Arrogance, Mercy, and Balance: Is Seeing the Right Path Enough?

21 March 2021

The Invisible Veil of Arrogance

Question: Why does a person not turn toward the right path even after seeing it?

One of the warnings in Surah Al-A‘raf concerns the attitude toward the verses of those who act arrogantly on earth without right. The issue here is not merely gaining knowledge, but how we stand before that knowledge.

Power, money, position, or a sense of superiority can change a person’s outlook. Sometimes we reject a truth not because it is incomprehensible, but because our ego does not want to accept it.

Distinguishing Truth from Falsehood

An important example is the Children of Israel seeing a people devoted to idols after crossing the sea and asking for a god for themselves as well.

Having experienced a great deliverance does not mean we will never err in our subsequent choices. People can quickly become attracted to what they see; today they may attach themselves to another form of the wrong they escaped yesterday.

Question: On what basis do we choose the things we consider indispensable in our lives?

The Measure of Compassion

It is easy to define compassion solely through beautiful words. But refraining from harming a person despite having the power to do so is a more serious test of compassion.

Love, anger, and power can become intertwined in relationships. When reflecting on what true compassion is, we should also look at the marks our own behavior leaves on the other person.

Not Losing Balance

Balance is not merely staying calm. Anger sometimes makes us notice an injustice; but acting immoderately over a minor traffic dispute can lead us into an entirely different wrong.

Question: Does the reason that justifies our reaction necessarily justify our behavior as well?

We need to distinguish the emotion itself from the way we use it.

Mercy and Repentance

A person not being punished immediately after a wrong does not mean that the wrong has no consequences. It is easy to forget delayed consequences.

Remembering Adam’s prayer prompts us to consider acknowledging a mistake instead of denying it. The vastness of mercy does not remove responsibility.

For which of our actions will we truly turn back today instead of seeking excuses?