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

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.