Allah tells us that He has made the home of the Hereafter, and its eternal
delights which will never change or fade away, for His believing, humble
servants who do not rebel against the truth with pride and oppression in the
land. They do not exalt themselves above the creatures of Allah, arrogantly
oppressing them and spreading corruption among them. `Ikrimah said that this
phrase referred to haughtiness and arrogance. Ibn Jurayj said:
[لاَ يُرِيدُونَ
عُلُوّاً فِى الاٌّرْضِ]
(those who do not want to exalt themselves in the land) "Arrogance and
tyranny,
[وَلاَ
فَسَاداً]
(nor cause corruption) committing sins.'' Ibn Jarir recorded that `Ali said,
"If a man wants the straps of his sandals to be better than the straps of his
companion's sandals, then he is one of those referred to in the Ayah,
[تِلْكَ الدَّارُ
الاٌّخِرَةُ نَجْعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لاَ يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوّاً فِى الاٌّرْضِ وَلاَ
فَسَاداً وَالْعَـقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ]
(That is the home of the Hereafter, We shall assign to those who do not want
to exalt themselves in the land nor cause corruption. And the good end is for
those who have Taqwa.) This is understood to mean that if his intention is to
show off and appear better than others, then that is to be condemned, as it was
reported in the Sahih that the Prophet said:
«إِنَّهُ أُوحِيَ
إِلَيَّ أَنْ تَوَاضَعُوا حَتَّى لَا يَفْخَرَ أَحَدٌ عَلَى أَحَدٍ وَلَا يَبْغِي
أَحَدٌ عَلَى أَحَد»
(It has been revealed to me that you should be humble to the extent that none
of you boasts to others or mistreats others. ) But if a person simply likes to
look good, then there is nothing wrong with that. It was recorded that a man
said: "O Messenger of Allah, I like to have my garment looking good and my shoes
looking good -- is this a kind of arrogance'' The Prophet said:
«لَا، إِنَّ اللهَ
جَمِيلٌ يُحِبُّ الْجَمَال»
(No, for Allah is beautiful and loves beauty...) And Allah says:
[مَن جَآءَ
بِالْحَسَنَةِ]
(Whosoever brings good,) meaning, on the Day of Resurrection,
[فَلَهُ خَيْرٌ
مِّنْهَا]
(he shall have the better thereof;) meaning, the reward of Allah is better
than the good deeds of His servant -- how can it not be, when Allah has
multiplied it many times over This is the position of generosity. Then Allah
says:
[وَمَن جَآءَ
بِالسَّيِّئَةِ فَلاَ يُجْزَى الَّذِينَ عَمِلُواْ السَّيِّئَاتِ إِلاَّ مَا
كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ]
(and whosoever brings evil, then those who do evil deeds will only be
requited for what they used to do.) This is like the Ayah,
[وَمَن جَآءَ
بِالسَّيِّئَةِ فَكُبَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ فِى النَّارِ هَلْ تُجْزَوْنَ إِلاَّ مَا
كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ]
(And whoever brings an evil deed, they will be cast down on their faces in
the Fire. (And it will be said to them) "Are you being recompensed anything
except what you used to do'') (27: 90). This is the postition of generosity and
justice.
[إِنَّ الَّذِى
فَرَضَ عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْءَانَ لَرَآدُّكَ إِلَى مَعَادٍ قُل رَّبِّى أَعْلَمُ مَن
جَآءَ بِالْهُدَى وَمَنْ هُوَ فِى ضَلَـلٍ مُّبِينٍ - وَمَا كُنتَ تَرْجُو أَن
يُلْقَى إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَـبُ إِلاَّ رَحْمَةً مِّن رَّبِّكَ فَلاَ تَكُونَنَّ
ظَهيراً لِّلْكَـفِرِينَ - وَلاَ يَصُدُّنَّكَ عَنْ ءَايَـتِ اللَّهِ بَعْدَ إِذْ
أُنزِلَتْ إِلَيْكَ وَادْعُ إِلَى رَبِّكَ وَلاَ تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ -
وَلاَ تَدْعُ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَـهاً ءَاخَرَ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ كُلُّ شَىْءٍ
هَالِكٌ إِلاَّ وَجْهَهُ لَهُ الْحُكْمُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ ]
(85. Verily, He Who has given you the Qur'an, will surely bring you back to
the return. Say: "My Lord is Aware of him who brings guidance, and of him who is
in manifest error.'') (86. And you were not expecting that the Book would be
sent down to you, but it is a mercy from your Lord. So never be a supporter of
the disbelievers.) (87. And let them not turn you away from the Ayat of Allah
after they have been sent down to you, and invite to your Lord and be not of
idolators.) (88. And invoke not any other god along with Allah, La ilaha illa
Huwa. Everything will perish save His Face. His is the decision, and to Him you
shall be returned.)