Pride: The Fuel of Disbelief

[abdulhakeem]

Selected Qur'anic verses on pride

"Indeed, He does not love the proud." [an-Nahl (16):23]

"Those who dispute about the signs of Allah without any authority given to them, their breasts are filled with nothing but pride for that which they shall never attain..." (40:56)

"And every time I invited them so you might forgive them, they only put their fingers in their ears. Covering themselves with their garments, grown obstinate, and given over to pride." (71:7)

"When our signs are recited to such, he turns away full of pride, as if he heard them not..." (31:7)

"Those who disdain His worship and are full of pride, He will gather them all together to answer to Him." (4:172)

"So enter the gates of Hell to dwell therein. Indeed evil is the abode of the proud." (16:29)

"But today you shall be recompensed with suffering humiliation because you were prideful in the earth without just cause..." (46:20)

"On the Day of Judgment you will see those who lied against Allah. Their faces will be blackened, is there not in Hell an abode for the proud." (39:60)

"Enter the gates of Hell to dwell therein. This is the evil abode of the proud." (39:72)

From descriptions of believers in the Qur'an:

"...they have no pride." (32:15)

Angels are described as follows:

"...they have no pride." (16:49)

"Those who are in presence are not too proud to serve Him..." (21:19)

Selected Prophetictraditions on pride

"Pride is dissatisfaction with the truth, and belittling the people." [Muslim]

"He will not enter Paradise who has even a speck of pride in his heart." [Muslim]

"Paradise and the Fire quarrelled. Paradise said, 'The weak and the poor enter me.' The Fire replied, 'The oppressive and the proud enter me.' So Allah Almighty said to the Fire, 'You are my punishment, in you I punish whom I wish.' He said to Paradise, 'You are my mercy to whom I wish, and each of you will certainly be filled.'" [Muslim, at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Khuzaimah]

The wording of Al-Bukhari: "Paradise and the Fire complained to their Lord. Paradise said, 'O Lord, there is none who enter me but the weak and despised'. The Fire said, 'I receive only the proud...'..."

"Shall I inform you of the people of Paradise? They are every weak and humble person, if he takes an oath to Allah, it will be fulfilled. Shall I inform you of the people of the Fire? They are every cruel, violent and proud person." [Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah]

"Four things are among my followers from the traditions of jahiliyyah which will not leave: pride of lineage, slandering kinship, use of astrology for rain, and wailing." [Muslim]

"If you were not sinners, I would fear for you what is worse for you: Pride, pride." [Al-Bayhaqi, hasan hadith]
SUNDAY :23/02/2003

http://www.islamweb.net/php/php_arabic/readArt.php?lang=E&id=36130

[worldling]

So, you are not proud of being a Muslim?

[abdulhakeem]

personally, i am happy and grateful that i have found islam and i pity for those who haven't.

in my opinion pride easily leads to arrogance (egoism, lack of tolerance, ignoring others, showing off etc.) and division (that includes nationalism/racism) and other worse things.

[worldling]

personally, i am happy and grateful that i have found islam and i pity for those who haven't. But you are not proud of being a Muslim?

[abdulhakeem]

But you are not proud of being a Muslim?i just answered your question. what are you trying to imply?

[worldling]

i just answered your question. what are you trying to imply? I am not trying to imply anything, Abdulhakeem. I am just trying to get an answer to my question:
Are you proud of being a Muslim?

[abdulhakeem]

I am not trying to imply anything, Abdulhakeem. I am just trying to get an answer to my question:
Are you proud of being a Muslim?personally, i am happy and grateful that i have found islam and i pity for those who haven't...
dear worldling, it seems you have difficulties to understand my replies - i think they are clearly answered....

....for those who don't understand my previous reply i may add that i am not proud of anything.

besides, in one of your other questions you still continued asking the same question although it was answered. you just have to visit the links and read the articles.

ref.: orgin of Koran (http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41515)

[worldling]

for those who don't understand my previous reply i may add that i am not proud of anything. I'll take that as a "No" then :-)

Actually, abdulhakeem, I think you are deceiving yourself. You are proud of being a Muslim. You said so in your first reply:

personally, i am happy and grateful that i have found islam and i pity for those who haven't Pride can be defined as the a feeling of happiness or pleasure derived from an aspect of yourself which sets you apart from and (in your opinion) above others. In your case, this aspect is your belief in Islam. You have said plainly you are happy about it, and the fact that you pity those who do not share it shows that you consider yourself to be somehow above them.

