In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Arrogance

Allaah [The Exalted] said: [تِلۡكَ ٱلدَّارُ ٱلۡأَخِرَةُ نَجۡعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّ۬ا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَا فَسَادً۬ا‌ۚ وَٱلۡعَـٰقِبَةُ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ – That home of the Hereafter [i.e. Paradise], We shall assign to those who rebel not against the truth with pride and oppression in the land nor do mischief by committing crimes. And the good end is for the Muttaqoon]. [Surah Al-Qasas. Verse 83]

Imaam As-Sadi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “What type of progress is this? A progress whose people became like vicious wild animals and whose abiding practice is oppression, annihilation, colonization of weak nations and depriving them of their rights!” (1) They developed these (worldly sciences) through a development that is disconnected from submission to Allah and the religion ordained by Allah. It has caused harm and led its proponents to savagery and barbarism whose outcomes has been destruction, ruin and evils that has no comparison. (2)

Their Goals Behind Leadership

Imaam Ibnul Qayiim [may Allaah have mercy upon him] stated regarding those who crave leadership for nothing other than the desires of the Dunyah, “Its seekers hasten to obtain it in order to achieve their goals – exaltedness in the earth, enslavement of the hearts to them, attachment to them and aiding them in all their goals, whilst they are exalted and everyone subservient to them. This pursuit of leadership brings about corruption- which none can enumerate except Allaah, such as rebellion, envy, transgression, enmity, oppression, trials, being ardent in defending oneself at the expense of violating the rights of Allaah, exalting those despised by Allaah and belittling those honoured by Allaah”. (3)

One of the contemporary warmongers who gave a speech – on February 2003 speech to the United Nations Security Council about the alleged existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq – stated thereafter in 2005 (interview with ABC News): “It’s a blot … and will always be a part of my record. It was painful. It’s painful now”.

Excess In The Name of Self-defense

Allaah [The Exalted] stated about Aad:

كَذَّبَتۡ عَادٌ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ (١٢٣) إِذۡ قَالَ لَهُمۡ أَخُوهُمۡ هُودٌ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ (١٢٤) إِنِّى لَكُمۡ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ۬ (١٢٥) فَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ (١٢٦) وَمَآ أَسۡـَٔلُكُمۡ عَلَيۡهِ مِنۡ أَجۡرٍ‌ۖ إِنۡ أَجۡرِىَ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (١٢٧) أَتَبۡنُونَ بِكُلِّ رِيعٍ ءَايَةً۬ تَعۡبَثُونَ (١٢٨) وَتَتَّخِذُونَ مَصَانِعَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَخۡلُدُونَ (١٢٩) وَإِذَا بَطَشۡتُم بَطَشۡتُمۡ جَبَّارِينَ (١٣٠) فَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ (١٣١) وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَمَدَّكُم بِمَا تَعۡلَمُونَ (١٣٢) أَمَدَّكُم بِأَنۡعَـٰمٍ۬ وَبَنِينَ (١٣٣) وَجَنَّـٰتٍ۬ وَعُيُونٍ (١٣٤) إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ عَذَابَ يَوۡمٍ عَظِيمٍ۬ (١٣٥) قَالُواْ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيۡنَآ أَوَعَظۡتَ أَمۡ لَمۡ تَكُن مِّنَ ٱلۡوَٲعِظِينَ (١٣٦) إِنۡ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا خُلُقُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ (١٣٧) وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ (١٣٨) فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَهۡلَكۡنَـٰهُمۡ‌ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٲلِكَ لَأَيَةً۬‌ۖ وَمَا كَانَ أَكۡثَرُهُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ (١٣٩) وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ (١٤٠)

Ad (people) belied the Messengers. When their brother Hud said to them: “Will you not fear Allah and obey Him? Verily! I am a trustworthy Messenger to you. So fear Allah, keep your duty to Him, and obey me. No reward do I ask of you for it (my Message of Islamic Monotheism), my reward is only from the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns, and all that exists). Do you build high palaces on every high place, while you do not live in them? And do you get for yourselves palaces (fine buildings) as if you will live therein for ever. And when you seize, seize you as tyrants? So fear Allah, keep your duty to Him, and obey me. And keep your duty to Him, fear Him Who has aided you with all (good things) that you know. He has aided you with cattle and children. And gardens and springs. Verily, I fear for you the torment of a Great Day”. They said: “It is the same to us whether you preach or be not of those who preach. This is no other than the false-tales and religion of the ancients, nd we are not going to be punished.” So they belied him, and We destroyed them. Verily! In this is indeed a sign, yet most of them are not believers. And verily! Your Lord, He is indeed the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful. [Surah Ash-Shu’araa. Verses 123-140]

