Aslam

God say: He who will receive the greatest punishment among the dwellers of Hell is one who is the most rebellious of them to God. God says: Then I will take out from each people such men as are more enemies of the Merciful God says: The hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter deny truth and they are proud. God says: Those who turn away out of pride from My service will enter Hell disgraced. God say: I will keep away those persons from Me who roam in the earth proudly - 7 :
146 Q. It has been explained that the understanding of the Quran will be taken out of their hearts. It has also been said that God will throw screen upon their hearts. The sage Jarir said in the explanation of the above verse that God will keep them away from thoughts of the unseen worldly and from acceptance of sermons. For this reason Jesus Christ said: Crop grows in soft earth. It does not grow in hard ground. Similarly wisdom arises in modest or soft mind. It does not arise in hard heart. Don't you see that the head of one who lifts it up to the roof is crushed and the head of one who keeps low is saved. These are illustrations of the proud. The Prophet said: He who is heedless of truth and a back- biter is proud.

OBJECTS ON WHOM PRIDE IS SHOWN

Such objects are of several classes - the Creator, then His Prophets, then the people in general. Man has been created an oppressor and ignorant, because sometimes he takes pride over His creatures and sometimes even over the Creator. So there are three classes of objects over whom pride is shown.

(1) First class - It is pride on God which is worst. Its cause is utter ignorance and infidelity, as the infidelity of Namrud and Pharaoh. It occurred in the mind of Namrud that he would fight "
with God. pharaoh and others claimed also godhood. Pharaoh

256 The Book of Destructive evils Vol-III

said: I am the highest lord. For this reason God says: Those who turn away from My worship will soon enter Hell humiliated.
God says: Jesus Christ and the near angels do not deny to become servants of God. God says: When they are asked to make obeisance to the Merciful, they say: Who is the Merciful?

(2) Second class-Pride upon the apostles. The reason is that

one thinks himself greater than apostles and therefore does not

follow them. Out of ignorance he thinks that his words are true.

A certain man said to the Prophet of God: Shall we have faith in'

peoples like us? They used to say: You are a man like us. Had

there come down to them an angel! God says about Pharaoh: He

and his soldiers wandered proudly in the earth. He expressed

haughtiness over God and over all His apostles. Moses told

Pharaoh said: I will consult Haman in this matter. He consulted

with Haman who aid: You are our Lord. People worship you. If

you bring faith in God, you will be a slave and worship another.

Then Pharaoh denied to worship God and to follow Moses.