The One Whose Knowledge And Status Leads Him to Haughtiness – [By Imaam Adh’Dhahabi]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Imaam Dhahabi [rahimahullaah] said: The most evil [type] of haughtiness [i.e. the haughtiness lesser than the one that led Iblees to disbelief] is that of one who is haughty towards the people due to knowledge [he possesses] and feels exalted within himself due to virtue [he possesses]; for indeed this [type of person] is not benefited by his knowledge. Indeed, the one who seeks knowledge for the afterlife [i.e. to perform righteous deeds for the afterlife], his knowledge will prevent him [i.e. restrain him from evil, unpraiseworthy deeds etc], his heart will possess khash’ya [i.e. that fear of Allaah founded upon knowledge of the greatness of Allaah, His perfect Dominion and sovereignty], his soul will be at ease and he will be watchful over himself. [Al-Kabaa’ir page 76]