The Dangers Of "i"

[strivingobserver98]

In the Qur'an the word for "I", أنا , is used by some of the enemies of Islam.

Amongst these enemies, firstly we have Iblis (Satan) who said:

َ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِي مِنْ نَارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِنْ طِينٍ
I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay. [Surah Al- A'raf verse 12]

We then also have the likes of Nimrod who said to Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham):

أَنَا أُحْيِي وَأُمِيتُ
I give life and death. [Surah Al-Baqarah verse 258].

And as a final example, Firawn (Pharaoh) when conversing with Musa (Moses):

أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَىٰ
I am your supreme Lord. [Surah An-Nazi'at verse 24]

In all 3 examples we see arrogance and pride as being the common trend. No longer do they see that it is Allah who is superior in all situations but rather one's self (Nafs) and ego wishes to attempt to take charge.

A simple solution to pride and arrogance is remembering two phrases before using 'I' as they remove any doubt that anything is down to solely ourselves but rather, they are only:

إن شاء الله
If Allah Wills

Or,

بإذن الله
With the Permission of Allah

And Allah knows best.

- Mohammed bin Zubayr