Is there anything wrong with a person feeling proud of his religion or
feeling proud of a person who does something good? Because we know
that pride in the heart is something bad.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
With regard to feeling proud of one's religion and of belonging to it,
this is something that is prescribed in Islam and is a righteous deed.
A story from one of the battles illustrates this point: Abu Sufyaan,
the leader of Quraysh, expressed pride in his religion and the
religion of his people – as he had not yet entered Islam. TheProphet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) answered his boast with an
expression of the Muslim's pride in his religion and his affirmation
of the Oneness of the Lord of theWorlds.
Al-Bukhaari narrated in his Saheeh (3039) from the hadeeth of al-Bara'
ibn 'Aazib (may Allah be pleased with him) that after the battle Abu
Sufyaan ibn Harb started composing rajz verse and saying: "Rise in
honour, Hubal; rise in honour Hubal."
The Prophet blessings andpeace of Allah be upon him) said: "Why don't
youanswer him?"
They said: "O Messenger of Allah, what should we say?"
He said: "Say: Allah is MostHigh and Most Glorious."
Abu Sufyaan said: We have al-'Uzza and you have no 'Uzza."
The Prophet blessings andpeace of Allah be upon him) said: "Why don''t
you answer him?"
They said: "O Messenger of Allah, what should we say?"
He said: "Say: Allah is our Supporter and you have no supporter!"
Allah, may He be exalted, has taught His slaves that true pride and
perfect honour can only be achieved by obeying Allah. Allah, may He be
exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Whosoever desires honour, power and glory then to Allaah belong all
honour, power and glory [and one can get honour, power and glory only
by obeying and worshipping Allaah (Alone)]. To Him ascend (all) the
goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it (i.e. the goodly words
are not accepted by Allaah unless and until they are followed by good
deeds), but those who plot evils, theirs will be severe torment. And
the plotting of such will perish"
[Faatir 35:10].
i.e., and whoever would like to be honoured in thisworld and the
Hereafter, let him adhere to obedience to Allah, then he will attain
what he wants, because Allah is the Sovereign of this world and the
Hereafter, and all honour, power and glory belong to Him, as He says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"Those who take disbelievers for Awliyaa' (protectors or helpers or
friends) instead of believers, do they seek honour, power and glory
with them? Verily, then toAllaah belongs all honour,power and glory"
[al-Nisa' 4:139]
"And let not their speech grieve you (O Muhammad r), for all power and
honour belong to Allaah"
[Yoonus 10:65]
"But honour, power and glory belong to Allaah, and to His Messenger
(Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), and to the believers,but the hypocrites
know not"
[al-Munaafiqoon 63:8].
Mujaahid said: "Whosoever desires honour, power and glory"[al-Faatir
35:10] by worshipping idols, "then to Allaah belong all honour, power
and glory.
Qataadah said: "Whosoever desires honour, power and glory then to
Allaah belong all honour, power and glory"i.e., let him seek honour,
power and glory by obeying Allah, may He be glorified and exalted.
Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 6/536
Secondly:
With regard to a person feeling proud of himself, ifit is because he
is religiously committed, righteous and pious, then it is good, but if
it is because of anything else, such as lineage, ancestry, wealth,
position or status among people, then this is an act of Jaahiliyyah
and is not permissible.
Muslim (1550) narrated from Abu Maalik al-Ash'ari(may Allah be pleased
with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)
said: "There are four matters of Jaahiliyyah in my ummah that they
will not give up: pride in one'sforefathers, slandering lineages,
seeking rain by the stars and wailing (for the dead)."
Muslim (5109) also narrated from 'Iyaad ibn Himaar al-Mujaasha'i
(mayAllah be pleased with that) that the Messenger of Allah (sa) said
one day in his khutbah: "Allah has revealed to me that you should be
humble so that no one will boast to anyone else and no one will
transgress against anyone else."
Al-Majd Ibn Tamiyah (mayAllah have mercy on him) said: Allah has
forbidden on the lips of His Prophet two types of mistreatment of
people: pride and transgression against them and scorn.
Fayd al-Qadeer, 2/217
The guideline with regardto this issue is: whatever is a source of
pride and honour because of religion is part of the religion and is
praiseworthy; any source of pride other than that is blameworthy.
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