(Correspondence of Hazrat Mufti Mahmood Hasan Gangohi rahimahullah)
Letter: (The letter was not published. The writer apparently requested advice on how to protect one’s self from pride, when people praise us?
Reply: When someone praises us and we feel that pride is building within us, then immediately divert our minds towards our sins, that we have committed such and such sins which Allah Ta’ala has concealed. If the person who is praising us only knew the sins we have committed then he would never have praised us. In fact he would consider us worse than a donkey or a dog.
Insha-Allah this should prevent pride from settling in our hearts. (Maktoobaat vol. 5, pg. 61)