Pride And Boastfulness

To boast and be proud means to think oneself superior than others in matters of learning,piety,devotion in religion,pedigree,wealth,property and wisdom etc.and regard others as low and inferiors.It is a major sin.The Tradition says:”Anyone who has even an iota of pride will not enter Heaven”.Even in this world such a person is hated and not liked by others and remain hostile towards him.He is respected outwardly or in fear only.Such a person does not listen to good advice from others and on the other hand tries to harm those who advise him.This is another evil.The remedy to get rid of pride and boastfulness is to realise the fast and one’s own reality that he is born from earth and a few drip of semen.All the qualities and graces have been given by Allah and He may take away everything whenever He like.Then what is there to be proud of!Remember the greatness of Allah.This will make one look upon one’s own sense of superiority.One should respect the person whom he considered inferior and meet him with all humility in himself.If dono so it would remove pride and boastfulness from mind and heart.If one does not possess the courage to do all this,then he should,at least,make it a point to take the initiative in offering salam to the person whom he considered inferior or low.By the Grace of Allah,this will also create humility in one’s self.Offering Nafl prayers frequently is also an effective remedy of removing this evil from one’s mind and heart.(Bahishti Zewar By Hazrat Maulana Asyraf Ali Thanwi Rahimahullah)