arrogance- analysis and cure!!

And when it is said to him, "Fear Allah", he is led by arrogance to (more) crime. So enough for him is Hell, and worst indeed is that place to rest!
(  سورة البقرة  , Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #206)

Cancer is a disease that steals away our joys, darkens everything around us and ultimately kills us. It spreads slowly but surely and remains undetected. A few lucky ones are able to detect it early on and try and save themselves but the unfortunate ones who detect it at the last stage, have no hope. At all.

Takkabur , arrogance is cancer of the soul.  It comes 6 times in the Quran. It steals away our joys, makes us blind to the beauty of Allah swt’s creations and eats away slowly but surely our Imaan. And generally we don’t detect it. it’s worse than cancer, because its destroys our Akhirat  as well as Dunya.  The person with even an ounce of Takkabur in his heart wont be allowed inside Jannah!!

The only difference between the two is that unlike Cancer, Takkabur is within us and WE ALL KNOW IT!!

The true momins accept it and pledge to fight it till their last dying breath. Always wary of this enemy. Never letting their guard down. Always examining their actions looking for the slightest scent of takkabur.

And Allah rewards them with dunya and akhirat. It’s a reward well deserved as it’s a very long tiring and often fierce battle till the end.

So how do these momins do it?  whats their secret?

Their secret is ACCEPTANCE and ANALYSIS and CURE.

They accept its presence in their hearts and don’t feel ashamed in acknowledging it and mark it as their sworn enemy and swear to fight it till the end… their end.

They Analyze it. why it happens. It always helps to find a cure for it then.

And finally they regularly take the medicine. Never once failing to take it.

What to join in their research?

Here is it..

It all starts with the basic need to BELONG. To feel safe within the confines of a group.

Once that security is attained, the play of “IMAGE” comes. We start wishing  for a certain “Image” for ourselves. I am “THIS”. It can be as a great scholar, a great cook, a great parent, a great employee etc.”  To be able to play that part well, we start acquiring information.

And then comes the “I M BETTER THAN YOU” part.

It is this where we need to be careful of what direction we are taking. We feel so proud of ourselves as we forge on with our efforts to become more knowledgeable that we stop being humble.

 As taqwa increases so does humbleness. This is a rule. There is no exception to it.

The “holier than thou” / “ I am in a better position than you “attitude goes against taqwa and the spirit of Islam.

We start arguing. We become “fierce Opponents” in an argument, because we have to protect our image. We don’t stop to listen what the others are saying. They might be right too. We become judgmental. We become harsh. We become diseased. We stop feeling joy. The purity of the emotion is lost. What we feel after winning a round of arguments by what ever means we could use is a twisted and dark version of the beautiful emotion Allah swt made for us.

We get immersed in the love of this world. Beautiful clothes, beautiful cars, children , spouses, houses, vacations to exotic places.

And the men on Al-A'raf (the wall) will call unto the men whom they would recognise by their marks, saying: "Of what benefit to you were your great numbers (and hoards of wealth), and your arrogance (against Faith)?"
(  سورة الأعراف  , Al-Araf, Chapter #7, Verse #48)

We thrive on the look of awe and amazement in the eyes of our audience.

And walk not on the earth with conceit and arrogance. Verily, you can neither rend nor penetrate the earth, nor can you attain a stature like the mountains in height.
(  سورة الإسراء  , Al-Isra, Chapter #17, Verse #37)

We need to stop.

We need to fight this.

Now the cure:

Du’a, seeking constant forgiveness, compelling oneself to do good deeds and keep quiet about it, the company of the “learned ones”, choosing ones friends with care, changing the parameters of making friends, reading and understanding the Qur’an.

CONSTANT EVALUATION OF ONE’s ACTIONS.

May Allah swt help me and you fight and destroy this disease in us and grant us all entry into Jannah.

Al-Araf, Chapter #7, Verse #40)