Pride, arrogance and self-admiration

Pride and Arrogance:

Allaah, Almighty, Says (what means): “I will turn away from My Ayaat (verses of the Quran) those who behave arrogantly on the earth, without a right, and (even) if they see all the Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons signs, revelations, etc.), they will not believe in them...” [Quran; 7:146] and (what means) “... truly He likes not the proud.” [Quran; 16:23]

 

The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: "He who has in his heart the weight of an atom of pride shall not enter Paradise." [Muslim]

 

The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, also said: "The Fire complained saying: 'I am the dwelling of the arrogant and the tyrants'." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

 

Al-Bukhaari and Muslim, may Allaah have mercy upon them, also reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: "Allaah will not look on the Day of Judgment at him who drags his robe (behind him) out of pride."

Then, Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: "O Messenger of Allaah, one side of my robe slacks down but I am very cautious about it (i.e. I raise it)." Thereupon, the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: "But you do not do that out of pride"

 

Pride is an inner bad moral that makes the afflicted with it see himself "above" the others due to the perfect qualities and attributes that he "believes" to have.

 

This is a very dangerous flaw that afflicts so many people, even some ascetics, scholars, and worshipers of Allaah. Surely it is so dangerous because the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, stated that he who has in his heart the weight of an atom of pride will not enter Paradise.

 

Pride deprives the prideful person from Paradise because it prevents him from acquiring the qualities of the believers, for he cannot like for the believers that which he likes for himself, nor can he be humble, or avoid animosity, envy, or wrath, or restrain his anger, or accept good advice, or refrain from despising and backbiting people. In short, he is subject to all blameworthy morals.

 

Among the worst forms of pride is that which prevents man from benefiting from knowledge, accepting the truth and complying with it.

 

However, a prideful person may have some knowledge, but his prideful soul does not let him comply with the truth, as Allaah, The Almighty, Says (what means) “And they denied them those (Ayaat) wrongfully and arrogantly though their ownselves were convinced thereof...” [Quran, 27:14]

 

And (what means): “They said: Shall we believe in two men like ourselves…?"[Quran; 23:47]

 

And also (what means): “You are no more than human beings like us!”[Quran; 14:10]

 

The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, explained the meaning of pride when he said: “Pride is to disdain the truth (out of self-conceit) and contempt people." [Muslim]

 

The Degrees of Pride:

As far as pride is concerned, scholars and worshipers of Allaah are of three degrees:

 

The first degree is that pride is inculcated in the heart of any of them, so he sees himself better than the others, but he tries to rectify himself and act humbly.

 

The second degree is that any prideful person among them shows pride and arrogance in public sittings through such acts as proving how he is more excellent than his counterparts and devaluating whoever does not show him respect.

 

The third degree is that he shows pride and arrogance through words; for example, he may show how proud he is of himself, his accomplishments, his lineage, etc., aiming to show how he is better and more significant than the others or than a certain person.

 

Some qualities of the prideful person:

1. He likes that people should stand up for him, whether on his coming or while he is sitting. However, the Muslim scholars view that it is recommendable to stand up for parents, just rulers, and virtuous people.

2. He does not walk except with someone walking behind him.

3. He does not visit anyone because he feels that he is better than people (and thus it is they who should pay him visits.)

4. He does not like that anyone should sit or walk beside him.

5. He refuses to carry even his own belongings under any circumstances.

6. He does not help his wife in any of the house affairs, contradicting what the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, used to do.

How to remedy pride and acquire humbleness:

The remedy of pride, which is also a means to require humbleness, mainly depends on the removing of its source from the heart. This requires that the prideful person should know himself and his Lord.

