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Arrogance
Shaykh Usamah Al-Khayyat [(Jumaadal Ulaa 16, 1423 (July 26,
2002)]
All praise is
due to Allaah, Lord of all the worlds. May peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon the Messenger, his family and companions.
Fellow Muslims!
It is when mankind deviate from the truth and guidance and abandon the
path of wisdom which is the way of the pious and chosen slaves of Allaah,
that diseases become spread, that calamities befall and men are affected
with a great evil that makes them stand on the verge of danger when remedy
becomes ineffective, when the hardship becomes severe and cure becomes
impossible. Different kinds of diseases affect the soul but the greatest
and the most dangerous of these is arrogance that makes man transgress
over his own soul, behave ostentatiously, regard himself as perfect and
deem himself high above others. This despicable trait might even make him
reject the truth, fight it, treat the verses of Allaah with disdain and
oppress others regarding their lives, wealth and honour. This disease
therefore needs an urgent and subtle treatment. The glorious Qur'aan has
taken care of that by telling us about some people who had behaved
arrogantly on the land without no just cause. It condemns their deeds and
warns others against following that destructive path. The Qur'aan also
explains their end. In the case of Pharaoh, Allaah makes it clear to us
that, it was his haughtiness that caused him disgrace and torment. He
says,
"Verily,
Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and made its people sects, weakening
(oppressing) a group among them; killing their sons and letting their
females live. Verily, he was of those who commit crimes."
(Al-Qasas 28:4)
Allaah also
says about Pharaoh and his chiefs when He sent Prophet Moosaa to them that
it was their arrogance that caused them to reject the truth and as such
they were destroyed.
"Then We
sent Moosa and his brother Haaroon with Our signs and manifest authority,
to Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they behaved insolently and they were
self-exalting people. They said: Shall we believe in two men like
ourselves and their people are obedient to us with humility? So they
denied them both and became of those who were destroyed."
(Al-Mu'minoon
23:45-48)
The Almighty
Allaah makes it also clear that it was their despicable arrogance and
oppressive injustice that caused them to reject the clear signs by which
He supported Moosa. Allaah says,
"And they
belied them (the signs) wrongfully and arrogantly, though their own selves
were convinced thereof (that Moosaa is the Messenger of Allaah in truth
and that those signs were from Allaah). So see what was the end of the
evil-doers."
(An-Naml 27:14)
Brethren in
faith! Had this detestable character has no evil more than immense
corruption it creates in man's psych, that would have be enough for the
wise people to warn against it and its abyss. But how much more, when a
severe threat has been made against anyone who possesses it, that he would
suffer horrible consequences. Does it not plunge the one who possesses
into destruction as the Messenger of Allaah has said, " Anyone with a size
of corn seed of arrogance in his heart shall not enter Paradise."?
May Allaah
protect us all from it. Allaah says,
" We shall
assign that home of the Hereafter (Paradise) to those who rebel not
arrogantly and oppressively against the truth in the land, nor do mischief
by committing crimes. And the good end is for the pious."
(Al-Qasas
28:83)
Brethren in
faith! Elevation of the ranks of the pious and righteous people is however
different from self-exaltation which Allaah condemns; for the exaltation
of the righteous means the exaltation of the truth, righteousness and
competition on the lasting good deeds. Allaah describes His believing
slaves and truthful hosts that they shall ever be the exalted ones when He
says,
"So, do not
become weak (against your enemy) nor be sad and you will be superior (in
victory) if you are indeed (true) believers."
(Aal 'Imraan
3:139)
He also says
about Prophet Moosaa,
"We (Allaah)
said: Fear not! Surely, you will have the upper hand."
(Taa Haa 20:68)
Therefore, this
exaltation is prevalence of the truth and a victory for the religion which
Allaah has decreed to prevail over all other religions, when He says,
"He it is,
who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad) with guidance and the religion of
truth (Islaam) to make it superior over all other religions even though
the polytheists hate (it)."
(At-Tawbah
9:33)
Allaah also
says,
"So do not
falter and cry out for peace (from the enemies of Islaam) when you will be
the uppermost, and Allaah is with you and He will never decrease the
reward of your good deeds."
(Muhammad
47:35)
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