Page 72 - The Arrogance of Satan
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                                  THE ARROGANCE OF SATAN

              this vineyard owner abundant wealth. Yet, all this wealth
              only made him boastful. Instead of feeling grateful towards
              Allah, asking His forgiveness, and putting his riches to use
              for the cause of Allah, he spoke proudly and falsely assumed
              that his wealth was immune to time and disaster.
                  This is a clear example showing the illogic of arrogant
              people; although the vineyard-owner claimed that his
              possessions were eternal, he did not explicitly deny the
              existence of Allah, and even considered the possibility of his
              having to return to Him. Interestingly, he falsely maintained
              that he would not be punished, but rather, would actually be
              rewarded if this were to really happen.
                  A similar line of thinking is also common in the arrogant
              people of today. Although they do not openly deny the
              morality of religion, they are far from having fear of Allah in
              their hearts. Still, they falsely assume that they will somehow
              be saved, even if they are "sent back to their Lord." This
              example of the vineyard-owner, given in the Qur' an, clearly
              shows that such people lack wisdom. Such a person' s
              understanding is blurred by his arrogance, and he is
              hindered from grasping Allah' s infinite might.
                  The end met by the vineyard-owner, as Allah relates in the
              Qur' an, was also a note of caution. He lost all his wealth. He
              eventually said "if only...," but it was too late to be mindful:

                  The fruits of his labour were completely destroyed and
                  he woke up wringing his hands in grief, rueing
                  everything that he had spent on it. It was a ruin with all
                  its trellises fallen in. He said, "Oh, if only I had not
                  associated anyone with my Lord!" There was no group to
                  come to his aid, besides Allah, and he was not given any
                  help. (Surat al-Kahf: 42-43)
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