The human heart 🫀 is described in the Quran as ‘fuad’ which can mean it is constantly influenced by desires. We have to think carefully about how we treat our hearts.
Arrogance is a mental state of *self-admiration and haughtiness *😤 towards others. According to Imam Ahmed Al-Maqdisi, arrogance is a man’s view of himself with an eye of self-glorification and self-importance and of others with that of contempt.
Out of all the vices and self-defeating behaviours commonly found among human beings, arrogance is ranked among the worst of them.
Allah (SWT) mentions in Q7:146 “I will turn away from My signs those who are arrogant upon the earth without right…”. It literally means that Allah azza wa jallah will turn His guidance away from arrogance. Our Lord condemned whoever feel pompous or feel superior to others. Q16:23 also testified to this statement, and the outcome for arrogant people with Allah is punishment on the day of judgment.
Our noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW) also warned us that admission to al Jannah will be denied to those who are arrogant. Ibn Masuod narrated that Rasulullah (SAW) said “Whoever has an atom’s weight of arrogance in his heart will not enter paradise.” Then one of the companions asked, “what do you say about someone who likes to dress in fine clothes?” He (SAW) replied “Allah is Beautiful and likes that which is beautiful. Arrogance is to knowingly reject the truth and to belittle other people.” (Muslim)
In another version of the above hadith, Rasulullah (SAW) said “Hellfire said, “I have been favoured with the arrogant people (as my occupants).” (Bukhari)
According to Tirmidhi, the prophet (SAW) informed us that on the day of judgment, the conceited will be resurrected as small as ants 🐜 that people will not even notice them.”
Consequently, arrogance is a disease of the heart 🫀 and a spiritual trait that could manifest through individuals’ behaviour and attitudes. It is also a self-defeating behaviour that can ruin our relationship with Allah (SWT) and with our fellow humans.
Therefore, as Muslim men women who aim to enter paradise with our loved ones on the day when no one would be able to help each other accept our deeds, we really need to be careful by not dragging our feet 👣 for the attention of others, and by being careful not to go beyond the limitations set by Allah. We shouldn’t dress to kill, nor should we be arrogant towards our spouses. This is because whoever has an atom’s weight of pride in her/his heart will be deprived of paradise and such people will also lack humbleness, forgiveness, purity from grudges, which could also lead to other vices like envy and anger.
We should always remember that part of the consequences of this disease of the heart is disqualification from the entrance into Al Jannah no amount of other good deeds we might have done.
Again, it is imperative to know that fitnah goes straight to the heart 🫀that has the arrogance and any other diseases of the heart. Ibn Taimiyyah stated that the heart is the key to corruption or success. The sweetest thing that life could offer is happiness within our hearts, which can only happen when it is cleansed and purified.
The worst of arrogance is that which prevents individuals from seeking knowledge or accepting or even submitting to the truth 🧎♂️
Some reasons for arrogance include:
- Level of education 😇
- Knowledge ✍
- Religious piety👳♂️
- Fame🚔
- Nobility🤴
- Beauty
- Physical strength 💪
- Wealth🏘
- Achievements in life🪂
- Position ✍
- Self desire, and more.
The prophet (SAW) warned us ” Hellfire is reserved for any person who loves to have people stand for him.” (Abu Dawud). Our predecessors distanced themselves from this behaviour even in their dealings with the prophet Muhammad (SAW). Anas (RA) reported that “no one was more beloved to us than the Messenger of Allah, but we would not stand up whenever we saw him, for we were certain that he disliked it.”
Another trait that could be found with arrogant people is that they resent sitting with people of lower rank and walking 🚶♂️ with them. But that was not the attitude of our noble prophet Muhammad (SAW), he used to be friendly, approachable to all regardless of their physical or social status.
In summary, arrogance is a disease of the heart that hardens it. *Its cure is *humility and fear of Allah. The best way is to follow the path of our nabiyy (SAW) and always check ourselves.
The receptor of Islamic admonition is the heart…. and this is just a reminder for those who have a heart ❤.
Written by Nurat Adelopo
https//www.nuratadelopo.com
