ARROGANCE AND PRIDE

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

An-Nawawi records in his book Riyad us-Saliheen:

Allah the Exalted said:

تِلْكَ الدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ نَجْعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فَسَادًا وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

That home of the Hereafter We assign to those who do not desire exaltedness upon the earth or corruption. And the best outcome is for the righteous.

Surah Al-Qasas 28:83

And Allah said:

وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا

Do not walk upon the earth exultantly.

Surah Al-Isra 17:37

And Allah said:

وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ

Do not turn your cheek in contempt toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Verily, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful.

Surah Luqman 31:18

And Allah said:

إِنَّ قَارُونَ كَانَ مِن قَوْمِ مُوسَىٰ فَبَغَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ وَآتَيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْكُنُوزِ مَا إِنَّ مَفَاتِحَهُ لَتَنُوءُ بِالْعُصْبَةِ أُولِي الْقُوَّةِ إِذْ قَالَ لَهُ قَوْمُهُ لَا تَفْرَحْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْفَرِحِينَ

Verily, Qarun was from the people of Moses, but he tyrannized them. We gave him of treasures whose keys would burden a band of strong men, thereupon his people said to him: Do not exult. Verily, Allah does not love the exultant.

Surah Al-Qasas 28:76

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud, RadiyAllahu Anhu, reported: The Prophet, SallAllahui Alaihi Wa Sallam, said:

لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ مِنْ كِبْرٍ

He will not enter Paradise whoever has even an seed’s weight of arrogance in his heart.

Someone said, “O Messenger of Allah, verily, a man loves to have beautiful clothes and shoes.” So the Prophet said:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ جَمِيلٌ يُحِبُّ الْجَمَالَ الْكِبْرُ بَطَرُ الْحَقِّ وَغَمْطُ النَّاسِ

Verily, Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty. Arrogance means to reject the truth and to look down on people.

Source: Sahih Muslim 91, Grade: Sahih

Salamah bin Al-Akwa, RadiyAllahu Anhu, reported: A man ate in the presence of Messenger of Allah with his left hand, so the Messenger of Allah, SallAllahui Alaihi Wa Sallam, said:

كُلْ بِيَمِينِكَ

Eat with your right hand.

The man said, “I cannot.” So he said:

لا أَسْتَطِيعُ

You will not be able to.

Source: Sahih Muslim 2021, Grade: Sahih

It was arrogance that prevented him from doing it, and he could not raise his right hand up to his mouth afterwards.

Haritha ibn Whab, RadiyAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahui Alaihi Wa Sallam, said:

أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِأَهْلِ النَّار كُلُّ عُتُلٍّ جَوَّاظٍ مُسْتَكْبِرٍ

Shall I tell you about the people of Hellfire? They are every haughty, mean, and arrogant person.

Source: Sahih Bukhari 4634, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi

Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri, RadiyAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahui Alaihi Wa Sallam, said:

تَحَاجَّتْ النَّارُ وَالْجَنَّةُ فَقَالَتْ النَّارُ أُوثِرْتُ بِالْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ وَالْمُتَجَبِّرِينَ وَقَالَتْ الْجَنَّةُ فَمَا لِي لَا يَدْخُلُنِي إِلَّا ضُعَفَاءُ النَّاسِ وَسَقَطُهُمْ وَعَجَزُهُمْ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ لِلْجَنَّةِ أَنْتِ رَحْمَتِي أَرْحَمُ بِكِ مَنْ أَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِي وَقَالَ لِلنَّارِ أَنْتِ عَذَابِي أُعَذِّبُ بِكِ مَنْ أَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِي وَلِكُلِّ وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْكُمْ مِلْؤُهَا فَأَمَّا النَّارُ فَلَا تَمْتَلِئُ فَيَضَعُ قَدَمَهُ عَلَيْهَا فَتَقُولُ قَطْ قَطْ فَهُنَالِكَ تَمْتَلِئُ وَيُزْوَى بَعْضُهَا إِلَى بَعْضٍ

The Hellfire and Paradise disputed each other. Hellfire said: the haughty and the proud will dwell in me. Paradise said: What is the matter with me that the meek, the humble among people, the simple and downtrodden will enter me? Allah said to Paradise: you are My mercy with which I show mercy to those of My servants whom I will; and Allah said to Hellfire: you are punishment with which I punish those of My servants whom I will, and both of you will be full. Hellfire will not be filled until Allah puts His foot over it, and Hellfire will say: Enough! Enough! At that time, all of its parts will be filled together.

Source: Sahih Muslim 2846, Grade: Sahih

Ibn Umar, RadiyAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahui Alaihi Wa Sallam, said:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى مَنْ يَجُرُّ إِزَارَهُ بَطَرًا

Verily, those who used to trail their garments out of pride, Allah will not look at them on the Day of Resurrection.

Source: Sahih Muslim 2085, Grade: Sahih

Abu Huraira, RadiyAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahui Alaihi Wa Sallam, said:

ثَلَاثَةٌ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمْ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ شَيْخٌ زَانٍ وَمَلِكٌ كَذَّابٌ وَعَائِلٌ مُسْتَكْبِرٌ

There are three to whom Allah will not speak on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them, nor will He look at them: an old man who commits adultery, a king who lies, and an arrogant person in poverty.

Source: Sahih Muslim 107, Grade: Sahih

Abu Huraira, RadiyAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahui Alaihi Wa Sallam, said:

قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الْكِبْرِيَاءُ رِدَائِي وَالْعَظَمَةُ إِزَارِي فَمَنْ نَازَعَنِي وَاحِدًا مِنْهُمَا قَذَفْتُهُ فِي النَّارِ

Allah the Almighty said: Pride is My cloak and greatness is My garment, so whoever competes with Me regarding these two will be thrown into the Hellfire.

Source: Sunan Abu Dawud 4090, Grade: Sahih

Abu Huraira, RadiyAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahui Alaihi Wa Sallam, said:

بَيْنَمَا رَجُلٌ يَمْشِي فِي حُلَّةٍ تُعْجِبُهُ نَفْسُهُ مُرَجِّلٌ جُمَّتَهُ إِذْ خَسَفَ اللَّهُ بِهِ فَهُوَ يَتَجَلْجَلُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ

A man was walking while wearing a fine garment and being impressed with himself when Allah caused the earth to swallow him. He will continue to fall down until the Day of Resurrection.

Source: Sahih Bukhari 5452, Grade: Sahih

Salamah bin Al-Akwa, RadiyAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahui Alaihi Wa Sallam, said:

لَا يَزَالُ الرَّجُلُ يَذْهَبُ بِنَفْسِهِ حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ فِي الْجَبَّارِينَ فَيُصِيبُهُ مَا أَصَابَهُمْ

A man will continue to exalt himself until he is recorded among the tyrants, so he will be punished as they are punished.

Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2000, Grade: Hasan

Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.