LESSON OF THE DAY 540

Ayahs of the Day:
And We gave Moses scripture, and We made it guidance for the Israelites, that they should take none for a guardian other than Me. Descendants of those We carried with Noah; who was a most grateful devotee. [17: 2,3]

Hadith of the Day:
He who has a grain of pride in his heart will not enter Paradise. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
The key to the life of the heart is reflecting on the meaning of Quran, calling on Allah sincerely before dawn and leaving wrong actions. [Imam al Mannawi]

Guidance of the Day:
Pride: Pride (Takabbur) is to consider oneself superior to others in attributes of excellence. There are many forms of pride. Most are subtle, hidden, and hard to detect. It is only the thorough gaze of a qualified shaykh that can uncover such hidden forms of pride. In a nutshell, pride is to willingly and consciously regard oneself superior to others in religious or worldly excellence in a way which creates contempt in the heart for others. This is the reality of pride, and this is forbidden. Pride consists of two ingredients: the feeling of superiority and considering oneself great, and contempt for others.

Where the condition of contempt for others is non-existent, pride will not arise. Mere belief in superiority and inferiority, prominence and insignificance, is not pride. But the one who consciously thinks himself better than others becomes arrogant. His lower self swells up with pride, the consequences of which manifest themselves. Examples of pride are: to regard others with contempt, to take offense when others do not greet one first, to feel insulted if others do not offer one respect, to be annoyed when someone admonishes one, refusal to concede the truth even after having realized it. May Allah Most High keep us under His protection and save us from pride, for indeed, it is the severest of maladies. It is the root of all spiritual ailments. It was pride that made the devil a deviant.

The Remedy: This malady is remedied by reflecting on the splendor, glory, and majesty of Allah Most High. This reflection will produce in one a realization of one's own humble position. Your own excellence will then fade into nothingness. Also, humble yourself in the presence of those whom you regard as your inferiors. Be respectful to them so that you become filled with humility. [The Path of Perfection]

Food for Thought:
Wisdom comes more from living than studying. The dedicated life is the life worth living.