Reason for Kibr in Man

Adopted from the book : "Pride" by : "Mujahidali A.R. Sheriff"

There are many reasons for pride in man, but as a whole, the root cause of it is the feeling of self-humiliation and an inferiority complex in man. Therefore, one can count pride as a reaction, a cover up for a sense of insecurity and inferiority. The argument which Iblees brought up when command to prostrate before Adam (a.s.) was based on this insecurity. "How could one, who was created from fire, prostrate before someone created from clay ?", asked Iblees. Iblees, who thought himself a superior creation than Adam, refused to recognize the command of his Creator. His response arose as a reaction to his loss of self-esteem. This reaction of Iblees, made him lose the prestige he had been enjoying amongst the angels and he was thereafter banished with an everlasting curse from Allah (s.w.t.)

The following verse of the Holy Qur’an describes what made Iblees become proud. "He said: I am not one to prostrate in obeisance to man (for) You created him of the essence of black mud fashioned in shape." (Al-Hijr/33)

And was therefore commanded as thus : "Said He : Get down hence for it does not befit you to behave proudly therein. Get out; verily you are of the despised ones." (Al-A’raf/13)

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) has said : "There is no man who is proud or haughty except with (the feeling of) humiliation which he finds ins inner self."