rank, and recognition) and its deep-rooted presence in human nature. The talk explains that Jāh is distinct from arrogance—while arrogance is the belief in one's superiority, Jāh is the craving for attention, recognition, and influence, even in those who are otherwise humble. This desire for status is a subtle yet dangerous aspect of the love of dunyā (worldly life), making it one of the last spiritual diseases to leave the heart. Even scholars and saints, despite renouncing material wealth, often struggle with the temptation of position and authority.
The talk highlights how human desires evolve—once basic needs like food, shelter, and security are met, people seek entertainment, power, and recognition, leading to the ultimate craving for influence over others. This is rooted in the soul’s connection to greatness, but when misdirected, it manifests as seeking status in this world rather than in the Hereafter.
The talk emphasizes that true greatness belongs to Allah alone, citing a ḥadīth qudsī where Allāh declares that anyone who competes for His majesty will be cast into Hell. The Quran warns against the distraction of chasing worldly status, and historical examples—including the betrayal of Ali (r.a.) and Hasan (r.a.)—illustrate how followers are fickle and unreliable. Even great scholars and pious individuals, such as Imam Khalid ibn Ma’dan and Imam Abu Alia, actively avoided public recognition to protect their sincerity. The Sahaba, including Umar (r.a.) and Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (r.a.), discouraged being followed, recognizing that fame is both a humiliation for the followers and a trial for the leader.
Below are some of the topics in this talk:
- What is Jāh?
- Scholars & saints struggling with Jāh
- The progression from basic needs to Jāh
- The soul's connection to greatness
- The love of influence and followers
- Examples of scholars & sahabah avoiding Jāh
- The temporary nature of status & tragic examples
- Seeking contentment in faith
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