Be Cautious of the Fiery 'I' Pronoun
By
Imam Umar Muhammad Saminu
Brothers and sisters, Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
All praises and adoration be to Allah, May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the noble Prophet Muhammad, his household, companions and those who follow his guidance till the Day of Resurrection.
Today, I want us to think together for a little while. Think about something so small, so simple, yet it carries such weight in our lives, in our hearts. It's just one sound, one little word we use all the time: the pronoun, "I.".
We say it countless times a day. "I did this," "I want that," "This is mine." It seems so natural, so necessary. But I want to share a reflection with you today, a thought that has been weighing on my heart, about this little word and the two very different ways it can live within us.
Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala, in His infinite wisdom, created us all equal. Remember the powerful words in the Qur'an, Surah Al-Hujurat.
"O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted." (Qur'an 49:13)
Think about that, brothers and sisters. Allah made us diverse – different colors, different tongues, different backgrounds, not so we can boast about one over the other, but so we can know one another, learn from each other. The only thing that truly elevates one person above another in Allah's sight is taqwa. That consciousness of Allah, that piety in our hearts and actions.
And look at the blessings Allah has showered upon us! He gave us eyes to see the beauty around us, tongues to speak and share knowledge, lips and teeth that allow us to taste and enjoy His provisions. These are gifts, pure gifts from Allah's boundless generosity. He gives without asking for a price. What does He ask in return? Gratitude. Shukr. And true gratitude, my dear brothers and sisters, begins with recognizing the Source of all these blessings.
Now, this is where Shaytan, may Allah curse him, tries to sneak in. He whispers into our hearts, plants a seed – the seed of ego. This ego, it's not just about having a sense of self. It's when that sense of self becomes inflated, distorted. It’s the root of that "fiery 'I'."
That "fiery 'I"... it's a simple word. Easy to say, light on the tongue. "I am this," "I achieved that," "Look at me!" It sounds harmless, doesn't it? But be careful, brothers and sisters, because this little word, when filled with pride and arrogance, can be incredibly dangerous. It can lead us down a dark path.
When we constantly focus on "I," on our own supposed greatness, we forget who truly holds all power, all glory. We start to think we are self-sufficient, that our achievements are solely our own doing. This is a direct contradiction to tawhid, the very foundation of our faith, the Oneness of Allah. Everything we have, everything we are, comes from Him.
But there's another "I," my dear brothers and sisters. An "I" that is bright, that is full of light. We can call it the "illuminous 'I'."
This "illuminous 'I'" is the "I" that gives hope, confidence, yes, but also joy, a joy that comes from recognizing Allah's favour. It's an "I" grounded in humility, in gratitude. It doesn't deny our individual selves, but it places that self in its proper perspective, acknowledging that all good comes from Allah.
Think about the son of Prophet Adam, Habil (peace be upon him). When his brother threatened him, what did he say?
"Even if you should raise your hand against me to kill me, I shall not raise my hand against you to kill you. Indeed, I fear Allah, Lord of the worlds." (Qur'an 5:28)
Did Habil say, "I am stronger"? Did he say, "I will defend myself no matter what"? No. His "I" was rooted in the fear of Allah, in the understanding of the sanctity of life. That was the "illuminous 'I" in action, choosing righteousness over retaliation.
And remember our beloved Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him). After all the trials, the betrayal by his brothers, when he was in a position of power, what did he say to them?
"He said, 'I am Joseph, and this is my brother. Allah has indeed been gracious to us. Indeed, he who fears Allah and is patient, then indeed, Allah does not waste the reward of those who do good.'" (Qur'an 12:90)
He didn't say, "Look at me now, after what you did!" His "I" was one of forgiveness, of recognizing Allah's grace upon him and his brother. It was an "I" of hope and healing. That, my brothers and sisters, is the beauty of the "illuminous 'I'."
Now, let's look at the opposite, the "fiery 'I." This "I," as I said, is the door opener to pride, to arrogance, to wanting to dominate others, to selfishness, and ultimately, to destruction.
Remember Shaytan. When Allah commanded him to prostrate to Adam (peace be upon him), what was his response?
"Allah said, 'What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?' Satan said, 'I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay.'" (Qur'an 7:12)
That "I am better!" That was the fiery "I" speaking. It was based on a false sense of superiority, a rejection of Allah's command. And what was the consequence? Expulsion from Paradise! A powerful lesson for us all.
And think about Pharaoh (Fir'awn)! He stood before his people and declared:
"And Pharaoh said, 'O my people, does not the kingdom of Egypt belong to me, and these rivers flowing beneath me; then do you not see? Or am I not better than this one who is insignificant and hardly makes himself clear?'" (Qur'an 43:51-52)
And even more shockingly:
"I am your most exalted lord." (Qur'an 79:24)
"I am your most exalted lord!" Look at the arrogance! Look at where that "fiery 'I'" led him, to claiming divinity, to oppressing his people, and ultimately, to his own destruction in the sea.
This "fiery 'I'," my brothers and sisters, it corrupts. It blinds us to the truth. It creates division and injustice. It hardens our hearts and pushes us away from Allah.
So, how do we protect ourselves from this dangerous "fiery 'I'" and cultivate that "illuminous 'I'" within us? I want to share three important ways with you today.
FIRST, SELFLESSNESS. What is selflessness? It's not just being kind. It's prioritizing others over ourselves. It's caring about their needs, their well-being, even if it means sacrificing something of our own desires.
Think about the Ansar in Medina. When their brothers, the Muhajirun, came with nothing, the Ansar didn't just give them a little bit. They shared their homes, their wealth, their very livelihoods! That's true selflessness. That's an "I" that says, "My brother's needs are as important as my own, if not more so." This pushes back against the selfishness of the "fiery 'I'."
SECOND, HUMILITY. Humility in Islam isn't about thinking you're worthless. It's about recognizing that we are all equal in our humanity. The only measure of honour, as Allah tells us, is taqwa.
A humble person doesn't boast about their achievements. They recognize that any good they have is a blessing from Allah. They treat everyone with respect, whether rich or poor, powerful or weak. Humility shatters the arrogance of the "fiery 'I'." It allows us to connect with each other as equals, as brothers and sisters in Islam.
THIRD, PURIFICATION OF THE SOUL. Our hearts, by nature, are drawn to desires, both good and bad. That's why we have a constant responsibility to purify our souls, to cleanse them from negative traits like greed, envy, hatred, and yes, pride.
This is a lifelong journey, my brothers and sisters. It requires constant effort, constant reflection. We need to be mindful of our thoughts, our intentions, our actions. We need to guard our hearts against the whispers of Shaytan and the allure of that egoistic "I."
How do we purify our souls? Through prayer, through fasting, through giving charity, through remembering Allah often, through reciting the Qur'an, through seeking knowledge, through surrounding ourselves with good company, and through sincere repentance when we fall short.
So, my dear brothers and sisters in Islam, as we go into this blessed weekend, let us reflect on this message. Let us strive to avoid the "fiery 'I'" within ourselves and to extinguish its flames with humility and selflessness. Let us cultivate the "illuminous 'I'," the "I" that is filled with gratitude, hope, and a deep awareness of our dependence on Allah.
May Allah grant us the strength to purify our souls and to live lives that are pleasing to Him. May He protect us from the traps of arrogance and guide us towards humility and selflessness.
I wish you all a splendid week, free from that destructive "I" and full of selflessness and humility.
*Imam Umar Muhammad Saminu, Squadron Leader, writes from the office of the Chief Imam, NAF Base, Benin City.*
