Pride (Kibr) and self-admiration ('Ujb), Muslim Spirituality Collection (Volume 1), by Lyess Chacal (Pocket)

If, of all the vices of human nature, pride is the vice best known and the most condemned by the various monotheistic religious traditions, it is also the most widespread vice. The Islamic Tradition is rich in writings of all kinds on this subject and the author has chosen here to focus more particularly on the thought of Abu Hamid al Gazali (1058-1111), a famous thinker and theologian who wrote, among others, his no less famous Ihya' ulum al din (Revivification of the sciences of religion) and in which al Gazali devoted an entire treatise to the condemnation of pride (kibr) and infatuation ('ujb).

Pride is, in fact, a declaration of open war against God as reported in a hadit of the Prophet: "greatness is My cloak and majesty My loincloth. Whoever disputes them with Me, I will tear him to pieces." And yet, this does not prevent individuals from celebrating daily, and often without their knowledge, the disobedience of Satan who, as related in the Koran, was puffed up with pride and refused to obey the divine injunction of bow down to Adam.

About the Author: Lyess Chacal

Lyess Chacal Doctor of the University of Paris IV Sorbonne, Lyess Chacal was more particularly interested in Islamic thought through the work of al Gazali. He is the author of numerous works on this author. He is, in particular, the author of illusion and deception in Islam, published by Oryms editions.