Ignorance and refusal of accepting and following the truth

Ignorance is one of the main causes of handicapping the call and turning away from the truth. Ignorance and oppression are the origin of every evil, whereas knowledge and justice are the origin of all types of goodness.[1]

The observer of prophets' biographies knows that the reason for the opposition of their peoples to them and to their call was ignorance. Allah (may He be Exalted) says about the people of Nuh (Noah) (peace be upon him): "But I see that you are a people that are ignorant."[2] He says about the Children of Israel: "They said: O Musa (Moses)! Make for us an ilahan (a god) as they have aliha (gods). He said: Verily, you are a people who know not (the Majesty and Greatness of Allah and what is obligatory upon you, i.e. to worship none but Allah Alone, the One and the Only God of all that exists)." [Surat Al A`raf: 138].[3]

Ignorance with Allah (may He be Exalted), His Religion, and His reckoning on the Day of Resurrection is one of the worst obstacles for the truth seekers and make them fall into forbidden things and sins. Sheikh Al Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: The general rule for indulging people into sins is ignorance and lack of knowledge which causes a serious damage or thinking that they might benefit therefrom. Therefore, the Companions of the Prophet (may Allah be pleased with them) said: "Whoever disobeys Allah is an ignorant."[4]

He said in another position: As for sins, their origin is ignorance and oppression, for a person never overlooks a sin but after his knowledge of its ugliness or for his whims and inclination to it, and he never misses a good deed after his knowledge of its obligation or for hating it.[5]

Of the reasons of hindering a caller from his duty are: Haughtiness, arrogance to accept the truth, and show highness to the followers. Haughtiness is Thinking highly of oneself and deeming it beyond others,[6] belittling haughtiness to satisfy his arrogant selfish self which likes to take glory and pride for itself. So, it shows haughtiness to obey and follow the advice of a caller no matter how great goodness and the truth in his side. Moreover, it looks down to the call and refuses to respond to its words and follow its commands out of belittling and underestimation of the caller. [7]

Haughtiness is one of the dispraised attributes which Allah threatened their people of directing them away from His Signs and Ayahs. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "I shall turn away from My Ayat (verses of the Quran) those who behave arrogantly on the earth, without a right." [Surat Al A`raf: 146].[8] i.e., I shall prevent them from understanding the proofs which denote to My Pride, Shari`ah, and Rulings; as they behaved arrogantly and unjustly, Allah humiliated them by ignorance.[9]

Allah has mentioned in the Glorious Qur'an numerous examples for the arrogant whom were prevented by their arrogance to follow the truth, and their chief is Satan who disobeyed and showed arrogance. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And (remember) when We said to the angels: "Prostrate yourselves before Adam." And they prostrated except Iblîs (Satan), he refused and was proud and was one of the disbelievers (disobedient to Allâh)." [Surat Al Baqarah: 34].[10]