 

By knowing himself, he realizes that he should never have been prideful. It is sufficient for him to know that "clay" is the origin of his existence then he was created out of a sperm that came out of the same place where urine comes out of the body, then out of a clot of blood, then out of a morsel of flesh, then he was given life, along with the gifts of hearing, sight, and understanding. Allaah, the Almighty, refers to this fact in the Quran, saying (what means): “From what thing did He create him? From Nutfah (mixed drops of male and female sexual discharge) He created him and then set him in due proportion.” [Quran; 80:18-19]

 

Then He, The Almighty, favors him (what means): “Then He makes the Path easy for him.” [Quran; 18: 20]

 

Thus, Allaah gives man life, moulds him in due proportions, and brings him to the world where he provides him with food, drink, clothing, guidance, and strength.

 

Therefore, if this is the reality of man's existence and creation, why should he be prideful or arrogant?

 

Having realized this, the prideful person should remember that his life may be taken from him at any time and in any place, and that by then he will be buried in his grave where his body will be worn out, then on the Day of Resurrection he will receive his "record" and it will be said to him as Allaah tells us saying (what means) “Read your Book: You yourself are sufficient as a reckoner against you this Day.” [Quran; 17:14]

 

Recalling such scenes every now and then is apt to decrease one's feeling of pride and arrogance until it finally fades away, Allaah willing.

 

As for knowing his Lord, it is enough for the prideful person to contemplate about the signs and effects of His might and greatness, to realize that no one is to show pride or arrogance in the Kingdom of the All-Mighty Lord, Glory be to Him.

 

Self-admiration:

It was reported on the authority of Abu Hurayrah  that the Prophet  said: "While a man was strutting in two gowns out of self-admiration, Allaah caused the earth to swallow him up, and he has been submerging therein up to the Day of Resurrection." [Muslim]

 

Also, it was reported that Ibn Mas'ood  said: "Destruction lies in two things: self-admiration and despair (from the mercy of Allaah)." Ibn Mas'ood  gathered self-admiration and despair together because happiness cannot be obtained except with exerting much effort; the despairing person does not make any effort because of his despair and the self-admired person believes that he has got what he wants so he feels he does not have to make any effort either.

 

Self-admiration leads to pride, as it is originally one of its causes, and pride leads to many destructive flaws.

 

The Remedy of Self-admiration:

Allaah, the Glorified and Exalted, favored man when He created him and provided him with many blessings. Therefore, no one should be self-admired because of his actions, knowledge, beauty, or wealth, as these are bounties provided by Allaah out of His Grace.

 

Moreover, even a person's righteous deeds will not admit him to Paradise, because it is Allaah Who guides him and enables him to do them. It was reported on the authority of Abu Hurayrah  that the Prophet  once said: "No one's good deeds will make him enter Paradise."

 

They (the Prophet's Companions ) said: "Not even you, O Messenger of Allaah?" He  said: "Not even myself, unless Allaah bestows His favor and mercy on me." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

 

It should also be known that the causes of pride are also from amongst the causes of self-admiration. They have already been mentioned earlier, so they may be referred to where they are cited above.

 

Someone may say: a noble man may be self-admired because of his noble lineage, and he may wish that his noble relatives will intercede for him on the Day of Resurrection.

 

Commenting on this, we can say that all Muslims wish for intercession on their behalf and it is true that intercession may not be accepted when one's sins are very great. Allaah, the Almighty, Says (what means): “…Verily the most honorable of you with Allaah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa [i.e., he is one of The Muttaqun (the pious)] …” [Quran; 49:13]

 

Furthermore, the Prophet  said to his daughter : "O Faatimah, I have no power (to protect you) from Allaah in anything." [Al-Bukhaari]

 

Therefore, it is only man's righteous deeds and good qualities that make him "noble" or "honorable" in the sight of Allaah. Besides, Al-Bukhaari and Muslim  reported on the authority of Abu Hurayrah  that Allaah's Messenger  said: “I should not find that any of you should come on the Day of Resurrection with a growling camel mounted on his neck, and should appeal to me for help, saying, 'O Messenger of Allaah, help me, 'and I should say, I have no authority to help you; I already conveyed to you '."

 

So, whoever knows and comprehends these facts will start occupying the rest of his life with as many acts of worship and obedience as he can, as this is the only rope to salvation. -islamweb.net