An indispensable battle against the inner-self

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

An indispensable battle against the inner-self (Self-amazement etc)

Abdullah Bin Amr Ibn Al-Aas, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, said: The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “Verily! The people of the hell fire are every [Ja’dhariy – جَعْظَريٍّ], [Jawwaadh – جَوَّاظٍ ], [Mustakbirin-مُسْتَكْبِرٍ ], [Jammaa -جَمَّاع ] and [Mannaa – مَنَّاع ]. And the people of paradise are the [Ad-Du’afaa – الضعفاء ] and the [Maghlooboon-مغلوبون ].

Al-Allamah Zayd Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

These nouns are characteristics of the tyrants and haughty people – the people of evil manners who deal badly with those who are close to them and those not closely associated with them- which are the opposites of the characteristics of the weak and oppressed, the lenient, gentle, and good mannered. It appears that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, encouraged us to adopt the characteristics of the people of Iman —the weak people —while cautioning against the characteristics of the haughty and that one should not exalt himself above the people, not (refuse to) submit to the commands of Allah and His Messenger, and not (refuse to) fulfil the obligations that have been obligated to them by the Shariah. [جَعْظَريٍّ – The one who seeks to be praised for that which is not in him or that which he does not possess]; [جَوَّاظٍ – a wicked sinner]; [مُسْتَكْبِر – one who exalts and raises himself, and is afflicted with self-amazement]; [جَمَّاع – a hoarder] and [مَنَّاع – one who deprives people and is extremely miserly]; [الضعفاء – those who are weak due to humility and are in a weak state in the worldly life] and the [مغلوبون – those who are (unjustifiably) subjugated and suppressed]. [1]

Imaam Sufyaan Ath-Thawree, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

Beware of what corrupts your deeds, for indeed Riyaa is what corrupts your deeds. If not Riyaa, it may be you being amazed with yourself until it makes you think that you are more virtuous than your brother. It may be that you have not achieved deeds the likes of which he has achieved, and it may be that he has more fear of Allah and righteous deeds than you. And if it is not self-amazement, then beware of loving the praise of the people-loving their praise so that they may honour you due to your deeds and see you as someone of nobility and high status in their hearts. Remembering death a lot is enough to make you have less concern for the things of the worldly life and make you have a fervent desire for the afterlife. A prolonged hope (for the things of this worldly life) is enough as a (means) to having little fear of (Allah) and committing acts of disobedience, and the distress and regret on the Day of Judgment is enough for the one who knows but does not act. [2]

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated:

Ibn Sad, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated in at Tabaqaat about Umar Ibn Abdul Azeez, may Allah have mercy upon him, “Whenever he delivered a sermon and feared being amazed with himself, he ended it; and whenever he wrote a letter and feared amazement due to it, he tore it. He would say: ”O Allah! I seek refuge with you from the evil of my soul.” [3]

Abu Wahb, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: I asked Ibn Al-Mubarak, may Allah have mercy upon him: “What is pride?” He said: ”It is to mock at the people.”  I asked him about self-amazement; he said: “It is to consider yourself to be in possession of something that none else possess; and I do not know of anything more evil upon the performers of the prayer than self-amazement”. [4]

Masruq, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

“It is enough as knowledge that a man is fearful of Allah and it is enough as ignorance that a man becomes amazed with his knowledge”. [5]

Imam Abdul Ghaniy Al-Maqdisee, may Allah have mercy upon him, was asked: “Why do you not read from other than a book?” He said: ”I fear self-amazement.” [6]

Imam Ash-Shafi’i, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

If self-amazement is concealed within your deeds, recall the one whose pleasure you are seeking, which blessings you desire and which outcome you fear. The one who ponders upon this, his actions will become small in his presence. [7]

Al-Allamah Muqbil Bin Hadi Al-Wadi’i, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

If a person fears being amazed with himself, let him not compare himself with contemporaries; look at Hafidh Ibn Hajr or Al-Hafidh Ibn kathir, Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and other than them amongst the Huffaaz. [8]

Mutarrif Bin Abdillah Ash-Shikh-khir, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

I spend the night and become regretful in morning (i.e. due to missing the night prayer) is more beloved to me that staying up at night (in worship) and reach the morning while being self-amazed. [9]

Imam Adh-Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

 The one who ascribe piety to himself and is amazed with himself will not be successful. [10]

[1] An Excerpt from “at-Ta’leeqaat Al-Maleehah Alaa Silsilah Al-Ahadith As-Saheehah 1/104

[2] Hilyatul Awliyaa: 6/391

[3] Al Fawaa’id. 225

[4] Siyar 15/395]

[5] Akhlaaqul Ulamaa of Imaam Al-Aajuree: 1/70]

[6] Siyar A’laam Nubulaa 21/449]

[7] Siyar A’lam Nubulaa 10/42

[8] Al-Bashaa’ir Fis-Samaa’i Al-Mubaashir’ page 14. with introduction by Shaikh Muhammad Bin Abdul-Wahhaab Al-Wassaabee, may Allah have mercy upon him.

[9] Siyar A’lam An-Nubula 4/190

[10] Siyar A’lam An-Nubula 4/190