Riyad as-Salihin · Chapter 279

Prohibition of Arrogance and Oppression

باب النهي عن الافتخار والبغي

Here two linked diseases are forbidden together: al-iftikhar, boasting and self-glorification, and al-baghy, wronging and overstepping against others. They share one root, a heart that has placed itself above the people around it, and the cure prescribed is tawadu', humility, the settled awareness that you are a servant like every other servant of Allah.

The two hadith approach the cure from opposite directions. The first is Allah's own command, conveyed through the Prophet (peace be upon him), to lower oneself so that no one oppresses or looks down on another. The second exposes how arrogance hides inside seemingly pious speech, when a person condemns everyone else as ruined and thereby ruins himself. Watch for the warning that contempt for others is itself the sin, even when it wears the costume of concern.

Hadith 1589

'Iyad bin Himar (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

وعن عياض بن حمار رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏ "‏إن الله تعالى أوحى إلي أن تواضعوا حتى لا يبغي أحد على أحد، ولا يفخر أحد على أحد‏" ‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏ قال أهل اللغة‏:‏ البغي‏:‏ التعدي والاستطالة‏.‏

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Verily, Allah has revealed to me that you should adopt humility. So that no one may wrong another and no one may be disdainful and haughty towards another." [Muslim].

In plain words

Allah commands humility, so that no one wrongs another or acts proud and superior toward him. Lowering yourself protects everyone around you from harm and contempt.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1589 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 79

Hadith 1590

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏ "‏إذا قال الرجل‏:‏ هلك الناس، فهو أهلكهم‏" ‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏ ‏الرواية المشهورة‏:‏ ‏ ‏أهلكَُهم‏ ‏ برفع الكاف، وروي بنصبها، وهذا هو الحرام، وأما من قاله ذلك عجبًا بنفسه، وتصاغرا للناس، وارتفاعًا عليهم، فهذا هو الحرام، وأما من قاله لما يرى في الناس من نقص في أمر دينهم، وقاله تحزنًا عليهم، وعلى الدين فلا بأس به‏.‏ هكذا فسره العلماء وفصلوه، ومن قاله من الأئمة الأعلام‏:‏ مالك بن أنس، والخطابي، والحميدي وآخرون، وقد أوضحته في كتاب ‏ ‏الأذكار‏ ‏‏.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When a person says: 'People have been ruined, he is the one to be ruined the most."' [Muslim] In another version: "He himself is the most ruined among them."

In plain words

When a person sneers that everyone else is ruined, he is the most ruined of all. Condemning everyone around you exposes your own arrogance.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1590 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 80