MARDHOTILLAH VS. RIDWANILLAH

If many Muslims are asked, "What is the purpose of your worship?" they often answer, "For mardhotillah." When asked further what mardhotillah means, they say, "To attain the pleasure of Allah."

But then, why not use the term ridwanillah? Many feel confused or unfamiliar with that term; perhaps because the word "Ridwan" is more commonly used as a person's name rather than a daily vocabulary word.

Did you know that both Mardho and Ridhwan originate from the same root words: "Rho – Dho", which means to be pleased, to accept, and to express satisfaction.

In the word Mardho, there is an additional letter "Mim" at the beginning, whereas in Ridhwan, there are additional letters "Wau" and "Nun" at the end.

The Meaning of Mardhotillah

In our previous lesson, we learned that an additional "Mim" at the beginning of a word often signifies the involvement of a "created being" (human), whether male or female. Therefore, Mardho essentially refers to "Human Pleasure." However, when the suffix "tillah" is added to become "mardhotillah", the meaning becomes "The Pleasure of both Humans and Allah."

Consider the following verse:

۞لَّا خَيۡرَ فِي كَثِيرٖ مِّن نَّجۡوَىٰهُمۡ إِلَّا مَنۡ أَمَرَ بِصَدَقَةٍ أَوۡ مَعۡرُوفٍ أَوۡ إِصۡلَٰحِۢ بَيۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِۚ وَمَن يَفۡعَلۡ ذَٰلِكَ ٱبۡتِغَآءَ مَرۡضَاتِ ٱللَّهِ فَسَوۡفَ نُؤۡتِيهِ أَجۡرًا عَظِيمٗا

"No good is there in much of their private conversation, except for those who enjoin charity or that which is right or conciliation between people. And whoever does that seeking means to the approval of Allah (mardhotillah) - then We are going to give him a great reward." (QS. An-Nisa: 114)

In the final part of this verse, the word "Mardhotillah" is used. The context involves human interaction, whispering or advising others to give charity, do good, or make peace between people.

Another example:

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ لِمَ تُحَرِّمُ مَآ أَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ لَكَۖ تَبۡتَغِي مَرۡضَاتَ أَزۡوَٰجِكَۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٞ

"O Prophet, why do you prohibit [yourself from] what Allah has made lawful for you, seeking the approval of your wives (mardhota azwajika)? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." (QS. At-Tahrim: 1)

In this verse, the phrase used is "mardhota azwajika", meaning "the pleasure/approval of your wives." It is very clear here that the word mardho involves humans, in this case, the wives of the Prophet.

The Meaning of Ridhwanillah

On the other hand, the word Ridwan does not have the additional "mim," meaning there is no human involvement or horizontal context. The addition of "wau" and "nun" (forming the fa’lan pattern from the root ridho) creates an objective emphasis. This form is specialized and belongs exclusively to Allah, similar to the word "Rahman" which we have studied before.

Observe this verse:

لِلۡفُقَرَآءِ ٱلۡمُهَٰجِرِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُخۡرِجُواْ مِن دِيَٰرِهِمۡ وَأَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡ يَبۡتَغُونَ فَضۡلٗا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضۡوَٰنٗا وَيَنصُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلصَّٰدِقُونَ

"[It is also] for the poor emigrants who were expelled from their homes and their properties, seeking bounty from Allah and [His] pleasure (ridhwanan) and supporting Allah and His Messenger. Those are the truthful." (QS. Al-Hasyr: 8)

In this verse, the word mardho is not used. Instead, it uses "ridhwan" because the context speaks of the Muhajirin (emigrants) who left all their worldly possessions solely for Allah and to help His Messenger. Allah calls those who seek this ridhwan the "truthful ones."

Furthermore:

ثُمَّ قَفَّيۡنَا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَٰرِهِم بِرُسُلِنَا وَقَفَّيۡنَا بِعِيسَى ٱبۡنِ مَرۡيَمَ وَءَاتَيۡنَٰهُ ٱلۡإِنجِيلَۖ وَجَعَلۡنَا فِي قُلُوبِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُ رَأۡفَةٗ وَرَحۡمَةٗۚ وَرَهۡبَانِيَّةً ٱبۡتَدَعُوهَا مَا كَتَبۡنَٰهَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ إِلَّا ٱبۡتِغَآءَ رِضۡوَٰنِ ٱللَّهِ فَمَا رَعَوۡهَا حَقَّ رِعَايَتِهَاۖ فََٔاتَيۡنَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مِنۡهُمۡ أَجۡرَهُمۡۖ وَكَثِيرٞ مِّنۡهُمۡ فَٰسِقُونَ

“Then We sent Our messengers in their footsteps, and We sent Jesus, son of Mary, and We gave him the Gospel and We put kindness and compassion in the hearts of those who followed him. They invented monasticism, while We did not make it obligatory upon them (which We made obligatory) except to seek the pleasure of Allah, but they did not guard it properly. So We gave those of them who believed their reward, and many of them were wicked.” (QS. Al-Hadid: 27)

In this verse, Allah attributes "ridhwanillah" to those who follow the footsteps of the messengers and those who believe.

۞قُلۡ أَؤُنَبِّئُكُم بِخَيۡرٖ مِّن ذَٰلِكُمۡۖ لِلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوۡاْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ جَنَّٰتٞ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا وَأَزۡوَٰجٞ مُّطَهَّرَةٞ وَرِضۡوَٰنٞ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱللَّهُ بَصِيرُۢ بِٱلۡعِبَادِ

"Say, 'Shall I inform you of [something] better than that? For those who fear Allah will be gardens in the presence of their Lord beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally, and purified spouses and approval from Allah (ridhwanum minallah). And Allah is Seeing of [His] servants.'" (QS. Al-Imran: 15)

Here, Allah grants "ridhwan" to those with taqwa (God-consciousness), alongside Paradise and purified spouses.

Finally, did you know that "ridhwan" is the greatest delight in the afterlife, exceeding even the pleasures of Paradise?

وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتِ جَنَّٰتٖ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا وَمَسَٰكِنَ طَيِّبَةٗ فِي جَنَّٰتِ عَدۡنٖۚ وَرِضۡوَٰنٞ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ أَكۡبَرُۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ

"Allah has promised the believing men and believing women gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally, and pleasant dwellings in gardens of perpetual residence; but approval from Allah (ridhwanum minallah) is greater. It is that which is the great attainment." (QS. At-Taubah: 72)

@AbuMusa2025