Overcoming the Sin of Self-Righteousness
| Khatib : |
Sadullah Khan |
| Khutbah No: |
231 |
| Khutbah Date: |
03/16/07 |
[b]أَفَمَن زُيِّنَ لَهُ سُوءُ عَمَلِهِ فَرَآهُ حَسَنًا[/b]And what of him, the evil of whose deeds has been decked out fair to him, so that he considers them good?...[Qur’an 35:8][b]Start with
Muhaasabah / critical Self-Evaluation[/b]We must sincerely implore Allah to bless us with the insight of our own strengths and weaknesses. Unless we practice [b]محاسبه[/b][i]muhaasabah[/i]/critical self evaluation, we will not be able to improve ourselves and rectify our faults. Remember,[i] nobody stands taller than those willing to stand corrected. [/i]It would be wise to heed the advice of sages, [i]“Seek your identity through faith, your honor through humility, your dignity through propriety, and your forgiveness from Allah through forgiving others.” [/i][b]Self-Esteem, not Conceit[/b]If esteem means to “regard or consider with respect” then self-esteem implies self-respect and recognition of one’s value as a member of human society. Self respect is indeed the forerunner of respect for others, and there is overwhelming evidence indicating that the higher the level of self-esteem the more likely one will be to treat others with respect. It must be noted, however, that self-esteem is not synonymous with self-conceit.
‘Ujb or self-righteousness applies to both good and bad actions. A virtuous person may become conceited about his good deeds, just as, a doer of wicked deeds may feel proud of himself and his conduct.[b]Dangers of
‘Ujb[/b]A person with
`ujb is inclined towards
riya' (showing off) and
nifaq (hypocrisy). It also infects his behavior with
kibr (pride). Among other vices present in the person who is afflicted with
'ujb is viewing others with contempt and belittling them. The vice of
`ujb is the product of selfish self love that makes a person overvalue his trivial deeds and underestimate the good deeds of others. The curtain of
'ujb and the thick veil of conceit that goes with it, prevents a person from seeing his shortcomings. It is a great misfortune which not only precludes one from achieving many kinds of improvements, but also afflicts one with all sorts of vices.- Arrogance ~ It is a noted fact that the person who sincerely looks up to God rarely looks down upon people, and that no one can consider himself superior without considering someone else inferior.Remember that, “Allah certainly loves not the vainglorious nor the arrogant.” [Qur’an 4:36]- Self-Righteousness ~ considering one's self better than others due to one's own estimation of one's goodness/holiness/piety. "Do not ascribe righteousness to your self, Allah alone knows best who is truly pious.” [Qur'an 53:32]- Moral Myopia ~ Being sensitive to the errors of others while being blind to one’s own shortcomings. - Condescension ~ He underrates the good deeds of others, but if he himself performs those deeds he magnifies them. He is sensitive to the errors of others, but overlooks his own faults. There is an old Sufi saying, “If you feel you have no faults, that makes another one.” - Failure to Self-Improve ~ A person afflicted with `ujb cares not to rectify himself, but rather considers himself as a pious and virtuous. He belittles his sins and thinks not much of purging himself from them, and ultimately leads himself to damnation. Say: “Shall We inform you who will be the greatest losers in their deeds? Those whose efforts are wasted away in the life of the world, while they think that they are doing something good.” [Qur'an, 18: 103]Litlle wonder that Sayyidna 'Ali warned: من دخله العجب هلك “The one in whom 'ujb permeates is destined to be corrupted/.”Detection & Cure The detection of ‘ujb عجب (self-importance), kibr كبر (arrogance), riyaa’ رياء (showing off) is a prerequisite to their cure; but note that arrogance, showing off and self-importance cannot be detected unless one is vigilant, carefully critical of one’s self and prepared to minutely analyzes one's intentions and actions. Imam Muhammad Baqir said;سد العجب بمعرفة النفس“Block the way of ‘ujb with the ma’rifah (gnosis) of the self.” Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) warned us كفى بالمرء جهلا ا ن يعجب بنفسه it is sufficient proof of a person's unculturedness that he exalts in the perception of his own importance. Remember that Allah certainly loves not the vainglorious, the arrogant [Qur’an 4:36] Allah considers one of the primary qualities of the true Believer to be khushu'/genuine humility coupled with spirituality [Q23:2][Q34:18].Wise indeed is the reflection of the Prophet (pbuh) that Allah elevates those who humble themselves. Allah reminds us in the Qur’an that the true servants of the Most Beneficent عباد الرحمن are those who walk on the earth in humility”. [Qur'an 25:63]
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