Regarding the statement: [وَإِذَا بَطَشۡتُم بَطَشۡتُمۡ جَبَّارِينَ – And when you seize, seize you as tyrants]– Meaning, when you want to attack with a whip or sword, you attack like tyrants, completely overpowering and being savagely violent – neither compassionate nor aim to discipline (within justice as commanded by Allaah), nor contemplating on the consequences. (4) Allaah gave them great strength and it was obligated on them to use this strength in obedience to Allaah, but they became boastful and haughty, and they said: [مَنۡ أَشَدُّ مِنَّا قُوَّةً‌ۖ – Who is mightier than us in strength? (Surah Fussilat. Verse 15]; and they utilized their strength in disobedience to Allaah, fruitlessly and foolishly, so their Prophet forbade them from that. (5) Their Prophet forbade them from that  because it was done out of oppression. (6) Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “Allaah reproached Aad – the people of Prophet Hud – and that they are oppressors who attack people without justification, oppress them by way of beating, killing and pillage….(7)

The Authority and Wealth a Person Possessed In This Life Will Be of No Benefit In The Afterlife If It Was Utilized In falsehood

Allaah [The Exalted] said:

فَإِذَا نُفِخَ فِى ٱلصُّورِ نَفۡخَةٌ۬ وَٲحِدَةٌ۬ (١٣) وَحُمِلَتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَٱلۡجِبَالُ فَدُكَّتَا دَكَّةً۬ وَٲحِدَةً۬ (١٤) فَيَوۡمَٮِٕذٍ۬ وَقَعَتِ ٱلۡوَاقِعَةُ (١٥) وَٱنشَقَّتِ ٱلسَّمَآءُ فَهِىَ يَوۡمَٮِٕذٍ۬ وَاهِيَةٌ۬ (١٦) وَٱلۡمَلَكُ عَلَىٰٓ أَرۡجَآٮِٕهَا‌ۚ وَيَحۡمِلُ عَرۡشَ رَبِّكَ فَوۡقَهُمۡ يَوۡمَٮِٕذٍ۬ ثَمَـٰنِيَةٌ۬ (١٧) يَوۡمَٮِٕذٍ۬ تُعۡرَضُونَ لَا تَخۡفَىٰ مِنكُمۡ خَافِيَةٌ۬ (١٨) فَأَمَّا مَنۡ أُوتِىَ كِتَـٰبَهُ ۥ بِيَمِينِهِۦ فَيَقُولُ هَآؤُمُ ٱقۡرَءُواْ كِتَـٰبِيَهۡ (١٩) إِنِّى ظَنَنتُ أَنِّى مُلَـٰقٍ حِسَابِيَهۡ (٢٠) فَهُوَ فِى عِيشَةٍ۬ رَّاضِيَةٍ۬ (٢١) فِى جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٍ۬ (٢٢) قُطُوفُهَا دَانِيَةٌ۬ (٢٣) كُلُواْ وَٱشۡرَبُواْ هَنِيٓـَٔۢا بِمَآ أَسۡلَفۡتُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَيَّامِ ٱلۡخَالِيَةِ (٢٤) وَأَمَّا مَنۡ أُوتِىَ كِتَـٰبَهُ ۥ بِشِمَالِهِۦ فَيَقُولُ يَـٰلَيۡتَنِى لَمۡ أُوتَ كِتَـٰبِيَهۡ (٢٥) وَلَمۡ أَدۡرِ مَا حِسَابِيَهۡ (٢٦) يَـٰلَيۡتَہَا كَانَتِ ٱلۡقَاضِيَةَ (٢٧) مَآ أَغۡنَىٰ عَنِّى مَالِيَهۡۜ (٢٨) هَلَكَ عَنِّى سُلۡطَـٰنِيَهۡ (٢٩) خُذُوهُ فَغُلُّوهُ (٣٠) ثُمَّ ٱلۡجَحِيمَ صَلُّوهُ (٣١) ثُمَّ فِى سِلۡسِلَةٍ۬ ذَرۡعُهَا سَبۡعُونَ ذِرَاعً۬ا فَٱسۡلُكُوهُ (٣٢) إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ (٣٣) وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ ٱلۡمِسۡكِينِ (٣٤) فَلَيۡسَ لَهُ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ هَـٰهُنَا حَمِيمٌ۬ (٣٥) وَلَا طَعَامٌ إِلَّا مِنۡ غِسۡلِينٍ۬ (٣٦) لَّا يَأۡكُلُهُ ۥۤ إِلَّا ٱلۡخَـٰطِـُٔونَ (٣٧)

