--- title: 'Fear People Not, Fear Me | #Step | Episode 6' source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=IYBTf6wmFCw' video_id: 'IYBTf6wmFCw' date: 2026-08-04 duration_sec: 285 --- # Fear People Not, Fear Me | #Step | Episode 6 > Source: [Fear People Not, Fear Me | #Step | Episode 6](https://youtube.com/watch?v=IYBTf6wmFCw) ## Summary This video is a motivational talk that uses the classic story of Juha, his son, and the donkey to illustrate the futility of trying to please everyone. The speaker argues that fear of others' opinions prevents people from pursuing their dreams, expressing feelings, and even doing the right thing, and urges viewers to overcome this fear by focusing on God's approval rather than human judgment. ### Key Points - **People are never satisfied** [00:03] — The speaker introduces the core idea that people are never satisfied with anything you do, quoting a saying: 'He who lives by praising people will eventually criticize them.' - **The story of Juha, his son, and the donkey** [00:18] — The speaker recounts a story his grandfather told him: Juha tries to please everyone by changing who rides the donkey, but each choice draws criticism, until he and his son carry the donkey, and people mock them for that too. - **The lesson: you can't please everyone** [01:54] — The story's moral is that no matter what you do, you'll never please everyone. This understanding can make you one of the most successful people in life. - **Fear of judgment holds us back** [02:09] — Most people are afraid to express feelings, share ambitions, or start projects because they fear what others will think. Even doing the right thing, like praying, can be hindered by fear of mockery. - **Fear God, not people** [03:19] — The speaker cites the Quranic verse 'So do not fear the people, but fear Me' to emphasize that the only one to fear is God, not humans. - **People forget and eventually applaud success** [03:47] — Those who mock you will forget you once you're out of sight, and when they see your persistence and success, they'll start applauding you. - **Take the step today** [04:13] — The speaker concludes by urging viewers to start today, take a small step, and not wait for others' approval, as long as they're not doing anything wrong or forbidden. ### Conclusion The video's final takeaway is to stop seeking validation from people, because they will never be satisfied, and instead focus on doing what is right and taking action, trusting that success will eventually earn their respect. ## Transcript People forget, and nothing in life ever satisfies them. That's why there's a saying I really love: "He who lives by praising people will eventually criticize them." So, if you're waiting for people's opinions to motivate you, believe me, you'll never accomplish anything in your life. There's a very beautiful story my grandfather, may God have mercy on him, used to tell me all the time. It's the story of Juha, his son, and the donkey. I don't know if you've heard it before, but let me both riding the donkey in this heat!" Juha got very upset and asked, "Why are they talking like that?" And they said that, so he said, "Okay, I'll get off the donkey and leave my son who's riding it, out of compassion for the donkey." So he let his son ride the donkey and walked beside him. But after they walked a little while, people started pointing and saying, "Look, look at the ill-mannered boy! The little boy is riding the donkey and leaving his old father to walk on foot in this heat!" So he got annoyed. "Even when I let my son ride and got off, you're still upset?" So he said, "Okay, I'll let the boy walk on the ground, and I'll [clear my throat] ride the donkey." So he got off the donkey and let his son walk beside him. They walked a little while, and people started to see what was happening. They started saying, "Look at the heartless man! The old man is riding the donkey and left his little son walking in this heat!" So he got really angry and donkey. We're both going to..." They picked up the donkey and walked with it. So they started walking, carrying the walking saw this and said, "Look, look at these two backward people! They're carrying the donkey in the sweltering heat instead of riding it!" What I want to tell you from this story—I'm telling you this story because you might already know it—is that no matter what you do, you'll never please everyone. This story, as funny as it seems, has a lesson, a sentence that, if you understand it, could make you one of the most successful people in life. It's that people will never be satisfied with anything you do. Most of the time, we're afraid to do many things because we're afraid of what people will think of us. We're afraid to express our feelings. I'm afraid to tell my friend that I love him, for fear that people will judge me and ask what the relationship is normal sentence for me to tell a friend that I love him. It's a very normal sentence, but people judge the sentence. You're afraid to say your ambition, your dream, and the thing you want to achieve, especially in front of your closest people, so they don't laugh at you. You're afraid to start doing something you love and are convinced of, even if something you love and are convinced of, even if it's wrong or forbidden, under the pretext that you're afraid they'll judge you. You're afraid, like, "Oh God, what will they say about me when I start doing this?" You know what's even bigger than that? Some people are afraid to do the right thing, even though they know it's right and there's nothing wrong with it, but they're afraid of people's opinions about it, afraid that people will comment on it. For example, there might be a young man our age who isn't committed to prayer, or who is inconsistent in his prayers, and he decides to pray. He might be afraid to pray just because his friends will say to him, "Hey, Sheikh, are you going to pray or what?" Hey teacher, did you convert to Islam? The things that were said might make him not pray at all, instead of praying. You might ask me, "Is it possible, young man, that people's opinions can affect us to this extent?" If you look at the situation, you'll find that the man didn't do anything extraordinary. He simply went to pray. See how people's opinions can affect us to this degree? That's why God Almighty says, "So do not fear the people, but fear Me." God Almighty is telling you in this verse that you shouldn't fear any human being. The only one you should fear is Me. So imagine that God Almighty, the Creator of the world and the universe, is telling you this. What is there to fear or forbidden? What is there to fear from starting something you love, whether it's a hobby, a project, or anything you desire? You're afraid to say what's inside you and express your feelings, afraid people will make fun of you. Well, people will make fun of you, but you know what the surprise is? The moment you're out of their sight, those same people will forget you. And when they see you persisting and determined in what you're doing, they'll start to get used to it. And as soon as they see you succeed, and the first signs of your success begin to appear, they'll start applauding you because you were right from the start. People have many problems in their lives, and believe me, no one is focused on you. Even those who are focused on you today will find someone else tomorrow. People forget, and nothing in life ever satisfies them. That's why there's a saying I really love: "He who lives by the praise of people will never be criticized by them." So, if you're waiting for people's opinions to motivate you, believe me, you'll never accomplish anything in your life. Start today and take a step, even if it's small, and always keep this saying in mind. Fear people and fear me, as long as you're not doing anything wrong or forbidden. Take the step and don't wrong or forbidden. Take the step and don't wait for anything.