The root cause of Takabbur

Hadhrat Thanavi RE said:

“the root cause of Takabbur is not being really cognizant of Allah Ta’ala’s greatness.”

Hadhrat Thanavi (may Allah have mercy on him) said;

“A person’s ego is a great barrier. It cannot be treated without crushing it.”

Hadhrat Thanvi RE has described a unique practical treatment for Gheebat. This treatment is very difficult, but if someone does it Insha’Allah he will be able to quit Gheebat within a few days. He said;

“A practical treatment for Gheebat is that whenever a person commits someone’s Gheebat, he should let that person know that I have committed your Gheebat. Insha’Allah this illness of Gheebat will subside within a few days of this treatment.”

Hadhrat Thanvi (may Allah be pleased with him) said;

“If there is a genuine religious need then Gheebat is permissible in those situations, for example, the way Muhaddithin (scholars of Hadith) have discussed the narrators of Hadith. However, if there is no pressing religious need, and the purpose behind Gheebat is only to do gossip and to enjoy it, then in those situations even telling someone’s true flaws (behind his back) is Haraam (unlawful), and saying something untrue without any effort to find out the truth is ‘Buhtaan’ (slander). The basis of what is said being a lie is not upon making an effort to confirm that it is a lie, but upon not making an effort to find out the truth.”  

Hadhrat Thanavi (may Allah have mercy on him) said;

“The real treatment of thinking ill of others (Badgumani), undue curiosity (Tajassus), and Gheebat (backbiting) is to adopt Tawazu’ (humility) and remove Takabbur (arrogance, grandiosity) from one’s heart. But until one gets rid of these core spiritual illnesses, until such time he should treat his illness of Gheebat in the following way; (1) reflect and ponder before you say anything, (2) fix some fine on yourself if you do slip up (and commit Gheebat), and (3) divert your attention towards Allah Ta’ala’s Dhikr (remembrance) when you get bad thoughts about others.” 

Allah Ta’ala says in the Noble Qur’an, 

“O you who believe, abstain from many of the suspicions. Some suspicions are sins. And do not be curious (to find out faults of others), and do not backbite one another. Does one of you like that he eats the flesh of his dead brother? You would abhor it. And fear Allah. Surely Allah is Most-Relenting, Very-Merciful.” (49:12)

Hazrat Thanvi (may Allah Ta’ala bless him) said;

“It has been narrated in a Hadith that if you hear that a mountain has moved from its place then accept it, but if you hear about a person that his internal attributes have changed then do not accept it. This tells us that with Riyazat (sustained effort) a person’s internal attributes do not subside totally, they just become attenuated.” 

What it means is that in the Hadith it has been negated that if you hear that a person’s anger has subsided completely, do not accept it, because a person’s internal attributes do not change completely. However, through Riyazat (sustained effort) and Suhbat (companionship) this anger can be brought under control. Then a person doesn’t get angry all the time. He may get angry but only in situations where Shariah permits him to get angry, and even in that anger he does not cross limits set by Shariah. 

Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (may Allah Ta’ala have mercy on him) said,

“The crux of Tasawwuf is that when a person is finding it difficult to perform a commandment of Shariah because of a lack of motivation, he should fight that lack of motivation to obey that commandment, and when a person is finding it difficult to resist temptations to commit a sin because of lack of motivation, then he should fight that lack of motivation to refrain from that sin. This is what gives rise to a closer relationship with Allah, this is what makes that relationship stronger, and this is what sustains it.”