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A proud and arrogant person regards himself better and superior to others and by assuming vain and wishful thoughts in his mind, adopts the conduct of Shaitan (Satan) who said: "I have been created of fire while Adam has been created of earth and fire possesses superiority over earth." The first sin to have been committed in the world of creation was arrogance on the part of Shaitan (Satan).
This pride and prejudice on the part of Satan is what caused his downfall - and has the potential to affect each and every one of us. Satan felt that his physical makeup of 'smoke-less fire' was of a loftier composition, and that being made of fire, he had the potential and was naturally inclined to 'ascend' (just as fire does), whereas the makeup of Adam was of 'earth', a heavier compound, and that his natural inclination was to the base, lower desires, and to clinging to the 'earth'.
Thus, as for it being a vice, there can be no doubt or skepticism. Proud and arrogant individuals look down upon others and anticipate others to greet them and exhibit respect and deference towards them, always nurturing aspects of their superiority and greatness within their minds. This "puffed up" feeling which imparts a sense of "touch me not" is called pride (Kibr/Takabbur).
The condition of conceit and of one who considers himself to be greater than others, so long as it stays inwardly and has no outward manifestation, it is pride. If it gets out through the senses, it is called arrogance.
Arrogance is one of the consequences of vanity and self-conceit. When an individual thinks too highly of himself, it is self-conceit; and when he tends, moreover, to consider others as inferior to himself, that is arrogance. In contrast to these states, when one thinks of himself as small and insignificant, that is called modesty; and when, in addition to this, he considers others as superior to himself, that is called humility. In any case, arrogance is one of the most fatal of moral vices. This is so because arrogance is a thick veil which hides one's shortcomings from his own view, and thus prevents him from removing them and attaining perfection.
Arrogance is a mental state causing self-admiration and haughtiness against others in words or deeds. It is censured and dispraised in many texts in Noble Qur'anand Sunnah:
Truly Allah knows what they hide and what they manifest; surely He does not love the proud. Noble Qur'an (16:23)
Holy Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (saw) says: "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." Hence, Pride (Kibr/Takabbur) is a barrier to Paradise.
A proud man will not tolerate any other to be on equal terms with himself. In private and in public he expects that all should assume a respectful attitude towards him and, acknowledging his superiority, treat him as a higher being. They should greet him first; make way for him wherever he walks; when he speaks everyone should listen to him and never try to oppose him. He is a genius and people are like asses. They should be grateful to him, seeing that he is so condescending.
Virtues are the doors of Paradise, but pride and self-esteem lock them all. So long as man feels elated he will not like for others what he likes for himself. His self-esteem will deprive him of humility, which is the essence of righteousness. He will neither be able to discard enmity and envy, resentment and wrath, slander and scorn, nor will he be able to cultivate truth and sincerity, and calmly listen to any advice. In short, there is no evil which a proud man will not inevitably do in order to preserve his elation and self-esteem.
Being proud about ones own piety is a major sin. This pride can make all the prayers and supplications void. If a person understands the Greatness of Allah (SWT), then he will not be proud and vain at his exertions at prayer. The endowments of the munificent Allah (SWT) are so great that it is impossible to count His Blessings.
Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as)who cites Holy Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (saw) in a tradition in which Hazrat Musa (Moses) son of Imranasks Satan. "Tell me about the sin which, when a son of Adam commits, you overtake him." Satan replied, "It is when he is proud of himself, thinks too much of his good deeds and his sin looks small in his eyes." It is known that when Satan overtakes someone, the result will be more sinning.
Imam Ali Reza (as)says that a pious person from Bani Israel offered intense prayers for forty years. Then he offered a sacrifice to Allah (SWT) that was not accepted. The person was disconsolate with sadness for his failure. He cursed his psyche blaming it for his failure. He received a Revelation that blaming his psyche and accepting the shortcomings pleased Allah (SWT) more than the prayers spread over the long period of forty years. For this reason Allah (SWT) accepted his long years of penance.
Imam Mohammed Baqir (as)says that two persons entered the mosque. One was pious and the other a transgressor. When they emerged from the mosque after the prayer, the transgressor was pious and the person with piety had turned a transgressor. The reason was that the pious person came out of the mosque with pride at his piety and the transgressor was penitent at his past misdeeds.
Imam Ali (as)says: "The sin that makes you sad and repentant is more liked by Allah (SWT) than the good deed which turns you arrogant."
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NajimudeeN M
NajimudeeN M
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