If You Desire Paradise, Flee from Pride and Embrace Humility

 “The one who has an atom of pride in his heart will not enter Jannah.”—{Muslim}

An imam and his fellow travelers were on a long journey.  At a point, they alighted from their horses and started unloading their camels to break their journey. And after some rest, they had a little talk on what to eat.

Everyone agreed on slaughtering a goat and cooking its meat for dinner. One of them offered to slaughter the animal. Another took removing the skin upon himself; a third volunteered to cook the meat.

The imam said, “I will collect the wood for the fire from the surrounding wilderness.”

All his companions shouted in unison, “Why do you have to work, while we are around? We feel honoured to serve you. We will complete the task in no time.”

The imam replied, “I know that you can accomplish this in no time, but God doesn’t befriend anyone who considers himself better than his friends and worthy of their respect.”

Saying this, he walked towards the woods, and returned with a pile of dry twigs and leaves enough to light the fire while others finish their work.

Arrogant Pride Is the Opposite of Humility

The imam, with those words, clearly explained the meaning of pride:

“…God doesn’t befriend anyone who considers himself better than his friends and worthy of their respect.”

What an apt definition of arrogance!

We must always beware of, and guard ourselves against such temptations no matter what we may accomplish. 

The holy Prophet {S} said:

“The one who has an atom of pride in his heart will not enter Jannah.”—{Muslim}

May Allah {SWT} save us from Hell-fire. Aameen

PS: This story is adapted and rewritten from one of the collections in Daastaan e Raastaan by Ayatullah Murtadha Mutahhari