Author: Sayyed Musleh Uddin
The Fate of Scientific Arrogance (Part One)
Abstract:
One of the moral vices that is widely recognized among scholars of ethics, and generally considered disgraceful by ordinary people, is arrogance. This vice causes a person to become alienated from themselves, unaware of their own reality and that of others, to forget their social and personal status, and to immerse themselves in ignorance and heedlessness. A particular form of arrogance is intellectual arrogance.
Just as any tree can be affected by pests, the tree of knowledge is not exempt. The pest that afflicts knowledge and scholars is arrogance. Intellectual arrogance manifests in various forms; thus, recognizing its harms and striving to eliminate it is essential during one’s academic life and pursuit of knowledge.
Introduction:
[إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ] Translation: “Indeed, only those of His servants who have knowledge fear Allah.” [1]
The term chosen for this article is intellectual arrogance, which refers to deceiving oneself, giving false hope, or desiring something that is vain and unfounded. In Persian, it is also used to mean pride, arrogance, and self-conceit.
Undoubtedly, arrogance and self-importance are destructive diseases that lead a person toward ruin and strip away their dignity. Intellectual arrogance is exactly this kind of disease; anyone afflicted by it has, in essence, hammered the final nail into their own coffin.
This dangerous condition often affects students and seekers of knowledge, becoming a source of various forms of corruption and destruction in their lives. It is a consuming fire that recognizes no limits and affects all alike.
What prevents a person from falling into intellectual arrogance is the adoption of Taqwa (Allah-consciousness) and Khashyah (awe of Allah). Knowledge that does not steer a person away from arrogance is of no true benefit to them.
One reason many students today no longer engage in deep research is that they are trapped in intellectual arrogance. This arrogance empties the heart of the true light of knowledge, which is why many seekers of knowledge and wisdom lack this inner illumination.
Scientific Arrogance:
It is quite clear that pride and arrogance can quickly emerge in those who are knowledgeable and learned. This is why Imam Al-Ghazali said: “آفة العلم الخيلاء” Translation: “The affliction of knowledge is vanity.” [2]
He also stated: “Many scholars, through their knowledge, begin to feel superior and look at others with disdain, considering them ignorant and foolish.” [3]
Condemning Intellectual Arrogance:
[فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ الحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُم بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ] Translation: “So do not let the worldly life delude you, and do not let the deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allah.” [4]
Know that arrogance is one of the clearest causes of destruction, and there are many types of people who are deceived by it. We will mention four main groups:
1. The first and most dangerous source of arrogance is knowledge.
2. The second source is worshippers.
3. The third group is the Sufis (mystics).
4. The fourth group includes worldly people and the wealthy. [5]
Arrogance in a scholar is a deadly poison for which there is no antidote. This misplaced pride can render all of a scholar’s efforts useless. A scholar must never become arrogant because the path they tread is the path of God, and all the knowledge they acquire is for His sake.
So, what justifies a scholar becoming arrogant about knowledge gained in the path of Allah? [يَا أَيُّهَا الإِنسَانُ مَا غَرَّكَ بِرَبِّكَ الْكَرِيمِ] Translation: “O human being, what has deceived you about your generous Lord?” [6]
This knowledge should be used in Allah’s service—not to incite pride, arrogance, or contempt for others.
Arrogance is akin to standing atop a mountain and seeing everyone else as small, forgetting that from below, others see you as small too.
Some scholars are deceived by their knowledge, assuming that their learning gives them a high rank before Allah (SWT), believing they have reached a level where they are beyond punishment and will not be held accountable for their sins or mistakes. These individuals are deluded by pride.
Anyone who truly comprehends Allah, His attributes, and the reality of knowledge and spiritual insight will inevitably have a greater fear of Him.
The Prophet (PBUH) said: “أَنَا أَعْلَمُكُمْ بِاللَّهِ وَأَخْشَاكُمْ لِلَّهِ” Translation: “I am the most knowledgeable of Allah among you and the one who fears Him the most.” [7]
Therefore, if someone is unaware of their inner flaws or knows them but makes no effort to remove them, they are arrogant, and their knowledge will not benefit them.
Satan’s whispers often lead people into arrogance. In fact, arrogance originates from Satan. Following Satan and being impressed by oneself are major reasons for a person’s downfall in the sight of Allah. A scholar should never allow arrogance to obstruct their path to Allah, nor should they assume, that Satan cannot tempt them simply because they possess knowledge.
Satan attempts to surround a person from every side. If one door is closed, he will enter through another. In other words, he approaches a person from many angles and deceives them. Thus, the first step in avoiding arrogance is to distance oneself from the tricks and whispers of Satan.
The Root of Conceit and Self-Admiration:
Just as people dislike those who are proud and self-centered, they naturally feel closer to humble individuals and treat them with respect. As a result, such a person’s status is elevated.
The Prophet (PBUH) said: “مَنْ تَوَاضَعَ لِلَّهِ رَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ” Translation: “Whoever humbles himself for the sake of Allah, Allah will raise him in rank.” [8]
All scholars agree that pride, self-love, and conceit stem from ignorance. A wise person first notices the flaws within themselves—flaws that lie hidden like a dangerous virus—and tries to rectify them before focusing on the faults of others.
Therefore, a sin that leads a person to feel humbled and seek forgiveness from Allah is better than an act of worship that results in pride and ultimately destruction.
Saadi beautifully expresses how arrogance stems from ignorance:
“In the town of Beliqan, I met a worshipper.
I said: ‘Please teach me how to cleanse myself from ignorance.’
He replied: ‘O scholar, be humble like the dust,
Or else bury all that you’ve studied beneath the ground.’” [9]
Continues…
By admin2