Fame and Humility: Is Public Recognition Always a Blessing?

Reykjavík, Iceland | Tuesday, 20 October 2026

During our recent visit to Iceland in the company of Shaykh al-Islam Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani Sahib حفظه الله, we were fortunate to benefit from several informal gatherings in which Hazrat shared valuable spiritual reminders.

One such occasion took place during breakfast at Hotel Óðinsvé in Reykjavík.

Hazrat was seated with his family and some companions, while several Ulama had gathered nearby. The conversation turned to Hazrat's extensive travels around the world.

Someone mentioned that Hazrat had visited approximately 92 or 93 countries, with Iceland possibly being his 92nd. There was some discussion about whether arrangements could be made for him to visit enough additional countries to reach the remarkable milestone of 100.

Naturally, the conversation moved towards the tremendous love, affection and respect people have for Hazrat wherever he travels.

When Even Sitting in the Haram Becomes Difficult

During the conversation, Hazrat mentioned an interesting challenge he faces when visiting Makkah Mukarramah and Madinah Munawwarah.

Because so many people recognise him and wish to meet him, it can become difficult for him to sit peacefully in the Haramain.

Whenever he sits down, people approach him for Mulaqat (to meet him, greet him, shake his hand or simply spend a few moments in his company).

Naturally, these people approach him out of genuine love and respect. For many, the opportunity to meet a scholar whom they have admired for years is something very special.

However, Hazrat explained that the constant stream of visitors can make it difficult to find uninterrupted time for worship and personal devotion.

Even when he returns to his hotel, people sometimes come to meet him there.

This was a particularly revealing observation.

For most of us, visiting the Haramain is an opportunity to withdraw from the distractions of everyday life and devote ourselves to Salah, Tilawah, Dhikr and Du'a.

Yet for someone as widely recognised as Hazrat, even finding a quiet place to sit in the Haram can become a challenge.

What others may regard as a tremendous honour - being recognised, loved and approached by countless people - can also become a considerable personal responsibility and spiritual test.

It was in this context that Hazrat turned the conversation towards the dangers of fame and recognition.

An Amazing Letter of Love & Devotion

During the discussion, Hazrat recalled a letter he had once received from someone expressing extraordinary love and affection towards him.

The writer had said, in effect:

"If I had only two days left to live, I would spend the first day making Du'a for you. I would spend the second day praying that Allah raises people who will continue making Du'a for you."

It was an extraordinary expression of devotion.

Yet what followed was even more remarkable.

Rather than dwelling on the admiration people had for him, Hazrat turned the conversation towards the spiritual dangers of receiving such recognition.

A Beautiful and Thought-Provoking Couplet

Hazrat recited the following couplet:

میرے پیچھے ہر آن یہ خلقت کا ہجوم

اب خدا جانے یہ عزت ہے یا رسوائی

At every moment, crowds of people follow behind me;

Only Allah knows whether this is an honour or a humiliation.

These two lines contain a profound lesson.

A person may be surrounded by admirers, receive invitations, enjoy popularity and be treated with tremendous respect. Yet none of these things necessarily tells us what their position is before Allah.

What appears to be honour in the eyes of people may also be a test of sincerity.

Hazrat explained the danger of Hubb al-Jah (حب الجاه) - the love of status, position and recognition - and Hubb al-Shuhrah (حب الشهرة) - the love of fame.

When people repeatedly praise us, seek our company or express admiration, there is a danger that our hearts may gradually become attached to such attention.

We may begin to think about how many people respect us, how important we have become, or how much influence we possess.

Such thoughts can open the door to self-admiration, pride and a sense of personal importance.

The danger is particularly subtle because the admiration itself may be entirely genuine. The spiritual test lies in how our hearts respond to it.

Two Hungry Wolves

Hazrat then referred to a powerful Hadith of Rasulullah ﷺ:

مَا ذِئْبَانِ جَائِعَانِ أُرْسِلَا فِي غَنَمٍ بِأَفْسَدَ لَهَا مِنْ حِرْصِ الْمَرْءِ عَلَى الْمَالِ وَالشَّرَفِ لِدِينِهِ

"Two hungry wolves let loose among a flock of sheep are not more destructive to it than a person's greed for wealth and status is to his religion." (Jami' al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2376)

Consider the imagery.

Two hungry wolves are released into a flock of helpless sheep. The destruction they cause would be considerable.

Yet Rasulullah ﷺ teaches us that the excessive desire for wealth and status can be even more destructive to a person's Deen.

We often recognise the dangers associated with excessive love of wealth. However, the desire for recognition can be equally dangerous, and sometimes much harder to identify within ourselves.

A person may not seek money or material possessions, yet may still crave appreciation, influence, titles, prominence or the admiration of others.

Even religious and charitable work can become an opportunity for the Nafs if we begin to seek recognition rather than the pleasure of Allah.

The Difference Between Receiving Respect and Seeking It

An important distinction emerges from Hazrat's advice.

There is nothing inherently wrong with people loving, respecting or appreciating someone. Indeed, the affection shown towards scholars, teachers, parents and those who serve others can be entirely appropriate.

The danger arises when receiving respect becomes an attachment, and gaining recognition becomes an objective.

This is something all of us need to consider, regardless of our position.

Whether we are scholars, community leaders, charity trustees, professionals, teachers or simply active members of our communities, we may encounter situations where our work receives praise and appreciation.

At such moments, we should ask ourselves:

• Would I continue doing this work if nobody recognised or thanked me?
• Do I feel disappointed when someone else receives the appreciation?
• Am I more concerned about how people see me than how Allah sees me?

These questions can help us examine our intentions and guard against the subtle influence of the Nafs.

A Lesson I Took Away

For me, there were so many lessons in this brief breakfast conversation, in particular the contrast between how others viewed Hazrat and how he spoke about himself.

Those around him were discussing his notable travels, the affection people have for him and the possibility of reaching 100 countries.

Yet Hazrat used that very conversation to remind us of the danger of becoming attached to fame and recognition.

His couplet brought the entire discussion back to one fundamental reality:

The admiration of people is not the measure of our success.

The number of followers on social media is not the criterion of acceptance.

What ultimately matters is our standing before Allah.

We may never know whether the recognition we receive is a blessing, a test or something that has begun to harm our sincerity.

What we can do is continually examine our hearts, renew our intentions and seek Allah's protection from pride and self-admiration.

May Allah Ta'ala grant Hazrat continued health and well-being, preserve his beneficial guidance for the Ummah, and protect all of us from the destructive love of wealth, fame and status.

Ameen.

This reflection is based on notes from an informal breakfast gathering with Shaykh al-Islam Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani Sahib حفظه الله in Reykjavík on 20 October 2026. Hazrat's poetry and the Hadith are reproduced from the recorded notes; the personal reflections and applications are my own.