An-Nawawi on the Condemnation of Arrogance, Pride, and Self-Conceit

An-Nawawi records in his book, Gardens of the Righteous:

Allah Almighty said:

تِلْكَ الدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ نَجْعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فَسَادًا وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

That home of the Hereafter We assign to those who do not desire exaltedness upon the earth or corruption.
And the best outcome is for the righteous.

[Surah Al-Qasas 28:83]

وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا

Do not walk upon the earth exultantly…

[Surah Al-Isra 17:37]

وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ

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.

[Surah Luqman 31:18]

إِنَّ قَارُونَ كَانَ مِن قَوْمِ مُوسَىٰ فَبَغَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ وَآتَيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْكُنُوزِ مَا إِنَّ مَفَاتِحَهُ لَتَنُوءُ بِالْعُصْبَةِ أُولِي الْقُوَّةِ إِذْ قَالَ لَهُ قَوْمُهُ لَا تَفْرَحْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْفَرِحِينَ

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 love the exultant.”

[Surah Al-Qasas 28:76]

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ مِنْ كِبْرٍ

He will not enter Paradise whoever has even an atom’s weight of arrogance in his heart.

Someone said, “O Messenger of Allah, indeed, a man loves to have beautiful clothes and shoes.” So the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ جَمِيلٌ يُحِبُّ الْجَمَالَ الْكِبْرُ بَطَرُ الْحَقِّ وَغَمْطُ النَّاسِ

Indeed, Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty. Arrogance means to reject the truth and to look down on people.

[Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Number 164]

Salamah bin Al-Akwa reported: A man ate in the presence of Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم with his left hand. He said:

كُلْ بِيَمِينِكَ

Eat with your right hand.

The man said, “I cannot.” So he said:

لا أَسْتَطِيعُ

You will not be able to.

[Sahih Muslim, Book 23, Number 5011]

It was arrogance that prevented him from doing it, and he could not raise his right hand up to his mouth afterwards.

Haritha ibn Whab reported: The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِأَهْلِ النَّار؟ كُلُّ عُتُلٍّ جَوَّاظٍ مُسْتَكْبِرٍ

Shall I tell you the people of Hellfire? They are every haughty, mean and arrogant person.

[Sahih Muslim, Book 40, 6833]

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

احْتَجَّتِ النَّارُ وَالْجَنَّةُ فَقَالَتْ هَذِهِ يَدْخُلُنِي الْجَبَّارُونَ وَالْمُتَكَبِّرُونَ. وَقَالَتْ هَذِهِ يَدْخُلُنِي الضُّعَفَاءُ وَالْمَسَاكِينُ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِهَذِهِ أَنْتِ عَذَابِي أُعَذِّبُ بِكِ مَنْ أَشَاءُ- وَرُبَّمَا قَالَ أُصِيبُ بِكِ مَنْ أَشَاءُ- وَقَالَ لِهَذِهِ أَنْتِ رَحْمَتِي أَرْحَمُ بِكِ مَنْ أَشَاءُ وَلِكُلِّ وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْكُمَا مِلْؤُهَا

There was an argument between the Hellfire and Paradise. Hellfire said, “The tyrannical and arrogant are in me.” Paradise said, “The weak and poor are in me.” So Allah the Exalted said, “For this, the Hellfire is My punishment with which I punish whomever I will; and for this, Paradise is My mercy with which I have mercy on whomever I will. Each of you will have its fill.”

[Sahih Muslim, Book 40, Number 6818]

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى مَنْ يَجُرُّ إِزَارَهُ بَطَرًا

Indeed, on the Day of Resurrection, Allah will not look at one who trailed his garment out of pride.

[Sahih Muslim, Book 24, Number 5201]

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

ثَلَاثَةٌ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ، وَلَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ ، وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ ، وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ: شَيْخٌ زَانٍ وَمَلِكٌ كَذَّابٌ ، وَعَائِلٌ مُسْتَكْبِرٌ

There are three to whom Allah will not speak on the Day of Judgment, nor will He look at them, nor will He purify them, and for them is a painful punishment: an old man who commits adultery, a king who lies, and an arrogant poor person.

[Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Number 195]

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى : الْكِبْرِيَاءُ رِدَائِي وَالْعَظَمَةُ إزَارِي ، فَمَنْ نَازَعَنِي وَاحِدًا مِنْهُمَا قَذَفْتُهُ فِي النَّارِ

Allah Almighty said, “Pride is My cloak and honor is My garment. So, whoever competes with me in them will be cast into Hellfire.”

[Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 32, Number 4079]

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

بَيْنَمَا رَجُلٌ يَمْشِي فِي حُلَّةٍ تُعْجِبُهُ نَفْسُهُ مُرَجِّلٌ رَأْسَهُ يَخْتَالُ فِي مِشْيَتِهِ إذْ خَسَفَ اللَّهُ بِهِ فَهُوَ يَتَجَلْجَلُ فِي الْأَرْضِ إلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ

A man was walking – dressed in fine clothes, admiring himself, his hair combed, walking haughtily – when Allah caused the earth to swallow him. Now he will continue to fall into it (as a punishment) until the Day of Resurrection.

[Sahih Muslim, Book 24, Number 5203]

Salamah bin Al-Akwa reported: The Messenger of Allah  صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

 لا يَزَالُ الرَّجُلُ يَذْهَبُ بِنَفْسِهِ حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ مَعَ الْجَبَّارِينَ ، فَيُصِيبُهُ مَا أَصَابَهُمْ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ

A man continues to show arrogance until he is recorded among the tyrants, and thus he will be afflicted with what afflicts them of punishment.

[Sunan At-Tirmidhi]