Six steps to overcome being arrogant

Iblees (Satan) was the first to show arrogance towards Allah and his creation. When Allah commanded Iblees to prostrate to Adam, he refused and was arrogant, and said, “I am better than him (Adam), You created me from fire, and him You created from clay.” We all want to have the right intentions and achieve higher spiritual levels without the characteristic of being arrogant drag us down. So here are 6 tips to help you overcome being arrogant

Understand the severity of being arrogant

The Prophet ﷺ said, “No one who has an atom’s-weight of arrogance in his heart will enter Paradise.” (Sahih Muslim)

 Realise your humble origins.

Allah repeatedly admonishes us in the Quran to reflect on our humble origins and acknowledge our limited abilities. “Has there [not] come upon man a period of time when he was not a thing [even] mentioned?” Quran 76:1 “Was he not a drop of ejaculated semen?” Quran, 75:37 “Indeed, you will never tear the earth [apart], and you will never reach the mountains in height.” Quran 17:37

Realise the greatness of God

Pride is a characteristic befitting God alone, as mentioned in the Quran. “And to Him belongs all grandeur within the Heavens and the Earth” Quran 45:37 The Prophet ﷺ  said, “Might is His garment and pride is His cloak; (Allah states) whoever seeks to compete with Me concerning them, I will punish him.” Ibn Al-Qayyim says, “Humility comes from knowing about Allah, His names, attributes and His overall Greatness. Also from knowing one’s self, one’s faults and one’s weaknesses.” (Kitab Al-Ruh, p. 233.)

Remember your shortcomings

Allah admonishes us in the Quran to avoid self-glorification: “So do not claim yourselves to be pure, He is most knowing of those who fear Him”. Quran 53:32 We should always remind ourselves of our sins and always look up towards those better than us to improve.

Spread Salam to the people

The Prophet  ﷺ said, “The one who initiates the Salaam greeting is free from pride” (Bayhaqi)

Understand the virtues of humility

The Prophet ﷺ said, “No one humbles himself for the sake of Allah, except that Allah raises his status”. (Sahih Muslim)