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Self-Admiration and Its Remedy*
It
was reported on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that the
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “While
a man was strutting in two-piece garment out of
self-admiration, Allah caused the earth to swallow him up,
and he has been sinking therein up to the Day of
Resurrection.”
And
it was reported that Ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with
him) said, “Destruction lies in two things:
self-admiration and despair.” Ibn Mas`ud put
self-admiration and despair together because happiness
cannot be obtained without exerting much effort; the
despairing person does not make any effort because of his
despair, and the self-admiring person believes that he has
got what he wants, so he feels he does not have to make any
effort either. Further, Self-admiration leads to pride, and
pride leads to many destructive flaws.
The
Remedy for Self-Admiration:
Allah,
Glorified and Exalted be He, favored man when He created him
and provided him with bountiful blessings. Therefore, no one
should be self-admiring because of his actions, knowledge,
beauty, or wealth, as these are bounties provided by Allah
out of His Grace. Even man’s being favored with such
bounties is still another favor from Allah upon him!
Moreover,
a person’s righteous deeds will not be enough to admit him
to Paradise because it is Allah Who guides him and enables
him to do them. It was reported on the authority of Abu
Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
once said, “The good deeds of any person will not make
him enter Paradise.” They (the Prophet’s Companions)
said, “Not even you, Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Not
even myself, unless Allah bestows His favor and mercy on
me.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
One
may believe that his noble lineage and his noble relatives
would benefit him and intercede for him on the Day of
Resurrection.
Such
a person has to bear in mind Allah's saying, […
Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he
who is) the most righteous of you…]
(Al-Hujurat 49:13) Emphasizing this concept, the Prophet
(peace and blessings be upon him) said to his daughter, “O
Fatimah… I have no power to protect you from Allah in
anything.” (Al-Bukhari)
Therefore,
it is only a person’s righteous deeds and good qualities
that make him noble or honorable in the sight of Allah.
Besides, we have on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah
be pleased with him) that Allah’s Messenger (peace and
blessings be upon him) said, “I should not find that
any of you should come on the Day of Resurrection with a
growling camel mounted on his neck and should appeal to me
for help saying, ‘O Messenger of Allah, help me,’ and I
should say, ‘I have no authority to help you; I already
communicated to you.’” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
So,
whoever knows and comprehends these facts will start
occupying the rest of his life with as many acts of worship
as he can, for this is the only road to success.
*
Based on Ibn
Qudamah Al-Maqdisi's Mukhtasar Minhaj Al-Qasidin (Mansourah,
Egypt: Dar al-Manarah, 2002)
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