Arrogance: A Spiritual Disease

Aisha Husain

This essay aims to discuss the spiritual disease of arrogance that can occur within an individual, what the effects of this can be, and more importantly, the remedy to this. Physical illnesses can be seen, but the ones of the heart are unseen. They eat away at the inside of a person’s character and affect the heart, making them far more dangerous.

The Heart

These diseases house themselves in a very important part of the human where they brew and grow stronger and stronger, eventually affecting the character of the individual.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammed ﷺ has said:“Verily, in the body is a piece of flesh which, if sound, the entire body is sound, and if corrupt, the entire body is corrupt. Truly, it is the heart.”[Sahih Bukhari 52]

This hadith shows the importance of the heart and that these diseases should not be allowed to sit in our hearts, as this will automatically affect the entire body, seeping into one’s thoughts, desires, and ultimately actions, which will then affect the character.

“The Day ofJudgment is a day in which neither wealth nor children shall be of any benefit [to anyone], except one who comes to God with a sound heart.”[Surah Al-Shura 26:88-89]

The sound heart is understood to be free of defects and any spiritual diseases. This is the spiritual heart, not the physical organ.

It was always believed that the brain is the center of consciousness. But in Islam, the heart is viewed as the center of our being. The Holy Qur’an mentions people who mocked our beloved Prophet ﷺ and were not sincere in listening to the message. So Allah ﷻ placed over their hearts a covering that they may not understand it and in their ears [He placed] acute deafness.[Surah Al-An’am 6:25]

Their inability to understand is a deviation from the spiritual function of a sound heart, just as their ears have been afflicted with spiritual deafness. This shows that the center of the intellect, human consciousness, and conscience is actually the heart, not the brain.

Recently, it has been discovered that there are over 40,000 neurons in the heart. There are cells in the heart that communicate with the brain. While the brain sends messages to the heart, the heart also sends messages back.

Two physiologists in the 1970s, John and Beatrice Lacey, conducted a study and found that the brain sent messages to the heart, but the heart did not automatically obey. Sometimes the heart sped up, while at other times it slowed down, indicating that the heart itself has its own type of intelligence. This shows the heart is an extremely complicated organ with secrets we may not yet have uncovered.

Arrogance

The world we now live in has become materialistic, and success is based upon wealth and the possession of material things. For example, someone with a well-paid job, a new car, and the latest iPhone is seen as successful compared to someone who does not have these things. This has led to an uncontrolled consumer culture, causing a race against one another, where people are always looking to outdo others to appear more successful.

Arrogance is a major sin in Islam. Allah ﷻ speaks of His dislike of arrogance many times in the Holy Qur’an:

• “And do not turn your nose up to people, nor walk pridefully upon the earth. Surely Allah does not like whoever is arrogant, boastful.”[Surah Luqman 31:18]

• “Thus does Allah set a seal over the heart of every proud, haughty one.”[Surah Ghafir 40:35]

• “As for those who do not believe in the Hereafter, their hearts are ignorant, and they are proud.”[Surah Al-Nahl 16:22]

• “Do not strut arrogantly about the Earth. You will certainly never split the earth apart nor will you ever rival the mountains in height.”[Surah Al-Isra 17:37]

• “As for those who believe and do right actions, He will pay them their wages in full and will give them increase from His favour. As for those who show disdain and grow arrogant, He will punish them with a painful punishment. They will not find any protector or helper for themselves besides Allah.”[Surah Al-Nisa 4:173]

• “As for those who deny Our Signs and are arrogant regarding them, the Gates of Heaven will not be opened for them, and they will not enter the Garden until a camel goes through a needle’s eye. That is how We repay the evildoers.”[Surah Al-A’raf 7:40]

In the blessed hadith, our beloved Prophet ﷺ mentioned arrogance and its effects many times:

Abu Huraira (RA) narrated:“Our beloved Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘Allah ﷻ will not look, on the Day of Resurrection, at a person who drags his Izar (behind him) out of pride and arrogance.’”[Sahih Bukhari 5788]

Remedy

These are some remedies to the disease of arrogance:

• Taqwa: Think of yourself as being just like others, and realize that everyone was born the same way. Fear Allah ﷻ and have piety.

• Make Dhikr: Remember Allah ﷻ, as this softens the heart.

• Perspective: Reflect on the bigger picture. For example, no matter how big your house is, the grave is the same size for everyone.

• Remember Rizq is from Allah ﷻ: Recognize that everything in life is a gift or test from Allah ﷻ. Be thankful and remember that Allah ﷻ is the provider.

• Tazkiya: Engage in self-purification, self-reflection, and self-improvement.

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Conclusion

The heart is a vital organ to our physical and emotional well-being, and we need to keep it free from sin as best as we can. Arrogance is a grave sin with detrimental effects on the heart of an individual. The Holy Qur’an and blessed hadith emphasize the dangers of arrogance and the need to take this matter seriously.

Oh Allah ﷻ, protect us from sins and all spiritual diseases of the heart. Oh Allah ﷻ, please grant us guidance and forgiveness from Your mercy and please do not allow us to go astray. Ameen.

Aisha Husain

Alimiyyah Graduate, Lawyer,

Student of Shaykh Faizulhaq Abdulaziz حفظه الله