Rejecting Egoism

Abdullah bin ‘Umar narrated that the Prophet

(God’s blessings upon him) said: “The faithful

believer who mixes with people and endures 

their injury is better than the person who 

does not mix with people nor endures their  

injury“ (Reported by Al-Bukhari in “Al-adab   

al-mufrad”, as well as by Ibn Majah and at-

Tirmidhi in their Collections of Hadith).

Muslims have an obligation to do a cult of prayers (salat) five times a day. In every prayer they repeat several times a formula saying “iyaka na’budu wa iyaka nasta’een” wich means: “You alone (o God) we worship and from You alone we ask for help”.  And again: “Ihdina as-sirata al-mustaqeem” which means: “Guide us (o God) to the Straight Path”!

These repeated formulas incite faithful believers to be sociable persons, far from being selfish or egocentric, as they do not say “You alone I worship” nor: “from You alone I ask for help”. They do not say: “Guide me” but: “Guide us”.

A faithful believer should not be concerned with himself excessively, nor should he seek or concentrate on gaining just his own advantage, pleasure or wellbeing without regard for others. No, instead he should be sociable, helping the needy, providing safety to the helpless, and should be ready to come to the aid of the weak when they need it.

God says: “You will not attain to piety until you spend of what you love; and whatever thing you spend God knows of it” (3:92).

“And they (the true believers) give food despite (their) love of it to the needy, and the orphan, and the prisoner (saying in their hearts): We feed you only for the sake of God; we do not desire from you any reward, nor any thanks” (74:6). A faithful believer when he gives to others should do it sincerely for God’s sake, not seeking any gain, except from God, as God says: “And do not grant a favour seeking greater gain” (74:6).

All what we just mentioned above was about individuals, but the same is also true for groups of people, whether it be families, tribes or nations; each group should avoid being egocentric. They all should be sociable, honoring each other, and helping each other.

The show of mutual ridicule is not to be taken lightly, as most often it is a sign of arrogance, selfishness or malice. We may have fun with people and share the happiness of life in such occasions as during wedding festivities, but we must never laugh at the expense of other people in contempt or ridicule. Speaking ill of others can be considered defamation. Backbiting remarks or taunts of sarcasm result in pain for others and create more difficulties with one another. The same applies to offensive nicknames, which also amounts to defamation.

God says: “O you who have attained to faith! Do not let any people deride another people: who may be better than they are; nor let any women deride (other) women who may be better than they are. And do not defame one another, nor insult one another, by nicknames. Evil is the name of immorality after faith! And whoever does not repent, those – they are the evildoers. O you who have attained to faith! Shun much suspicion. Indeed some suspicions are sins. And do not spy, nor backbite one another. Would any of you love to eat the flesh of his brother dead? You would abhor it. And be conscious of God. Verily, God is an acceptor of repentance, a Dispenser of grace!” (49:11-12).

The Qur’an reminds mankind that all human being belong to one human family, without any inherent superiority of one over another. Therefore they have to respect and safeguard each other’s dignity. The evolution of mankind into nations and tribes is meant to foster and not to diminish their mutual desire to understand and appreciate the essential of humanity's unity. All racial, national or tribal prejudice is condemned: “O mankind! We have indeed created you from a male and a female, and made you nations and tribes that you may come to know one another. Truly the noblest of you in the sight of God is the most God-fearing among you. Truly God is Knower, Aware” (49:13).

There is a Hadith of the Prophet (God’s blessings upon him) says: “Behold, God has removed from you the arrogance of pagan ignorance with its boast of ancestral glories. Man is but a God-conscious believer or an unfortunate sinner. All people are children of Adam and Adam was created out of dust” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi in his Collection of Hadith).

Modesty in one's behaviour is demanded from a true believer in God. The Qur’an records among the admonitions of Wise Luqman to his son the following saying: “And do not turn your cheek disdainfully from people and do not walk upon the earth exultantly. Truly God does not like any swaggering braggart. And be modest in your bearing and lower your voice; indeed the most hideous of voices is the donkey’s voice” (31:18-19).

Abu Hurairah, a companion of the Prophet narrated that the Prophet (God’s blessings upon him) said: "God increases the honour of one who forgives and one who serves another seeking the pleasure of God, God will exalt him in ranks" (Reported by Muslim in his Collection of Hadith).

There is no place for egocentrism in the life of a faithful believer in God and in the Day of Resurrection, as he or she is only a servant of God exercising a duty ordered by His or Her Lord, with a clear guidance. He is only one among other fellow human beings, all servants of God.