Arrogance is a silent destroyer—a hidden disease of the heart that corrupts our actions and thoughts without us even realising it. It subtly creeps into our words, our deeds, and even our mindset, making us feel unjustly superior to others.
This post uncovers the traits of arrogance, guiding every mindful Muslim to reflect, hold themselves accountable, and take the crucial steps needed to purify their heart from this destructive flaw.
1. Using Big Words and Complex Speech to Impress
One form of arrogance is speaking in an overly eloquent manner to appear superior. Natural eloquence is not blameworthy, but exerting effort to impress others with elaborate speech is problematic.
- The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
إِنَّ مِنْ أَحَبِّكُمْ إِلَىَّ وَأَقْرَبِكُمْ مِنِّي مَجْلِسًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَحَاسِنَكُمْ أَخْلاَقًا وَإِنَّ أَبْغَضَكُمْ إِلَىَّ وَأَبْعَدَكُمْ مِنِّي مَجْلِسًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ الثَّرْثَارُونَ وَالْمُتَشَدِّقُونَ وَالْمُتَفَيْهِقُونَ " . قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَدْ عَلِمْنَا الثَّرْثَارُونَ وَالْمُتَشَدِّقُونَ فَمَا الْمُتَفَيْهِقُونَ قَالَ " الْمُتَكَبِّرُونَ ".
"Indeed the most beloved among you to me, and the nearest to sit with me on the Day of Judgment is the best of you in character. And indeed, the most disliked among you to me, and the one sitting furthest from me on the Day of Judgement are the Thartharun, and the Mutashaddiqun and the Muthafaihiqun." They said: "O Messenger of Allah! We know about the Thartharun, and the Mutashaddiqun, but what about the Muthafaihiqun?"' He said:"The arrogant." [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2018]
This emphasises that the way we speak can reveal arrogance. Eloquence, when natural, is admirable. However, using language to appear superior, belittle others, or speak excessively reflects pride.
2. Mocking, Sarcasm, and Slander
Arrogant people often resort to mocking, criticising, or making sarcastic remarks towards others. They use these behaviours to assert their perceived superiority.
Backbiting also falls under arrogance, as it involves exposing someone’s faults to make oneself appear better. By focusing on others' flaws, the arrogant person hides their own.
- The Prophet ﷺ said:
"إِذَا قَالَ الرَّجُلُ هَلَكَ النَّاسُ، فَهُوَ أَهْلَكُهُمْ"
"When a person says that people are ruined, he is himself ruined." [Sahih Muslim 2623a]
This Hadith warns against seeing others as inferior or hopeless. Humility requires recognising that everyone has struggles, including ourselves.
3. Avoiding the Company of the Poor and Weak
Another sign of arrogance is avoiding interaction with people who are less privileged, as if social status or wealth determines a person’s value.
- Allah ﷻ revealed to the Prophet ﷺ:
وَلَا تَطْرُدِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلْغَدَوٰةِ وَٱلْعَشِىِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُۥ ۖ مَا عَلَيْكَ مِنْ حِسَابِهِم مِّن شَىْءٍ وَمَا مِنْ حِسَابِكَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن شَىْءٍ فَتَطْرُدَهُمْ فَتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
“And do not send away those who call upon their Lord morning and afternoon, seeking His face [i.e., favour]. Not upon you is anything of their account and not upon them is anything of your account. So were you to send them away, you would [then] be of the wrongdoers.” [Surah Al-An‘am, 6:52]
A Request of the Quraysh Nobles
- Sa’d ibn Waqqas (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ فِينَا سِتَّةٍ فِيَّ وَفِي ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ وَصُهَيْبٍ وَعَمَّارٍ وَالْمِقْدَادِ وَبِلاَلٍ . قَالَ قَالَتْ قُرَيْشٌ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ إِنَّا لاَ نَرْضَى أَنْ نَكُونَ أَتْبَاعًا لَهُمْ فَاطْرُدْهُمْ عَنْكَ . قَالَ فَدَخَلَ قَلْبَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ مِنْ ذَلِكَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ {وَلاَ تَطْرُدِ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ} الآيَةَ
“This Verse was revealed concerning us six: Myself, Ibn Mas’ud, Suhaib, ‘Ammar, Miqdad and Bilal. The Quraish said to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): ‘We do not want to join them, send them away.’ Thoughts of that entered the heart of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as much as Allah willed, then Allah revealed: “And turn not away those who invoke their Lord, morning and afternoon seeking His Face. You are accountable for them in nothing, and they are accountable for you in nothing, that you may turn them away, and thus become of the unjust.” [6:52] [Sunan Ibn Majah 4128]
Arrogance Among Students of Knowledge
Seeking Islamic knowledge does not automatically purify the heart as soon as one embarks on this path. It is important for students of knowledge to be mindful of certain characteristics of arrogance that they may encounter.
