It is narrated on the authority of Abdullah bin Mas’ud that the Apostle of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) observed: “He who has in the heart the weight of a mustard seed of pride shall not enter Paradise.” A person (among his listeners) said: “Verily a person loves that his dress should be fine; and his shoes should be fine.” He (the Holy Messenger) remarked: “Verily, Allah is Graceful and He loves Grace. Pride is disdaining the truth (out of self-conceit) and contempt for the people.” (Sahih Muslim)
Pride is the offspring of conceit, and this is the very negation of faith. Pride and faith cannot thus go together. It was pride that made Iblees reject Allah’s command. While Iman inculcates in man the spirit of humility and submission to Truth. Pride is the expression of vanity which is the greatest hurdle onto the path of Truth. The self-conceited man accepts nothing which does not satisfy his vanity and, therefore, he cannot be a true believer. He is worshipper of his own self.
Islam does not teach asceticism and, therefore, does not blunt the aesthetic sense of man. It is with Beauty and Grace that the Lord has created this universe, and man, by his very nature, has a love for these two qualities. Islam makes no attempt to deprive man of his natural urges but directs his aesthetic sense to fruitful channels. It exhorts its followers not to lead a life of renunciation but to use the bounties of the Lord according to His Command.