Shunning Arrogance

Allah gives a severe warning regarding arrogance and its dangers. The below verse along with its explanation from classical, accepted sources, illustrates its loathsome nature. 

Below is a breakdown of the article:

Shunning Arrogance

The statement of the devil

A thought provoking incident

Conclusion

Shunning Arrogance

وَلَا تُصَعِّرۡ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمۡشِ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَرَحًاۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا یُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخۡتَالࣲ فَخُورࣲ [18] [لقمان ١٦-١٩]

[31:18]

Translation: And do not turn your cheek away from people, and do not walk on the earth haughtily. Surely, Allah does not like anyone who is arrogant, proud;

Imam Ibn Kathir [774 AH] explains: ‘Do not turn your face away whilst  speaking to people or if they are speaking to you, out of contempt and arrogance.’ [1] Meaning thinking that you are better and looking down on others. 

A hadith of Sahih Muslim explains further: 

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ مِنْ كِبْرٍ قَالَ رَجُلٌ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَكُونَ ثَوْبُهُ حَسَنًا وَنَعْلُهُ حَسَنَةً قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ جَمِيلٌ يُحِبُّ الْجَمَالَ الْكِبْرُ بَطَرُ الْحَقِّ وَغَمْطُ النَّاسِ

‘Abdullah Ibn Masood narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him) said:

‘No one who has the weight of a seed of arrogance in his heart will enter Paradise.” A man said, “But a man likes to have nice clothes and nice shoes.” The Prophet said, “Verily, Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty. Arrogance is to disregard the truth and to look down upon people.’

[Sahih Muslim: (39)91/171, Riyadh Saliheen: 611]

91 صحيح مسلم كتاب الإيمان باب تحريم الكبر وبيانه

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The origin of the word in the above Quranic Verse (الصَّعَر) is: ‘A disease that takes camels by the necks or head, as a result of this it starts turning its head, this was likened to an arrogant man.’ [2 – Ibn Kathir]

Ikrimah [Allah bless him] says [regarding this verse]: 

هُوَ الَّذِي إِذَا سُلِّمَ عَلَيْهِ لَوَى عُنُقَهُ تَكْبُّرًا

‘He is the one, when he is greeted, twists his neck out of pride’.

[3 – Tafsir Baghawi]

Tafsir Mawardi mentions three meanings for this word ( تُصاعِرْ ): 

1. Pride 
2. To turn [i.e the head away] 
3. Boasting via speech [4 – Tafsir mawardi]

The statement of the Devil

Not replying to someone’s greetings out of arrogance and perceiving one is greater is prohibited. Indeed, this statement ‘I am better than him’ is a statement of the Devil, from which he was thrown out of paradise. Allah says: 

قَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَلَّا تَسْجُدَ إِذْ أَمَرْتُكَ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ خَيْرٌۭ مِّنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِى مِن نَّارٍۢ وَخَلَقْتَهُۥ مِن طِينٍۢ 

Allah asked, “What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?” He replied, “I am better than he is: You created me from fire and him from clay.” [7:12]

قَالَ فَٱهْبِطْ مِنْهَا فَمَا يَكُونُ لَكَ أَن تَتَكَبَّرَ فِيهَا فَٱخْرُجْ إِنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰغِرِينَ ١٣

Allah said, “Then get down from Paradise! It is not for you to be arrogant here. So get out! You are truly one of the disgraced.” [5 – Adwa al Bayan]

A thought provoking incident

The famous Mufasir [commentator of the Quran] Imam Qurtubi (671 AH) brings an Athar [narration] from Ibn Harith [Allah bless him] who states: ‘I arrived at Baitul Maqdis [Masjid al-Aqsa], along with Ibn Umair [Allah bless him], and we sat by Abdullah Ibn Amr, whom we heard said: ‘The grave speaks to the servant when he is placed in it and says’: O’ Son of Adam, what deceived you with regards to me [that one day you will be placed in the grave]! Did you not know that I am the house of loneliness! Did you not know that I am the house of darkness! Did you not know that I am the house of truth [reality]! O’ Son of Adam, what deceived you with regards to me! Indeed you used to walk around me haughtily and in arrogance. [6 – ورد هذا الاسم مضطربا في نسخ الأصل. والتصويب عن تهذيب التهذيب.5

[Qurtubi] ]

Conclusion 

Indeed death is a reality and every soul will taste death, then we will be returned to Allah who will then recompense us for our deeds. How can a person walk on the earth with arrogance knowing he is to leave this world one day? The time spent in the grave is far greater than the time spent on the earth. Reflect!