Pride

7) Signs of Pride in Man

The following are the signs evident in a proud person :

1. Whilst discussing a matter with associates, it will be difficult for him to accept the facts presented by them. If he acknowledges the other person’s view, it would be in a manner likely to create a feeling of an importance on his part and will never smile or express happiness for the same.

2. He will always avoid being the first to greet, especially those whom he considers below himself.

3. He will not pay attention to needs of the poor who are badly afflicted with poverty and will avoid sitting near them.

4. It will be a sign of disgrace for him to carry with his own hands the basic requirements for himself and his family such as rations of food. (This does not apply in circumstances which forces one to avoid such an action).

5. He will avoid wearing cheap and simple clothes and will always want to wear expensive clothes so as to distinguish himself from the poor. (The too does not apply to those who are compelled due to certain circumstances which threaten their legal status in a society).

6. He will always choose to sit in a gathering with people of high position and social status.

7. He will avoid dining with the poor, servants and those whom he considers below himself.

8. His conversation and other actions will portray his love for domination over others.

8) Treatment for Kibr

It is essential for a person suffering form Kibr to observe the following remedies so as to abstain from this destructive spiritual disease :

i. To remember the origin of his creation and the end of his life in this world.

The creation of man is from a drop of semen which is najis (impure) passed from the urinal passage into the womb where it gradually develops and takes the human form.

The Holy Qur’an describes the above in the following manner : "So let man consider of what he is created; he is created of water pouring forth; coming from between the back and the ribs."

He comes into this world weak and unable to care for himself hence burdening others to feed, clothe and bring him up. Then Allah (s.w.t.) bestowed him with strength. ‘Allah is He who created you from a state of weakness; then He gave strength after weakness." (Rum/54)

Despite this strength, man is still weak in nature as he depends on various things for his well being such as food water, clothing, shelter, sleep and a spouse to fulfil his legitimate sexual desire as well as to ensure the continuation of his generation. Without all these, he cannot survive or live a happy life. Moreover, there are things which man desires to have but cannot have. Many times he wants to remember things or wants to forget tragic events but cannot. All these prove man’s weakness. Furthermore, death is inevitable. Whether one is wealthy or poor, famous or unknown a believer or an atheist he will have to die some day. Life after death is a different subject by itself, what concerns us is the reaction of the body upon death.

It is a widely known fact that a body decays hours after death giving unpleasant and foul smell. Islam, for this reason encourages an early burial. People who delay in burying their dead use artificial method for preserving the body. Imam Ali (a.s.) reminding us about origin of our creation and eventual decayed state after death, says : I am surprised by a proud person who by yesterday was a clot of (unclean) semen and will tomorrow be decayed dead body. Simply put, how can one who was created of an unclean drop of semen and who will decay giving off a foul and unpleasant smell ever be proud or boast over anything?

ii. He should know that Kibr is only Allah’s (s.w.t.) quality.

This has been discussed at length earlier. However, the following is the incident which confirms Kibr as the quality of Allah (s.w.t.). Once a man accused Imam Hassan bin Ali (a.s.) saying : "Surely in you is pride."

The Imam (a.s.) reacted by saying : "Never! Pride is for Allah alone bur in me is honour. The Almighty Allah has said :For Allah is the Honour and for His Prophet and for those who have brought faith." (Meezanul Hikmah)

iii. To know that consequences of pride a humiliation in this world and painful chastisement in the hereafter.

Pride does not bring honour; instead it adds to disgrace and invites hatred from people. People abhor associating with one who loves self-praise and undermines their dignity. In addition to disgrace in this world the proud will also be subject to everlasting punishment in the hereafter as already mentioned in the beginning. In order to save oneself from the disgrace in this world and the punishment in the hereafter, one should avoid being proud.

iv. To practice ‘At-Tawadhu' - humility and humbleness i.e. to consider oneself lower than others.

Arab poet has said : "Be humble ! you will be like that star which is evident for an onlooker on the surface of the water yet it is high above. And do not be like that smoke which exalts itself to the layers of the atmosphere only to disappear."

Humbleness is one of the qualities which Allah (s.w.t.) adores. There are various verses of the Holy Qur’an narrations which discuss the importance of humbleness. Few of them are mentioned below : "And the servants of the beneficent God are they who walk on the in humility; and when the ignorant address them; they say: Peace." (Al-Furqan/63)

"Do not strain your eyes after what we have given certain classes of them to enjoy, and do not grieve for them, and make yourself gentle to the believer." (Al-Hijr/88)

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) has said : "Verily, the most beloved and nearest amongst you to be seated near me on the day of judgement is he whose character is best amongst you and is the most humble amongst you. And verily, the furthest from me on the day of judgement is `Thartharoun’-the proud ones." (Biharul-Anwaar)

Imam Jaffer as-Sadiq (a.s.) says : "Verily, in heaven two angles have been appointed for the creatures. Whoever practices humility, they (both) raise him and whoever is proud, they (both) lay him down." (Al KAFI)

ln the above hadith, Imam (a.s.) explains that Allah (s.w.t.) raises the status of one who is humble and degrades one who is boastful and proud.

