Weeds in a Rose Garden

It is easy to achieve a rapport with Allah سبحانه وتعالى. but it is difficult to maintain especially for a person who has pride in his heart. One of the consequences of pride is that it leads to friction with others. A proud person will expect respect, love, attention and affection from others but when he does not receive them (despite thinking he deserves them) it will inevitably lead to friction and conflict.

Never expect respect, love, affection or anything else which boosts your ego and leads to pride. You should not even expect respect from your wife or husband and immediate family members. If you can be like this then even if you do not get what you want you will not feel indignant. If someone offends you, you will not be offended.

Learn to be truly humble; in front of your parents, teachers, Shaykh and fellow Muslims. This humbleness and piety should be natural and consistent; not that you are pious in front of one person and haughty in front of another.

Pride in one’s heart is akin to weeds in a rose garden. Roses will not bloom, flourish or last very long in a garden of weeds. If your heart is full of pride, you will not bloom spiritually because of these weeds of pride.

[This excerpt is based on a brothers’ majlis (gathering for spiritual training) held by Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq on 19th and also on 26th March 1997].

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