Stubbornness –
Even though many of the non-Muslims understood and believed in the truthfulness of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, yet they rejected and violently opposed him out of sheer stubbornness and envy. For example, a non-Muslim leader of Mecca, Walid Bin Mughira, once listened to the Holy Quran from the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and was visibly impressed by it. As he was a master in Arabic poetry, he knew the Holy Quran was not poetry and instead believed it was special and unique. He even admitted that the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was extremely graceful and had achieved greater intellectual and moral heights than anyone else. This he admitted privately to Abu Jahl, another non-Muslim leader of Mecca. Abu Jahl insisted that Walid Bin Mughira publicly denounce Islam and the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon. Instead of admitting the truth his stubbornness and envy encouraged him to publicly accuse the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, of sorcery. This has been discussed in Imam Ibn Kathir’s, the Life of the Prophet, Volume 1, Page 361.
In this regard, Allah, the Exalted, revealed chapter 74 Al Muddaththir, verses 11-24:
“Leave Me with the one I created alone. And to whom I granted extensive wealth. And children present [with him]. And spread [everything] before him, easing [his life]. Then he desires that I should add more. No! Indeed, he has been toward Our verses obstinate. I will cover him with arduous torment. Indeed, he thought and deliberated. So may he be destroyed [for] how he deliberated. Then may he be destroyed [for] how he deliberated. Then he considered [again]. Then he frowned and scowled. Then he turned back and was arrogant. And said, “This is not but magic imitated [from others].”
This has been discussed in Imam Wahidi’s, Asbab Al Nuzul, 74:11-24, Pages 160-161.
Some adopt stubbornness in worldly matters and as a result they do not change their character for the better. Instead, they remain steadfast on their attitude believing this is somehow a sign of their great strength and wisdom. Steadfastness in matters of faith is a praiseworthy attitude but in most worldly matters it is only called stubbornness, which is blameworthy.
Unfortunately, some believe if they change their attitude it demonstrates weakness or it shows that they are admitting their fault and because of this they stubbornly fail to change for the better. Adults behave like immature children by believing that if they change their behaviour it means they have lost while others who remain steadfast on their attitude have won. This is simply childish.
In reality, an intelligent person will remain steadfast on matters of faith but in worldly matters they will change their attitude, as long as it is not sinful, in order to make their life easier. So changing to improve one’s life is not a sign of weakness it is in fact a sign of intelligence.
In many cases, a person refuses to change their attitude and expects others in their life to change theirs, such as their relatives. But what often occurs is that due to stubbornness all remain in the same state which only leads to regular disagreements and arguments. A wise person understands that if the people around them do not change for the better than they should. This change will improve the quality of their life and their relationship with others which is much better than going around in circular arguments with people. This positive attitude will eventually cause others to respect them as it takes real strength to change one’s character for the better.
Those who remain stubborn will always find something to be annoyed about which will remove peace from their life. This will cause further difficulties in all aspects of their life, such as their mental health. But those who adapt and change for the better will always move from one station of peace to another. If one achieves this peace does it really matter if others believe they only changed because they were wrong?
To conclude, to remain steadfast on the teachings of the Holy Quran and the traditions of Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, is praiseworthy. But in worldly matters and in cases where no sin is committed a person should learn to adapt and change their attitude so that they find some peace in this world.
In addition, this event highlights the importance of avoiding the major sin of envy. In a Hadith found in Sunan Ibn Majah, number 4210, the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, warned that envy destroys good deeds just like fire consumes wood.
Envy is a serious and major sin because the envier’s problem is not with another person in reality it is with Allah, the Exalted, as He is the One who granted the blessing which is envied. So a person’s envy only demonstrates their displeasure with the allocation and choice of Allah, the Exalted. They believe Allah, the Exalted, made a mistake when He allocated a particular blessing to another person instead of them.
Some exert efforts through their speech and actions in order to confiscate the blessing from the other person which is undoubtedly a sin. The worse kind is when the envier strives to remove the blessing from the owner even if the envier does not obtain the blessing. Envy is only lawful when a person does not act on their feelings, dislikes their feelings and strives to obtain a similar blessing without the owner losing the blessing. Even though this type is not a sin it is considered disliked if the envy is over a worldly blessing and praiseworthy if it is over a religious blessing. For example, the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, mentioned two examples of the praiseworthy type in a Hadith found in Sahih Muslim, number 1896. The first person who can be lawfully envied is the one who acquires and spends lawful wealth in ways pleasing to Allah, the Exalted. The second person who can be lawfully envied is the one who uses their knowledge in the correct way and teaches it to others.
An envious Muslim should strive to remove this feeling from their heart by showing good character and kindness towards the person envied such as praising their good qualities and supplicating for them until their envy becomes love for them.
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