Arrogance is a double-edged sword, it can help you attract a few fans but on the other hand, it will fill the hearts of other people who surround you with hatred. Arrogance demands constant apprehension. The stations of such a person are raised. Arrogance is when an individual thinks too deeply about himself, and when he tends, moreover, to consider others as inferior to him, that is arrogance. We must always remember that all blessings come from Allah and Allah alone. Allah says:
وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ
“And (do) not turn your cheek from men and (do) not walk in the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah (does) not like every self-conceited boaster.” (Surah Luqman 31:18)
Arrogant people are always “on tenterhooks.” They think they will never make a mistake. Arrogance leads people to the sickness of mind and incorrect behaviour. People who live in a state of pride and deception inhabit a dark internal world. Arrogance is the blamable characteristic of a person that Allah disliked the most. Allah disliked those who in any case have the arrogance. Allah says:
وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ خَرَجُوا مِن دِيَارِهِم بَطَرًا وَرِئَاءَ النَّاسِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطٌ
“Do not be like those who left their homes in arrogance, showing off to people and barring them from the way of Allah. Allah encompasses what they do.” (Surah Al-Anfal 8:47)
Arrogant people engage in exaggerated and attention-seeking behaviour in the way they walk, talk and look. Arrogance is the practical expression of pride which develops in a person who thinks of himself to be better than others. The feeling of self-importance is expressed by them in their actions and speech with words like “I have done this,” and “I will do that”.
Here are some chief features, arrogance involves the following components:
- Arrogance assume vain and wishful thoughts in his mind
- Arrogance is one of the most unpleasant human nature
- Arrogance intolerant of those who are not like them
- Arrogance enjoy a kind of supremacy over others
- Arrogance constant fear and sense of insecurity
- Arrogance live in the feeling of self-importance
- Arrogance consider oneself better than others
- Arrogance excessive desire to receive praise
- Arrogance leads his entire life under stress
- Arrogance feel everything they do is fine
- Arrogance visit there feels he is better
- Arrogance is a double-edged sword
- Arrogant people express anger
- Arrogant people attack individuals
- Arrogant people criticize others quickly
- Arrogance hide one’s feeling of inferiority
- Arrogance demands constant apprehension
- Arrogance like someone walking behind him
- Arrogance only talk to deserve their attention
- Arrogance usually speak loudly, are stubborn
- Arrogance’s favourite subject is about himself
- Arrogance has problems creating relationships
- Arrogance behaviour is as old as human nature
- Arrogance is a mental state causing self-admiration
- Arrogance wants nothing more than to be respected
Arrogance is dismayed by concern about damage to their prestige. They assume that, if they are criticized, they will be ridiculed or humiliated by others. Their gestures are no longer natural, and sudden rises and falls can be heard in their tone of voice. When told that they have made an error, they immediately try to absolve themselves of any blame. Allah says:
وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَاسْتَكْبَرُوا عَنْهَا أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
“But those who deny Our Verses and (are) arrogant towards them those (are the) companions (of) the Fire, they in it will abide forever.” (Surah Al-A`raf 7:36)
Arrogant people imagine that every characteristic they possess belongs to them. They always want to be the object of love and affection, because in their own eyes they are superior to everybody else. Allah says:
وَإِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ آيَاتُنَا وَلَّىٰ مُسْتَكْبِرًا كَأَن لَّمْ يَسْمَعْهَا كَأَنَّ فِي أُذُنَيْهِ وَقْرًا فَبَشِّرْهُ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
“And when are recited to him Our Verses, he turns away arrogantly as if not he (had) heard them as if in his ears (is) deafness. So give him tidings of a punishment painful.” (Surah Luqman 31:7)
This state of mind leads to another behaviour defect: envy. They envy the beauty, intelligence, reason, moral values or worldly goods of others. Allah turns the arrogant people away from being guided with his signs.
