This disease called Tazkiyatun-Nafs is a common problem with some learners who think they have got some footing in learning hence they are see themselves as very important.
They always often sing the praises of themselves in front of the people. They are quick to remind the people of what they know and where they have got to in learning.
Some of them by conduct would project themselves to the levels of the elderly scholars.
If perchance you remind them that the road is still far in learning, they fume and seem to ask 'what remains?'
They give themselves ostentatious aliases of knowledge and walk about in the gait of 'Shuyukh al-Islam.'
It is a serious malaise in learning. May Allaah save us from it.
There is no blame if people praise one for the goodness, generosity and knowledge, especially, behind one's back, that they see in one. The Messenger of Allaah ï·º , in the hadeeth of Abu Hurairah, radiyallaahu an'hu, said it is a 'quickened good news for the believer.' (Saheeh Muslim)
But one should not shy away from constantly reminding one's admirers and followers that one is still in learning. If the like of Shaykh Al-Albaanee - rahimahullaah - would say till his death that he was just 'a little pupil of learning', what is the problem with the real little pupils presenting themselves as big scholars?
Allaah the Mighty blames the people who love to be praised for what they don't possess:
لا تَØسَبَنَّ الَّذينَ ÙŠÙŽÙرَØونَ بÙما أَتَوا ÙˆÙŽÙŠÙØÙبّونَ Ø£ÙŽÙ† ÙŠÙØمَدوا بÙما Ù„ÙŽÙ… ÙŠÙŽÙعَلوا Ùَلا تَØسَبَنَّهÙÙ… بÙÙ…ÙŽÙازَة٠مÙÙ†ÙŽ العَذاب٠وَلَهÙÙ… عَذابٌ أَليمٌ
"Think not that those who rejoice in what they have done (or brought about), and love to be praised for what they have not done,- think not you that they are rescued from the torment, and for them is a painful torment."
[Âl-'Imrân: 188]
Allaah the Mighty declares that self-praise is most times blameworthy:
Ùَلا تÙزَكّوا Ø£ÙŽÙ†ÙÙسَكÙÙ… Ù‡ÙÙˆÙŽ أَعلَم٠بÙمَن٠اتَّقى
"So ascribe not purity to yourselves. He knows best him who fears Allah and keep his duty to Him. "
[An-Najm: 32]
The Messenger of Allaah ï·º also said:
لا تزكوا أنÙسكم، الله أعلم بأهل البر
'Do not praise yourselves, Allaah alone knows the people of piety.' (Saheeh Muslim)
May Allaah save us from the disease of self-praise.
