Characteristics of those who think they're perfect or better than others

Excerpt taken from The Decrease after the Increase


Another reason for Decrease After the increase is Ghular having self-delusion
‘Ihjaab being astonished with one self. Many people who have this believe that they are sticking to Quran wa Sunnah and they believe they are upon righteousness. The difference between an illusion in contrast to a delusion is that an illusion is to see something is real when it’s not there and a delusion is to believe something is real when it’s not.
So these types of people have this holier than thou attitude and them attending circles of knowledge show that they do have good within them but when Ghular and ’Ihjaab settles in they believe that they are perfect or that they are more complete than others (I seek refuge with Allah from being like this). So he/she doesn’t feel the need to increase their effort he thinks himself “well, doing fine, I’m righteous” no need to do anymore. He begins to compare himself with others i.e. I attend circles of knowledge they don’t, I’m in the Masjid others aren’t. So this person doesn’t try in increase himself because of his self-delusion and as a result he doesn’t fear having a bad ending and he feels safe from being lead astray.
This is a sign of weakness in him self and this could lead him to follow the wrong path having been misguided after being guided. Further more when one is amazed with himself he starts to look at the faults of others and he doesn’t try to deal with the faults of himself and soul needs him to deal with this Ghular as it is Kufr for one to feel safe from the punishment of Allah and to lose hope in Allah’s Mercy.
The way to deal with this is to do the opposite of it. Focus on himself before his family and the people around him make Islaah (rectification) with himself and Tawba (repentance).

Abu Uwais Raheemallah

Whoever hides sincere advice from the Muslims has acted deceitfully towards them

point 79: It is not permissible to hide sincere advice from any of the Muslims, whether pious or impious, in matters of the religion. Whoever hides that has acted deceitfully towards the Muslims. Whoever acts deceitfully towards the Muslims has done so towards the religion. Whoever acts deceitfully towards the religion has behaved treacherously towards Allah, His Messenger and the Believers [1]
[1] Tameem ad-Daaree narrates: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “The religion is sincerity.” Upon this, we (the companions) asked, “To whom?” He (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) replied, “To Allah, His Book, His Messenger and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk.” Reported by Muslim (Eng. trans. 1/37/no.98).