Page 80 - The Silent Language Of Evil

THE SILENT LANGUAGE OF EVIL

influence of satan are his arrogance and pride. Such people see
themselves as all-important. This arrogance was the reason why
satan was expelled from the Garden, and he wants to debase human
beings and deprive them of Allah's mercy and blessings. The grow-
ing sense of self-aggrandizement within them prevents them from
feeling love for others and appreciation of the goodness and bless-
ings around them. In time, this attitude takes hold of a person and
reaches unimaginable dimensions. Allah tells us that they will never
achieve the desire in their hearts to make themselves important:

... [They] have nothing in their breasts except for pride
which they will never be able to vindicate... (Surah Ghafir:
56)
The Qur'an tells us that arrogance and self-importance are not
pleasing to Allah:
When he is told to fear Allah, he is seized by pride which
drives him to wrongdoing. Hell will be enough for him!
What an evil resting-place! (Surat al-Baqara: 206)

Living with a sense of self-importance that is unattainable, a
person loves himself more than everyone and everything else and
acts always in his own selfish interests. His love for himself and his
lower self are so great that the most important thing for him is get-
ting what he wants. In this regard, he becomes reckless.
To achieve his aim, he can disregard those he loves and behave
badly toward them in the selfish pursuits of his lower self.
The love that such people feel for themselves is so strong that in
their arrogance, they may even show no love for or interest in be-
lievers. Even though they know that believers have many fine, lov-
able qualities, and are trustworthy and can be their closest friends,
they do not feel love for them as they ought. But this is a situation

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