[jelena-nanana]

Assalam O' aliakum ...

I want to know how can one differentiate between the two ... socially, religiously etc

JazakAllah Khair

[haudraufwienix]

Assalam O' aliakum ...

I want to know how can one differentiate between the two ... socially, religiously etc

JazakAllah Khair

There is actually more levels.
Takabur is pride, 'Ujib is Vanity. More about 'ujib: http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/show...l=1#post768254

Difference between the two is in Takabur one looks down upon others, in 'ujib one doesn't think he/she is better than others but is pleased with oneself.

I don't know the arabic for self respect. I don't know if there is a level like that. Is there an example of an act of self respect which is free of the two above mentioned problems? The first thing that comes to mind for me about 'self respect' is not to do something 'despicable' that would tarnish ones 'image' in public. But when we have narrations which mention that our beloved Rasoolullah rode a donkey, Abu Bakr As-sideeq(ra) did a servants job for a blind old woman, a person didn't recognize Umar ibn Al Khattab(ra) as the Khalifa since he was mending his own door when the person met him. In todays world things like riding a donkey, doing a servants job and mending ones door might be something 'lacking self respect'. So the real question is, 'is there a need to have self respect?'. I do not know.

I personally don't think its important at all. But its difficult for us to reach that level. The level when we are not concerned what others think about us.

[gomosopions]

I have heard Elders saying that a Muslim should live with dignity.

Of course living with dignity does not conflict with mending your clothes. I suppose modern mind conditioning has created some problems about these matters.

[domeffire]

Salaam

In my head, self-respect in Islam means to retain dignity without becoming vain and arrogant. It's also about balancing humility.

If one does not have dignity and is excessively humble, it will prevent him from commanding the good and forbidding the evil. He will be taken advantage of by miscreants. In such a case, he will fall into the blameworthy definition of humility. The likes of Umar RA had the best approach - being humble but not to the extent that people would push him around and take advantage of him. His jalaali personality didn't conflict with his humility at all (RA).

This is a very good article on humility: http://*************/en/ref/30864/humility [Islamqa]

[haudraufwienix]

I have heard Elders saying that a Muslim should live with dignity.

Of course living with dignity does not conflict with mending your clothes. I suppose modern mind conditioning has created some problems about these matters.

I guess that strikes the balance. There is no pride in 'mending cloths' which is perfectly permissible.

[domeffire]

Pretty much hits the nail on the head:
http://seekersguidance.org/ans-blog/...and-arrogance/