Afraid of Falling into Arrogance
Assalamualaikum, everyone. I’m from India and, alhamdulillah, I’ve been praying since I was seven and started taking Islam more seriously just last year. Things were going well until a few months ago when I began following a Salafi approach. I don’t know what happened, but I made some great friends at the Salafi masjid. Yet, whenever I visit local masjids, I sometimes catch myself thinking that what others do is wrong-like elders forcing everyone to wear a topi, almost forming groups and acting superior, or neglecting the recommended adhkar during the congregational du’a. But sadly, that’s not even my biggest worry right now. A few weeks ago, I noticed myself repeatedly pointing out to my family that our cousins don’t pray and kind of looking down on them for it, feeling I was better. Yesterday, I felt a distance from my Lord that I haven’t felt in ages-a touch of the darkness I knew before becoming devout. Then I heard the story of Habil and Qabil, where the narrator mentioned how Prophet Ibrahim (AS) did such an immense good deed yet still prayed for Allah (Azza wa Jall) to accept it, and how the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) constantly encouraged people to pray that their good deeds are accepted. That’s when I realized my biggest flaw. I keep assuming my devotion, my dhikr day and night, my prayers, my efforts-I never prayed for them to be accepted. I just assumed they were. I’m scared I’m turning into the very thing I used to mock. That short period of darkness really stressed me out, so I immediately prayed Salat al-Tawbah. It’s not normal for me to get emotional in front of people, but I truly need help. Can someone please guide me to a YouTube series or anything that can keep me humble, help me shed this ego, and stop thinking I’m better than others even by a little bit? Jazakallah khair.