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Lesson: 9 Pride (continued)
1- Causes
and Reasons of Pride
The problems
which may cause pride are:
A - Sometimes
knowledge and wisdom ends in this attribution whereby a man imagines oneself
greater and higher than others. Of course this happens when man has not improved
himself. Otherwise, if one takes into account the dimensions of spirit, the
more his knowledge increases the more he imagines himself to be low and considers
all others to be better than him.
B - And sometimes
'worship' becomes the cause of pride when man sees that he is a worshipping
and obedient man and that others are not like that. As a result, a kind of pride
is created within himself. So that is better is that such a man should ponder
that it is possible that the deeds which, according to his thinking are good
may not lead him anywhere as has been mentioned in a verse of the Holy Qumran:
-
"Say: Shall
we inform you of the greatest losers in (their) deeds? (These are) they whose
labour is lost in this world's life and they think that they are well versed
in skill of the work of hands." (Kahn: 103 - 104).
Again it is
possible that may be some of the good deeds of a man become void due to some
other bad deeds done by him, leaving him nowhere.
C - And sometimes
it is possible a man shows pride because of his 'lineage', forgetting the fact
that lineage does not benefit a man because one day a man came to the Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) and narrated nine of his forefathers' names by way of pride. The
Holy Prophet (saw's.) said: do not you know that the tenth of them is you and
will be in the hell?
And if we feel
proud of our ancestors we must know that our origin is from dust as mentions
the holy Qumran:
"Who made
good everything that He has created, and He began the creation of man from dust.
Then He made his progeny of an extract, of water held in light estimation."
(Sandal: 7 - 8).
The holy Qumran
says that the differences of tribes are for recognition and they do not bring
any distinction for man.
"O you men!
Surely we have created you of a male and a female, and made you tribes and families
that you may know each other; surely the most honourable of you with Allah is
the one among you most careful (of his duty); surely Allah is Knowing, Aware."
(Hujarat: 13).
D - "Power
and Courage" cause pride. First man must know that if the proof of personality
is his strength then some of the animals may be more strong and courageous than
us. Secondly man, in the face of illnesses, is so much weak that, as you see,
he begins to shiver as a result of mere fever.
The Holy Qumran
says:"Allah is He Who created you from a state of weakness then He gave strength
after weakness, then ordained weakness and hoary hair after strength; He creates
what He pleases, and He is the Knowing, the Powerful." (Rum: 54).
E - And if
the cause is pride, power and kingdom then we should know that, it is not only
no part of human being, but no kind of assurance of its continuity is available
to us. How many were the people who got up in the morning but could not maintain
their kingdom till night or could not pass the night with power till next morning.
Hence one of the poets sang about Naadirshaah:-
(When night
fell he was wearing a crown on his head but when it dawned he had neither crown
nor head. A single turn of the heaven showed Naadir was not there what to talk
of his kingdom!)
2
- Kinds of Pride
The above quoted
verses and narrations show that there are three kinds of pride:
Pride or
arrogance in front of the Creator of the Heaven and the earth. Ego against the Messengers of God. Haughtiness in front of the slaves of Allah.
3 - Grades
of Pride
And the grades
of pride too can be divided into three:
1 - This vice
takes root in the heart of man and then his words and deeds make it known that
he considers himself better than others.
2 - He does
not express from his tongue but practically he considers himself to be higher
than others.
3 - Man fights
against this vice that has occupied his heart. So its signs are not traceable
in his words and deeds. This is less dangerous than the earlier two types of
pride. Yet, we must, under all circumstances, seek shelter in Allah, the ONLY
ONE GOD, so that He may save us from the evil of our own soul.
4 - Signs
of Pride
One of the
signs of pride is that man imagines that he is better than others and is not
ready to accept the truth. So it is quoted from Imam Sadiq (a.s.):"Pride is to consider people low and truth to be light (weightless)" (Kafi,
2: 310).
