We live in a time where visibility is equated with value. A time when a post, a picture, a video, or a few words can instantly become a public measure of worth   not because it’s meaningful, but because it’s seen. In a world ruled by follower counts and likes, self-worth can easily become tied to numbers, not character. Applause, not sincerity. Popularity, not piety.

But in Islam, value is not measured by how many people acknowledge you   it’s measured by how deeply Allah accepts you.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Allah does not look at your outward appearance or your wealth, but He looks at your hearts and deeds.”
 Sahih Muslim

A believer’s true rank is not in how many people approve of them   but in how much Allah loves them. Not in who follows them   but in how closely they follow Him.

 

 

POPULARITY FADES, BUT GOOD DEEDS REMAIN FOREVER

One of the greatest deceptions of modern life is the illusion of permanence. Social media makes you feel like the world is watching   but it forgets in seconds. A trend today is forgotten tomorrow. What goes viral dies just as fast.

But what you do for Allah never dies.

A sincere deed does not need an audience. It does not need a platform. It does not need to be shared, exposed, or liked. It only needs purity of heart and intention. A single act done for Allah   feeding someone, praying in the night, forgiving someone quietly   may be worth more on the Day of Judgment than a thousand public achievements.

And that day will come. The day when no title, no follower count, no admiration matters   only deeds done for His sake.

 

 

THE DANGER OF LIVING FOR PEOPLE’S APPROVAL

When we start living for validation, we lose ourselves. We begin shaping our behavior around what people want to see   not what Allah wants to see. We speak for attention, not benefit. We act for praise, not piety. We compare our lives to others while forgetting that Allah made us unique.

That’s why seeking people’s praise is a spiritual trap. It’s not just a distraction   it’s a subtle form of slavery. When your happiness depends on someone else’s reaction, you’ve handed over your self-worth.

Allah warns us:

“Whoever desires the life of this world and its adornments   We will fully repay them for their deeds therein, and they will not be deprived. But those are the ones for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter except the Fire.”
Surah Hud (11:15–16)

If all we seek is dunya approval   that may be all we get. And what a loss that would be   to gain temporary praise, but lose eternal reward.

YOUR WORTH IS WHAT YOU ARE WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING

The most beautiful deeds are often the ones no one sees. The sujood in silence. The charity done secretly. The tears shed in repentance. The struggle to do good when no one will ever know.

These are the deeds that angels record. These are the deeds that purify the heart. These are the deeds that build your palace in Jannah. They don’t get likes   but they get light.

And the believer knows:
It is better to be unknown on Earth but accepted in Heaven, than to be praised here but forgotten there.

THE BEST PEOPLE ARE THOSE WHO ARE KNOWN BY ALLAH   EVEN IF FORGOTTEN BY PEOPLE

In Islam, success isn’t measured by applause   it’s measured by sincerity. The most beloved people to Allah are often the ones nobody ever knew. Their lives were hidden from the world   but wide open to Him.

In one famous hadith, the Prophet ﷺ described a man with dust on his clothes, messy hair, no status or wealth in society   someone overlooked by people. But the Prophet said:

“If he were to swear by Allah, Allah would fulfill it.”
 Sahih Muslim

Why? Because his worth wasn’t in society   it was in sincerity.

 

 

WHO DO YOU WANT TO IMPRESS  THE WORLD, OR THE ONE WHO CREATED IT?

At every moment, we get to choose whom we are performing for. We can choose a temporary audience   or an eternal One. We can chase visibility   or we can build quiet, lasting value with Allah.

Every time you choose a hidden good deed over a public one, every time you seek Allah’s approval over people’s, you are choosing a life of real honor. The Day of Judgment will not expose your follower count   but it will expose your intentions.

 

 

HOW TO LIVE A LIFE MEASURED IN DEEDS, NOT LIKES

Stop asking: “Will people see this?”
Start asking: “Will Allah accept this?”

Do the good that no one knows about. Say yes to sincerity and no to show. Build your worth by building your hereafter. Serve quietly. Pray deeply. Give secretly. Forgive even when no one applauds it.

A believer’s goal is not to be famous in dunya   but to be recognized by Allah and His angels in the next life.

 

 

CONCLUSION

A Muslim’s worth is not defined by attention   it is defined by intention. Not by how much they are seen  but by how purely they act. The world may forget you. But every sincere act you do for Allah is written, multiplied, and preserved forever.

So walk a path of purpose, not performance. Be more concerned with being righteous than being recognized. Let your good deeds outlive your name. And remember: Allah sees you, even when no one else does   and His approval is the only approval that leads to Paradise.

May Allah make us people of sincerity, depth, and quiet deeds   seen by Him, accepted by Him, and rewarded by Him.
Ameen.