Without all these, he cannot survive or live a happy life.

Without all these, he cannot survive or live a happy life. Moreover, there are things which man desires to have but cannot have. Many times he wants to remember things or wants to forget tragic events but cannot. All these prove man's weakness. Furthermore, death is inevitable. Whether one is wealthy or poor, famous or unknown a believer or an atheist he will have to die some day. Life after death is a different subject by itself, what concerns us is the reaction of the body upon death.

It is a widely known fact that a body decays hours after death giving unpleasant and foul smell. Islam, for this reason encourages an early burial. People who delay in burying their dead use artificial method for preserving the body. Imam Ali (a.s.) reminding us about origin of our creation and eventual decayed state after death, says : I am surprised by a proud person who by yesterday was a clot of (unclean) semen and will tomorrow be decayed dead body.

Simply put, how can one who was created of an unclean drop of semen and who will decay giving off a foul and unpleasant smell ever be proud or boast over anything? ii. He should know that Kibr is only Allah's (s.w.t.) quality. This has been discussed at length earlier. However, the following is the incident which confirms Kibr as the quality of Allah (s.w.t.). Once a man accused Imam Hassan bin Ali (a.s.) saying : "Surely in you is pride." The Imam (a.s.) reacted by saying : "Never!

Pride is for Allah alone bur in me is honour. The Almighty Allah has said :For Allah is the Honour and for His Prophet and for those who have brought faith." (Meezanul Hikmah) iii. To know that consequences of pride a humiliation in this world and painful chastisement in the hereafter. Pride does not bring honour; instead it adds to disgrace and invites hatred from people. People abhor associating with one who loves self-praise and undermines their dignity.

In addition to disgrace in this world the proud will also be subject to everlasting punishment in the hereafter as already mentioned in the beginning. In order to save oneself from the disgrace in this world and the punishment in the hereafter, one should avoid being proud. iv. To practice 'At-Tawadhu' - humility and humbleness i.e. to consider oneself lower than others. Arab poet has said : "Be humble !

you will be like that star which is evident for an onlooker on the surface of the water yet it is high above.