No one likes to hear those words. We have all experienced those very sad days when we hear that someone who we thought was close to us and loved us actually dislikes us. Or the day that we find out that someone has been saying hurtful things behind our back. The reality is that this is how mankind is: very unpredictable. One day someone may love you and the next they may hate you.
So how does a Muslim find contentment with all this unpredictability? The answer is very simple
The only thing that we truly need to fret about is whether or not Allah loves us. If our relationship with Allah is great, we will easily realize that it really doesn't matter whether an individual loves us (or likes us) or not.
And the great thing about seeking Allah's love is that if Allah loves us, then people will automatically love us. Consider this:
The Prophet (salallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: "When Allah loves a slave, He calls [the angel] Jibril and says: `I love so-and-so; so love him.' And then Jibril loves him. Then he (Jibril) announces in the heavens saying: Allah loves so-and-so; so love him; and the inhabitants of the heavens also love him; and then people on earth also love him..."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
So, seek Allah's love and you will find that you will not have to seek the love or praise of anyone else. And that, my brothers and sisters, is how we find contentment and tranquility in this life of ours :)
