Many people today become arrogant and start feeling superior to others when they get some degree in modern education and they look down upon at the less educated. Indeed, the way modern education is taught almost invariably makes one arrogant! But a Muslim must realise that such arrogance of knowledge is a character trait of the cursed Qarun mentioned in the Holy Quran and we must be humble when Allah gives us knowledge.
Though Qarun was from Musa’s (AS) people, Bani Israel, he rebelled against him and became an ally of the Firaun. Allah had made Qarun the wealthiest man on earth to the extent that the keys to his treasure were so heavy they could not be carried by the strongest men.
إنَّ قَـٰرُونَ ڪَانَ مِن قَوۡمِ مُوسَىٰ فَبَغَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡۖ وَءَاتَيۡنَـٰهُ مِنَ ٱلۡكُنُوزِ مَآ إِنَّ مَفَاتِحَهُ ۥ لَتَنُوٓأُ بِٱلۡعُصۡبَةِ أُوْلِى ٱلۡقُوَّةِ إِذۡ قَالَ لَهُ ۥ قَوۡمُهُ ۥ لَا تَفۡرَحۡۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡفَرِحِينَ
Indeed Qarun was from the people of Musa, then he rebelled against them. And We had given to him such treasures as their keys would weigh too heavy for a strong group of people. (Remember) when his people said to him, “Do not exult. Surely, Allah does not like the exultant. (28:76)
In his Tafseer of Surah Qasas, Imam Ibn Katheer RA says:
Allah informs us how Qarun responded to the exhortations of his people when they sought to guide him to what is good.
﴿قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أُوتِيتُهُ عَلَى عِلْمٍ عِندِى أَوَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَهْلَكَ مِن قَبْلِهِ مِنَ الْقُرُونِ مَنْ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُ قُوَّةً وَأَكْثَرُ جَمْعاً وَلاَ يُسْأَلُ عَن ذُنُوبِهِمُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ ﴾
(Surah Qasas:Ayah 78. He said: "This has been given to me only because of the knowledge I possess.''...)
meaning, `I have no need of your advice; Allah has only given me this wealth because He knows that I deserve it and because He loves me. ' In other words: `He has given it to me because He knows that I am fit for this.'
This is like the Ayat:
﴿فَإِذَا مَسَّ الإِنسَـنَ ضُرٌّ دَعَانَا ثُمَّ إِذَا خَوَّلْنَـهُ نِعْمَةً مِّنَّا قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أُوتِيتُهُ عَلَى عِلْمٍ﴾
When harm touches man, he calls upon Us; then when We have changed it into a favor from Us, he says: "Only because of knowledge I obtained it.' '(39:49)
An alternative interpretation of this Ayah says that the meaning is: "Only because of what Allah knows about me did I obtain this favor.''
This is like His saying:
﴿وَلَئِنْ أَذَقْنَـهُ رَحْمَةً مِّنَّا مِن بَعْدِ ضَرَّآءَ مَسَّتْهُ لَيَقُولَنَّ هَـذَا لِى﴾
"And truly, if We give him a taste of mercy from Us, after some adversity has touched him, he is sure to say: "This is from me.'' (41:50)
meaning, "I deserved it.''
Imam `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam explained this Ayah very well. Concerning the phrase,
﴿قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أُوتِيتُهُ عَلَى عِلْمٍ عِندِى}
He said: "This has been given to me only because of the knowledge I possess.''
He said: "Were it not for the fact that Allah is pleased with me and knows my virtue, He would not have given me this wealth.''
Ultimately Allah destroyed Qarun and he was swallowed up by the earth along with his wealth..
"Then We caused the earth to swallow him up, along with his home. There was no one to help him against Allah, nor could he even help himself." (28:81)
This arrogance can also be because of Religious knowledge, particularly if it's self acquired with out sitting at the feet of real Ulama. That's why proper Spiritual Tarbiyah and Tazkiya is considered by the ulama as essential for the students of Deeni Ilm too.
May Allah protect us from the arrogance of knowledge. Aameen.
