How do I know if God is pleased with me?

This is one of the most profound and fundamental questions that any human being might ask themselves on their spiritual journey: How can I discern if Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, is pleased and satisfied with me? The answer to this question, though seemingly complex, becomes clear upon reflecting on the verses of the Holy Quran and the illuminated traditions (Sunnah) of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Attaining Allah's pleasure (Ridwan Allah) is the ultimate goal for every believer, and achieving it is considered the greatest success and salvation. This not only leads to eternal felicity in the hereafter but also brings tranquility, blessings, and a profound sense of inner contentment in one's worldly life. To understand divine pleasure, one must first look at their own actions, intentions, and inner states, measuring them against the divine criteria laid out in the Quran. The Holy Quran clearly delineates signs for humans through which they can ascertain their standing in relation to Allah's pleasure. The first and foremost sign is **sincere obedience to His commands and a diligent avoidance of His prohibitions.** When a person strives to ensure that every step they take, every word they utter, and every action they perform in their life aligns with the commands of Allah Almighty, and they diligently refrain from what He has forbidden, this in itself is a significant indicator of moving on the path of His pleasure. This obedience is not merely limited to individual acts of worship such as performing the five daily prayers at their prescribed times, fasting during the blessed month of Ramadan, paying Zakat (charity) and assisting those in need, or fulfilling the Hajj pilgrimage if able. Rather, it encompasses upholding the rights of others, practicing justice and fairness, being truthful in speech and conduct, maintaining trusts, showing kindness and benevolence towards parents and neighbors, and avoiding any form of oppression or corruption. The Holy Quran states: "And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly attained a great attainment" (Al-Ahzab, 33:71). This "great attainment" is nothing other than achieving the pleasure of Allah and, consequently, entering Paradise and a blessed eternal life. This obedience signifies true faith and a complete surrender of the heart to the divine will, which is highly pleasing to the Almighty. **Beautiful patience (Sabr Jameel) and continuous gratitude (Shukr)** are two other pillars and prominent signs of Allah's pleasure. In life, every human being undoubtedly faces numerous ups and downs: loss of loved ones, illness, financial difficulties, and other adversities. When one exercises patience and endurance in the face of hardships and calamities, refrains from complaining, and instead trusts in Allah's wisdom and divine decree; and when one is grateful for Allah's countless blessings—both small and great—and utilizes them in ways that please Him and serve His creation, these are all strong indications of Allah's pleasure with that individual. Allah states in the Glorious Quran: "And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient" (Al-Baqarah, 2:155). And in another verse: "If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe" (Ibrahim, 14:7). Patience in the face of adversity is a sign of unwavering faith and deep reliance on divine wisdom and grace, while gratitude signifies appreciation for the boundless benevolence of the Lord and the proper utilization of His bounties. Both these qualities, being among the "grateful" (Shakirin) and "patient" (Sabirin), are beloved to Allah, and whoever possesses them is certainly blessed with His immense favor, mercy, and pleasure. **A profound sense of inner peace and tranquility of the heart (Itminan)** is one of the most beautiful and tangible signs of divine pleasure that settles within the believer's heart. When a person's heart is freed from worldly anxieties and worries and finds solace and calm in the remembrance of Allah Almighty—as the Quran proclaims: "Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured" (Ar-Ra'd, 13:28)—this itself is a powerful sign that they are on the right path. A peace that emanates from the depths of one's being and remains unshaken by external commotions and adversities signifies the soul's connection to the origin of existence and its reception of divine grace. Such tranquility is a reward that Allah bestows upon His worthy servants who walk in His path. This inner state acts as a spiritual compass, guiding us and affirming that we are moving within the sphere of Allah's pleasure. **Divine facilitation in performing good deeds and aversion to sins** are also clear signs of Allah's pleasure. Sometimes, a person clearly feels that performing good deeds, showing kindness to others, and striving in the path of Allah's pleasure have become easy and enjoyable for them, and they naturally gravitate towards righteousness. Conversely, committing sins and undesirable behaviors become difficult, unpleasant, and even repulsive to them. This divine facilitation, meaning the opening of paths to goodness and the closing of paths to evil for the servant, comes directly from Allah Almighty. If Allah is pleased with someone, He assists them in the path of goodness, guides them, and removes obstacles to sin from their way. This implies that Allah holds their hand and directs them towards perfection, purity, and divine proximity. This "ease in good deeds" itself is a sign of the boundless grace and pleasure of the Lord. Finally, **acceptance and true reliance (Tawakkul) on divine decree (Qada' and Qadar)** and **continuous seeking of forgiveness (Istighfar) and repentance (Tawbah),** even after performing good deeds, are of immense importance. When a person intelligently understands that everything that occurs in the universe happens according to divine wisdom, knowledge, and planning, and knowing this, entrusts their heart to Allah, submits to His will, and is content with His decree, this reliance and submission demonstrate the depth of their faith and Allah's pleasure with them. This state helps individuals not to fall into despair, anxiety, or hopelessness when faced with unforeseen events, but rather to overcome them with hope in Allah's grace and to learn from them. Furthermore, no human being is infallible, and all of us may err and commit sins. However, one who constantly turns back to Allah, repents sincerely for their sins, is beloved to Allah. "Indeed, Allah loves those who repent and loves those who purify themselves" (Al-Baqarah, 2:222). This remorse and repeated return to the truth is a sign of a living heart, an awakened conscience, and readiness to receive divine mercy and pleasure. This itself bears witness that the servant is constantly striving to compensate for their deficiencies and to draw closer to the desired perfection and divine proximity. In summary, the pleasure of Allah Almighty is an outcome that manifests itself in a person's life through a harmonious combination of righteous deeds, good moral qualities, pure intentions, and positive inner states. It is not a fixed destination that we reach and then cease to strive; rather, it is a continuous and perpetual journey on the path of perfection, proximity, and self-purification. A person should never cease striving to improve, purify their soul, and earn divine pleasure. When we find these divine signs within ourselves, we can be hopeful that we are indeed walking on the path of Allah's pleasure, and that Allah, by His grace and generosity, is pleased with us. What is crucial is to always perform all our actions with sincerity and pure intention, solely for the sake of gaining His pleasure, not for show-off or transient worldly gains. Divine pleasure is an immense blessing and an incomparable reward that is achieved only through inner and outer striving, self-reflection, and continuous accountability. Thus, by looking deeply within, by rectifying our intentions, and by diligently and steadfastly adhering to divine commands, we can observe the signs of this pleasure in our lives and, by Allah's grace, be among those who are pleased by their Lord in this world and the Hereafter, and they are pleased with Him. This is the greatest achievement for any human being.