By Allaah! You cannot satisfy everyone

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

By Allaah! You cannot satisfy everyone – but that is still not a justification for you to lower your standards.

Some people feel that they can always get away with a person’s good manners and characteristics. Some of them consider a person’s moral values as his weakness of which they can take advantage of anytime.

Even the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was not spared by these people who have disease in their hearts and are deluded by their ideas. He صلى الله عليه وسلم would listen to the excuse of the person and would pardon him. For the Believers, this was a mercy from Allaah, but as for the hypocrites, it only increased them in arrogance.

Allaah تعالى mentions about the hypocrites and their attitude towards His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم saying:

{And among them are men who hurt the Prophet (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) and say: “He is (lending his) ear (to every news).” Say: “He listens to what is best for you; he believes in Allaah; has faith in the believers; and is a mercy to those of you who believe.” But those who hurt Allaah’s Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) will have a painful torment.} [Surah al-Tawbah (9): 61]

Imaam Ibn Katheer رحمه الله said:

“Allaah تعالى says that some hypocrites bother the Messenger of Allaah by questioning his character, saying:

{he is (lending his) ear}, meaning: he believes whoever talks to him; and whoever speaks to him about us, he believes him;. Therefore, if we went to him and swore (and presented our excuse), he would believe us. Similar was reported from Ibn `Abbaas رضي الله عنهما, Mujaahid and Qataadah.

Allaah تعالى said:

{Say: “He listens to what is best for you”} he knows who’s saying the truth and who is lying,

{he believes in Allaah; has faith in the believers} he believes (the speech of) the believers,

{and is a mercy to those of you who believe”}, and a proof against the disbelievers,

{But those who annoy Allaah's Messenger, will have a painful torment}”

--end of quote

So let not the people’s reaction be the determining factor for your behavior.