Al-Matalib al-'Aliyah 2681 — Censure of arrogance and praise

It is narrated from Abu Mijlaz that severe cold struck the companions and students of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him), and they began to shy away and feel ashamed of attending the gathering in (tattered, worn) old clothes and thick blanket-like cloaks. So Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) found them absent from the gathering. When he asked the reason, he was told that such-and-such was their situation (that is, because of poverty they did not have better clothing). So the next day Sayyiduna Abu Abd al-Rahman (Ibn Mas'ud) (may Allah be pleased with him) himself came out wearing a thick cloak, and people said (to one another): "Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) is wearing a cloak." Then on the second and third day he also came in the same way. When his students saw him wearing the cloak, they all came together wearing their own (similar, simple) garments. Then Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) recognised all those faces he had been finding absent before. At that time he said by way of advice: "Indeed, I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: 'No one will enter Paradise who has arrogance in his heart equal to a mustard seed,' or he (peace and blessings be upon him) said (with doubt): 'equal to an atom of arrogance.'"
Imam Abu Ya'la recorded it in his Musnad, and its last part, that "the one with arrogance equal to a mustard seed will not enter Paradise," is also narrated in Sahih Muslim [Hadith: 91] from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) himself. This report is sahih (authentic) in its chain.