Warning Against Conceit
Islam has warned against conceit because it ruins the minds and
causes sufferings and leads to commit the forbidden matters. God says:
Letnotthisworld’slifedeceiveyou,norletthearch-deceiverdeceive
you in respect of Allah.
Butyoucausedyourselvestofallintotemptation,andyouwaitedand
doubtedandvaindesiresdeceivedyoutillthethreatenedpunishmentof
Allah cane, while the arch-deceiver deceive you about Allah.
The Prophet(s) said,“Howexcellent the sleepandthe natureof the
courteousare!Theyexcelthestayingupandtheeffortsoftheidiot.Abit
ofpietyandcertitudeispreferabletotheconceitedevenifitisasmuch
as this earth.”.
Imamas-Sadiq(a) said,“The conceitedpeoplearepoorinthisworld
andgrievedintheHereafter.Theysoldthebestfortheworst.Donotbe
conceitedbyyourselves.Yourrichesandhealthmayallureyou,thinking
youwillpersist.Thelongage, thechildren,andthe associateswillnot
saveyou.Yourbeauty,wish,andgainingthetargetmayallureyou,as-
suming your being sincere and true. Your remorse for delinquencyin
worshipmayallureyou,whileGodrealizesthatyourhearthastheop-
posite.You may undertake excessively for adorationwhile Godwants
meresincerity.Youmaytakeprideinyourknowledgeandlineagewhile
youareunawareoftheunseendamages.Youmayimaginethatyousup-
plicate to God while you are supplicating to someone else. You may
thinkyouareadvisingpeoplewhileyouintendyourowninterests.You
may reproach yourself while you are actually praising.”.
This saying indicates all of the incentives and causes of deceit. The
Imamwarnedagainstallsidesofconceitandcalledtopurifythemental-
ities against its deviation and sins.