Then when the Trumpet will be blown with one blowing (the first one); and the earth and the mountains shall be removed from their places, and crushed with a single crushing; then on that Day shall the (Great) Event befall; and the heaven will split asunder, for that Day it (the heaven will be frail (weak), and torn up; and the angels will be on its sides, and eight angels will, that Day, bear the Throne of your Lord above them. That Day shall you be brought to Judgement, not a secret of you will be hidden. Then as for him who will be given his Record in his right hand will say: “Take, read my Record! “Surely, I did believe that I shall meet my Account!” So he shall be in a life, well-pleasing. In a lofty Paradise, the fruits in bunches whereof will be low and near at hand. Eat and drink at ease for that which you have sent on before you in days past!

But as for him who will be given his Record in his left hand, will say: “I wish that I had not been given my Record! “And that I had never known, how my Account is? I wish, would that it had been my end (death)! My wealth has not availed me; my power and arguments (to defend myself) have gone from me!” 30. (It will be said): “Seize him and fetter him, then throw him in the blazing Fire. Then fasten him with a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits!” Verily, He used not to believe in Allah, the Most Great, and urged not on the feeding of Al-Miskin (the poor), so no friend has he here this Day, nor any food except filth from the washing of wounds, none will eat except the Khati’un (sinners, disbelievers, polytheists, etc.). [Surah Al-Haaqqah. Verses 13-37]

Allaah [The Exalted] said:

وَلَوۡ أَنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ مَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ جَمِيعً۬ا وَمِثۡلَهُ ۥ مَعَهُ ۥ لَٱفۡتَدَوۡاْ بِهِۦ مِن سُوٓءِ ٱلۡعَذَابِ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ‌ۚ وَبَدَا لَهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَمۡ يَكُونُواْ يَحۡتَسِبُونَ (٤٧) وَبَدَا لَهُمۡ سَيِّـَٔاتُ مَا ڪَسَبُواْ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَہۡزِءُونَ (٤٨)

And those who did wrong (the polytheists and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah), if they had all that is in earth and therewith as much again, they verily, would offer it to ransom themselves therewith on the Day of Resurrection from the evil torment, and there will become apparent to them from Allah, what they had not been reckoning. And the evils of that which they earned will become apparent to them, and they will be encircled by that which they used to mock at! [Surah Az-Zumar. Verses 47-48]

The Door of Repentance is Open Before The Soul Reaches The Throat and Before The Sun Rises From The East

قُلۡ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ (٥٣) وَأَنِيبُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمۡ وَأَسۡلِمُواْ لَهُ ۥ مِن قَبۡلِ أَن يَأۡتِيَكُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ (٥٤) وَٱتَّبِعُوٓاْ أَحۡسَنَ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكُم مِّن رَّبِّڪُم مِّن قَبۡلِ أَن يَأۡتِيَڪُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ بَغۡتَةً۬ وَأَنتُمۡ لَا تَشۡعُرُونَ (٥٥) أَن تَقُولَ نَفۡسٌ۬ يَـٰحَسۡرَتَىٰ عَلَىٰ مَا فَرَّطتُ فِى جَنۢبِ ٱللَّهِ وَإِن كُنتُ لَمِنَ ٱلسَّـٰخِرِينَ (٥٦) أَوۡ تَقُولَ لَوۡ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هَدَٮٰنِى لَڪُنتُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ (٥٧) أَوۡ تَقُولَ حِينَ تَرَى ٱلۡعَذَابَ لَوۡ أَنَّ لِى ڪَرَّةً۬ فَأَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ (٥٨) بَلَىٰ قَدۡ جَآءَتۡكَ ءَايَـٰتِى فَكَذَّبۡتَ بِہَا وَٱسۡتَكۡبَرۡتَ وَكُنتَ مِنَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ (٥٩) وَيَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ تَرَى ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَبُواْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ وُجُوهُهُم مُّسۡوَدَّةٌ‌ۚ أَلَيۡسَ فِى جَهَنَّمَ مَثۡوً۬ى لِّلۡمُتَكَبِّرِينَ (٦٠) وَيُنَجِّى ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوۡاْ بِمَفَازَتِهِمۡ لَا يَمَسُّهُمُ ٱلسُّوٓءُ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُونَ (٦١)

