Pride and Arrogance is a Barrier to Paradise

Hafiz Aziz

Pride is to consciously consider oneself superior to others in attributes of excellence; paying attention to a specific quality in oneself instead of considering it a gift from Allah and to look upon it as a personal virtue. Arrogance is a mental state causing self-admiration and haughtiness against others in words or deeds. Proud/arrogant individuals look down upon others and anticipate others to exhibit respect and deference towards them. The first incident of pride was committed by Shaitan when he refused to prostrate to Adam due to his pride. It was Takabbur which made Shaitan a deviate. Pride is the exclusive prerogative of AllahSWT.

AllahSWT says in the holy Quran, "Truly Allah knows what they hide and what they manifest; surely Allah does not love the proud ones." [16:23] – In a different verse it is mentioned, “I shall turn away from My revelations those who show pride in the world wrongfully.” [7:146]

Prophet PBUH said, "He who has in his heart as much Faith as a grain of mustard seed will not enter hell, and he who has in his heart as much Pride as a grain of mustard seed will not enter paradise." [Muslim]

Prophet PBUH said, “Shall I not inform you about the inmates of Hell? It is every violent, impertinent and the proud person.''[Bukhari]

Prophet PBUH said, “On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will not look at him who trails his lower garment out of pride.''[Bukhari]

أَقُول قَوْلِي هَذَا ، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّهَ لِيَ وَلَكُمْ ولِسَائِر الْمُسْلِمِي ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوه ، إِنَهُ هُوَ الْغَفُور الرّحِيمُ.

Please sit down for a moment

بِسْمِ اللّهِ ، والْحَمْدُ ِلّهِ ، والصّلَاةُ والسّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللّهِ ، صَلّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَم

Being proud about one’s own piety is a sin. This pride can make all his/her prayers and supplications void. Virtues are the doors of Paradise, but pride and self-esteem lock them all. As believers, we need to ensure that we do not repeat the sin which resulted in the fall of Satan, do not be arrogant and proud of our social, economical or religious status and not to be judgmental. It is imperative to refrain from such an action which leads to Allah’s displeasure. The remedy is to reflect on the Glory and Majesty of AllahSWT. This reflection will produce in one a realization of one's own lowly position.

عِبَادَ اللّهِ ، إنّ اللّهَ يَأْمُر بِالْعَدْلِ والْإِحْسَانِ وإيْتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى ويَنْهَى عَنِ الفَحْشَاءِ والْمُنْكَرِ والْبَغِي ، يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلّكُمْ تَذَكّرُونَ . اُذْكُرُوا الَ الْعَظِيمَ يَذْكُرْكُمْ واشْكُروهُ يَزِدْكُمْ واسْتَغْفِرُوه يَغْفِرْ لكُمْ واتّقُوهُ يَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَمْرِكُمْ مَخْرَجًا. وَأَقِم الصّلَاة

إنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ ، وَنَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا ، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللهُ فَلاَ مُضِلَّ لَهُ ، وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلاَ هَادِىَ لَهُ،وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ

اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ

مُسْلِمُونَ

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ وَالْأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا

يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُو اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلاً سَدِيدًا * يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا

اما بعد:
إنَّ أَصْدَقَ اْلحَدْيثِ كِتَابُ اللّهِ وَأَحْسَنَ الْهَدْيِ هَدْيُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَشَرُّ الْأُمُوْرِ مُحدَثَاتُها وَكُلُّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ وكُلُّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ وكُلُّ ضَلَالَةٍ فِي النَّار