Fear Allah and be modest
Fatwa No: 86666

Question

I some times feel very proud of my self when I'm talking to some one about Qur'an or about Prophet Mohamed because I feel I'm better than this person and I know more than him. And also I feel like I'm teaching people. I always blame my self. Is that arrogance and how can I preventive it?

Answer

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions. Thank you for your concern about Da'wah (call to Allah's religion-Islam) and keenness on teaching others, and we pray to Allah, The Exalted, to reward you abundantly. You have to be alert and careful lest your feeling that you are superior to those whom you are calling may possibly drive you to self-admiration and haughtiness. So, you have to keep away from such a feeling. Imam Al-Ghazali (may Allah's mercy be upon him), describing the remedy for this infliction, said: Know that self-admiration is a devastating trait from which none is completely safe. Its elimination is an individual obligation that each and every one has to undertake. It cannot be exterminated by mere wishful thinking, rather by applying effective remedy. The treatment of such infliction can be done on two levels: 1- Exterminating it from its very roots in the bottom of the heart. 2- Eliminating the causative and accidental reasons which cause one to feel superior and look down on others. The first level of treatment has both scientific and practical dimensions, without the combination of which a fruitful result cannot be achieved. It is scientific in that it necessitates that he who suffers from haughtiness will be in a position to know himself and his Lord, The Almighty, in order to help himself get rid of this ailment. The more he knows himself, the more trivial and minor he will discern himself to be. Knowing himself in that way, will make him find his way to humbleness and humility, being aware of The Greatness and Sovereignty that befit none but Allah, The Exalted. The practical dimension of the treatment is done through being humble to Allah in deeds and actions and to ones fellow human beings through showing them fair conduct and modest cohabitation as did the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessing be upon him) and other righteous people. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) used to eat on the ground and say: I am no more than a slave, so I eat as slaves do. As for the second level, Imam Al-Ghazali elaborated on this issue and mentioned three ways to shun haughtiness and feeling superior to the one whom you enjoin to do good and forbid to do evil: 1- Considering your previous sins and evil actions in order to know your weight by yourself. 2- Looking at what qualifications you have of knowledge, following the truth, and righteous deeds as a bliss bestowed upon you by Allah, the Exalted. So you have to keep in mind that it is Allah's favour not yours, so as not admire yourself and be pompous. 3- Taking into consideration that both your end and his are unknown. Hence, your end may be bad and his might be good. Considering all this, will keep you away from feeling superior to that whom you preach. Speaking about treating haughtiness, he further said: Know that the treatment of any ailment is to be done through fighting the causes behind it. The very reason behind haughtiness is sheer ignorance, the treatment of which is knowledge which is a deterrent factor against this ignorance. Self-admiration ensuing from actions of one's own will, such as worship, charity, fighting in the way of Allah, ruling over people, or admonishing them is more dominant and overwhelming than factors which are not within his will and command, such as being strong, handsome, with noble lineage, etc. Hence, we say if one considers that his righteousness, piety, worship, and other actions are all attributes and orientations inseminated in him by nature (by Allah's leave), then how can he brag about something which is bestowed on him (by Allah)? And, on the other hand, if he looks at such attributes as something of his own and he is the origin and controller of them, and all of them are within his will, command, and capability, then he has to ponder over his strength, capability, body organs, and the means of power as a bliss endowed on him by Allah, The Almighty privileging him over other people without any right or means of his own. Thus, he has to show admiration in Allah's generosity, favour, and bliss in that He granted him what he does not deserve and singled out him with no means or privilege. [End of Al-Ghazali 's speech] And know, may Allah bliss you, that whatever level of knowledge and deeds one may acquire, he will never enter Paradise unless by Allah's mercy, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: None among you will be saved (from Hell) by means of his deeds. The companions asked: "even you, O Messenger of Allah?" He retorted: "even me, unless Allah covers me with His mercy. Some have said: Do not be proud about how much good deeds you have, for you do not know whether they will be accepted from you or not. And do not feel safe from sins, for you do not know whether you are forgiven for committing them or not. Really, your whole record of deeds is unknown. Hence, a worshipper must never brag about knowledge or deeds. We also advise you, may Allah grant you success, to continue in propagating Islam and calling for Allah, The Exalted. We pray to Allah that He may make you steadfast on His obedience and that He shower you with His bliss, and make easy for you getting rid of what you suffer from, verily He is the Omnipotent, the Helper. Allah knows best.

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