Walking on Divine Edge
Walking on Divine Edge
Reading Notions of Arrogance and Humility in the Qur’an
This chapter deals with the dangers of arrogance and the need for humility from a Muslim perspective. It explores two major terms used in the Qurʾan to refer to arrogance: “istikbar,” which means to perceive oneself as bigger than one is, and “uluw,” which means to perceive oneself as higher than one is. These two attitudes describe persons whose minds have become delusional. They no longer know their proper size or embrace proper attitudes toward themselves. The chapter develops these two ideas through a close reading of two key Qurʾanic narratives: that of Adam, Eve, and Satan on the one hand, and that of Moses and Pharaoh on the other.
Keywords: Muslim, Islam, Qurʾan, arrogance, Adam, Eve, Satan, Moses, Pharoah
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