9) Types of 'Tawadhu' :

Tawadhu - (humbleness and humility) is of three kinds :

1. Towards Allah (s.w.t.)

2. Towards the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) and Imams (a.s.)

3. Towards the people

All these are ways of showing humbleness and humility towards Allah (s.w.t.)

Tawadhu towards the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) and the Imams (a.s.)

Showing humbleness towards the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) and; (a s.) is as good as showing humbleness and humility towards Allah (s.w.t.). This is because the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) and the Imams (a.s.) are the greatest signs of Allah (s.w.t.) and His representatives to us on this earth. We have show humbleness towards them by :

- undermining their status and position amongst us.
- Not touching their respected names without Taharat.
- Mentioning their names with great respect and sending praises and greetings over them whenever we remember them.

It is said that some great people had the habit of mentioning the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.), and the Imams (a.s.) only in the state of Taharat. It is also reported that whenever Imam Jafar as Sadiq (a.s.) used to mention the name of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.), he used to bow down in respect and send praises and salaams. And amongst the other ways of showing humbleness towards Prophet (s.a.w.) and the Imams (a.s.) is to show humbleness towards the Ulema (religious scholars and authorities) and the sadaat (children of the Holy Prophet’s progeny).

Tawadhu to the People

It is important to note that man is the best of all creatures. After his creation, Allah (s.w.t.) gave him the honour and respect which He did not give to any other creature. And in order to preserve and secure man’s dignity, Allah (s.w.t.) sent His Sharia (the divine law) to which He bound the entire mankind. People who deviated from these laws lost their honour and dignity. The following verse discusses the honour and dignity bestowed upon man : "And surely we have honoured the children of Adam, And We carry them in land and the sea, and We have given them of the good things, and We have made them to excel by an appropriate excellence over the most of those whom We have created." (Bani Israel/70)

Once Imam Jaffer as-Sadiq (a.s.) along with his companions was performing a mustahab Tawaf of the Holy Kaaba when an outsider came and called for one of the companions. Since they were all in Tawaf, the companion who had been called ignored the caller and continued with Tawaf. Imam (a.s.) had observed the situation, and he went and asked his companion why he was ignoring the caller?

The companion asked : "Should I break my Tawaf and respond to him."

The Imam (a.s.) said : "Yes ! Verily, the respect of a believer is more dear to Allah than the sanctity of the Kaaba."

Therefore, man who is so much exalted and bestowed with such great honour and dignity deserves to be respected and not to be disregarded or considered inferior. Imam Muhammad al Baqir (a.s.) once came near the Holy Kaaba and said : "By Allah, the sanctity of a believer is greater yours.'

There are various narration through which the experts in the science to ethics "IImul Akhlaq" prove that pride is a kind oppression "Dhulm ". The proud one is a snatcher of rights from others as he demands their humiliation before himself.

10) People who do not deserve to be shown Humility

Humility cannot be shown to all the people. Here are some categories of people who do not deserve to be shown humility. Most of us fail to distinguish these people and many a time we honour them while on the other hand forget the deserving ones.

This category of people are the following :

i. Non Believers and Sinners

There is no doubt that a believer irrespective of his colour, caste or status is better than a disbeliever or a sinful person.

Allah (s.w.t.) says : "Is he then who is a believer like him who is a transgressor? They at not equal." (Sajdah/18)

In another place the Almighty Allah says : "And do not marry the idolatrous until they believe, and certainly a believing maid is better than an idolatous woman even though she may allure you." (Al-Baqarah/221)

So one cannot compare a believer with any disbeliever or even with a transgressor. A believer has an exceptional dignity bestowed upon him by Allah (s.w.t.). He achieved this dignity because of his belief in Allah (s.w.t.) and therefore showing humbleness and humility to a disbeliever is belittling Imaan (Belief) before Kufr (Disbelief) thus disgracing the Imaan.

ii. The Rich for their Wealth

The Holy Qur’an and the narration have both strongly protested against showing humility towards rich people their wealth. Almighty Allah says : "And do not stretch your eyes after that with which we have provided different classes of them (of) the splendour of this world’s life that we may therefore try them." (Taha/131)

Imam Ali (a.s.) has said : "Whoever comes to a rich person and expresses humility for his wealth, Allah snatches two thirds of his religion."

Ayatlullah Dasti Ghayb explains the above hadith beautifully in his book ‘Adh-Dhunooh al Kabeera’ (The major Sins). He writes that Imaam is made up of three things.

a) Conviction at heart;
b) Admission by tongue: and
c) Action by parts of the body.

Since showing humility to the rich for their wealth is expressed by the first two i.e. the heart and tongue, therefore two thirds of one’s faith goes away.

iii. To the Proud Ones

Avoid showing humility and being humble before the proud ones. This is because showing humility to such kind of people firstly, brings self-humiliation and disgrace and secondly, it will encourage the proud ones to continue with pride and disregard the rights of others. Moreover, by not showing humility to a proud one, there are chances that he might acknowledge his grave mistake.

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) has said : "If you notice the humble ones in my nation, then show humility towards them and if you see the proud ones, then show (your) pride over them for verily for them in that is humiliation and lowliness." (Jami’us saadaat)

Finally, we pray to the Almighty Allah (s.w.t.) to guide us and save us from Kibr of all kinds.

Aamina Rabbal ‘Aalameen.

Walahu Waliyyut Tawfeeque.