Hadith #6488

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure progeny, and his noble companions.

The Arabic Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states, "الإعْجابُ يَمْنَعُ الاِزدِيادَ" which translates to "Self-admiration prevents growth." This thought-provoking saying of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) highlights the negative consequences of being self-absorbed and excessively proud.

Let us delve deeper into the key words of this Hadith. The term "الإعْجابُ" refers to self-admiration or being impressed with oneself. It encompasses the feeling of excessive pride and arrogance, where one becomes preoccupied with their own achievements and qualities. On the other hand, "الاِزدِيادَ" means growth or progress. It signifies the continuous development and improvement of an individual in various aspects of life, such as knowledge, character, and spirituality.

To understand the significance of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) warns us against arrogance and self-admiration in several verses. In Surah Al-Isra (17:37), Allah says,

Do not walk on the earth with arrogance. You can neither pierce the earth nor reach the mountains in height.

This verse reminds us that no matter how great our accomplishments may be, we should remain humble and recognize our limitations.

Furthermore, in Surah Luqman (31:18), Allah advises us,

And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful.

This verse emphasizes the importance of humility and warns against the negative consequences of being self-absorbed and arrogant.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith sheds light on the detrimental effects of self-admiration. When one becomes consumed with their own achievements and qualities, they become stagnant and fail to grow. This self-absorption hinders their progress and prevents them from reaching their full potential.

Self-admiration can lead to complacency and a lack of motivation to improve oneself. When an individual is constantly focused on their own greatness, they may become blind to their flaws and weaknesses. This prevents them from acknowledging their areas of improvement and seeking knowledge and guidance to overcome their shortcomings.

Moreover, self-admiration can also lead to a sense of superiority over others. This attitude creates divisions and distances us from our fellow Muslims. It goes against the teachings of Islam, which emphasize unity, humility, and the importance of treating others with kindness and respect.

In contrast, humility is a virtue highly regarded in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said,

Whoever humbles themselves for the sake of Allah, Allah will elevate them.

Humility allows us to recognize our limitations and seek continuous growth and improvement. It opens the doors for learning, self-reflection, and self-correction.

Reflecting on Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith, we should strive to cultivate humility within ourselves. We should avoid excessive self-admiration and instead focus on recognizing our weaknesses and seeking ways to improve. By doing so, we can embark on a journey of continuous growth and progress, both in our worldly affairs and our spiritual development.

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the wisdom to overcome self-admiration and the humility to seek constant growth and improvement. May we always remain humble and strive to be better Muslims, following the example of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his noble family, especially Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ).