Flattering and its nature/limitations in the light of Quran and Hadith

Abstract

Flattering or praising someone in front of him has become routine practice being commonly noticed in our society. It seems that the practice, which is actually disallowed in Islam, is not being discouraged. Flattery is spreading like an epidemic in our society. It is being assumed that one is successful in worldly life if he/she knows the art to flatter. There is difference between flattering, encouraging, reinforcing and praising. Flattering or praising is not just to say something kind about a person. Praising is to glorify especially by the attribution of perfections. Flattering is to praise excessively especially from motives of self-interest. Admiring someone or and encouraging him is not bad if done in the right way but praising someone in front of him/her is not something good because mostly people do it to make a good impression upon that person for their vested interest. That interest could even be seeking good behavior or remarks in return. Flattery makes a person flustered to the extent that in return he cannot see the mistakes of the flatterer. In this article we shall know that such type of person is disliked not only by Allah and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمbut he is looked down upon all. Such like people are mostly interpreted in Islamic History as “munafiq” due to resemblance of their acts with munafiqeen.