Hazoor continued with the subject of the Exalted Divine quality Al-Mutakabbir and with reference to it, man’s arrogance, in his Friday Sermon today. Explaining the lexical meanings of the root-words Kibr and Kibriya Hazoor said that they denote an expression of exaltation and greatness and as all mankind is equal the word could only ever be truly applicable to Allah.

Hazoor began by citing several Quranic verses that illustrate the negative and admonitory aspect of arrogance and egotism and went on to further elucidate the subject through ahadith. Hazoor said that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) told us that prayer was the original form of worship and that if one has arrogance equivalent to a tiny seed in their heart they cannot enter paradise and if one’s faith is equivalent to that of a seed they will not enter fire and said that the inhabitants of the fire will be hard-hearted, arrogant people. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) defined arrogance as not recognising what is the truth and to look down on people with contempt.

Further explaining through the writings of the Khalifatul Masih 1st (may Allah be pleased with him) and the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) Hazoor said that Iblis (Satan) was the original disobedient among creation and that his rebellion was based on arrogance. Hazoor said that some people are boastful and conceited in their claims and assertions but one should always be mindful that without Allah’s decree nothing could be achieved. Besides shirk (associating partner with Allah) there was no evil like arrogance. Hazoor said that there is much impurity in the self that incites to evil and that the impurity of arrogance was the worst, he said there are many moral sins, like anger, passion, hypocrisy and arrogance etc. and that they lead to hell. Hazoor explained that arrogance was of different kinds, of sight, speech and hands and feet and a believer should aim to avoid them all, and that man possesses much wickedness as regards lower morals and that arrogance was the hardest of these wickedness’s to be rid of.

Hazoor related that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that those who become Allah’s with each particles of their being are bestowed with greater blessings and those who do not consider that each particle of their being belongs to Allah are the arrogant and in actual fact reject Allah’s profound favour.

Hazoor concluded with a few Urdu verses by the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). I present an attempt to depict their essence below:

The conceited cannot seek “that Beloved”

The Beloved is accessible to one who negates oneself in humility

How foolish are the arrogant and the astray

That they let their selves go off course

Ever keeping an eye on the vice of others

Whilst oblivious of one’s own iniquity!