Q. A friend of mine argues that it is not permissible in Islam to praise someone to his face. Others argue that such praise encourages him to do more good. Moreover, medals, awards and certificates of appreciation are given by different bodies in appreciation of good work done by different people. Please comment.
G. Nabi, Madinah
A. There is no doubt that Islam does not encourage praise to one’s face in public. Some people may begin to feel that they are superior to others when they are praised time after time for their good work. Moreover, praise is shunned when it is offered to a governor, ruler, or a person in authority, even one’s superior at work. That is because in most cases the praise is made for ulterior motives, or to win favor with the person who is so praised. There is often an element of hypocrisy in such praise.
On the other hand, when a person praises another in private with the intention to encourage him to do more good actions, and without any personal or ulterior motive, then that is acceptable. People do like to feel appreciated. If such appreciation will encourage a person to do more good work, and there is no question of hypocrisy in the matter, then praising a person for the qualities he certainly has is appropriate. The point concerning medals and awards does not come in the same category, because that is a gesture of appreciation, not praise.
Q. If the imam in a congregational prayer is in his second rakaah when we arrive and we know that he reads a long passage of the Qur’an, is it right that a newcomer starts with his first rakaah alone and when he has completed it, he joins up with the congregation in their second rakaah. My wife tells me that in one of your earlier replies you said that this is possible.
N. Ahmad, Jeddah
A. Either I was not clear in an earlier answer or your wife misunderstood what I said. It is not possible to join the imam during one’s own prayer. When we join a congregation we initiate our prayer and join the imam immediately. If he has finished one rakaah or more before we join, we complete our prayer after he has finished. This is the only correct way.
Arab News Islam 3 January 2003
