Pride locks doors to paradise

[nishom]

Most people believe that freedom is only when there is no slavery or oppression of one human over another. Islam, although believing in this concept, has a higher definition of freedom.

This definition signifies freedom from slavery of our desires and ambitions, and this by itself is the worst of any slavery. For example, one may be the slave of money or sex or power and he or she will commit untold crimes and oppressions because of this slavery.

The crime ratio in the US and Europe is higher than elsewhere because of this type of slavery. And interestingly, most people in this type of slavery do not know they are slaves.

But what gives rise to desires and slavery is pride. Pride is one of the blameworthy qualities and it is forbidden to have it. Allah says: "I will turn away from My signs those who are arrogant in the earth without right."

Pride is divided into inward and outward pride. Inward pride is a quality within the self, and outward pride is action, which appears through the limbs.

The name pride (kibr) is more appropriate for the inward quality. Concerning the actions, it is the result of that inward quality, and one must understand that the quality of pride forces on to act. This action when it appears on the limbs is called arrogance (takabbur), and when it does not manifest itself, it is called pride (kibr). Its root is the quality in the self, which is satisfaction and confidence at seeing the self above anyone towards whom he is overbearing. It's also this pride that made Satan rebel against The Irresistible. His pride led him to arrogance and the outcome of arrogance is disbelief; disbelief that leads to questioning The Authority.

Furthermore, pride locks all the doors to Paradise because it is impossible for the arrogant person to want for the believer what he wants for himself because of his ego. It is impossible for him to have humility, and humility is the beginning of the qualities of those who guard themselves out of fear of Allah, because of his ego.

It is impossible for him to remain truthful while there is self-importance in him. It is impossible for him to abandon anger while there is self-importance in him. It is impossible for him to offer friendly good counsel while there is self-importance in him. It is impossible for him to accept good counsel while there is self-importance in him. He is not safe from the contempt and slander of others while there is self-importance. There is no praiseworthy quality but he is incapable of it from the fear that his self-importance will slip away from him. He does not uphold relations amongst his relatives.

What a wretched situation the arrogant one is in! For our blessed scholars have unanimously agreed that they possess no antidote for one infected with pride. As I mentioned earlier, pride comes between a man and all the qualities of the believers. The harm it does is immense.

But all is not lost for, all Praise be to Him, every disease has a remedy. There are two parts in which lies the cure for this sickness: the cure that comes from knowledge and the cure that is derived from actions. The remedy can only be effective by joining the two of them.

Through knowledge we know and recognise ourselves and by knowing ourselves and our limitations and weaknesses, we know and recognise our Lord. This is truly enough to remove our pride. Whoever knows and recognises his own self as it should be known and recognised, knows that it is not worthy of greatness, and that true greatness and pride are only for Allah.

There are numerous verses in the Holy Qur'an that point to this reality.

As for the cure which lies in actions, it is to humble yourself to people in a constrained unnatural manner until it becomes natural for you.

May Allah bless us with humility and increase us in goodness and faith.