Beware of pride and self-praise

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “Shall I not inform you about the inmates of Hell? It is every violent, impertinent and proud person.

[Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Dear brothers and sister,

To think oneself greater in comparison with other people is pride. A proud man is who can’t accept admonitions as there is pride in him. The devil is the best instance of pride. He was driven out paradise by God as he toke pride and did not prostrate before Adam in obedience to God’s command. He said: You have created me of fire and Adam of clay. For this reason, our Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Who has an atom of pride in him will not enter Paradise”.

Pride is of two kinds, secret and open. Secret pride is the name of the feeling of a superiority. When it is expressed in actions, it is called open pride. We have to know that pride is bad for two reasons. The first reason is that pride and superiority are due only to Allah. Man, being naturally helpless, is not able to do anything. Whenever a man wants to take pride, he wants to set up partnership with the attribute of Allah which he can’t do. The second reason is that pride calls one to disobey the injunction of Allah, as a proud man declines to hear sermons from anybody. It is the habit of the unbelievers and the hypocrites not to accept true sermons from others.

Pride is shown in religious and earthly matters. Religious matters are education and divine services. Earthly matters are pedigree, beauty, power, wealth, and leadership. But we should know that the first cause of pride is education as the learned take pride for his learning. Our prophet said: The danger of education is pride. A learned man thinks himself great and considers others as ignorant. Though, real education increases God-fear, modesty and other humble qualities. As a Muslim and a student of knowledge, we should always keep in mind that: “The more one is wise, the more he is humble. The more one is humble, the more he is raised up to Allah.”

[This article was published in monthly Youth Wave, July 2017.]