As Salaamu Alaikum class.. I see we are all ready to learn something new Insha Allah.That’s the spirit! We are always students in this classroom of Life right? Today we have a little experiment planned.Please do follow along. Right then,Bismillah everyone..let us begin..

For this experiment you will need:

1-A balloon( not yet inflated)
2-A tiny pin

Now,we shall tackle this experiment step-by-step…

1-Blow up the balloon
- I want you all to notice that for the balloon to be inflated,it needs the air.There is air all around it,but it will not inflate until and unless you make a concerted effort to provide it with the air it needs. Without it, it is useless.

2-Take careful note in the exertion that had to be made by you to blow up the balloon.
-I want you to feel the air being forced into the balloon. Become aware of the effort that you are making. The balloon certainly isn’t going to get filled with air by itself. It will not inflate unless YOU make that concerted effort and force it in, all the while protecting the air from escaping.No Effort-No bouncy Balloon!

3- Tie up your balloon.
-Take a few moments to admire your handiwork and experience the feeling of accomplishment at completing the task.Masha Allah your balloon is now big and bouncy.Your hard has work paid off.

4-Now, I want you to take the Pin and prick the Balloon!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5-WHAT HAPPENED?
-Did you notice what happened? Did you hear the loud BANG! Did you feel the impact of the air rushing out in all directions? Did you feel the disappointment at all your wasted efforts?

6-Notice the sizes of the balloon and the pin.
-All it took was a tiny pin to destroy the inflated balloon and all your effort.Yet the balloon is much much bigger in size when compared to the tiny pin.

7-Ponder on the uselessness of the debris lying around you
-What can you do with it now? It has no use,no value.The balloon needs the air to become something useful,and it can’t afford even a pin prick,as we found out.

8-Ponder on the effort wasted in blowing up the balloon.
-Remember the effort, the determination, the sense of accomplishment. You don’t have anything to show for it now.It left you the moment you let the pin come into contact with the balloon.

9-Ponder on what condition the balloon is in now,all because of a tiny pin.
-A tiny pin is all it took to destroy your lovely balloon. Just a tiny pin caused such damage to it that it is not even worth anything now.

PUTTING THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE:
-Let’s call the pin “ PRIDE” and the Balloon “ MY GOOD DEEDS”. Let the air be “SINCERITY”

Lesson learnt from the experiment:
-The balloon of good deeds,which can only inflated with the air of sincerity, cannot afford the tiniest pin prick, or it will BURST into nothingness. It will become valueless and useless. Pride is sharp, the Balloon of Good Deeds is delicate. The two cannot meet. It doesn’t matter how big your balloon is, it is just as vulnerable to the tiny prick from the pin of KIBR…PRIDE.

ALLAH TA’ALA said to the cursed shaitaan:
"What hindered you so that you did not prostrate when I commanded you? He said: I am better than he: You have created me of fire, while him You create of dust. He said: Then get forth from this (state), for it does not befit you to behave proudly therein. Go forth, therefore, surely you are of those degraded." (Surah 7:12-13)

It is narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah that the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) observed: He who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of pride shall not enter Paradise.
(Sahih Muslim-Book 001, Number 0166)

-Sincerity is a pre-requisite to keep the Balloon of Good Deeds inflated.
-It requires effort and sacrifice to perform those good deeds with sincerity.
-PRIDE is always a threat to a Mo’min,waiting to destroy the good deeds that he made such effort and sacrifice to perform.
-No matter how many good deeds you have done,you still have to protect yourself from Pride.
-Always check your intention to make sure that it is still secure and intact.Check it in the beginning,check it in the middle,check it in the end.
-Whatever accomplishments,blessings or talents we have been bestowed with,is ALL only from ALLAH TA’ALA alone.Remember that always…
-Never adopt the ‘I am better than Him’ attitude.Allah looks at our hearts and HE is the best of judges.He knows who is sincere and who is not.
May ALLAH protect us all always and keep us among his sincere servants.Ameen.
Let's keep this lesson in mind at all times.Whenever ywe feel any Pride coming along,let's remember our Balloon of "GOOD DEEDS" and the Pin of "PRIDE".That pin prick of PRIDE is enough to destroy your Lovely Balloon of "GOOD DEEDS".We can't afford that.Remember the words of our Beloved Nabi (Peace be upon Him):
"He who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of pride shall not enter Paradise.”

Class dismissed!