Explanation of the hadeeth:
“Anyone who possesses a speck of Pride in his heart will not enter Paradise”
Author: Shaikh- ul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah
Source: Majmoo’ -ul Fataawaa (vol. 7, pg.
677-679)
Translator: yahya ibrahim
Produced by: al-manhaj. com
Shaykh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) was asked:
Regarding the Prophet’s statement:
“Anyone who possesses a speck of pride (kibr) in his heart will not enter Paradise”
– Is this hadeeth specific only to the believers or (is it specific only to the) unbelievers? If we were to say that it is specific for the Believers then (is not) our statement trivial c the believers shall enter Paradise due to their Eemaan.
If, on the other hand, we were to say that the hadeeth is specific for the unbelievers then what is the relevance of the statement (since it is already known that the unbelievers shall not gain admission to Paradise?
He (rahimahullaah) answered:
(Another) authentically reported wording of (this particular version of the) hadeeth is, "Anyone who possesses half a mustard seed of Pride (kibr) in his heart will not be granted admission to Paradise. And anyone who possesses half a mustard seed of Eemaan will not enter the (Eternal) Fire.
" [1]
Kibr that openly opposes and negates Eemaan results in the banishment of the one who holds it from entering al-Jannah as is found in Allaah’s statement: "And your Lord said: “Invoke Me, I will respond to your (invocation) .
Verily! Those who scorn (yastakbiroon – Have kibr) My worship, they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!” [Surah Ghaafir: 60]
This is the Kibr of Iblees (the Devil), Pharaoh and all the others who possessed the Kibr, which invalidated Eemaan. This is also the Kibr that the Jews possess and those whom Allaah has described to us by saying: "Is it that whenever there came to you a Messenger with what you yourselves desired not, you grew arrogant? Some, you disbelieved and some, you killed.
" [Surah Al-Baqarah: 87]
Al-Kibr, in its entirety, openly opposes the essentials of al-Eemaan. As such he who has an atom’s weight of Kibr in his heart will not act upon that which Allaah has prescribed, nor will he abstain from that which Allaah has prohibited. Instead his Kibr shall result in his disavowal and rejection of the truth and instill in him contempt of others.
This, precisely, is the explanatory definition of al-Kibr provide by the Prophet as is found in the complete version of the initial Hadeeth
"The one who possesses an atom’s weight of Kibr in his heart shall not be granted admission to Paradise.
"]
He (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) was asked: “[But] O Messenger of Allaah! A man likes to have fine clothing and footwear. Is this included in Kibr?” He responded, "No. Allaah is Beauty and loves Beauty. Kibr is the rejection of truth (Batrul-Haqq) and condescension of others (waa ghaamtun-naas).
" [2]
The statement “Batarul-Haqq” denotes distain and rejection of the Truth, while “ghaamtun-naas” implies contempt and condescension of others from amongst mankind.