20 I SPECIAL FEATURE Passion Islam I October 2008
Pride & Arrogance
the greatest downfall
of the human
It is mentioned in the ayaah of the Quraan is trapped in this disease more than his
that, ‘’Allah does not lovethe arrogant respectedbrothers. The first reason for
people. ‘’And in the hadith it is also narrated writing these words is for thecorrection
that the Holy Prophet , ‘’Whosoever has a of one’s own self, then we pray to Allah
small amount of pride in his heart will not that from his own divine power and from
enter paradise. his ample mercy he makes these words
Whether one likes it or not, the truth highly profitable for others.
is that every human being excluding the THE DISGRACE OF PRIDE
Prophets alaihimus salaam has pride in Hazrat sheikh ul Hadith states in his book
their heart, may it be a large amount or a ‘’Shariat and tariqat’’ (The religious law
small amount. and the customs) that not only in my view,
Even though this is an attribute which but in the commandments of the Qur’aan
specifically refers only to Allah, and and hadith pride is the harshest disease
immature child then he should think this
the attributes which are particular with of all, and in the customs it is killer.
child has never committed a sin, and I
mankind are those that one has forgotten Imaam Ghazaali rahmatullahi
am a sinner- verily he is better than I .If
such as; humility, humbleness, modesty alaihehas written a separate chapter
he confronts an elder, he should think
and submissioness. about pride with utmost urgency. He
that he has worshipped Allah ta’ala more
For this reason it is important that writes, “Pride and conceit is one of the
than I, therefore I am no match for him.
every human considers himself the diseases of the heart and it is such a
If he meets an Aalim(scholar) he should
sufferer of this disease called pride before critical disease that its cure is very difficult.
think in this manner that he possesses,
he commences in his purification and Pride literally means that one feels great
verily he is superior to me. If he looks
cure. and superior, along with this he looks
upon an ignorant person, he should
Especially those people who are down upon others in a despicable and
imagine that he has disobeyed Allah on
fulfilling the visible commands of Islam contemptuous manner.
the basis of ignorance and unawareness
with punctuality trying to gain faith, truth, When this bad habit penetrates into
while I am committing sins knowingly
kindness and wisdom to the highest the heart properly, then it effects are
and consciously, so therefore Allah has
degree, just for the pleasure of Allah, and expressed by the tongue-that he starts
more proof to put me under punishment.
who wish to create some weight and spirit to remark- I am like that and he creates
Even if the person is a disbeliever you
in their actions. a firm background of his praises and
should consider him greater than yourself
These loved ones should always compliments. He also wishes the others
because you do know what his state will
keep in mind the fact that Allah’s council praise and eulogise him - the same way
be at the time of death.
chamber is of the utmost cleanliness and when iblees proclaimed, ‘’I am better than
Numerous Muslims used to look down
is pure from every fault, therefore the path Adam (alaihis salaam).’’
despicably at Hazrat Umar before he
leading to his meeting will be highlypure The second effect is that wherever
embraced islam. These people were
and clean, and he who is full of dirt of sins he goes, he remains in search of honour
unaware and ignorant concerning his fate
is not fit for Allah ‘s chamber. and high position and he walks ahead of
and the high rank and status which he
Maulana Rashid Ahmed Gangohi everyone wherever he is.
was to be elevated to.
rahmatullahi alaihi states that in the old If anyone advises him or directs
This pride and conceit will not be
days the saints tried to get rid of their bad him towards stopping his bad habits in
eliminated from the heart until you do not
habits so that reaching Allah became easy, a correct way, he feels ashamed and
realise and believe that every individuals
but the present days saints, especially disgraced in accepting his counsel. But
position and status is based and according
the saints of our chain, have adopted the if he advises or admonishes anyone, he
to his final hour, and this is a matter of the
increasing of zikr (remembrance of Allah) does it in a harsh and cruel manner.
unseen. It might well be that the person
to such an extent that the bad habits If he positively has this belief that he
who we regard as pious, his death is a
become is greater than others, then he will be
tragedy, while one who we regard as
conquered beneath the effects of zikr, and termed as a mutakabbir(arrogant).Rather
evil, his final moment is so good and he
the zikr remains the conqueror. on the contrary, he should have the belief
reaches the state of piety. So if a person
Bad habits are plentiful, but the scholars that the righteous person is the one who
perpetually has this thought burdened on
have shortened them down to ten, and the is superior in the eyes of Allah ta’ala and
his mind - he will never have these bad
extract of ten is pride. If this goes away this matter will be truly manifested in the
habits.
then the rest go away themselves. hereafter. Instead of regarding himself
May Allah save all of us from this
May Allah save this lowest of the low as superior, he should regard everyone
very dangerous disease which is so
form from this killer disease because he else superior to himself. If he sees and
widespread.
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