Forms of Arrogance and Means of Purification — Essence of Islam Vol. 2

14 Sep, 2026 Essence of Islam 0

Essence of Islam Book Cover by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (AS)

Introduction

In this discourse from Essence of Islam (Volume 2), Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (AS), the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, expounds upon Forms of Arrogance and Means of Purification, presenting profound spiritual insights and scriptural verities.

Book Series: Essence of Islam (Volume 2)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (AS)
Section: Part 12: Arrogance
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: Do Not Idolize Me | Next: Thinking Ill of Others »

Do not Idolize Me It is not my way that I should look so fierce and aweinspiring that people should fear me as they fear a wild beast. I hate to be idolized. I have come to abolish idol worship and not to become an idol myself so that people should worship me. God Almighty knows well that I do not prefer myself to others in the slightest degree. In my estimation there is no greater idol worshipper nor anyone more wicked than an arrogant one. Such a one worships no God, he only worships himself.
[Malfuzat, vol. II, pp. 6-7]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, p. 357]

Remember that arrogance is allied to falsehood. The worst falsehood is that which accompanies arrogance. That is why God, the Glorious, smashes the head of an arrogant one before all others.
[A’ina-e-Kamalat-e-Islam, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 5, p. 599]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, p. 357]

It is easy for a person to discard the principal vices, but some vices are so subtle and hidden that one is not normally conscious of them, and even when one becomes conscious of them it is difficult to discard them. For instance, typhoid which is a severe illness and a high fever can be treated immediately with appropriate remedies,
[Speeches, pp. 17-18]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, p. 357]

Arrogance is an affliction that constantly affects man. Keep in mind that arrogance comes from Satan and converts an arrogant one into Satan. Until a person turns wholly away from the path of arrogance he is not enabled to accept the truth and does not become worthy of receiving Divine grace, inasmuch as arrogance bars his way. So shun every type of arrogance, whether generated by learning, wealth, status, caste, family or noble descent. These are the factors that give birth to arrogance. Until a person purifies himself of all such pride he cannot win Divine approval and become a chosen one of God. He is not bestowed such comprehension of the Divine as totally consumes the passions of self. Such pride is the characteristic of Satan and is displeasing to God. Satan manifested such pride, conceived that he was better than Adam and claimed: 148

The result was that he was rejected and expelled from the presence of God.
[Speeches, p. 19]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, p. 359]

Arrogance and mischief are evil. A slight mistake might destroy all the good achieved over a period of seventy long years. It is written of a holy man who dwelt in a mountain where no rain had fallen over a long period, that one day when rain fell over stones and rocks also, he felt that rain was needed by fields and gardens and that much of it which had fallen on stones and rocks had been wasted. It would have been of much greater benefit if it had fallen over cultivated fields. Thereupon God Almighty deprived him of all holiness. He became very sorrowful and sought help from another holy person and was told in the end that he had offended God because of his criticism.
[Malfuzat, vol. VI, p. 57]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, p. 360]

Arrogance is of many types. It sometimes emerges through the eye when a person looks contemptuously upon another deeming himself his superior. Sometimes it emerges through the tongue, or through the head, or through hands and feet. In short, there are many sources of arrogance and a believer should avoid all of them. He should take care that no one of his limbs should smell of arrogance or manifest it in any way. 148 ‘I am better than he. Thou hast created me of fire and him hast Thou created of clay.’—Sad, 38:77 [Publisher] .
[Malfuzat, vol. VI, pp. 401-403]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, p. 360]

What is Islam? To die for the sake of God; And forsake all desires of self for His pleasure.

Those who accepted death are the ones who are destined to live forever; Life is not attained in this path except through the humble acceptance of death.

Brazenness and arrogance are the characteristics of Satan the accursed;
[Brahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Part V, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 21, p. 18]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, p. 361]

363
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, p. 362]

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Introduction