And it is also
related from Imam Sadiq (a.s.):"Addressing Hafs he said: If a man considers himself to be better than others
he can be considered to be proud. Hafs asks: What if a man considers himself
better as he does not commit sin whereas others are sinning? Imam (a.s.) replied:
Alas, Alas. It is possible that fellow is pardoned and he repents but you are
kept in eye for being presented before God for accounting. Have you not heard
the story of Moosa (a.s.) and the magicians? (That they repented and were considered
as true faithful). (Bihaar 73: 206, 226, 233).
And it has
been mentioned that, according to the impeccable Imam (a.s.), the Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) once passed by a group of people who had gathered round a man. He
asked: What is the matter? They replied: O Prophet of Allah! This man is mad.
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: He is not mad. He has a soul related (spiritual)
problem or illness. If you want to know who is really mad I must say that mad
or lunatic is a man who walks with ego and pride and wonders at his own opinion,
while walking moves his shoulders arrogantly and hopes for heaven (paradise)
from God (and also) no one has been safe from his evil and no one hopes anything
good from him. This kind of man is mad or lunatic and the one who you think
mad is a victim of spiritual ailment.
Sometimes signs
of pride can be seen from the manner of speaking, sitting or walking of people.
Also sometimes such person desires that a group of people should follow him
or that others should stand like slaves in front of him. These are the signs
of proud and arrogant people.
It was due
to this that the manner of sitting of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) was such that,
most of the time, he did not look like the president of the assembly. Sometimes,
while walking o road, he used to say: Some of you may walk ahead. The Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) used to walk behind them. (Bihar 73:206,226,233).
All that has
been mentioned above was about pride. But what is the most important of all
is man himself who should know what is his task:
5 - Harm
of Pride
A - Whenever
man imagined himself to be above others he stayed back from acquiring knowledge
and wisdom and fell deep down in the pot of multiple ignorance. And as he is
not prepared to consult others even form the worldly viewpoint he many a time,
gets loaded with losses. So much so that sometimes he loses even his kingdom
and family like, Khusro Parvez and Aboo Lahab and Rezashah Pahelvi and
B - Pride brings
man down in the eyes of God and HIS creation. The Holy Prophet (SAW) is reported
to have said: "Most hated persons are the proud ones. It is also narrated: "Man
yastakbir."
"The one who
is proud is degraded by God".
6 - The
Way of Remedying Pride
In the face
of this ailment of the soul or spirit what should one do and in what way it
should be driven away? To get rid of this illness it is necessary to follow
some prescriptions:
Firstly: He
should think what was he, what he is and what will be he? Man's first and last
is obvious. Practically too he is hot the master of himself. Is it proper on
his part to be arrogant or proud? He must ponder more over this.
Secondly: He
must study carefully the verses and traditions condemning this vice and always
remember he same.
Thirdly: He
must keep its harms in mind so that the disease is removed fully.
Fourthly: He
should practically fight with desires and crush them and for that purpose he
should do that which is not pleasing to the heart.
7 - What
Should Society Do While Confronting the Arrogant?
The judgment
of intelligence or reason and the order of religion is that to assist or help
anyone in anything wrong or evil is sin, ugly, disobedience of God and hence
all means should be utilized so as to remove injustice and oppression and sins.
The Holy Prophet
(S) is reported to have said: "Izaa "
"Whenever
you meet with the courteous of my community be humble before them and show pride
against the arrogant". (Akhlaaq e Bashar, p.172).
Also we read
in a well known tradition: "At ta kab bur."
"Showing pride
(toughness) while facing the arrogant is a kind of worship.
8 - Who
shows pride?
Generally those
who suffer from inferiority complex show pride and imagine themselves to be
better than others.
What man understands
is that, pride or arrogance is the result of meanness and ignobility of man.
It is recorded from Imam Sadiq (a.s.): "Maa min ."
"Man does
not show arrogance but due to the abjectness which he finds in himself". (Kafi,
2:312).
In another
hadith we read: "Maa min rajulin."
"No man exhibits
pride and arrogance except because of the weakness which hi sees in himself".
(Ibid).
