On being selfish

RK News
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26 Nov 2025

SYED TAHA Selfishness may lead to pride and arrogancy. It may lead a person to demand praise from others and that he alone is to be praised. The selfish person tries his best to cover his mistakes because he is selfish and self centered. He will not stand for correction. To cover one’s mistake, a person has to lie, to make more mistakes and commit more crimes and atrocities. He will end up in a vicious circle of being a bad person in the society. His friends will neglect him, and he will loose respect and dignity from most of the people who know him. Allah (SWT) instructed us that each person should not praise himself and not demand people to praise him. Furthermore, it is understood that Islam teaches us not to be selfish, greedy, misers, conceited, arrogant and boastful. It teaches us not to be self seekers, self egoistic or egocentric. Islam taught us self discipline, self restraint and self evaluation. If we acquire these characteristics we will be able to live in peace and harmony in this world, and will be rewarded in the hereafter. The concept of tolerance, and selflessness was practiced by our holy Prophet (SAW) in his life span. It is a fact that selfishness has advantages and disadvantages. However, its disadvantages supersede its disadvantages. No one is to deny himself for ever but to deny oneself for others is called preference of others on yourself. Also, every person likes himself and for this reason he strives hard to achieve many things in life. To like others as much as you like yourself is a beneficial quality that will spread love and compassion. Selfishness is considered bad when a person likes himself over others even if the situation demands that he should do good for others. Selfishness may be defined in many situations e.g. when a person denies others for his selfish motives. A selfish person may end up being mentally upset and he may continue to live in anxiety and depression. Nowadays, the capitalistic society puts heavy pressure on the individuals so as to produce or to perish and to compete or to be fired. These pulls and pressures sometimes make us selfish in order to survive against these challenges. But in doing so there is no contentment, no satisfaction and no happiness. (Author is a teacher)