Library Ethics Greater Sins Chapter 35 Pride or Arrogance The Qur’anic view of arrogance with people
The Qur’anic view of arrogance with people
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The Qur’anic view of arrogance with people
In Surah al-Baqarah we come across the following ayat:
“And when it is said to him, guard against (the punishment of) Allah; pride carries him off to sin; therefore hell is sufficient for him; and certainly it is an evil resting place.”
(Surah al-Baqarah 2:206)
According to Abdullah Ibn MasÅ«d the greatest sin is when one is told to ‘Fear Allah’ and he replies, “Mind your own business.”
When someone warns a person of Divine retribution and advises him to forgo some sins and instead of accepting his advice with humility he says, ‘It is none of your business. First reform yourself!’, or instead of giving up a sin the person repeats it with insolence; these are the types of people who are condemned to Hell according to the above ayat.
The arrogance and pride of such people are obstacles in their moral development and instead of accepting the truth they try to justify their actions.
In the same way during a debate a person is confronted with a fact which his pride hinders him from accepting. He sticks to his stand in obstinacy. This behaviour is a speciality of the hypocrites.
The Almighty Allah says:
“And those who disbelieve say do not listen to this Qur’an and make noise therein, perhaps you may overcome.”
(Surah FuÅÅilat 41:26)
And in Surah LuqmÄn the Qur’an says:
“And do not turn your face away from people in contempt, nor go about in the land exulting overmuch; surely Allah does not love any self-conceited boaster.”
(Surah LuqmÄn 31:18)
Similarly another verse says:
“O you who believe! Let not (one) people laugh at (another) people perchance they may be better than they, nor let women laugh at (other) women, perchance they may be better than they; and do not find fault with your own people nor call one another by nick names; evil is a bad name after faith, and whoever does not turn, these it is that are the unjust.”
(Surah al-HujurÄt 49:11)
The unjust are those who have made themselves liable for Divine anger and chastisement.
Anyone who looks down upon the Muslims and considers himself superior to them is like Iblīs who refused to prostrate before Hazrat Adam (a.s.) because he considered himself superior. He said:
“I am better than he; Thou hast created me of fine, and him Thou didst create of dust.”
(Surah SÄd 38:76)
The Almighty replied:
“That I will most certainly fill hell with you and with those among them who follows you, all”
(Surah SÄd 38:85)
