Obedient Angel
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 | Subject: Purify Your Heart from Seeking Elevation and High Handedness as well as Self-conceit (Ujb) and Egotism  Mon Jan 09, 2012 5:37 am | |
| Seeking Elevation and High Handedness"That is the Abode of the Hereafter which We shall grant to those who do not desire to be haughty in the earth, nor [to cause] corruption. And the sequel will be for those who fear." [28:83]
Allah (SwT) made the home of the Hereafter in this verse for the one who does not seek high handedness upon the earth, due to showing off, fame, and ostentation (and this is one of the indications of humility) and for the one who does not desire mischief and corruption.
Seeking elevation can occur in a number of different contexts such as in the various disciplines of knowledge, position or rank or in the love of leadership and power. It can also occur in the matters of religion such as loving to be foremost in the gatherings, and competing in answering the questioners, even if someone who is equal to him or better than him is present.
And perhaps this elevation might even turn into envy, jealousy, the hatred of some of the callers to Allah of one another and the dislike of showing benevolent conduct towards each other. Muslims should beware of letting their hearts be mixed with the likes of these vile feelings and sensations.
In explaining the above verse, Ibn Taymiyyah said,
People are of four types:
The first type: They desire elevation over the people and corruption in the earth, and this is disobedience to Allah. Such mischief-making kings and leaders are like Pharaoh and his party, and they are the worst of all of creation.
The second type: Those who desire corruption without elevation, such as the thieves and criminals from the riff-raff amongst the people.
The third type: Those who desire elevation without corruption such as those who desire to elevate themselves above others in matters of the religion.
As for the fourth type: They are the people of Paradise, those who seek neither elevation in the earth and nor corruption - along with the fact that they are (indeed) much higher than those besides them." [Majmoo ul-Fataawaa Vol 18, with some abridgement]
Self-conceit (Ujb) and Egotism
One of the most dangerous attributes are also self-conceit and egotism.
Some said that Ujb is when man becomes happy with himself and this is the very first stage of egotism. Sometimes pride and self-centeredness also branch out from this stage and man begins to imagine himself to be better than others. Sometimes it so happens that he imagines that as a result of some of his good deeds he has acquired some rights over Allah. Ja'afar Al Sadiq said, "Whoever is taken over by egotism is finished."
Some have defined self-conceit (ujb) as imagining one's deed as great and being pleased with it is in such a way that he does not consider him at fault.
Egotism is that man thinks himself to be great due to his material attainments -- be those actual virtues in him or only in his imagination. Some have said that egotism is that man due to whatever attribute or blessing he has thinks that he is great and becomes unmindful of the one who granted all that to him.
From the viewpoint of worldly life, the harms and corrupting effects of egotism are many. Once man develops this evil he is no more prepared to obtain any benefit from the centres of knowledge or from knowledgeable persons, as he imagines himself on their level and sometimes even above them. Due to this he drags behind in scholarly achievements or in the progress of knowledge. He remains in a state of multiple ignorance forever.
It is but natural that egotism makes a person unpleasant among the people who become displeased with him and do not care for him. One who is pleased with himself makes many people angry with him. In addition, egotism takes man away from reality.
With regard to the hereafter, egotists are among the losers. Allah says:
"Is he, the evil of whose deeds is made [to seem] fair to him that he deems it good [is like the one who sees the Truth?]" [35:8]
Allah leaves astray those who are arrogant and conceited,
"I shall turn away from My signs those who behave arrogantly in the earth without right; and if they see every sign do not believe in it, and if they see the way of rectitude, do not adopt it as a way, and if they see the way of error, adopt it as a way. That is because they have denied Our signs and were heedless of them. " [7:146]
We are warned against self-conceit,
"And do not walk in the earth exultantly. Indeed you will not rend the earth, nor attain the mountains in height." [17:37]
May Allah protect us from our nafs' whispers and guide our steps. | |
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