There Is Another World Beyond Likes and Comments
By Mufti Muhammad Khalid Qasmi Muzaffarnagari
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The tragedy of our present age is that every person is constantly trying to make the moments of his life acceptable and impressive in the eyes of others. Whether it is a personal photograph, an achievement, a journey, a gathering, or a beautiful scene—we immediately present it on social media, and then our eyes remain fixed on the screen, waiting to see how many likes, comments, and shares we have received.
When thousands of likes appear on someone’s post, they become extremely happy. But when a post receives only a few likes, a person may begin to wonder, “Why did people not like it?” At times, a person even hands over his dignity, self-respect, and peace of mind to these numbers on social media.
But wait a moment!
Are the likes and comments of this world really the true measure of success?
Is our worth and status determined merely by how many times people like us?
The reality is that there is another world of likes and comments as well.
It is a world where the pleasure of Allah Almighty—not people’s approval—is the true measure of success. There, the number of followers is not what matters; sincerity is what matters. It is not considered how viral a post became; rather, what matters is how accepted the deed was.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ narrated in a Hadith Qudsi that Allah Almighty says:
«فَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي نَفْسِهِ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي نَفْسِي، وَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي مَلَإٍ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي مَلَإٍ خَيْرٍ مِنْهُمْ»
“If My servant remembers Me within himself, I remember him within Myself; and if he remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a gathering better than theirs.”
What an extraordinary relationship!
In this world, we may give someone a single like on their post and feel that we have given them importance. But Allah Almighty’s response is far greater than this. When a servant remembers his Lord, the Lord of the universe remembers that servant in His presence.
This is the real Like!
This is the real acceptance!
This is the Comment after which a person no longer needs anyone else’s praise.
The Real Success: The Love of Allah
In a Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that when Allah Almighty loves one of His servants, He calls Jibril عليه السلام and says:
«إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ فُلَانًا فَأَحْبِبْهُ»
“Indeed, Allah loves so-and-so, so love him.”
Jibril عليه السلام then begins to love that person and announces among the inhabitants of the heavens that Allah Almighty loves so-and-so, so you too should love him. Thus, the inhabitants of the heavens begin to love him, and acceptance for him is then placed in the hearts of people on earth.
Just think!
On the one hand, a person is desperate to obtain a few hundred, a few thousand, or even millions of likes in this world. On the other hand, there is a form of acceptance that reaches the heavens and is then placed in the hearts of people on earth.
The likes of this world last only for a few moments.
The love of Allah lasts forever.
The comments of this world remain on a screen.
Acceptance from Allah enters the hearts.
A follower who follows you today may unfollow you tomorrow.
But if Allah makes someone His own, who can deprive that person of His favor?
Social Media Popularity and Real Popularity
Today, if someone’s photograph or video goes viral, people consider it a success. Within moments, thousands of people may see it, hundreds may comment on it, and the number of likes continues to increase.
But the question is:
Will this illuminate the grave?
Will this improve the Hereafter?
Will these likes be added to our record of deeds as good deeds on the Day of Judgment?
No!
True success is to have a deed that perhaps the world never even saw, but Allah Almighty saw it.
Two units of prayer performed in the darkness of the night,
a single tear shed in solitude,
quietly helping someone in need,
forgiving someone’s debt,
protecting someone’s honor,
choosing not to take revenge even when someone has caused you pain,
and, above all, seeking the pleasure of Allah Almighty with sincerity—
these are the deeds whose likes may be zero in this world, but whose value in the heavens may be immense.
The Real Issue Is Not People’s Eyes, but Allah’s Gaze
Again and again in our lives, we think:
“What will people say about me?”
Whereas a believer should think:
“What does Allah see in me?”
People see our outward appearance.
Allah sees not only our outward appearance but also our inner state.
People read the words written in our posts.
Allah knows the intention in our hearts.
People see the smile on our faces.
Allah knows the pain in our hearts.
People may praise our deeds.
But only Allah Almighty knows whether that deed was performed sincerely or merely for show.
That is why the greatest desire of a believer should be that Allah Almighty becomes pleased with him.
Today, a Few Moments of Fame Have Made People Restless
We are living in an age in which the standard of fame has changed.
The person with more followers is considered important.
The person with more likes is considered successful.
The person whose video becomes more viral is given greater importance.
But have we ever stopped to think:
If the whole world likes me but Allah is not pleased with me, what have I really gained?
And what if:
The world does not know me,
I have no followers,
there is not a single like on my post,
but Allah Almighty is pleased with me—
what greater success could there be than this?
A well-known meaning attributed to Hazrat Ali رضي الله عنه is that a person should focus on the pleasure of his Lord rather than on people’s praise or criticism.
This is the true destination of a believer.
The Qur’an Tells Us the Real Standard
Allah Almighty says:
﴿فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ﴾
“So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not be ungrateful.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 152)
Think about it!
We want people to remember us.
We want people to share our posts.
We want comments on our photographs.
We want people to praise us.
But the Qur’an gives us news of something far greater:
You remember Allah, and Allah will remember you!
What greater Like could there be than this?
What greater Comment could there be than this?
What greater popularity could there be than this?
Let Us Change Our Priorities
Using social media in itself is not a problem. The problem arises when social media becomes the purpose of our lives.
We should ask ourselves:
What is our post giving to people?
Are our words reforming someone, or are they hurting someone’s feelings?
Are our photographs bringing us closer to Allah, or closer to showing off?
Is our fame consuming our sincerity?
Are we living for people’s approval, or for the pleasure of Allah?
If one of your posts receives very few likes, do not become upset.
Perhaps the world did not like it,
but Allah may have liked your intention.
If the world did not see one of your good deeds, do not feel sad.
Perhaps an angel has recorded it.
If you secretly helped someone, be happy.
Perhaps Allah Almighty has preserved that deed with Him.
Finally
Earn through lawful means, eat what is lawful, fulfill the rights of people, correct your character, maintain family relationships, help those in need, serve your parents, safeguard your prayers, strengthen your relationship with the Qur’an, and seek the pleasure of Allah Almighty in every deed.
Because the reality is that:
The likes of this world will disappear.
The comments will be erased.
The followers will part ways.
The posts will become old.
The accounts will be closed.
And one day, this entire world itself will come to an end.
But the deed performed for the pleasure of Allah will remain.
Therefore, from today, let us develop a new desire in our hearts:
“O Allah! Grant me Your pleasure rather than the popularity of this world.
Whether people like me or not, let me be pleasing to You.
Whether people remember me or forget me, remember me with You.
Let the greatest Like of my life be Your pleasure,
and let my greatest success be that You accept me.”
اللّٰهم ارزقنا حبَّك، وحبَّ من يحبُّك، وحبَّ عملٍ يقرّبنا إلى حبّك۔
O Allah! Grant us Your love, the love of those who love You, and the love of deeds that bring us closer to Your love.
Ameen, O Lord of the worlds.