In the Holly, Quran Allah Almighty has stated that Arrogance:
- “He said: I give life and cause death…” (Al-Baqarah 2:258)
- “Then he said: I am your lord, the highest.” (An-Naziat 79:24)
- “Is there not in Hell an abode for the proud?” (Az-Zumar 39:60)
- “And make yourself gentle to the believers.” (Surah Al-Hijr 15:88)
- “And that do not exalt yourselves against Allah.” (Surah Ad-Dukhan 44:19)
- “Do not strut arrogantly about the Earth. You will certainly never split the earth apart nor will you ever rival the mountains in height.” (Surat Al-Isra: 37)
- “No doubt that Allah knows what they conceal and what they reveal. Indeed, He (does) not love the arrogant ones..” (An-Nahl 16:23)
- “Now certainly they are too proud of themselves and have revolted in great revolt.” (Surah Al-Furqan 25:21)
Arrogant people’s behaviour is always intended to make them appear more valuable and superior in the eyes of other people. To consider oneself superior and better than others and to consider others lowly. To hate one who offers good advice and to refuse the advice offered. To feel angry if someone points out one’s mistake. Allah says:
وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَاسْتَكْبَرُوا عَنْهَا أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
“But those who reject Our signs and treat them with Arrogance,- they are companions of the Fire, to dwell therein (forever).” (Surah Al-Araf 7: 36)
Arrogance can help you attract a few fans but on the other hand, it will fill the hearts of other people who surround you with hatred. Arrogant people live in a constant state of discomfort due to which they never find peace in life.
Signs of arrogance and the effects on the soul:
- Arrogant people interrupt conversations frequently
- Arrogant people always one-up the other person
- Arrogant people hide behind religiosity falsely
- Arrogant people can not tolerate competition
- Arrogant people blame everyone else
- Arrogant people avoid eye contact
- Arrogant people drop names out of context
- Arrogant people have an answer for everything
- Arrogant people are constant attention seekers
- Arrogant people use condescending phrases and put-downs
Arrogant people exaggerate their presence by walking into a room in a manner that demonstrates
their presence aggrandized. They use words that put people down. God teaches us to be ready for constant self-analysis and feedback. I pray God protects us from arrogance and keeps us on the path of humility and ease.
How to deal with arrogance?
- We’re all valuable. Go to a professional if you don’t know how to stop your arrogance
- You have your flaws like everyone else, and that doesn’t make you a bad person
- Understand and accept that others have their views
- If he says something arrogant, don’t be afraid to tell him
- Have compassion and patience with an arrogant person
- Sometimes it’s scary to recognize our weaknesses
- Having different opinions can be very enriching
- Identify the feelings and needs of others
- Don’t despise others because they think differently
- Listen to what they have to say, they may surprise you
- But if we don’t recognize them and confront them, we will end up alone
- Has a sense of entitlement, i.e., automatic compliance with his expectations
- Cultivate your self-esteem. You don’t need to despise others or dominate them to feel valid
- He believes that he is ‘special’ and unique and can only be understood by, or high- status people
Arrogance leads people to the sickness of mind and incorrect behaviour. People who live in a state of pride and deception inhabit a dark internal world. Allah has given a troublesome mood to these people who are grabbed by the sickness of pride. In the same way that arrogant people gain nothing but trouble, sorrow, and unhappiness in the life of this world. Allah says:
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ أَخَذَتْهُ الْعِزَّةُ بِالْإِثْمِ فَحَسْبُهُ جَهَنَّمُ وَلَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ
“Fear Allah., He is led by arrogance to (more) crime. Enough for him is Hell;-An evil bed indeed (To lie on)!” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:206)
An arrogant person would make personalized comments that would make you feel uncomfortable. Confident people get heard and arrogantly ignored. The test of a trial is whether we continue and go on doing good, or turn our backs from Allah and go astray. Being humble is one of the secrets of success although it is hard on the soul. Allah says:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ زَيَّنَّا لَهُمْ أَعْمَالَهُمْ فَهُمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
“Indeed, those who (do) not believe in the Hereafter, We have made fair-seeming to them their deeds, so they wander blindly.” (An-Naml 27:4)
An arrogant person causes the most damage to himself. Thus, it proves that the feeling of pride is a disease that paralyzes our soul and cripples our moral health to maintain a balanced life on the earth. We should constantly make an effort to overcome its adverse effects. Allah has revealed in one verse that He does not love the arrogant. May Allah Almighty keep us all away from this disease of arrogance and pride! Ameen
