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This content has been automatically translated. View original in Arabic
Two million followers.. pride or affliction?
Personal Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/EyadQunaibi ===== Twitter account https://twitter.com/Dr_EyadQun
Personal Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/EyadQunaibi ===== Twitter account https://twitter.com/Dr_EyadQun
One of the followers drew my attention to the fact that our YouTube channel has reached two million subscribers, and he said to me, "Wouldn’t you like to address your followers on this occasion?"
Yes, I do want to address them. You might expect this message to be a celebration of the milestone and an expression of gratitude for your trust, along with a promise to continue delivering engaging and beneficial content. But no, my brothers and sisters, because there are far more important messages to convey.
The first message is that a large following does not mean the channel owner is correct, better than others without such a following, or that his opinions are valid, nor does it mean he holds any special status with God. A large following is a trust—a heavy one—and a trial. It can either be added to your balance of good deeds or become a burden in your balance of sins. What determines whether it is a blessing or a misfortune is the nature of the content you provide and the intention behind it.
In fact, fame and a large following often lead to more errors and straying from the truth. Why? Because the famous person—who is widely followed—feels compelled to comment on every event and news item. Followers provoke them into doing so, and if they do not declare a position, their silence itself is considered a stance.
Most celebrities lack the knowledge required to take an appropriate stance on matters. Events are numerous, my brothers and sisters, and commenting on them often requires deep religious knowledge, wisdom, understanding of history, and a thorough grasp of reality.
As for myself, I am well aware that I do not possess all of this to take a stance on every event. Many celebrities take positions on everything without sufficient maturity. Then, when someone else criticizes them, they become defensive, and their sole concern becomes proving that they were right—even if it later becomes clear that they were wrong. In doing so, they mislead themselves and others.
It is not possible for them to delete a post that garnered thousands of likes. How many celebrities have you seen publish something, then retract it, or insult someone and later apologize by saying, "By God, it has become clear that I was mistaken, and I am sorry, so-and-so. I seek your forgiveness"? Such cases exist, my brothers and sisters, but they are rare.
A large following often leads to misguidance when piety is weakened, because fame is a trial, my brothers and sisters. It is welcomed wherever it goes, people point to you, and they want to be seen with you. The wealthy and dignitaries invite you, and even doctors refuse to charge you for consultations. Gifts come your way.
All of this begins to seep into your intentions, consciously or unconsciously, before you write or publish anything. You do so to maintain your status and out of fear and dread of people turning against you. How many celebrities have become slaves to their followers because of this? They publish what pleases them, making their praise their primary concern before they even begin to write or speak.
Do not expect their words to be blessed, upholding the truth and suppressing falsehood, or fearing no blame for the sake of God. No one is immune to this slip except by the grace of God the Exalted, followed by the struggle against the self and the renewal of intention in every deed.
The second message is for you, the followers: do not be deceived by numbers, and do not measure truth by the size of a following. If you find in my words—or the words of others—what aligns with the Book of God and the Sunnah of His Messenger peace be upon him, then take it. If you find otherwise, disregard it completely.
"O you who have believed, fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice. He will [then] amend for you your deeds and forgive you your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly attained a great attainment." (Quran 33:70-71)
We are merely a means to convey beneficial knowledge. If we deviate from the path, do not follow us. Do not sanctify individuals or elevate them above their human status, for we are all fallible, and the best of the fallible are those who repent.
In conclusion, I ask God the Exalted to make this channel a source of evidence in our favor, not against us, and to grant us sincerity in our words and deeds. I ask Him to protect us from the trial of fame and the love of showing off, which breaks the backs of those who succumb to it.
I thank everyone who has advised me and alerted me to any mistakes, for the believer is the mirror of his brother.
We ask God for steadfastness and success in what He loves and is pleased with. May God reward you for your good listening and following. Peace be upon you.