|
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 gowns out of self-admiration, Allah caused the earth to
swallow him up, and he has been submerging 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.
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 all the blessings he has. 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 another favor from
Allah upon him!
Moreover,
even a person’s righteous deeds will not 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.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Someone
may say that a nobleman may be self-admiring because of his noble
lineage, and he may wish that his noble relatives intercede for him
on the Day of Resurrection.
Commenting
on this, we can say that all Muslims wish for intercession on their
behalf, and it is true that intercession may not be accepted when
one’s sins are very great. Allah the Almighty declares, […
Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is)
the most righteous of you…] (Al-Hujurat 49: 13)
And
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.” (Reported by 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.’” (reported by 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 and obedience as he
can, as this is the only road to success.
You
can also read:
* Based on Ibn Qudamah Al-Maqdisi's Mukhtasar
Minhaj Al-Qasidin (Mansourah, Egypt: Dar al-Manarah,
2002)
|
