Author: Sayyed Musleh Uddin
The Fate of Scientific Arrogance (Part Four)
Scientific Arrogance According to Imam al-Ghazali (MABH):
Imam al-Ghazali (MABH) says: Just as wine is “the mother of all evils,” being not only a sin itself but also the source of other sins, in the same way, arrogance can even encompass knowledge. When discussion and debate are driven by the desire to defeat the opponent and demonstrate one’s scientific superiority, they undoubtedly become a source of other sins and spiritual diseases, such as envy, hatred, pride, backbiting, rejoicing over others’ faults, resentment at the blessings of rivals, arrogance in rejecting the truth, disregard for fairness and justice, and misinterpretation of Qur’anic verses and hadiths for personal gain.
These are diseases that even dignified and respected scholars can become afflicted with. And when they reach their students and disciples, these issues can escalate to the point where they clash and prepare for open conflict. “Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return” (إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ). [1]
Arrogance in the Light of Poetry and Sayings:
“It does not befit the children of Adam, born of dust,
To carry pride, aggression, and arrogance in their hearts.
With such heat and haughtiness in your head,
I do not think you are made of earth—you seem to be fire instead.” [2]
Abu Sa’id Abul-Khayr says:
“Never let the desire for arrogance enter your heart,
For no one has ever reached any good through arrogance.
Be broken and humble like the tresses of beloveds,
So that you may capture a thousand hearts in a single breath.” [3]
The great figures of religion have never placed great importance on outward deeds, for such things can change in an instant. One who does not pray can become a worshipper in a moment. A man who shaves his beard can instantly decide to grow it. A wine-drinker can turn away from it in an instant. A sinner can become righteous through a moment of repentance. However, what the great sages truly considered important and worthy of attention was the purification of inner character—for example, removing arrogance from the heart, which is very difficult to achieve.
Someone once asked a wise man, “Is there any blessing that is never envied or any calamity that receives no sympathy?” He replied, “Yes—humility is a blessing no one envies, and arrogance is a calamity for which no one shows pity.”
On the Classification of the Deceived:
Among the people—other than disbelievers—those who are deceived fall into four categories:
1. The first and most dangerous group: scholars.
2. Worshippers.
3. The wealthy.
4. Sufis.
All of humanity’s sins originate from arrogance and pride. Even Iblis (may Allah’s curse be upon him) fell due to this when he made an analogy and said: “أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ” (“I am better than him”). The wretched one thought that superiority lies in the means and form.
Arrogance in Worship:
Know that every form of worship carries a potential for arrogance—except for those wise and discerning individuals whom God has granted success and special grace. Such people are few. One must realize that many among the worshippers are, in fact, deceived and deluded.
Some people neglect the obligations (fara’iz) and treat them as unimportant, becoming overly occupied with sunnah practices instead. They become so absorbed that they go to extremes, falling into obsessive thoughts (waswasah), and as a result of their focus on conditional rulings, they end up neglecting or even missing the obligatory acts.
For instance, some become obsessed with cleanliness in wudu, clothing, and other such matters to the point that they delay their prayers until the proper time has passed. Such people, and others like them, are deceived and arrogant in their worship.
Continues…
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[1] – The Jewels of Knowledge (Jawahir al Elm) p. 284.
[2] – Gulistan of Saadi/ p. 989. [
3] – Collected Poems of Abu Said Abul-Khair/ p. 653.
