Sahih Muslim , Book 50, Hadith 40 (In-Book) ⓘ
Abdullah b. Mas'ud reported that Allah's Messenger said: None loves one's own praise more than Allah, the Exalted and Glurious, does. It is because of this that He has praised Himself, and none is more self-respecting than Allah and it is because of this that He has prohibited abominable acts and there is none who is more anxious to accept the apologies of the people than Allah Himself and it is because of this that He has revealed the Book and sent the Messengers.
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ الْمَدْحُ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ مَدَحَ نَفْسَهُ وَلَيْسَ أَحَدٌ أَغْيَرَ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ حَرَّمَ الْفَوَاحِشَ وَلَيْسَ أَحَدٌ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ الْعُذْرُ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ أَنْزَلَ الْكِتَابَ وَأَرْسَلَ الرُّسُلَ " .
also referenced under: Hadith 2760 (Reference) & Book 37, Hadith 6648 (USC-MSA)