Author: Sayyed Musleh Uddin
The Fate of Scientific Arrogance (The 16th and Final Part)
Anecdote:
It is said that a man on horseback reached a riverbank. No matter how hard he tried, the horse refused to cross the water. A wise man who was present said, “Muddy the water.” When the water became muddy, the horse crossed. The reason was that the horse had seen its reflection in the clear water and would not step on its own image (a symbol of egotism).
“O you who are proud because of worldly fortune, know that fortune is a fleeting shadow.
Whoever is deceived by it, know this: the field is fire, and he rides upon it.” [1]
If we consider this world a ladder, and worldly status and position as its rungs, then when arrogance and egocentrism grow in a person, that person strives even harder to reach the higher rungs of this ladder. He is unaware that if the ladder were to topple under certain conditions, those who had climbed to the highest steps through pride and selfishness would suffer the most harm.
The only thing that protects us from selfishness and arrogance is the remembrance of God (Allah), along with reliance on and trust in His infinite power. Through this, one can overcome arrogance and egotism and reach the profound realization that He alone is the true Owner, and we are but guests in His presence for a brief while. All human and worldly powers are insignificant before His will. He has created everyone with perfect justice and equality. If we count our fathers back generation after generation, we reach a single father—Adam. So, we are all children of Adam and servants of God (Allah). Then why arrogance toward our fellow beings?
“This worldly ladder is made of pride and ego—
In the end, this ladder will surely break.
Whoever climbed and sat higher,
His bones will break harder in the fall.” [2]
The Cure for This Illness:
The best remedy for this disease is humility, for the sages and mystics have said that every illness is cured by its opposite. Therefore, humble and submissive bowing and prostration before the grandeur and majesty of God—and a sense of lowliness and wretchedness before Him—can grant a person the insight and awareness that he is truly insignificant.
The scholars of ethics have also said that the cure for arrogance is twofold: intellectual and practical.
The intellectual method involves gaining awareness and understanding of one’s own soul and of one’s Lord. When a person knows himself and his Lord, he will recognize his own insignificance, weakness, and incapacity, and the greatness and power of God (Allah). He will realize that he is never free of need from his Creator, even for a moment. Therefore, all his pride and arrogance stem from ignorance and foolishness.
An aware human being who understands that he was created from worthless dust and putrid water, and will not live in this world for long, will never boast or parade his pride.
‘Allama Naraqi (MABH) says regarding the intellectual cure for arrogance: “O human! Know your worth and rank. Consider your beginning and your end and look within yourself.
O putrid self! O despicable corpse! O sack of filth and gathering of impurities!
O foul beast and decaying worm! O helpless, limbless creature!
O one afflicted with a hundred thousand needs!
What connection is there between you and arrogance?!
A louse robs you of rest and sleep.
The scurrying of a mouse startles you.
A moment of hunger brings you to your knees.”
These deep and alarming words prompt reflection and prevent a person from falling into pride and arrogance. You’re afraid of your own shadow on a dark night!
So, seek to treat this illness and know that one way to do so is by contemplating the condemnation of arrogance and the praise of humility. If a person reflects on their interactions with others and develops awareness and understanding, they can distance themselves from pride and arrogance.
The practical method is for a person to show humility before God and His creation and take the behavior of the righteous as their example.
Imam Abu Hamid Muhammad al-Ghazali (MABH) said: “The arrogant Arabs who scorned to humble themselves before the Lord of the Prophet (PBUH) were commanded to pray. For prayer contains secrets—one of which is humility and submission, which manifests in standing, bowing, and prostration.”
Among the Arabs, it was customary to consider bowing disgraceful. So much so that if a man’s whip fell, he would not bend to pick it up, and if his sandal strap broke, he would not lower his head to tie it.
Hakim ibn Hizam reported that he pledged allegiance to the Prophet (PBUH) on the condition that he would not prostrate except while standing because, in Arab culture, prostration was seen as the height of humiliation and disgrace. But they were commanded to prostrate so that their pride would be broken and their arrogance destroyed.
Thus, true perfection lies in knowledge and action.
In conclusion, the remedy for this moral plague is for a scholar to realize that throughout human history and among all nations, the most complete and virtuous individuals have always been the humblest, while the basest and most contemptible people have always been the most arrogant.
The honor and dignity of a human being lie in his worship and submission to the True Lord. One cannot attain true freedom unless they become a servant of God (Allah). And one cannot reach freedom without first achieving perfection, and one cannot achieve perfection without arriving at true happiness. These stages can only be attained through knowledge of the majesty of God and understanding of one’s own weakness and incapacity.
Just as the Almighty revealed to David (Dawud), (peace be upon him): “O David, know Me and know yourself.”
David pondered and replied: “I have known You by Your Oneness, Power, and Eternity; and I have known myself by my weakness, incapacity, and mortality.”
Continues…
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[1] ـ The Divan of Khaghani’s Poems, No. 44, on the condemnation of pride in wealth.
[2] ـ Rumi, Masnavi Ma’navi, Fourth Book, Section 106.
