Hadith #9056

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon Muhammad, his pure progeny, and his noble companions.

The Arabic Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states,

مَنْ تَكَبَّرَ عَلَى النّاسِ ذَلَّ۔

This can be translated as,

One who is arrogant towards the people gets humiliated.

This beautiful Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) highlights the consequences of arrogance and the importance of humility in our interactions with others.

Let us delve deeper into the words used in this Hadith. The word (takabbara) "تَكَبَّرَ" comes from the root word (kabira) "كَبِرَ", which means to be arrogant or to show pride. It refers to an attitude of superiority and looking down upon others. The word (dalla) "ذَلَّ" means humiliation or disgrace. It signifies the consequence of arrogance, where one's pride and superiority are ultimately shattered, leading to a state of humiliation.

To understand the significance of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) repeatedly emphasizes the virtue of humility and warns against arrogance. In Surah Al-Hujurat (49:11), Allah says,

O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames.

This verse reminds us not to belittle or mock others, as we do not know their true worth in the sight of Allah. It teaches us to treat everyone with respect and dignity, regardless of their social status or background. Arrogance, on the other hand, blinds us to the inherent value of others and leads to the degradation of our own character.

Another verse that sheds light on the consequences of arrogance is found in Surah Al-Qasas (28:76), where Allah says,

Indeed, Qarun was from the people of Moses, but he tyrannized them. And We gave him of treasures whose keys would burden a band of strong men; thereupon his people said to him, 'Do not exult. Indeed, Allah does not like the exultant.'

This verse narrates the story of Qarun, who was blessed with immense wealth and power but succumbed to arrogance. As a result, he faced a humiliating downfall, losing everything he had. This serves as a stark reminder that no matter how much worldly success one may achieve, arrogance can lead to a swift and devastating downfall.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith highlights the profound consequences of arrogance. When a person looks down upon others, they create a barrier between themselves and the blessings of Allah. Arrogance prevents us from recognizing the inherent worth and potential in every individual, hindering our ability to build meaningful relationships and contribute positively to society.

Humility, on the other hand, opens the doors to growth, learning, and spiritual elevation. It allows us to acknowledge our own limitations and seek guidance from Allah and His creation. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) himself exemplified humility in his interactions with people, regardless of their social status. He said, (Muslim)

Whoever humbles himself for the sake of Allah, Allah will raise his status.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a powerful reminder for Muslims to cultivate humility and avoid arrogance in their interactions with others. Arrogance leads to humiliation and distances us from the blessings of Allah, while humility opens the doors to growth, learning, and spiritual elevation. May Allah guide us all to embody the virtue of humility and protect us from the destructive path of arrogance.