I find that pride is something we can easily recognise in others, but are often blind to in ourselves.

[abdulhakeem]

I'll take that as a "No" then :-)

Actually, abdulhakeem, I think you are deceiving yourself. You are proud of being a Muslim. You said so in your first reply:
no i did not. i said i am happy and grateful which is not the same as being proud.


Pride can be defined as the a feeling of happiness or pleasure derived from an aspect of yourself which sets you apart from and (in your opinion) above others. In your case, this aspect is your belief in Islam. You have said plainly you are happy about it, and the fact that you pity those who do not share it shows that you consider yourself to be somehow above them.

I find that pride is something we can easily recognise in others, but are often blind to in ourselves.that is your definition, besides, never did i state that i am considering myself above others due to the fact that i am muslim. if you read my reply i wrote exactly the opposite. any person is muslim by birth, and those who by any circumstance get raised as a non-muslim can become muslim by taking shahada - it is not a big issue and nothing to be proud about. i am happy that i have taken these steps and thank Allah for His guidance.

[worldling]

no i did not. i said i am happy and grateful which is not the same as being proud.

that is your definition, besides, never did i state that i am considering myself above others due to the fact that i am muslim. You cannot pity someone who you consider to be above you.

if you read my reply i wrote exactly the opposite. I must have missed that one. Where exactly did you say in your reply that you consider yourself to be below others due to the fact that you are a Muslim?

[salim]

I am not trying to imply anything, Abdulhakeem. I am just trying to get an answer to my question:
Are you proud of being a Muslim?Unbelief is the condition of an egocentric human being - i.e., arrogance, pride. That pride has little to do with the mundane instances of being proud that most people identify with. The 'pride' of unbelief is a singular arche type that is satisfied with the human ego as opposed to the Divine Mind - the Light of God.

It's like an old story about a bunch of vikings who got stranded on an island of tropics on a journey to Home - the Motherland, where they were to be rewarded on the promise that they deliver some goods with them on their journey Home. There were a few dozen vikings. At first all of them decided to build a makeshift village using the resources available. The vessels that they traveled with were broken and needed to be restored. As it was, a large group of the vikings got tired living on the island and decided to restore the vessels. Once restored, they asked the rest of the vikings if they wanted to go home, they all said no as they were enjoying the island paradise and its fruits and laughed at the other vikings for wanting to repair the vessels. So, about half the vikings decided to return home on the newly restored vessels. Upon entering Oslo, the vikings were greeted and rewarded by their ruler for enduring the broken vessels and such isolation from Home and loved ones. When the ruler asked one of the vikings, "Where are the rest of you?" one of them replied, "They wished to remain on the island and enjoy its fruits." The ruler then said, "Why, had they returned I could have rewarded them with an island with servants for each man!"

Allah made you, so go back to Him!

[worldling]

Unbelief is the condition of an egocentric human being - i.e., arrogance, pride. That pride has little to do with the mundane instances of being proud that most people identify with. The 'pride' of unbelief is a singular arche type that is satisfied with the human ego as opposed to the Divine Mind - the Light of God. Right. So theres one person who thinks that human beings are the special creation of a supreme being; and that this the creator of the universe takes keen interest in this person's life and watches his every move and thought; and that this creator really loves him.

And there's another person who thinks that humans are the product of chance in a godless universe which could not care less about them.

And you are saying that the second person is the egocentric one?

[salim]

Right. So theres one person who thinks that human beings are the special creation of a supreme being; and that this the creator of the universe takes keen interest in this person's life and watches his every move and thought; and that this creator really loves him.

And there's another person who thinks that humans are the product of chance in a godless universe which could not care less about them.

And you are saying that the second person is the egocentric one?Whether it's taken to heart or not, God is Ultimate Reality - Ultimate Metaphysical Reality, and Ultimate Psychic Reality. He is the essence of pre-existence and pre/prior-physics. He is the entheistic salvation of every individual heart. God is Eternal Love, and to attain Eternal Life one must become Love. Unbelief is the lack of awareness of God that remains in the human ego, when the divine ego is believed by that person to not exist.

Any 'pride' or 'arrogance' that you detect from 'Believers' is simply a pride that exists in exoterics towards other people, normally those outside one's religious background. While simply believing in God will save a man, it does not immediately mean that person is spiritually mature. The spiritually mature are vibrant, non-judgemental, and have combined their spiritual formulas into a melted 'Law of Love' - to Love God, because God loves humanity - and to Love other humans, because God loves humanity.

God didn't create us for fun. He created us out of introspection. HIS introspection, so that it can become OUR introspection. Self-awareness is the gift given to us, because that self awareness permits us to make a line of communication to the Divine Ego.

Through humans (and likely other life forms where self-consciousness is present), God is inspecting His own Love and Mercy. To Him, we are mirrors who are able to enjoy God as God enjoys His reflection of Love, Mercy, and Kindness. Each lover of God contributes to an increased Glory where God understands His Eternal Love through creatures that love Him.

Long story short, people who don't believe in God, simply do not need Him. That doesn't mean God doesn't exist. For myself, God is the Lotus of my Heart. For the next man, God might mean absolutely nothing to him as he would be satisfied with himself. Unconsciousness and sleep are very familiar to people, and this is what is commonly identified in the 'opposites' - ego defined people, as opposed to spiritually defined people, who seek provision - Eternal Meaning.

For you my friend, death may be an equilibrium for everyone - complete unconciousness for every phenomenal appearance of life in time-space reality. For me, death is a liberation - an end to my exile from God, when I will be taken into His Loving Breast after the final lesson of physically existing briefly inside infinitude. That lesson is a simple lesson in humility and humanity - to destroy the human ego and to awaken the formless self within. Only our Divine Love survives death. Unbelief is to be engulfed in physical matter - the human ego, the flesh; The true self has no mouth, eyes, ears, hands or feet. The true self has no form, nor personality, it is simply consciousness that collects experience and returns to the Fullness of God so that those experiences could be enjoyed by Him.

When I describe an unbeliever as 'egocentric' I do not mean it in a mundane sense. In a mundane sense, everyone is somewhat egocentric at one point in their lives towards another person.

What I am talking about is phenomenal egocentricity - a condition where one identifies with their Moment-to-Moment existence as phenomenal appearance. This is dictated by the human brain - the human ego.

Mind you, I'm a mystic and most people hold ideologies that are more literal to the Holy Books.

As an old mystic saying goes, "The human ego dies at death, so you might as well destroy it while alive. Therein is the secret to Eternal Life."

Peace.

[worldling]

Do you consider yourself to be "spiritually mature", Gnostic?

[abdulhakeem]

dear wordling – does your name mean that you are a person that twists the words of others?



1. i stated that i am not proud of anything

you stated that pride can be defined as the a feeling of happiness or pleasure derived from an aspect of yourself which sets you … (in your opinion) above others. in your case, this aspect is your belief in islam.

upon which i stated that i do not consider myself being above others as mentioned in my previous answer “i am not proud of anything” which is exactly the opposite of what you are trying to suggest.
2. i do not agree with your definition of pride that this is a feeling of happiness or pleasure derived from an aspect of myself (e.g. my islamic belief) sets me above others.

perhaps the following analogy makes my point clearer: for instance, i can be happy and grateful about a sunny or rainy day. that does not necessarily mean that the fact that i am enjoying the weather sets me above other people who don’t enjoy the weather or people who have a different weather.

this in my view has nothing to do with pride. the criterion here should be based on arrogance implying that i would consider myself to have the exclusive right for that specific weather, if i would reject others from having the same weather or even hate others because they got a different weather.

here again it is rather the opposite – i would love to see other people joining me in order to enjoy the weather together (in fact i would be the “happiest “person) and again pity those who cannot enjoy the (in my view) perfect weather (or belief).
3. regarding your statement about superiority or inferiority: Allah is the Best Judge.

it is not upon me to judge the value of a person. though that does not mean that i cannot have my opinion about others according to the way they behave and act. i may approve or disapprove their actions. however, in the end it is Allah who is the Best Accountant of Deeds.

[salim]

Do you consider yourself to be "spiritually mature", Gnostic?
In any event, I strive to let go of the human ego so that I become Love from head to toe.

[Abdullah al-Muhajir]

Well said, Gnostic. You are a great man. Do not let arrogant and blinded fools ike Worldling anger you, my brother. Let us see who he, and the like of he, shall mock on the Day of Resurrection.

[AbuMubarak]

gnos

though sometimes i could choke you, other times you make a lot of sense

[Huja Usman]

May Allah swt protect us from this pride........

The only pride we should have us the pride of being abdullah. When ever pride comes to you think where you came from!


A sperm and an egg, If somebody get it on his clothes we will run and wash it away. Such was you. Subhanallah.

[faqir]

The only pride we should have us the pride of being abdullah
:salam:

It would be better to be grateful and thankful to Allah swt for making you a Muslim than to have any pride in this regard.

