Posted by Umm Sahl in Quran Reminders | 3 Comments
Arrogance- The Barrier to Paradise
The first sin ever was committed by Satan.
So what was the sin he committed? Why was he punished? Why was he thrown into hell fire?
وَإِذۡ قُلۡنَا لِلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةِ ٱسۡجُدُواْ لِأَدَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِبۡلِيسَ أَبَىٰ
وَٱسۡتَكۡبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ
“And (remember) when We said to the angels: “Prostrate yourselves before Adam.” And they prostrated except Iblis (Shaytan), he refused and was proud and was one of the disbelievers (disobedient to Allah)” (2:34)
Honoring Adam when the Angels prostrated before Him
This Ayah mentions the great honour that Allah granted Adam, and Allah reminded Adam’s offspring of this fact.
The obedience was for Allah and the prostration was before Adam. Allah honoured Adam and commanded the angels to prostrate before him.
(Allâh) said: “What prevented you (O Iblîs) that you did not prostrate yourself, when I commanded you?” Iblîs said: “I am better than him (Adam), You created me from fire, and him You created from clay.” (Allâh) said: “(O Iblîs) get down from this (Paradise), it is not for you to be arrogant here. Get out, for you are of those humiliated and disgraced.” (7: 12-13)
Therefore, the first error ever committed was arrogance, for the enemy of Allah was too arrogant to prostrate before Adam.
Iblis had disbelief, arrogance, and rebellion, all of which caused him to be expelled from the holy presence of Allah, and His mercy. (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)
Arrogance
It Is narrated on the authority of Abdullah b. Mas’ud that the Prophet of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam), observed: “He who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of pride shall not enter Paradise.” A person (amongst his hearers) said: Verily a person loves that his dress should be fine, and his shoes should be fine. He (the Prophet) remarked: Verily, Allaah is Graceful and He loves Grace. Pride is disdaining the truth (out of self-conceit) and contempt for the people. (Muslim)
How often do we feel proud of ourselves and forget the gratefulness we own back to our Creator? How often we think highly of our self compared to others? But remember this ayay, that it was due to arrogance that Satan was thrown into hell-fire. Let’s look around, realize how we are and ponder over our actions…
Further Reading:
Arrogance- The Barrier to Paradise: http://areweprepared.ca/post/2009/08/12/Arrogance-The-barrier-to-Paradise/
The Dangers of Envy: http://areweprepared.ca/post/2009/09/25/The-Dangers-of-Envy/
How to Avoid Envy: http://areweprepared.ca/post/2010/02/20/How-to-Avoid-Envy/
10 Ways of Protection from Shaytan: http://areweprepared.ca/post/2009/06/01/10-Ways-of-Protection-from-Shaytan/
Fighting Satan: http://areweprepared.ca/post/2009/04/30/Fighting-Satan/
What Hold does Satan have on You: http://areweprepared.ca/post/2009/04/04/What-Hold-does-the-Satan-have-on-You/
Umm Sahl, your sister in Islam, a wife and mother of 3 beautiful blessed babies
Thanks for such a beautiful explaination. I totally agree this was the first sin of arrogance of self conceit. We as muslims must cleanse our hearts of all forms of self-conceit that’s promoted both sultile and over in society.
Salams sis Shayistha,
Would you please explain the last hadith : ‘….Verily a person loves that his dress should be fine, and his shoes should be fine. He (the Prophet) remarked: Verily, Allaah is Graceful and He loves Grace. Pride is disdaining the truth (out of self-conceit) and contempt for the people.’
I need further explanation, please!!
I heard teacher Green on PeaceTV sayin somethin like this : if you think people are respectin you because you’ve nice shoes then it’s shirk.
Sis, if we wear nice dress so we may look good, is it shirk too? If people admire our dress sayin Oh Masha ‘Allah you look good in this dress… although we don’t wear it for them but is it shirk to be pleased if they admire us??
Hope, you can answer it or your teachers can, Insha ‘Allah.
Wassalamu alaykum
JazakiALLAH khair for pinpointing this aspect of arrogance that it was the first sin committed by satan and this led him be deprived of Allah’s guidance. May Allah protect us from this disease. Please the ones who are apparently guided to the straight path need to realize that you need not to look down the ones who are not yet guided, as this is in the Hands of Allah whom to guide. We should always be humble while calling them to Islam and never be arrogant for the good that we do as All praises and thanks are due to Allah, the Merciful.