Q:

Is it permissible to say, I am proud of my school, I am proud of my being a Muslim, I am proud of you (any one)?

A:

In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Mercy-Giving

All praise is due to Allah alone; peace and blessings be upon Our Prophet Muhammad.

It is prohibited to boast about such worldly merits and acquisitions as possessions, qualities, accomplishments, wealth, family, education, knowledge, power, or authority to show haughtiness and superiority over people.

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “People should stop boasting about their fathers who have died, who are now but the coal of Hellfire, or they will be more humiliated with Allah than the dung beetle that rolls dung with his nose. Indeed Allah has removed from you the pompousness of the pre-Islam period of ignorance, and their boasting about lineage. Indeed a person is either a pious believer, or a miserable sinner. All people are the children of Adam, and Adam was [created] from dust.” (At-Tirmidhi)

It is permissible, however, to speak about Allah’s favors and blessings on oneself with such good intention as attributing these blessings to the Best-Bestower, correcting a wrong or bad image people have about him/her, or inviting people to follow one’s example.

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “I am the master of the children of Adam on the Day of Judgement, and I am not boasting. The Banner of Praise will be in my hand, and I am not boasting. There will not be a Prophet on that day, not Adam nor anyone else, except that he will be under my banner. I am the first one for whom the earth will be opened for, and I am not boasting.” (At-Tirmidhi)

Some of the Prophet’s Companions spoke of Allah’s favors on them as well. Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas said: I was the first one to shoot an arrow in the cause of Allah. Ali ibn Abu Talib said: It is the Prophet’s covenant to me that none loves me but a believer and none hats me but a hypocrite.

Allah knows best.