The Price of Pride

I asked a question that had been troubling my heart for a long time. I asked them, "Why is every successful person ultimately alone in the end?"

They immediately replied, "Because of their arrogance and pride."

I wanted more details, so they continued, "The greatest form of arrogance in the world is the belief in being 'self-made.'"

I looked at them in astonishment, and they explained, "When a person attributes their successes to being 'self-made,' they not only deny the role of God, fate, and nature but also trample upon the kindness and support of all those who played a crucial role in their success. This is the worst form of arrogance."

They paused, thought for a moment, and then said, "Look at Pharaoh and Nimrod. Both were exceptionally intelligent, talented, and capable rulers. Pharaoh invented the method of mummification, created an ink that remains undimmed until the Day of Judgment, and built pyramids whose construction baffles modern science. He also established the first irrigation system in the world, and even the deserts of Egypt became fertile during his reign. Yet, Pharaoh eventually became a symbol of admonishment. Why?"

They looked at me. I immediately responded, "Because of his arrogance and pride."

They nodded in agreement and smiled, saying, "Yes, but Pharaoh's arrogance was lesser compared to the pride of those who consider themselves self-made. He only denied God. He acknowledged the favors of his elders, his friends, and his benefactors. He even gave special status to his teachers in his court and respected his wives so much that he adopted Prophet Moses at the request of his wife. Yet, Pharaoh's arrogance brought him to ruin."

They paused again and said, "Look at Nimrod. He introduced modern farming methods, divided land into units for the first time, built tall buildings, installed fountains in cities, and was the first ruler to propose punishment for cutting down trees. He was also the first king in history to eradicate poverty and unemployment from his kingdom, making every citizen prosperous and content. But this king too fell prey to God's wrath. Why?"

I immediately responded, "Because of his pride."

They nodded in agreement and said, "Yes, he denied the existence of God, and that was his only crime. Otherwise, he was a good person and a remarkable king. He was hospitable, never let go of politeness, gathered scholars and experts from all over the world in his court, was unmatched in bravery and courage, and respected his friends, parents, and relatives. He also remembered the favors and kindnesses of others. But he denied the existence of God, declared himself as god, and was caught in God's punishment."

They stopped and thought for a moment before continuing, "Pharaoh and Nimrod only equated themselves with God, while those who consider themselves 'self-made' claim superiority not only over God but also forget the favors of all the people who played a key role in their success. Thus, such a person displays a level of pride and arrogance far greater than that of Pharaoh and Nimrod. As a result, they eventually fall into God's grip, and God inflicts upon them the punishment of loneliness."

They paused, took a deep breath, and continued, "Humans are social creatures. We need each other. We want to sit among people like ourselves, chat with them, share our emotions with them. For us, the greatest punishment is loneliness, which is why solitary confinement is considered the harshest punishment in the world. A person can endure the greatest of hardships, but they cannot bear the punishment of loneliness. Since God knows every fiber of our being, He inflicts the ultimate punishment of loneliness upon those who consider themselves 'self-made.'

Look around you. Every person who has ever declared themselves 'self-made,' who has attributed their achievements to their personal efforts, hard work, and struggle, ends up lonely at the final stage of success and dies in loneliness."

They fell silent. I watched them for a few moments, and when the silence grew too long, I asked, "What should we say instead of 'self-made'?"

They immediately replied, "Allah-made."

They looked at me for a few moments and then said, "Successful and prosperous people are specially favored by God. He chooses them for success from among millions and billions. He gives them vision and ideas, strength to work hard, more energy than others, creates special opportunities for them to move forward, opens the paths to success for them, and fills the hearts of influential and important people with love and sympathy for them. Finally, He commands everyone to acknowledge their success."

They continued, "And when a successful person attributes their success to God's grace and mercy, God, in return, surrounds them with liveliness. He fills people's hearts with love for them so that this person enjoys the love and company of others until their last breath. God does not let the shadow of loneliness fall upon their life."

I looked at them and cautiously asked, "Then what is the place of a person's effort and struggle in their life?"

They looked at me intently and said, "Who are we to work hard or struggle without His permission? We do not even have the strength to mention His name without His consent. Then what is the significance of our hard work and struggle? It's all a play of His grace. It's all Allah-made. We and all our successes are Allah-made. Acknowledge God's credit so that your lives are protected from loneliness and the shadow of grief does not fall upon you."

They paused and then emphasized, "Remember, never call yourself 'self-made' in life. Always consider yourself 'Allah-made.' God will shower you with His immense grace."