16. ARROGANCE AND ITS DANGER FOR THE SCHOLAR
I have noticed that most scholars (‘ulama) and ascetic (guhbad) are seemingly arrogant (kibr).
They compare their statuses to one another (and have unscrupulous practises); some of them do not visit a sick person if he is sick because they consider themselves above that.
In fact, I have heard some of them saying, “I will only be buried in the same place as Ahmad Ibn Hanbal!”
He knows that this will require removing the bones of other deceased people, but believe me do they deserve such a thing. Others say, “Bury me next to my Masjid” thinking that they will become graves frequented by others (mazars), like Ma’ruf al-Karkhl.
Little do they realise that this is a destructive trait. The Prophet said: “Whoever believes that he is better than others is an arrogant person.”
Most of whom I have met are arrogant (ujb). Why is that so?
If it is due to knowledge (film) they have, then other scholars have surpassed them. And if it’s due to performing a lot of worship, then other worshippers have surpassed them. And if it’s due to money, then money does not present a religious virtue.
If he says, “I know that which others do not know” then we say: “The problem is not for you to realise that you know more than others, but it is for you to think you are better than other believers.”
Being better is not a function of how much knowledge and worship one performs, rather, it is by the quality of knowledge and worship.
He who is aware of his bad traits and sins is not necessarily aware of the sins of the other people. So a person must beware of being fond of himself, and to assume that he will have a high status in the Hereafter.
In fact, a believer will always belittle himself. ‘Umar Ibn ‘Abdu’l- ‘Azlz (may Allah have mercy upon him) was asked, ‘After you die, should we bury you in the same room where Allah’s Messenger was buried?’ He replied, ‘I would rather that I meet Allah after committing all sins except shirk, than to believe I am worthy of such a burial.’
An ascetic heard a voice in his dream saying, “So the shoemaker is better than you!” So he went to him and asked him for the reason, he answered: “I have never met a Muslim, except I thought he was better than me.”
(Source: al-Hafiz Abu’l-Faraj ibn al-jawzl [d. 597AH] “CAPTURED THOUGHTS being” a translation of his masterpiece ‘Sayd al-K hatir)
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