It is narrated that the Prophet (saw) has said:

One who has even a particle of pride in his heart, shall not enter paradise. (Muslim)

Pride comes when you see your

  • intelligence,
  • wealth,
  • friends,
  • influence,
  • titles and
  • life

as your own achievements, instead of as gifts from ALLAH, the Al-Mighty.

When you finally view them as responsibilities that you must fulfill, you will be thankful for these gifts, and be afraid that you will be unable to fulfill them. The syukur and fear (khauf) will drown away the pride.

Remember,

  • you will not bring even an atom of wealth, stocks, bonds, land or property, to the grave.
  • you will not bring a string of degrees or qualifications from prestigious Universities to the grave.
  • you will not bring your circle of friends, powerful connections, celebrities, and peers who hail you, to your grave.
  • you will not bring your beloved parents, children, spouses or relatives to the grave.
  • you will not bring your fame, reputation, honor to the grave.
  • you will not bring your millions of adoring fans, and admiring colleagues to the grave.
  • you will not bring any of the fine clothes in your closet, nor the expensive furniture in your living room, nor the million dollar apartment you saved a lifetime to purchase, to the grave.
  • you will not even be able to prevent your carefully groomed hair, face and body from rotting, eaten by worms and maggots, when you are in the grave.

So when you have died, and your body has rotted away, you will then be asked by Allah,

where is the dunya (all that you once possessed) that you so loved?
where is the dunya (all that you once possessed) that you were so proud of?
where are your supporters (the admiring fans, the loving family, the approving peers, the powerful colleagues, the people who idolized and praised you always), who worshiped you?

The grim reality sets in the….you are now as you were when you were in your mother?s womb.

Then, you were in the dark womb of your mother, completely helpless, at Allah’s mercy, and ….you had no friends, no wealth, no power, no authority, no knowledge, no property … you possessed nothing, and you were then born, in humility, naked, covered in slime… you were nothing.

Then Allah showered you with His love and guidance, and gave you a portion of this worldly life, so that you may be thankful, and grateful, and that you bow humbly in submission.

But no, Man is rebellious.

36:77. Does not man see that We have created him from Nutfah (mixed male and female discharge semen drops). Yet behold! He (stands forth) as an open opponent!

Today, once again, you are in the womb, the dark, dark womb of Mother Earth, completely helpless, at Allah’s mercy, and …. once again, you have no friends, no wealth, no power, no authority, no knowledge, no property … you possess nothing, you have come full circle.

You are waiting to stand trial, on Judgement Day, a Day when you will face Allah in humility and fear, naked, covered in sin… and you will have to account to Allah, what you did with His gifts. And if you had walked the earth with pride, today, you will truly fear Allah, but that fear will not help you. Because…

One who has even a particle of pride in his heart, shall not enter paradise. (Muslim)

Seek out your pride, and repent.

Every single atom.

Beg Allah for His Mercy and His help to cleanse your hearts.

Seek out Allah’s blessings to you, and be grateful.

Every single blessing. From being able to wake up, to being able to swallow, see, smell and walk. For the gift of health. Wealth. Education. Realisation. Happiness. Love. Rizq. Fresh air. Clean water. Food on the table. The list in endless. Only that, sometimes, we are too blind to see.

[31:18] And turn not your face away from men with pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah likes not each arrogant boaster.

Oh Mankind, Fear Allah! He Possesses the Heavens and the Earth, and all that lies in between. And, we, his creation, possess nothing. Realize, repent, and humble yourself before your Rabb.

QuranicTruth