Various nations felt proud for their evil practices and rejected ALLAH’s message, they were ruined and their ruined cities are even today present for lesson taking. Jews felt proud and they were made cursed. And there are many other examples around us to understand.
ALLAH swt says at many places in Quran to abstain from pride and to be humble.
Al Quran 17:037
“And do not walk on the earth arrogantly. You will neither wear down the earth, nor match the stature of the mountains.”
What does a man get when he walks proudly on earth? Nothing! The only thing a man can do by walking arrogantly on earth is to earn the anger of ALLAH swt. Just see how much ALLAH swt gives us either we ask or do not ask for our desires. When ALLAH is so kind towards us why should we be proud being HIS creation at first place?
Al Quran 31:018
“Do not talk to people contemptuously, nor walk insolently on the earth. Surely, Allah does not like a haughty braggart.”
Since we are only creation who cannot live without ALLAH’s will, we should be least concerned with our desires of fame and pride, and we should be only concerned with our purpose of creation to make the life lived justly. What should be our behavior if we want to live on earth like true slaves of ALLAH swt;
Al-Quran 31:019
“Rather, be modest when you walk and keep your voice subdued when you talk. Indeed, the harshest of all voices is that of a donkey.”
The more modest we try to be, the more we are able to shun the pride and arrogance from ourselves. This is what a true muslim should do, and he ultimately achieves.
Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.w also disliked pride and anything that can lead to self pride which only ruins life as well as the hereafter.
Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 93, Number 550:
Narrated Abu Musa: A man came to the Prophet and said, "A man fights for pride and haughtiness another fights for bravery, and another fights for showing off; which of these (cases) is in Allah's Cause?" The Prophet said, "The one who fights that Allah's Word (Islam) should be superior, fights in Allah's Cause." (See Hadith No. 65, Vol. 4)
This hadith is self explanatory and it totally rejects those fights that are fought for pride between families or between nations. Because the winner will walk on earth as if there is no one above him and the loser tries to humiliate the winner and tries to level the battle by snatching the title.
Bukhair, Volume 5, Book 57, Number 17:
Narrated Abdullah bin Umar:
That Allah's Apostle said, "Allah will not look on the Day of Judgment at him who drags his robe (behind him) out of pride." Abu Bakr said "One side of my robe slacks down unless I get very cautious about it." Allah's Apostle said, "But you do not do that with a pride."
Therefore, pride and arrogance are for the jahiliyah not for the muslims. We cannot wage war against ALLAH swt and His Messenger s.a.w.w instead we should strive to be good muslims so that when we go to our real place i.e. the day of judgment we could be happy by living with the righteous people in jannah.