Nahj al-Balāgha

Hadith 1532
arroganceboastinggovernance
وَإِيَّاكَ وَالْإِعْجَابَ بِنَفْسِكَ، وَالثِّقَةَ بِمَا يُعْجِبُكَ مِنْهَا، وَحُبَّ الْإِطْرَاءِ، فَإِنَّ ذلِكَ مِنْ أَوْثَقِ فُرَصِ الشَّيْطَانِ فِي نَفْسِهِ، لِـيَمْحَقَ مَا يَكُونُ مِنْ إِحْسَانِ الْـمُحْسِنِينَ.
You should avoid self-admiration, having reliance in what appears good in yourself and love of exaggerated praise because this is one of the most reliable opportunities for Satan to obliterate the good deeds of the virtuous.
Source: al-Sharīf al-Raḍī

Similar narrations

  • Al-Kāfi #1188 “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The misfortune for lineage is boastfulness and feeling self-important.’”
  • Al-Kāfi #1192 “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The misfortune for lineage is boastfulness.’”
  • Maʿānī al-ʾAkhbār #435 I asked him about the veils which invalidate deeds. He said: The veils are (different) ranks: among them is what beautifies for a servant...
  • Maʿānī al-ʾAkhbār #436 The one who does not recognize for anyone a virtue (by having granted him a favor), is one who admires his own belief.
  • Nahj al-Balāgha #1768 167. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: Vanity prevents progress. [1]
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