Pride, arrogance and self-admiration - I

25/09/2010| IslamWeb

Pride and Arrogance:

Allah, 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 said: "He who has in his heart the weight of an atom of pride shall not enter Paradise." [Muslim]

 

The Prophet also said: "The Fire complained saying: 'I am the dwelling of the arrogant and the tyrants'." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

 

Al-Bukhari and Muslim also reported that the Prophet said: "Allah will not look on the Day of Judgment at him who drags his robe (behind him) out of pride."

Then, Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "O Messenger of Allah, one side of my robe slacks down but I am very cautious about it (i.e. I raise it)." Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah 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 Allah. Surely it is so dangerous because the Prophet 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 Allah, 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 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 Allah 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 used to do.

 

Pride, arrogance and self-admiration - II