Confidence and Arrogance in Islam: A Comparison of Their Effects on One’s Heart and Behavior

Confidence and arrogance are two different states of the heart that affect one’s relationship with Allah and His creation. Confidence is the trust in Allah’s favor and guidance, while arrogance is the rejection of Allah’s authority and mercy. Confident people are grateful for their blessings and talents, and use them in the way of Allah. Arrogant people are ungrateful and proud of their achievements, and use them to disobey Allah.

Confident people are cooperative and supportive of their fellow Muslims. They share their knowledge and skills with others for the sake of Allah. They also take responsibility for their actions and learn from their errors. Arrogant people are selfish and competitive with their fellow Muslims. They hoard their knowledge and skills for themselves or for worldly gain. They also blame others for their failures and refuse to improve themselves.

وَلَا تُصَعِّرۡ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمۡشِ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَرَحًاۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا یُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخۡتَالࣲ فَخُورࣲ

“And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful.” [Quran; 31:18]

Confident people are optimistic and courageous. They have a healthy self-esteem that comes from Allah’s love and mercy. They don’t depend on the praise or criticism of others. They also face challenges and hardships with patience and perseverance. 

قُل لَّن یُصِیبَنَاۤ إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَنَا هُوَ مَوۡلَىٰنَاۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلۡیَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ

“Say, ‘Nothing will ever befall us except what Allah has decreed for us; He is our protector.’ And upon Allah let the believers rely.” [Quran; 9:51]

Confidence and arrogance are two different attitudes that can have a significant impact on one’s heart and behavior. Confidence is a positive trait that reflects a healthy self-esteem and trust in Allah’s (swt) plan. Arrogance is a negative trait that reflects an inflated ego and disregard for Allah’s (swt) authority.

Confidence and arrogance can be distinguished by their effects on one’s heart and behavior. Some of the effects are:

• Humility vs. Pride: Confidence leads to humility, which is a virtue in the spirit of man. Humility means recognizing one’s limitations and weaknesses, and being grateful for Allah’s (swt) favors and guidance. Arrogance leads to pride, which is a vice in the spirit of man. Pride means rejecting one’s flaws and shortcomings, and being ungrateful for Allah’s (swt) blessings and mercy.
• Empathy vs. Contempt: Confidence leads to empathy, which is a quality of compassion and understanding. Empathy means feeling for others and respecting their feelings, opinions, and rights. Arrogance leads to contempt, which is a quality of disdain and disrespect. Contempt means looking down on others and violating their dignity, honor, and rights.
• Wisdom vs. Delusion: Confidence leads to wisdom, which is a quality of insight and light. Wisdom means seeking knowledge and truth, and applying it in one’s life. Arrogance leads to delusion, which is a quality of ignorance and darkness. Delusion means following one’s whims and desires, and rejecting reality and guidance.
• Sincerity vs. Hypocrisy: Confidence leads to sincerity, which is a quality of honesty and purity. Sincerity means doing everything for the sake of Allah (swt), and being consistent in one’s words and actions. Arrogance leads to hypocrisy, which is a quality of deceit and impurity. Hypocrisy means doing things for worldly purposes, and being contradictory in one’s speech and behavior.