KV Network

Pride hath a fall

Pride hath a fall
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Mushtaq Hurra

Lucifer (Iblees ) was an eminent and distinguished angel. Once, a group of angels approached him and said, “O, the chief of angels, we want you to beseech the mercy of Allah SWT for us.”

“What happened,” enquired the Lucifer. One of them said, “O our chieftain, Allah SWT is going to execrate one of His beloved slaves. Since you enjoy utmost proximity with Allah SWT, so, please, implore for our refuge and safety, as Allah SWT will never refuse or reject your supplications.”

Lucifer at once lifted his hands up and exclaimed, “O Allah SWT, have mercy upon these angels.” Here, he fell prey to the vice of arrogance and pride. Ultimately, after the creation of Adam (AS), it was not the denial to a solitary prostration which won him the wrath and malediction of Allah SWT; rather it was the magnitude of his arrogance and conceit which sank his boat.

If anything displeases Allah SWT after shirk (Practicing Polytheism), it is hubris and arrogance. Allah SWT has categorically ordered us all to refrain from the vice of arrogance. “And do not turn your face away from people in contempt, nor go about in the land exulting overmuch; surely, Allah SWT does not love any self-conceited boaster.” (Surah Luqman, verse no 18 ).

Pride and egotism has smitten and perished many mighty, ferocious and sturdy men of the past. Who is not aware of the horrific conclusion of false pretension of Pharaoh, Namrood, Karoon, Haaman, Abu-Jahl and many others?

Our beloved prophet Muhammad (SAW) was an embodiment of sublime manners. He (SAW) rose to the position of king, from an ordinary orphan boy, but never showed any kind of pride or arrogance. After attaining the unprecedented exaltation, He added more humility to His attitude.

He (SAW) never abased or belittled anyone. His cherished ideals are based on the maxim of equality of men; irrespective of caste and colour. Though He (SAW) stands unparalleled in every walk of life; but, His manners, politeness, etiquettes, courtesy, simplicity and humility won Him ( SAW ) admiration from the followers of other religions as well. Even His staunch enemies and arch rivals threw bouquets of praises at Him (SAW), for His unmatched character.

We are well aware about how He (SAW) treated poor, destitute and indigent. He (SAW) never exhibited an iota of ascendancy and eminence, rather made meekness His hallmark and standard, throughout His (SAW) entire life. Humility is the biggest attribute which makes Him (SAW) taller than the rest of stalwarts from the history. As His (SAW) true followers (ummatis), we must adorn our lives with the great traits of humility and simplicity.

In contemporary times, including our own valley, most of the people brag and boast a lot, and look at others with disdain. The disease of self-conceit has ailed our society very terribly. Contrary to our simple ancestors, we are the worst braggarts and egotists. A peon or a sweeper of an elite public office behaves like a Russian Tzar and a Babylonian Pharaoh. And how the chair-bearers of these offices treat commoners, need not to be put into words. We habitually mock and ridicule poor, even in the queues of mosques. The poor and needy are treated as mere gutter-worms.

Swanking and show-off is a symbol of week individuals and societies. Braggarts wish to earn fame at any cost. The fame should not be the destination of an individual. It is contribution and service which showers oceans of the fame and glory upon an individual.

Ironically, many commoners like me, have begun to add appellations and titles to their names, to create their false awe and veneration among their peers and fellows. Many resort to unfair means to win public admiration and hype. Social media has helped such fake tycoons to enjoy timely admiration, though it is sure to end.

Sense of superiority complex among public servants breeds corruption, because a considerable amount of power corrupts us absolutely. And who is not aware of the arrogance of our officers, doctors, professors, business tycoons and wealthy class, except a few God-fearing ones.

The perception of self-conceit has given rise to VIP culture in our public and private offices. A layman has no access to these officials and offices, because the barricades erected in terms of gatekeepers, peons and PAs have barred public to approach ahead.

Visiting an office in Kashmir valley is equal to climb the Mount Everest. Our officials at the helm of affairs are arrogant (albeit a few) to the extent that a layman contemplates hundred times if to approach the office bearer or not, in order to get genuine grievances redressed.

Such culture has promoted red-tapism in our offices. Even the scenario is not somewhat pleasing in our institutions of higher learning. It certainly takes many months for a student to rectify his documents for minor changes.

HODs and other officers at the helm hardly let anyone to enter their cozy chambers except some white-collared ones. In many parts of our country, the scenario is altogether different. Officers and officials consider themselves public servants there, while as, our officials consider the chairs they sit in, as their ancestral properties.

Once, during my post-graduation days in a Maharashtra university, a clerk asked me to produce the receipt of rupees 1500, in order to issue roll number slip in my favour. I failed to produce the same, because I had forgotten it back home. Ironically, it was not the time of WhatsApp and internet then, in our valley. And rupees 1500 hundred meant a lot to me then.

Dejected and upset, I decided to approach my department. Bearing a desperate look on my face, I went to my HOD’s office. “What happened Hurra, you look very distraught?” Asked the HOD ma’am of my department. I struggled to gather words to respond to her query. She insisted and repeated her query very humbly. “I have trouble in getting my intimation slip from the administrative block of the university, as I have lost my fee receipt.” I replied in a faint voice.

She held my hand, and took me to her office, opened her almirah, checked the date of deposition of fee from the register, and accompanied me back to that clerk. Requested the clerk to issue my roll number slip, and assured him that I had paid all the fee dues. The unique gesture of kindness from the Professor and HOD is something worth to remember and cherish as a sweet memory and a benchmark of core human values. And it took me half an hour to rectify my marks sheets in the same university, where my name had a spelling error. Such people are difficult to find in our universities, colleges and institutions of higher learning, though there might be a few.

Arrogance has wreaked havoc in our healthcare system as well. Patients often complain about the weird and bizarre attitudes of doctors. Many doctors hardly let the patient speak their hearts out, because their egos are bigger than their professions. If there is no compassion and empathy in a doctor, his/her degrees and diplomas are nothing, but some printed pages only.

Now, let’s have a glimpse of our premier bank – Jammu and Kashmir bank. Of late, a young brigade of officers and officials working here are tremendously trying to initiate a change. People praise and admire the ways of discharging their legitimate duties cordially, amiably and cheerfully; but there are some craps whose cranky attitudes have brought a bad name to the elite institution. Such eccentrics often lead to wrangles and scuffles. But, I must not ignore the genial lot of new people who have maintained decorum in public service sector. Let’s hope, we shun our arrogant attitudes with the passage of time, to promote positive work culture in our public offices.

We must not forget the fact that public admiration comes from contribution, not from bragging and boasting. Big names have bitten the dust. Names of men, whom the termite of time couldn’t erase from the pages of history, have been great contributors to the humanity.

Contributions and services immortalize a name, and bestow distinction to it. Prophet Muhammad (SAW), Einestien, Edison and others have been great contributors. Braggarts can hoodwink masses for a limited time, to enjoy limelight, but can’t eternize their names in the hearts of the people and the pages of the history.

(The auuthor is a Teacher and a Columnist)


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