In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Pride is an inner bad moral that makes the afflicted with it see himself as above others due to the perfect qualities and attributes that he believes he has.
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]
Allah told us that believers, other creatures and the angels, are not proud.
إِنَّمَا يُؤْمِنُ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِهَا خَرُّوا۟ سُجَّدًا وَسَبَّحُوا۟ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ ﴿١٥[As-Sajdah 32:15]
Only those believe in Our Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), who, when they are reminded of them fall down prostrate, and glorify the Praises of their Lord, and they are not proud.(15)
وَلِلَّـهِ يَسْجُدُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مِن دَآبَّةٍ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ ﴿٤٩[An-Nahl 16:49]
And to Allâh prostrate all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, of the moving (living) creatures and the angels, and they are not proud [i.e. they worship their Lord (Allâh) with humility]. (49)
Pride is a deadly calamity that afflicts so many people, even some scholars, seekers of knowledge, and worshipers of Allah. Pride veils you from Allah, leads to loss of knowledge of Allah, inability to understand the commands of Allah, His displeasure, disgrace in this world and the Hereafter and painful torment therein. It deletes all traces of goodness and piety. This is the worst vice in causing havoc to Deen. If ignored for sometime, it becomes fatal and incurable. No wise person should neglect such a harmful and destructive calamity. We should, therefore, try to save ourselves from this and seek refuge from Allah.
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 Al-'Araf 7:146] and (what means) “... truly He likes not the proud.” [Quran Al-Nahl 16:23]; "So enter the gates of Hell to dwell therein. Indeed evil is the abode of the proud.” [Qur'an An-Nahl 16:29]
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, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "If you were not sinners, I would fear for you what is worse for you: pride, pride." [Bayhaqi, hasan hadeeth]
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, also said: "The Fire complained saying: 'I am the dwelling of the arrogant and the tyrants'." [Bukhari and Muslim]
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, 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 sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: "But you do not do that out of pride" [Bukhari and Muslim]
"Shall I inform you of the people of Paradise? They are every weak and humble person, if he takes an oath to Allah, it will be fulfilled. Shall I inform you of the people of the Fire? They are every cruel, violent and proud person." [Bukhari, Muslim, Ahmad, Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah]
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 Signs/Qualities of Someone Having Pride/Arrogance:
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 recommended to stand up for parents, just rulers, and virtuous people. It is also recommended to stand up when receiving or giving the mushaf.
2. He does not walk except with someone walking behind him.
3. He is always late.
4. He does not visit anyone because he feels that he is better than people (and thus it is they who should pay him visits.)
5. He does not like that anyone should sit or walk beside him.
6. He refuses to carry even his own belongings under any circumstances.
7. He does not help his wife in any of the house affairs, contradicting what the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, used to do.
8. He doesn’t like others to have what he has.
9. He cannot avoid anger.
10. He cannot avoid being jealous of others.
11. He doesn’t accept advice from others.
12. He doesn’t want to listen or accept advice from a learned person or even attend lessons.
13. When advising people, he always puts them down.
14. When speaking, he will say good remarks about himself.
15. When he speaks he speaks with pride to let people know he has knowledge.
16. He deals with people in bad way.
17. He walks in bad way.
18. He looks down at people because he is wealthier, or has a better appearance.
As Muslims, it is incumbent upon us to get rid of even a speck of pride, feelings of superiority and, haughtiness within us. The cure involves knowledge and acting upon the knowledge. We should know and recognize our Lord and know and recognize our own self as we should be recognized, and realized that we are not worthy of greatness for the true greatness and pride are only for Allah. Iman (Faith) and Taqwa (God-consciousness, God-fearingness, righteousness) are the true criteria of nobility.
Allah Almighty says,
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّـهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ ﴿١٣[Qur'an Al-Hujurat 49:13]
O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. (13)
On the Day of Resurrection the person with pride will be gathered like ants and trampled underfoot. The Prophet salAllahu alaihi wa sallam, said: “On the Day of Resurrection, the arrogant will be gathered like ants in the form of men. Humiliation will overwhelm them from all sides. They will be driven to a prison in Hell called Bawlas, with the hottest fire rising over them, and they will be given to drink of the juice of the inhabitants of Hell, which is teenat al-khabaal.” [Tirmidhi - Classed as Hasan by al-Albaani]
People love humble, tolerant and gentle people, and they hate people who are proud, arrogant, harsh and cruel.
May Allah make us of those who are truthful and humble, and save us from pride and arrogance. Ameen.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakum Allahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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