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Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani (حفظه الله) said: The following is the story of a pious man which my respected father, Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Shafi Sahib (رحمه الله) related to us.

A pious man was going somewhere along the road. Some men cut jokes with him as is the habit of men to ridicule and laugh at Maulwis and Sufis. A man asked that pious man by way of joke, 'Tell me, who is better. You, or my dog?'

At this insulting question, the pious man became neither angry nor irritated. He remained calm and cool and replied to that man, saying: 'I cannot say just now whether I am better or your dog is better, because I do not know in what state I shall die. I shall be better than your dog if I die on Iman (faith) and with righteous deeds. On the other hand, if I meet, Allaah forbid, a bad ending, your dog will surely be better than I, because the dog will not go to Hell nor will it be exposed to any punishment.'

This is how godly men always keep their eyes on their final fate and end. We have, therefore, advised never to despise even the worst of people, nor speak ill of them. You may despise the sins a man is committing, but not the person, because we do not know what is going to be his final fate and this is known only to Almighty Allaah. It is quite possible that Allaah may guide him and put him on the path of righteousness before his death, by means of repentance and giving up his sins. It is quite possible that after death he may appear before Exalted Allaah as a fully pardoned and purified servant.

It is, therefore, imperative that you should not look down upon anyone, not even an unbeliever. Who knows if Allah Almighty may guide him to Islam. (Discourse On Islamic Way Of Life, Volume 3)

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, "He who has, in his heart, an ant's weight of arrogance will not enter Jannah.'' Someone said: "A man likes to wear beautiful clothes and shoes?'' Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, "Allah is Beautiful, He loves beauty. Arrogance means ridiculing and rejecting the Truth and despising people.'' [Muslim]

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