WHEN THE EGO TAKES CENTER STAGE

 

Pride, Ego, and Self-Praise: Protecting the Heart Through Humility

Praising one’s own self is a serious satanic influence to make us Proud of ourselves and become arrogance looking down upon others, and ALLAH (The most Perfect) forbade this; ALLAH says (what means):

 فَلَا تُزَكُّوا أَنفُسَكُمْ ۖ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اتَّقَىٰ (32)

"So do not claim yourselves to be pure; HE is most knowing of who truly fears HIM" 

[Quran 53:32]

On the other hand, it means being proud of one’s good deeds. This is indeed contrary to the condition of the Prophets, righteous people, and the people of Paradise as they combined between doing good and fearing the punishment of ALLAH. One of our mothers Aa’ishah may ALLAH be please with her said:

عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَعِيدِ بْنِ وَهْبٍ الْهَمْدَانِيِّ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ، زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتْ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ هَذِهِ الآيَةِ ‏:‏ 

 ‏‏(‏ والَّذِينَ يُؤْتُونَ مَا آتَوْا وَقُلُوبُهُمْ وَجِلَةٌ ‏)‏ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ أَهُمُ الَّذِينَ يَشْرَبُونَ الْخَمْرَ وَيَسْرِقُونَ قَالَ ‏ "‏ لاَ يَا بِنْتَ الصِّدِّيقِ وَلَكِنَّهُمُ الَّذِينَ يَصُومُونَ وَيُصَلُّونَ وَيَتَصَدَّقُونَ وَهُمْ يَخَافُونَ أَنْ لاَ يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُمْ أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَهُمْ لَهَا سَابِقُونَ ‏" ‏

 “I asked the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam about this verse in which ALLAH says (what means):

وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْتُونَ مَا آتَوا وَّقُلُوبُهُمْ وَجِلَةٌ أَنَّهُمْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ رَاجِعُونَ (60)

 

"And they who give what they give while their hearts are fearful because they will be returning to their Lord...

[Quran 23:60]

 Are they those who consume intoxicants and steal, and he [the Prophet], said: “No, O daughter of As-Siddeeq [i.e. Abu Bakr], but it is those who fast, perform the prayer and give charity while they fear that this will not be accepted from them; they are those who hasten to perform good deeds.” 

Jami' al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 3175

Also narrated in Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal.

Besides, ALLAH says about the people of Paradise (what means):

 وَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَسَاءَلُونَ (25) قَالُوا إِنَّا كُنَّا قَبْلُ فِي أَهْلِنَا مُشْفِقِينَ (26) فَمَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا وَوَقَانَا عَذَابَ السَّمُومِ (27) 

 "And they will approach one another, inquiring of each other. They will say, “Indeed, we were previously among our people fearful [of displeasing ALLAH]. 

So ALLAAH conferred favor upon us and protected us from the punishment of the Scorching Fire. 

[Quran 52:25-27] 

May ALLAH keep guiding us all and protect us from any form of pride and arrogance. Aameen.