4. Considering Themselves Equal to the Scholars
After acquiring a small amount of Islamic knowledge, some students begin to perceive themselves as equal to or even superior to established scholars. This attitude fosters arrogance.
In addition to that, beneficial knowledge can lead to arrogance if pursued for fame or recognition instead of sincerity.
Or, it can bring about self-amazement in a person.
- Imam adh-Dhahbi mentions that Ayyub al-Attār said he heard Bishr Ibn al-Hārith say:
"نا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ، إِنَّ لِذِكْرِ الْإِسْنَادِ فِي الْقَلْبِ خُيَلَاءَ"
“Hammād Ibn Zayd informed me, then he said: I seek forgiveness from Allāh. Verily, the mentioning of the chain of narration can bring arrogance to the heart.” [Siyar A’lām al-Nubalā 7/461]
5. Believing One's Actions Are Superior
Arrogance can lead individuals, particularly junior students of knowledge, to believe that their religious actions are superior to those of others. They may look down on those who struggle with acts of worship, assuming themselves to be better.
It is therefore crucial to understand the danger of focusing excessively on the shortcomings of others while neglecting one's own flaws.
6. Pride in Lineage and Tribal Status
Islam abolished the concept of superiority based on lineage or tribe. However, arrogance can still arise when people take pride in their ancestry.
- To illustrate how Islam eradicated differences in race, tribes, and lineage, consider the following narration where ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه) said:
"أَبُو بَكْرٍ سَيِّدُنَا وَأَعْتَقَ سَيِّدَنَا، يَعْنِي بِلَالًا"
"Abu Bakr is our master, and he freed our master” - meaning Bilal. [Sahih al-Bukhari 3754]
- Reflect upon this beautiful hadith that would make you thank Allah for guiding you to Islam:
عَنِ الْمَعْرُورِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ، قَالَ رَأَيْتُ أَبَا ذَرٍّ وَعَلَيْهِ حُلَّةٌ وَعَلَى غُلاَمِهِ مِثْلُهَا فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَذَكَرَ أَنَّهُ سَابَّ رَجُلاً عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَعَيَّرَهُ بِأُمِّهِ - قَالَ - فَأَتَى الرَّجُلُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّكَ امْرُؤٌ فِيكَ جَاهِلِيَّةٌ إِخْوَانُكُمْ وَخَوَلُكُمْ جَعَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ تَحْتَ أَيْدِيكُمْ فَمَنْ كَانَ أَخُوهُ تَحْتَ يَدَيْهِ فَلْيُطْعِمْهُ مِمَّا يَأْكُلُ وَلْيُلْبِسْهُ مِمَّا يَلْبَسُ وَلاَ تُكَلِّفُوهُمْ مَا يَغْلِبُهُمْ فَإِنْ كَلَّفْتُمُوهُمْ فَأَعِينُوهُمْ عَلَيْهِ " .
Ma'rur b. Suwaid reported:I saw Abu Dharr wearing clothes, and his slave wearing similar ones. I asked him about it, and he narrated that he had abused a person during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and he reproached him for his mother. That person came to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) and made mention of that to him. Thereupon Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said: “You are a person who has (remnants of) Ignorance in him. Your slaves are brothers of yours. Allah has placed them in your hand, and he who has his brother under him, he should feed him with what he eats, and dress him with what he dresses himself, and do not burden them beyond their capacities, and if you burden them, (beyond their capacities), then help them.” [Sahih Muslim 1661c]
This incident shows that true honour lies in piety, not ancestry or social status.
Recognising and Addressing Arrogance
To identify and address arrogance within ourselves, we should ask the following questions:
- Do I use complex language to impress others?
- Do I mock or criticise others to feel superior?
- Do I avoid the company of the poor and weak?
- Do I believe my religious actions are better than others'?
- Do I take pride in my lineage or social status?
Conclusion: Striving for Humility
Arrogance, if left unchecked, can corrode the soul and distance us from Allah ﷻ.
- The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
"إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَوْحَى إِلَيَّ أَنْ تَوَاضَعُوا حَتَّى لَا يَفْخَرَ أَحَدٌ عَلَى أَحَدٍ، وَلَا يَبْغِيَ أَحَدٌ عَلَى أَحَدٍ"
"Allah has revealed to me that you must be humble, so that no one oppresses or boasts over another." [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2865]
May Allah ﷻ purify our hearts from arrogance and grant us the humility to treat others with kindness and respect. True honour lies not in status or speech but in character and piety.
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