In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
All pride and arrogance starts from the feeling that we are inadequate. So when something good happens to you, or you achieve something, you feel proud, because that proves that you are not inadequate.
Unfortunately, it can also make you proud and arrogant.
If you do not feel the slightest bit inadequate, achievements won't arouse pride or arrogance. Reflect-- did you feel proud when you successfully went to the toilet, did a number 2 and flushed it? There was once upon a time in your life when being able to do that was a big deal - just ask your parents - that's why there's such a phrase as "potty training". These days, you just take it for granted - biological functions are not a source of pride.
Now, if you can do the same for getting that degree, that trophy, that promotion, that house, that car, or whatever thing you get, you are there. Those things are nothing to feel proud over-- you work long enough, you do enough work, you live long enough - it's the same thing.
The first entity to show pride and arrogance was Shaytan or as he is often called especially in the story of Adam, Iblees. He was filled with pride and arrogance because he thought that he was better than Adam. He felt superior.
That feeling of superiority is the root of all pride and arrogance. I am better than you. I make more money, my house is bigger, my intellect is greater, I have traveled more, my muscles are larger, I cook more delicious meals, my children are in this (successful) job or in this (prestigious) college; the list goes on. One thing that all the things that we feel superior about have in common is that they are almost exclusively related to matters of the dunya. Love of the dunya and all its trappings actually push us further away from Paradise. Being, or appearing superior by dunya standards might just be more of a hindrance than a help. It is our God consciousness (taqwa) that makes a difference; being superior in that respect is the only superiority that counts.
You might make more money, but did you spend it to please Allah? You might make delicious meals but did you feed them to the poor? If you answer yes and you are proud of your accomplishments then this is not the pride and arrogance that translates to the Arabic word kibr (unhealthy and unnecessary pride and arrogance). Islam is not against innovation and achievement, it rewards and encourages excellence and success, and thus motivation, desire for reward and even desire for recognition are not the sins. The sin is in doing things with an incorrect intention. While achievement for the sake of Allah and to serve humanity is the correct intention, doing something for self-gain or self-love is an incorrect intention. Doing something to benefit your sense that the needs and desires of the world somehow revolve around you is kibr.
Kibr (arrogance, pride, haughtiness, conceit or condescension) has the unintentional effect of making people dislike you, even fear you; it strips away respect. In addition and of a far greater consequence is that it may deny you a place in Paradise. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) often counseled the sahabah about the importance of humility. He said, ...Anyone who possesses half a mustard seed of kibr in his heart will not be granted admission to Paradise”. [Muslim]
Arrogance will not get you anywhere except falling into the path of Iblees. Arrogance is the reason Iblees lost his high position an thrown down upon the earth in utter humiliation, and condemned to Hell.
وَإِذۡ قُلۡنَا لِلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةِ ٱسۡجُدُواْ لِأَدَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِبۡلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَٱسۡتَكۡبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ[Qur'an, al-Baqarah 2:34]
And when We said unto the angels: Prostrate yourselves before Adam, they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He demurred through pride, and so became a disbeliever.
وَإِذۡ قُلۡنَا لِلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةِ ٱسۡجُدُواْ لِأَدَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِبۡلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ[Qur'an, al-Kahf 18:50]
And (remember) when We said unto the angels: Fall prostrate before Adam, and they fell prostrate, all save Iblees. He was of the jinn..
قَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَلَّا تَسْجُدَ إِذْ أَمَرْتُكَ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِى مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُۥ مِن طِينٍ ﴿١٢﴾ قَالَ فَٱهْبِطْ مِنْهَا فَمَا يَكُونُ لَكَ أَن تَتَكَبَّرَ فِيهَا فَٱخْرُجْ إِنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰغِرِينَ ﴿١٣[Qur'an, Al-A'raf 7:12-13]
[Allah] said, "What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?" [Satan] said, "I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay." (12) [Allah] said, "Descend from Paradise, for it is not for you to be arrogant therein. So get out; indeed, you are of the debased. (13)
قَالَ ٱخْرُجْ مِنْهَا مَذْءُومًا مَّدْحُورًا ۖ لَّمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿١٨
[Allah] said, "Get out of Paradise, reproached and expelled. Whoever follows you among them - I will surely fill Hell with you, all together." (18) [Qur'an, Al-A'raf 7:18]
According to the major opinion of scholars, Iblees is from the jinn and created from fire. He however was amongst the foremost of the jinn in worship and he was elevated to the heavens to live amongst the angels by the will and wisdom of Allah Most High. This high position was withdrawn after he showed arrogance, jealousy and disobedience to his Lord, and was thrown down upon the earth in utter humiliation and banishment. He no longer deserved to be in the blessed gatherings of the angels.
The remedy for kibr, and the means by which one can keep well away from pride and arrogance, is as simple as remembering who you are; just a human being, with a mother and father like everybody else. We all cry the same salty tears and bleed the same red blood. And we all have the same purpose in life; to worship Allah. We must also remind ourselves that all rizq (provision) comes from Allah. One person might earn more money but it is Allah that allowed him to acquire the skills to do so. Another person might be more handsome or beautiful, but it is Allah that determined the quality of his or her genes. When we receive something that we perceive as a special blessing from Allah we should remind ourselves to be thankful and grateful. One step up from that would be to strive to use that blessing for the sake of Allah and to benefit humankind or this planet in some way.
Another remedy for kibr is to remember Allah; to keep Him in the forefront of our minds, if possible, at all times. Remember that Allah sees all, even what is in the hearts of each person. As Muslims we are blessed with a way or a system of remembering. We pray five times a day, we use specific words of remembrance, and we are encouraged to make du’a
and remember Allah often. We use these methods to become close to Allah, to obey His commands and please Him. In doing so we protect our own hearts from the sins of desire and greed and the sins involved in feeling superior to those around us.
This dunya is important because it is our ultimate test; not because it allows us to store up goods and chattels. We want to feel good about ourselves because we have achieved God consciousness and not because we take our rizq and deceive ourselves into thinking we created it ourselves. Pride and arrogance should be banished from our lives and replaced with kindness and compassion.
May Allah purify our hearts, remove even a half mustard seed of arrogance from our hearts, and make us of the muttaqun (people with taqwa). Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and He alone grants success.
Wassalaam
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