[abdulhakeem]

THE DISEASE OF PRIDE

The disease of pride and arrogance deletes all traces of goodness and piety. This is the worst vice in causing havoc to Deen and a regrettable disease to have for the followers of this perfect and exalted religion. It launches a direct attack on beliefs and principles. If ignored and overlooked for sometime it becomes fatal and incurable, and gives rise to other spiritual maladies and vices, which are no less than four in number, as, mentioned below:


1. Being deprived of truth and truthfulness. The heart becomes blind to the verse dealing with knowledge about Allah. It is a very grievous vice in which the mind of a man becomes dull and impervious to the understanding of Deen. Allah has said in the Holy Quran:

“I shall turn away from My revelations those who show pride in the world wrongfully.” (7.146)

Allah has said in another place in the Quran:

“And in this way Allah does put a seal on every arrogant disdainful heart.” (40.35)

2. The wrath and punishment of Allah fall on the jealous person. Allah has said:

“Certainly He does not love the proud ones.” (16:23)

It is narrated that Hazrat Moosa asked exalted Allah: “Oh my Lord! Who is the most deserving of your wrath and displeasure?” Allah Ta’aala told him:
“ It is he whose heart is filled with pride and his tongue is filthy (i.e. Abusive), his eyes are devoid of shame, his hands are miserly and he is of bad conduct and character.

3. Allah will put the proud to disgrace and ill-repute (dishonour) in the Hereafter.

Hazrat Hatim Asam (rahmatullahi alaihi) has said: “Do not die in a state of pride, greed and arrogance.”

Allah does not cause the proud fellow to meet his death unless he is disgraced and dishonoured by his own family, relatives and servants.

Similarly the greedy does not meet his death unless he becomes destitute for a morsel of food and a drop of water.

In the same way the arrogant person does not meet his own death unless being polluted with his own excrement and urine.

4. The proud renders himself liable to Hell in the Hereafter. It occurs in a Hadith Qudsi:

“Pride is My cloak and grandeur is my trousers. If anyone disputes with Me in any one of these (two) I shall admit him into the Hell-fire.”

In the other words, pride and grandeur are two exclusive attributes of Allah, which none is allowed to apply and ascribe towards himself.

It is imperative to refrain from such a dangerous and deadly calamity which leads to loss of knowledge of Allah, inability to understand the commands of Allah, His displeasure, disgrace in this world and the Hereafter and painful torment therein. No wise person can be neglectful in the matter of such a harmful and destructive calamity.

We should, therefore, try to save ourselves from this and seek refuge from Allah.

This is a brief account of the four calamities, mentioned in the beginning. Each of these four adversities are very harmful and dangerous in the sight of those wise and knowledgeable persons who are aware of the importance of the reforming of ones heart.

Those are the four disease and vices that stem from having pride. How many of us are there that can honestly say, without deceiving ourselves that we are free of this hated ailment? Not many, is the answer. It is imperative that we take heed from this article and we bear in mind the punishment promised by Allah Ta’ala to those with pride in their hearts.

Pride as a sin is incorrectly considered to be insignificant and minute in comparison to other major sins, by a vast majority of the people. It may be that compared to the major sins like murder and associating partner with Allah, it is slightly inferior. But that is only because of the magnitude of those particular sins that pride is considered a lesser sin.

In a Hadith of the Holy Prophet it is narrated that,

“Whosoever has in his heart, even a atom of pride he will not enter paradise.”

In observing the above Hadith, it is of utmost importance that we get rid of this spiritual malady, if we hold any illusion or hope of entering paradise. Remember that we do claim to be the followers and believes of Islam and we claim to be Muslims, so how then can we still have pride in ourselves? For the very meaning of Islam is to submit totally and conditionally to the worship of the Supreme Being, Allah Ta’ala and as Muslims it is incumbent upon us to get rid of every drop of pride, superiority and haughtiness within us, as we are small and inferior in comparison to the Supreme Being, if such comparison can be made. So let's try and act upon the very essence of our religion and our adjective as Muslims and submit and surrender ourselves to the worship and pleasure of Allah Ta’ala.

http://www.inter-islam.org/Prohibitions/PrideArrogance.html

[Crono]

pride is a sin, a knowing sin, not a diaease, and i know some people with REAL pride (go tell someone from somali that a fellow somalian turned to christianity and YOU tell me what happens)

[abdulhakeem]

Pride and Arrogance / Ridding oneself of arrogance (http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17651)

[abdulhakeem]

wasn't it pride that kept iblees from prostrating himself unto adam?