MAFAHIM ISLAM

Created by : Azhari
Translated by : Asrini Marcelewicz

One of the main weaknesses of human is by being arrogant. As a flaw, this can happen to anyone. The evils have showed this negative trait and it all started when they refused to take a bow for prophet Adam (pbuh) when Allah swt (God) requested them to do so.

People demonstrate arrogance in various ways: A husband shows proud by being fierce, beats his children and wife just because he feels that he has feed the family. A manager threats his/her workers and says that their career is depending on the manager’s hand. An official shows pride by threatening his/her oppositions through his policies. A Hadji shows off and states that he has become a good Muslim after his pilgrim, while Islam is not only a matter of its pillars. An Ustaz (Islamic teacher) may say: “If it is not because of me, that person will never repent!”. On top of that, even a beggar can show arrogant by throwing out our coins.

Arrogance reached its peak point when the king of ancient Egypt, Firaun once declared himself as a God and deserved to be worshipped since he could animate and deprive the existence of every living creature. When he had debate with Prophet Moses (pbuh) and tried to show as if he could animate and destroy every human, Firaun asked two of his followers. One of them is killed and another one is left alive, proudly he said, “Don’t I act like your God who can give a life and death to human?”. However, had Firaun ever think if he could bring back the life of the dead person whom he has killed?

If we look into our self, then actually there is nothing to be bragged. We are made from a drop of a ‘disdainful water’, probably we may feel disgusting to touch or see it, and maybe only ants be interested.

(It is God) who perfected everything which He created and began the creation of man from clay (Surah As-Sajdah 7).

Once we are perfected as human then the cavities in our body release filth, for instance from our nose, eyes, ears, mouth and genitals. It seems like our body consists of dirt. It will be the same when we die, if our dead body lies for a week then it will create unpleasant smells, everyone who passes it will cover their nose. When we are buried, our body will be enjoyed by the worms and maggots, living human may even feel afraid to pass our tomb.

In this world, there is nothing we should be brag about. Our wealth (occupation), woman (family), intelligent and beauty are only temporary enjoyments which Allah swt has lent for us. It can be retrieved at anytime by Him. There are a lot of rich people and get poor in a blink of an eye just because of natural disaster, fire or robbery. Many top officials become nobody in a sudden and are mocked because of their scandals revealed.

Many families are happy and suddenly they are suffering because of their family members (children, wife or husband), a death as well as a divorce. How many intelligent people and later become senile when they are 60 years old. A lot of attractive public figures but as they get older, they have more wrinkles. Obviously, it is very easy for Allah swt to give or draw those enjoyments.

One of the signs of being arrogant is when people do not feel grateful for every joy Allah swt has give to them. Gratification is not a matter of wealth (fortune) only, however, it includes health, spare time, rightful (halal) fortune, a house nearby the mosque, safe environment, kind friends and neighbors, family living in a harmony, smart children or devotional husband/wife. Those are joys which we often forget.

Human with arrogance do not want to be thankful for every delight which Allah swt gives, they feel that all the success that they have achieved comes from their own hard work. They forget that all the things that they receive are actually gifts from God who is very loving and merciful.

Our gratitude to God can be accomplished through our obligation which is to worship Allah swt. Abandon what have been prohibited, stay away from committing sins and obey God.

Another sign of arrogance is by refusing rights that are conveyed but human uses many ways to justify their action which actually violates the Islamic law and that person has to be responsible of their own conduct.

Allah is truly wonderful and He adores aesthetic, arrogance is refusing truth and underestimate human. (Hadis Muslim)

Lastly, there is nothing to be proud about in this world because everything is just entrusted goods from Allah swt where He is able to reclaim it as the owner of this whole universe. Therefore, being arrogant means that we have destroyed our self, other human also will hate us and after life we will suffer our loss.

Wallahua’lam (Only God knows).

Bahasa Indonesia version: http://mafahim-azhari.blogspot.com/2006/11/kesombongan-menghancurkan-diri_21.html