Pride—One of the Worst Maladies
By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam
12 March 2018
It was pride that caused Iblis to disobey Allah’s command, thereby leading to his expulsion from Heaven [Jannat]. He chose to be thrown out of Heaven, rather than swallow his pride and prostrate to Hadrat Adam (peace be upon him). Instead of repenting, he requested Allah to lengthen his life so that he could devote his life to misleading mankind.
The Quran narrates this story of Iblis’s pride,
“And when We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate to Adam’, they prostrated, except Iblis. He refused and waxed arrogant and became of the disbelievers” (2:34)
The Quran and Sunnah have strictly condemned pride and haughtiness. Allah Almighty says,
“I will turn away from My signs those who are arrogant upon the earth without right…” (7:146)
The arrogant people are deprived of the blessing of Allah and thereby they spend their life disputing about the signs of Allah. Allah Almighty says,
“Those who dispute regarding the signs of Allah without any proof having come to them; how very disgusting this is, in the sight of Allah and in the sight of the believers! This is how Allah seals the entire heart of every haughty, rebellious person.” (40:35).
Allah Almighty says,
“And you will see on the Day of Resurrection the fabricators of lies against Allah, with their faces blackened; is not the destination of the haughty in hell?” (39:60).
Allah Almighty also says,
“It will be said, ‘Enter the gates of hell to remain in it forever’; so what a wretched destination for the haughty!” (39:72)
The Quran says,
“Verily, Allah does not love those who are proud and boastful.” (4:36)
The Quran also says,
“Those who turn away from My service out of pride will soon enter Hell being disgraced.” (40:60)
It is reported that the beloved Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “No one who has the weight of a seed of arrogance in his heart will enter Paradise.” Someone asked if that person was proud who likes that his clothes and shoes to be neat and smart. The Prophet said, “Verily, Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty (This statement means that good clothing and shoes do not denote pride”. Thereafter the beloved Prophet added saying, “pride means rejecting the truth and looking down on people.” (Sahih Muslim)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Allah will throw Hell over the face of one in whose mind there is the slightest pride.” (Ihyaul Ulum vol 3, p.249)
The disease of pride and haughtiness is prevalent in all levels of society, and even the seemingly pious people, scholars and intellectuals fall prey to this disease. Pride is usually displayed when people refuse to confess to their errors and argue that only they are right. They may pass a wrong ruling or spread incorrect information, but will adamantly oppose anyone who corrects them.
Allah loves humility in a person. Perfect belief [Iman] will dictate to a person that he should show appreciation for all Allah’s bounties and behave humbly towards all mankind.
It is reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, Allah increases the honour of a man by virtue of his pardon. Allah raises him up who takes to modesty for pleasure of Allah. (Ihyaul Ulum vol 3, p.251)
Standing on the pulpit, Hadrat Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) once said, “Oh, people! Adopt humility because I have heard the holy Prophet (peace be upon him) say that Allah elevates the rank of the person who humbles himself for Allah. he will appear low in his own eyes, but high in the estimation of others. Allah will humiliate the person who is haughty. He will appear high in his own eyes, but will be more disgraced than a pig in the eyes of the others (Mishkat p.434)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, He who has an atom of pride in him will not enter paradise. A proud man cannot love for others what he loves for himself as there is pride in him. He cannot give up hatred as there is pride in him. He cannot stand on truth as there is pride in him. He cannot control anger as he has got pride in him. He cannot accept admonitions as there is pride in him. He is not safe from accusations of the people as there is pride in him. The worst thing in self-conceit is to receive no benefit from learning, not to recognize truth and not to follow it. Allah Almighty says, “Enter the door of Hell and live therein. How bad is the place of the proud” (37:72) (Ihyaul Ulum vol 3, p. 252-253)
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