Chapter IX: Meditation
(7) Seventh cause. Pride arising out God fear and divine services is a great trial f on the people. The medicine for that is that such a man should sow the seed of modesty in his heart. It means that if a learned man comes to him, he should not take pride over him. God says : Are those who are learned like those who are not learned 39:9Q? The Prophet said : The superiority of a learned man over a religions man is like my superiority over my companions. There are many verses in the Quran regarding the merits of learning. The sage Wahab-b-Monabbah said : The wisdom of a man does not become perfect till acquires ten qualities. He counted nine and mentioned the tenth — to think everyone as better than oneself. To him mankind is divided into two classes. One class is better than him and another class is worse than him, but he becomes modest and humble to the people of those two classes as he things everyone as better than himself God showed path to good conduct in the following verse :
They give in charity from what they were given and their minds are fearful of returning to their Lord. In other words, they worship but they remain fearful of its acceptance. God says :
those who remain fearful of their Lord. God says of His angels that they remain always fearful of God though they are free from sins and engaged always in divine service. God says : They glorify God day and night without rest and they remain fearful of Him. Thus pride of mind can be removed.
FIVE TRIALS OF KNOWING SECRET CONDITION OF PRIDE
(1) First trial. You will know that you have got pride when in an altercation with your friend, you do not accept his opinion though i t is correct. Fear God and treat then your disease of pride.
(2) Second trial. When you meet with your friends or other persons, give them high places or front places to sit. If you feel it
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difficult, you will know that you have got pride and so you should take secret and appropriate medicine and you should gi ve them high posi tion.
(3) Third trial. Accept the invitations of the poor and go to market for necessaties of relatives and friends. If you feel trouble in mind for that, you will find that you have got pride and try to remove it.
(4) Fourth trial. Carry your necessary things from the market and also the necessary things of your friends. If your nature prohibits'you to carry them, know that you have got pride and there is impurity in your mind. Try to remove it by remembering this verse. God says ; Nobody will get salvation except one who comes to God with pure soul — 26:189Q. the sage Abdullah-b- Salam was carrying once a load of fuels. He was asked : O Abu Eusuf, your servant is sufficient for that. He said : Yes, it is true, but I wish to try my nature whether is it ready to carry itor not. So the Prophet said : He who carries fruits or something else is free from pride.