Arrogance

“The people who truly believe in Our Signs are those who fall to ground prostrating when they are reminded of them, and glorify their Lord with praise and are not arrogant”.Quran

Arrogance is a state in which we are convinced we have the right to be above the others. Kit is unlawful in Islam, rather a disgraceful state. It is against modesty. The morality of Islam entails submission to Allah and submission entails acknowledgment of one’s weakness…to be fallible, not perfect. However, an arrogant person does not deem himself weak. He thinks he is superior to the rest. He does things for self gratification, rather than pleasing Allah.

Arrogance manifests itself in ones relationships, with Allah as well as human beings. As Harun Yahya puts it:
“Arrogance is an erroneous assumption that a person has an existence apart from and independent of Allah and that he ahs acquired his qualities of his own doing.”
Reasons of Arrogance
Power and Wealth
History is witnessed to arrogant people and leaders because of their power and wealth. Due to it, they rejected faith and subjected those around them to oppression. A person may accumulate money and wealth; however, it won’t be of any use in hereafter. He may horde it, but his grandeur is temporary. His confidence is based on his wealth, thus when he meets someone more powerful, he gets depressed, frustrated and jealous. However, a true believer knows that all human beings are equally dependent on Allah. He is the only source of Power. Allah says ‘Be and it is’. (kun Fayakun). A believer’s image is not founded on material wealth, or any other temporal quality.

“Wealth and sons are the embellishments of the life of the world. But in your Lord’s sight, right actions which are lasting bring a better reward and are a better basis for hope.”Surah Kahf.

Some arrogant people attribute the good qualities of their children to themselves, and they feel pride at their only worldly temporal achievements. We see some parent going out of their way so that their children get A’s, spending hefty amounts of money. They would clothe them extraordinarily well, because for them it is a matter of their prestige. Moreover, the desires of such people are insatiable. They may even resort to illegitimate ways to gain more wealth. As we see today, people are in the cat race to earn more, to indulge in ostentation, and show down others.

Beauty and Youthfulness
Physical beauty is not a quality on one’s own making. It is granted by Allah. It is also a quality that can be taken back anytime. One can lose his/her good looks in an instant. A facial scar, paralysis, skin cancer, loss of organs, burns; we are all prone to thousand kinds of dangers. Even if these things do not happen, ageing is inevitable.

We can look at celebrities. They show off their looks on the ramp, but for how long can this pomp and show go on. Then they go for facial surgeries, but we all know there are hazardous side effects. When we escape this life, we decay beneath the ground, turning into a heap of fossil. Nothing will be left of us. Our soul will be the only thing alive, and what it will need only is our good deeds and taqwa.

Status and Prestige‘Do not strut arrogantly about the earth. You will certainly never split the earth apart, nor will you rival the mountains in height.’
Holding a status and the prestige it brings is one of the allurements of this life. In this ayat, Allah SWT says, you may hold a very influential status, however, it is nothing compared to my creation of lofty mountains and expansive earth.
In the Hereafter, the person will be solely questioned on his obedience to Allah, one’s attitude; his wholehearted submission to his Lord will be the determining criteria of his superiority.

Intelligence, Enlightenment, Education
Graduating from a prestigious college is an important matter of pride. In hereafter we won’t be asked about our college, or intellectual background. It will lose all its significance in the hereafter. Also, one of the ironies of enlightenment in west is that it strayed the people from the core of their selves, i.e. belief in God. The technological advancement, scholarly degrees made people believe they are in no more need of religion. They feel the system is in their hands.

We need to remember that all the prestige and blessings is a test. They belong to Allah. They are conferred on us so that we bring peace and justice in this world with the Will of Allah. Instead of being arrogant, we should always strive to use them in the way of Allah and make it an everlasting souce of reward and comfort for us.
The lot of the Arrogant
‘Their faces will be blackened.’

‘Those who are too proud to worship Me, they will enter the Hell abject.’


‘As for those who deny our signs and are arrogant regarding them, the Gates of Heaven will not be opened for them, and they will not enter Paradise, until a camel goes through a needle’s eye.’ Thus, they will live in Hell for eternity.
They will be punished on account of those they misled in their arrogance.

Conclusion

Allah’s Messenger Prophet Muhammad SAW said
“He in whose heart, there is as much as a grain of pride will not enter Paradise.
We should not feel proud of the improvement we have made in ourselves, or in our morality or as an organization. This is the trap of Shaitan.
Such notions actually deprive of all that we have achieved. One thing to keep in mind is that perfection knows no limits. As Muslims, our point of excellence is always over the horizon. The moment one considers himself he has reached the highest point, the striving for the better ceases. Decline sets in.

The standard set for humanity by Islam is so sublime and dynamic that it starts where other stops. This does not mean it is idealistic and thus, unattainable. This is reflected in the life of Prophet Muhammad SAW and their devoted companions.

Always keep a standard and yardstick. Always see how much is to be done. It saves is from delusions. It will show us our weaknesses. It shows us new targets. If we make our goal, the dawah, the spread of Islam, which should be ultimate goal of all Muslims, then all the things we take pride in become secondary.

A faithful person will always look up at those who are richer in Islamic values, who have better manners, better deeds. Having said all this, just remember how lucky we are to be guided by Allah SWT. He has bestowed so many great favors on us. Take time and be thankful, and do not be among the ungrateful ones.