Allah Almighty says: {That is the home of the Hereafter that We assign to those who do not desire exaltedness upon the earth or corruption. And the [best] outcome is for the righteous.} [Al-Qasas: 83] He also says: {And do not walk upon the earth exultantly} [Al-Isrā’: 37] And He says: {And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like every self-deluded and boastful.} [Luqmān: 18]
-- -- And He says: {Indeed, Korah was from the people of Moses, but he tyrannized them. And We gave him of treasures whose keys would burden a band of strong men; thereupon his people said to him: “Do not exult. Indeed, Allah does not like the exultant.”} [Al-Qasas: 76] until the verse that says: {And We caused the earth to swallow him and his home.} [Al-Qasas: 81]
There are two types of arrogance: arrogance towards the truth, and arrogance towards people. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) pointed them out saying: “Arrogance is to reject the truth and despise people.”
Self-conceit is a person’s self-admiration and self-pride.
1) Allah Almighty chose the abode of the Hereafter for those who do not want to be arrogant towards the truth or people.
2) Allah Almighty loves those who are humble, inconspicous, and pure, and does not love those who are ostentatious and boastful by their words and conditions.
3) Causing the greatest corruption on earth is by committing sins. {And cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation.}
612/1 - ‘Abdullāh ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever has in his heart an atom’s weight of arrogance will not enter Paradise.” A man said: “A man loves that his clothes be fine and his shoes be fine.” Thereupon, he said: “Indeed, Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty. Arrogance is to reject the truth and despise people.” [Narrated by Muslim]
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1) This is one of the Hadīths that contain a threat and warning. An arrogant person will not enter Paradise.
This is either arrogance towards the truth, by rejecting it and hating it, which is an act that renders its doer a disbeliever who will abide in Hellfire forever and will not enter Paradise. Allah Almighty says: {That is because they disliked what Allah revealed, so He rendered their deeds worthless.}
Or it is arrogance towards people, but it does not involve arrogance towards the worship of Allah. Such a person will not initially enter Paradise. His matter is left to be decided by Allah Almighty; He may punish him if He so wills, and He may pardon him if He so wills.
2) The sign of a person’s humbleness is that he submits to the truth and follows it. On the other hand, one of the clearest signs of arrogance is to deny the truth out of disdain and haughtiness.
613/2 - Salamah ibn al-Akwa‘ (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that a man ate with his left hand in the presence of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), so he said to him: “Eat with your right hand.” The man said: “I cannot do that.” Thereupon, he (the Prophet) said: “May you not be able to do that.” It was only arrogance that prevented the man from doing it, and consequently he could not raise it (his right hand) up to his mouth afterwards. [Narrated by Muslim]
May you not be able to do that: This is a supplication against the man, invoking Allah to make him unable to raise his hand up to his mouth again, as arrogance prevented him from complying with the Prophet’s command.
1) It is obligatory to eat and drink with the right hand. If a person intentionally eats or drinks with his left hand, he thus resembles the devil and his allies.
2) It is a duty to criticize what is wrong.
3) It presents the punishment for he who intentionally contradicts and abandons the Prophet’s Sunnah out of arrogance.
614/3 - Hārithah ibn Wahb (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: “Shall I inform you about the people of Hellfire? They are every cruel, violent, arrogant person.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim] It has previously been explained in the chapter on weak Muslims.
615/4 - Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Paradise and Hell debated. Hell said: ‘The tyrants and the arrogant are going to be in me.’ Paradise said: ‘The weak and the poor are going to be in me.’ So, Allah judged between them and said to Paradise: ‘You are My mercy. I show mercy through you to whom I will.’ And He said to Hell: ‘You are My punishment. I punish through you whom I will. And I guarantee to fill both of you.’” [Narrated by Muslim]
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1) The dwellers of Paradise are the weak, poor, and modest people.
2) We are required to shun the attributes of the people of Hellfire.
3) Recompense for a deed is of the same nature of the deed. So, if a person shows modesty for the sake of Allah, He will cover him with His mercy; and if a person acts arrogantly and unjustly, He will subject him to His punishment.
616/5 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “On the Day of Judgment, Allah will not look at one who drags his Izār (lower garment) out of arrogance.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
Izār: what is worn to cover the lower half of the body.
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1) Whoever drags his garment out of arrogance is subject to the threat of Allah Almighty not to look at him on the Day of Judgment.
2) The Sunnah regarding the length of clothing is that the garment should reach down anywhere between the middle of the shank and the ankle. This is the form of the clothing worn by the Prophet and his Companions, and it is a sign of modesty.
617/6 - He also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “On the Day of Resurrection, there will be three categories of people whom Allah will not speak to, will not purify, and will not look at, and they will receive a painful punishment. These are: an elderly man who commits adultery, a king who lies, and a destitute person who is arrogant.” [Narrated by Muslim]
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1) Proof of the attribute of speech for Allah Almighty.
2) Adultery, lying, and arrogance are major and destructive sins, and they are strictly prohibited; but when they are done by these types of people, they become worse and more serious.
A sin becomes graver and more serious when it is committed by a person who has no strong motive for it. An old man is not like a young one. An old man’s lust has abated, and so it is more reprehensible for him to commit adultery. Likewise, a king does not need to lie, for he is most influential among people. And a poor person who is arrogant does not possess anything to justify his arrogance. Poverty should prompt a person to be humble. What reason does he have to act arrogantly?
618/7 - He also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Allah Almighty said: ‘Glory is My garment and pride is My cloak. So whoever contends with Me (over them), I will punish him.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) Glory and pride are two attributes of Allah Almighty.
2) If a person contends with Allah over any of His attributes, He will punish him for that.
3) By arrogance, a person is acting daringly towards Allah Almighty. It is reprehensible for a person who knows the greatness of his Lord to act arrogantly and for he who recognizes his weakness to persist in doing so.
619/8 - He also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “While a man was walking, dressed in a two-piece garment admiring himself, his hair groomed, and walking haughtily, Allah made him sink into the earth, and he will continue to sink into it until the Day of Resurrection.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
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1) Arrogance and self-conceit are prohibited. A person should realize the level of his own significance and treat himself accordingly.
2) Over-indulgence in wearing elegant fancy clothes, along with boastfulness and pomp, makes a person self-conceited and subject to Allah’s wrath.
620/9 - Salamah ibn al-Akwa‘ (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A man will continue to exalt himself (act arrogantly) until he is recorded among the tyrants, facing what they faced.” [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi; he classified it as Hasan (sound)] [6]
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1) Whoever imitates a people will be gathered with them on the Day of Resurrection. Allah Almighty says: {Gather those who committed wrong and their kinds}. i.e., their associates and their likes.
2) A person who gives himself good advice should block the means to arrogance in his heart, lest he gradually becomes arrogant.