ARROGANCE: A Grave Disease

I have noticed a grave disease among Muslims – in general – ARROGANCE. This nine letter word is deadliest. It will make us bite the dust. It is not allowing us to openheartedly search for the truth which is our calling on earth. It is not allowing the traditionally and modern educated to sit together forgoing their unjustified pride – for greater good. It is not allowing us to accept our current status and seriously work for betterment – if we woke up to find out that we are not ‘rulers’.

Better we come out of it remembering always our humble beginning (from a despicable fluid), which Qur’an most frequently reminds of. I don’t know how many of our projects don’t see the light of the day because of the swollen egos and arrogance. The respected members on our Forums know it far better than I do. The source, however, from which this arrogance is emanating we need to dwell upon a little further.

Islam is the best way of life. We believe in it. Because of the virtues in it and the balanced and very practical approach that it has towards life. This, however, we do not really know in understandable and applicable terms. Still we quite strongly believe that it is the best ‘path’. Once we have the best ‘brand’ we tend to be arrogant about it. The real knowledge of Islam would have done just the opposite. It could have created more concern for the people (“the customers”) who are missing out on this extremely valuable “product”. A feeling of monopoly has created an altogether different outlook in the “salespersons”.

The less informed and the uneducated could be forgiven even though they also know that they (read Mughals) have ruled the country for centuries. This hangover is widespread and serves as one of the reasons of arrogance. The rule of Mughals is a part of history. But it is not taken to be a part of history. We often crave for it and are nostalgic about it. And miss out on the second merit (being good citizens).

Why are the (‘modern’) educated among us showing arrogance is the main question. They are showing arrogance because they are not truly ‘educated’, unfortunately. They are only very well informed – barring exceptions. There is a big difference between the ‘truly educated’ and the ‘well informed’. They disdain the ‘traditionally educated’ (who have their own problems in turn), finding them less successful in life and not having those skills which the former do. Also, they do not see any link between the two. They are a class apart – most unfortunately.

In the din of too much information the true knowledge of the laws of nature and the truth has drowned. There is no guarantee that the information will bring humbleness. The true knowledge will certainly do. We are far from the true knowledge, though. Because we are far from the crux of the Book of Allah. How could we do without the Textbook? Imagine how will we fair minus the right hand?

Hilyatu Taalib al-‘Ilm (Etiquettes of Seeking Knowledge) by Bakr Abu Zayd suggests that the one who obtains one span of knowledge (aboo shibr) becomes arrogant. The one who obtains two spans (shibrayn) becomes humble. And the one who goes beyond it realizes that he does not know anything.

We as a people haven’t reached to the second stage probably. Hence, we notice a lot of arrogance. We have not learnt to submit to the Truth which is also one of the Attributes of Allah. Repetition of “creatively reaching out to the unknown” is aimed at arriving at truth. One can never be arrogant when faced with the truth. If we are not humble it only means we haven’t reached out to the truth.

We cannot rush about the truth. But we hasten to conclude. In almost all situations. Strangely enough. This is again against the Book of Allah. Qur’an clearly advises for being patient about truth (Ghaafir, 40: 77 and Al-‘Asr, 103: 3). Patience is the last thing that we care for. Without patience no truth. No humbleness without submitting to the truth either.

We are not trained into the art of creatively reaching out to the unknown. That’s why we see more of the things which are happening (like the existing Institutions) and not the ones which are not happening (like the non-existing Institutions).

Under the influence of local customs in India we have accorded an undue (holy) status to the ‘Ulama among Muslims – a kind of Brahminical influence. Because of their (supposed) indispensability (like a pundit) they have developed an aura and they do not act and speak like normal (faulty and imperfect) human beings. They speak with the same authoritativeness as does the Qur’an. I always wonder if we have ever heard an ‘Aalim saying, “I am sorry” or “I was wrong”. These two sentences I am not sure if I ever came across. It does denote something. The fault is not theirs completely – though. It goes back to a faulty education system. It goes back to the division of knowledge. It goes back to the absence of critical thinking.