are a cause of corruption.

Allah, exalted is He, says: “Had the people of the towns believed and been mindful of Allah, We would surely have opened up for them blessings from heaven and earth; but they rejected, so We seized them for what they used to earn” (7:96). Because they denied, Allah did not open for them the blessings of the sky or of the earth. Thus corruption on earth comes about through sins—may Allah grant us safety.

He, glorified be He, also says: “Do not walk upon the earth exultantly” (31:18), meaning: do not walk about rejoicing in pride, swaggering and exalting yourself. In another verse He says: “You will never pierce the earth, nor will you reach the mountains in height” (17:37). In other words, whatever you may be, you cannot break through the earth, nor can you flaunt yourself until you rival the mountains; you are simply who you are—a weak, insignificant child of Adam. How then can you strut proudly upon the earth?

Allah further says: “Do not turn your cheek away from people, nor walk upon the earth exultantly; surely Allah does not love every self-deluded braggart” (31:18).

Turning one’s cheek away from people (taṣʿīr al-khadd) is when a person spurns others—Allah forbid—haughtily twisting his neck aside; you address him and he responds while already turned away, having distorted his cheek.

“And do not walk upon the earth exultantly,” that is, do not walk swaggering, aggrandizing and exalting yourself, “for Allah does not love every self-deluded braggart” (31:18): self-deluded in his appearance and boastful with his tongue. In his outward form—his clothes, attire, bearing, and gait—he is self-deluded; with his tongue he is boastful. Allah does not love such a person. Rather, He loves the humble, self-sufficient, inconspicuous, and God-fearing servant—this is the one whom Allah loves.

We ask Allah, exalted be He, to guide us and you to the finest of character and deeds, and to keep us away from evil