Transliteration:( Wa laa tamshi fil ardi marahan innaka lan takhriqal arda wa lan tablughal jibaala toola )
"And do not walk upon the earth with arrogance [88]. Indeed, you will never tear the earth apart, nor will you reach the mountains in height [89]."
This verse forbids pride, arrogance, and any outward expression of superiority, such as boastful walking, proud gestures, or haughty speech.
Our sitting, walking, and movements should reflect humility and dignity, and our speech should be gentle and respectful.
Many legal rulings have been derived from this verse. For example:
It is not permissible to use the elephant as a mount, due to its association with pomp.
It is impermissible to wear gloves made from lion’s skin, as they symbolize pride and dominance.
This means that boasting achieves nothing—you cannot split the earth by walking arrogantly, nor can you reach the height of mountains through pride.
So, there is no real benefit in arrogance; rather, it is a sinful trait.
Modesty is noble:
Tall trees often bear small fruits,
But lowly shrubs like pumpkin and melon plants bear large, beneficial fruits.
Raging fire brings destruction,
While humble soil produces lush gardens.
37. And walk not on the earth with conceit and arrogance. Verily, you can neither rend nor penetrate the earth nor can you attain a stature like the mountains in height. 38. All the bad aspects of these (the above mentioned things) are hateful to your Lord.
Allah forbids His servants to strut and walk in a boastful manner:
(And walk not on the earth with conceit and arrogance.) meaning, walking in boastful manner and acting proud, like those who are arrogant oppressors.
(Verily, you can neither rend nor penetrate the earth) means, you cannot penetrate the earth with your walking. This was the opinion of Ibn Jarir.
(17:37) (xiv) Do not strut about in the land arrogantly. Surely you cannot cleave the earth, nor reach the heights of the mountains in stature.[43]
43. This instruction warns against the ways of tyrants and vain people and is not merely meant for the individual but also for the collective conduct of the Muslim community. It was because of this guidance that the rulers, governors and commanders of the Islamic state which was established on the basis of this manifesto, were free from every tinge of tyranny, arrogance, haughtiness, pride and vanity, so much so that even in the battlefield they never uttered a word which had the slightest indication of any of these vain things. Their gait, dress, dwelling and conveyance showed humility. In short, their ways of conduct were not those of big ones but those of humble persons. That is why they never tried to overawe the people of a conquered city by show of pomp and pride.
[746]- Man, for all his arrogance, is yet a weak and small creature.
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