Say: “O (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins (of one who repents). Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And turn in repentance and in obedience with true Faith (Islamic Monotheism) to your Lord and submit to Him, (in Islam), before the torment comes upon you, then you will not be helped. And follow the best of that which is sent down to you from your Lord (i.e. this Qur’an, do what it orders you to do and keep away from what it forbids), before the torment comes on you suddenly while you perceive not!” Lest a person should say: “Alas, my grief that I was undutiful to Allah (i.e. I have not done what Allah has ordered me to do), and I was indeed among those who mocked [at the truth! i.e. La ilaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), the Qur’an, and Muhammad and at the faithful believers, etc.]” Or (lest) he should say: “If only Allah had guided me, I should indeed have been among the pious”. Or (lest) he should say when he sees the torment: “If only I had another chance (to return to the world) then I should indeed be among the good-doers”. Yes! Verily, there came to you My Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and you denied them, and were proud and were among the disbelievers. And on the Day of Resurrection you will see those who lied against Allah (i.e. attributed to Him sons, partners, etc.) their faces will be black. Is there not in Hell an abode for the arrogant ones? And Allah will deliver those who are the Muttaqun (pious) to their places of success (Paradise). Evil shall touch them not, nor shall they grieve. [Surah Az-Zumar. Verses 53-61]

Allaah [The Exalted] said: [إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ فَتَنُواْ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَـٰتِ ثُمَّ لَمۡ يَتُوبُواْ فَلَهُمۡ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابُ ٱلۡحَرِيقِ – Verily, those who put into trial the believing men and believing women (by torturing them and burning them), and then do not turn in repentance, (to Allah), will have the torment of Hell, and they will have the punishment of the burning Fire]. [Surah Al-Burooj. Verse 10]

Ibn Umar [may Allaah be pleased with him and his father] said that the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Verily, Allah accepts the repentance of his servants, as long as the soul has not reached the throat”. [Sunan At-Tirmidhee 3537]

Abu Hurairah [may Allaah be pleased with him] said that Allah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “When three things appear, faith will not benefit one who has not previously believed or has derived no good from his faith: the rising of the sun in its place of setting, the Dajjal, and the beast of the earth”. [Saheeh Muslim. Number 158]

[Ref 1: Ad-Dalaa’il Al-Qur’aaniyyah Fee Annal Uloom Wal-A’maal An-Naafi’ah Al-Asriyyah Daakhilatun Fid-deen Al-Islaamiy 44]
[Ref 2: Ad-Dalaa’il Al-Qur’aaniyyah Fee Annal Uloom Wal-A’maal An-Naafi’ah Al-Asriyyah Daakhilatun Fid-deen Al-Islaamiy 44]
[Ref 3: An Excerpt from Ar-Rooh. pages 487-489]

[Ref 4: Roohul Ma’aanee by Imaam Vol 11. page 165. By Imaam al-Aloosee (may Allaah have mercy upon him)]
[Ref 5: Tafseer As-Sadi. By Imaam As-Sadi (may Allaah have mercy upon him)]
[Ref 6: Zaadul Maseer Fee Ilmit Tafseer. By Imaam Ibnul Jawzi (may allaah have mercy upon him)]

[Ref 7: https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/8929/%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D9%82%D9%88%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B0%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%B7%D8%B4%D8%AA%D9%85-%D8%A8%D8%B7%D8%B4%D8%AA%D9%85-%D8%AC%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86 ]