Lesson sixty :Neither flattery ,nor envy

Imam Ali( A. S. )said:

الثَناءُ بِأَكْثَرَ مِنَ الاسْتِحْقاقِ مَلَقٌ و التَّقْصِيرُ مِنَ الأسْتِحْقاقِ عَىٌّ أَوْ حَسَدٌ

Translation

Praise and commendation more than merit and desert is flattery and less than merit is either debility in expression or envy..

Brief description

Undoubtedly, the worthy individuals and their good attributes and deeds should be praised and appreciated, and in this way we shall encourage and support them in the way they are proceeding.

But this should be exactly in accordance with the merit of individuals. Otherwise, it would have negative and harmful consequences. If it is more than merit, is called flattery both hurting the dignity of speaker and also causing self- conceit and self- admiration of the doers. And if it is less than merit, discourages the good doers and shows envy or debility of speaker.