PRIDE:
A BARRIER TO PARADISE
By Shaykh 'Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Naasir as-Sa'dee
(d.1376H) [1]
From 'Abdullaah ibn Mas'ood radiallaahu 'anhu
who related that Allaah's Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "Whoever
has an atoms worth of kibr (pride) in his heart will not enter Paradise."
So a man said: What about a person who loves (i.e. takes pride in) wearing
beautiful clothes and beautiful shoes? So he replied: "Indeed Allaah is
beautiful and loves beauty. Kibr (pride) is to reject the truth, and to despise
the people."[2]
So Allaah - the Most High - informs us that the
Hellfire is the abode of those who have kibr (pride and arrogance). And
we learn from the (above) hadeeth that: "Whoever has on atoms
worth of kibr (pride) in his heart will not enter Paradise." So this
is a proof that kibr (pride) necessitates entry into the Hellfire and
prevents entry into Paradise. And this comprehensive explanation that the
Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam mentioned has clarified the
meaning of kibr (pride) in the dearest possible manner. So he divided kibr
into two types:
[1] Pride against the truth: This is to
reject the truth and not to accept it. So anyone who reject the truth is proud
and arrogant - in accordance with what he reject of the truth. So it is obligatory
upon everyone to humble themselves to the truth which Allaah sent His Messenger
with, and which He sent down in His Book. As for those whose pride and
arrogance prevents them from totally complying with the Messengers (i.e. having
eemaan or faith in them and their message) - then they are kuffaar
(unbelievers) who will dwell in the Hellfire for eternity. Since when the truth
comes to them via the Messengers, who explain to them the signs and clear
proofs, they reject it and are prevented from accepting it, due to the kibr
that they harbour in their hearts. Allaah the Most High - said:
"Indeed
those who argue about the Signs of Allaah without any authority having come to
them, there is nothing in their hearts except kibr (pride). They will
never accept the Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam as a
Prophet." [Soorah Ghaafir 40:56].
As for those
whose arrogance and pride prevent them from complying with parts of the truth -
because it opposes their personal opinions or their whims and desires - then
such people are not kuffaar (unbelievers), but such an action
necessitates them being punished in accordance with what they have of kibr.
This is why the Scholars are agreed that whenever the Sunnah (guidance and way)
of Allaah's Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam has been explained
to anyone, then it is not lawful for him to turn away from it to the saying of
someone else, whoever and whatever status he may have. So it is obligatory upon the seeker of knowledge
to give complete and absolute precedence to the saying of Allaah and the saying
of His Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam over and above the saying
of anyone else, and that he should make that the basis to which he returns, and
the foundation upon which he builds; following the guidance of the Prophet sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam, striving hard to understand what is intended from it,
and following this, both inwardly and outwardly. When a person conforms to this
great principle, then he has indeed reached goodness and excellence, and all
his errors will be forgiven to him; since his overall objective is to follow
that which has been prescribed upon him. So his errors are excused due to his
striving his best to recognise and comply with the truth - and this is humbling
oneself to the truth.
[2] Pride
towards people: This type is to despise the people, and to look down upon
them. This attitude arises when a person is amazed with his own self, thinks
highly of himself, and thinks he is better than others. So this causes him to
have kibr towards the creation, despise them, mock them, and to degrade
them through both speech and action. Allaah's Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi
wa sallam said: "It is enough evil for a person to despise his
brother Muslim."[3]
This is why the
man asked: "What about a person who loves (i.e. takes pride in) wearing
beautiful clothes and shoes?" Because he feared that this was the kibr
which would be under the threat of punishment. So the Prophet sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam explained to him that this was not from kibr; since
this person was one who complied with the truth, and was humble towards people,
and that this was from the beauty that Allaah loves, for indeed Allaah - the
Most High is beautiful in His Dhaat (Self), Sifaat (Attributes)
and Af'aal (Actions), and He loves both outer and inner beauty.
As regards
outer beauty, then it includes cleanliness of the body, clothes and place. As
regards to inner beauty, then it is beautifying the character. This is why the
Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam used to supplicate: "O Allaah! Guide
me to having beautiful manners and characteristics, no one can guide me to
beautifying them except You. And turn away from me all evil actions and
characteristics, no one con turn them away from me except You."[4]
And Allaah knows best.