Is your loyalty towards Allaah or the people?
Mu`aawiyah رضي الله عنه wrote to the mother of the believers, `Aaishah رضي الله عنها, asking her to write to him some advice but not making it lengthy. So, `Aaishah رضي الله عنها wrote:
“Assalaamu Alaik. To proceed… I heard the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم saying,
❝Whoever seeks the pleasure of Allaah while the people are displeased; then Allaah will protect him from the troubles caused by the people. And whosoever seeks the pleasure of the people while displeasing Allaah; then Allaah will leave his matter for the people (i.e. Allaah will not protect him from the harms of the people)❞
[Tirmidhi # 2414. Authenticated by Shaykh Al-Albaanee in as-Saheehah # 2311]