The Common Psychology and Forms of Behavior in Ignorantism (3/6)

3- Mockery

Another common behavioral defect in the Religion of the Ignorant, mockery is openly forbidden in the Qur'an, and it is revealed in one verse just how much it is to be avoided:

In Ignorantism, on the other hand, no rule prevents anyone from mocking and belittling another at the first opportunity. On the contrary, lining up alongside the mocking one is a much more attractive proposition. We may cite the following examples:

Mocking certain people by rolling one's eyes when one is in the company of people one knows well,

Bringing up people's errors, faults and flaws with the intention of disparaging them and subjecting them to ridicule,

Mocking people's physical features, and by referring to their deficiencies or weaknesses sarcastically in terms of enormous praise.

Additionally, disparaging people by means of jokes and barbed comments, or giving them cruel nicknames, belittling people with looks and gestures, imitating them in a manner designed to humiliate them, seeking to put down someone else by means of the style, tone of voice and words one selects, smiling at others in such a way as to draw attention to a flaw in the way they are speaking, and whispering about people so that they cannot hear are all behaviors often displayed in the Religion of the Ignorant.

Other features of Ignorantism are group mockery of a person who makes clumsy mistakes, teasing those known for their innocence or good intentions, looking for something to laugh at in every word uttered, and embarrassing others whom one dislikes or wishes to demean by embracing them in public. The fact is, however, that such behavior is strongly condemned and forbidden in the Qur'an:

4- Indifference

One fundamental element of the Religion of the Ignorant is the appearance of indifference. In this superstitious religion, indifference is employed to supposedly suggest intelligence, ability and personal superiority. It is believed that indifference is the way to give the impression of being someone very special, with a far superior character to anyone else. Indifferent attitudes are therefore prevalent, especially among the young.

Consider the most popular boys or girls in high school. You'll seldom see modest, loving, respectful and sincere behavior in such individuals. Behavioral traits of that kind, the most important features of proper moral values, are regarded as demeaning in Ignorantism. In order to be popular among members of this religion, one should be as arrogant and indifferent as possible. Greeting nobody, but being the one always greeted by others is of the greatest importance in this regard, as is being the person who is shown affection rather than showing it oneself. Such people appear to take no interest in one's surroundings, distancing themselves from anyone who displays a sincere attitude, and are close to only a few favored friends.

A second aspect to indifference manifests itself in the logic of "Don't worry about it," or "That's the way we do things," which in turn pervades the society of the ignorant. Ignorantism regards keeping one's cool in the face of danger as a virtue. That is why so many people among them die, are crippled or fall ill. One example of this indifference is the way that someone will say, "Don't worry about it, we are not afraid of such things" instead of repairing an electrical cord so worn that it represents a fire hazard. Or the way that residents of an apartment block brush aside a possible danger by saying, "Don't worry about it, this is a strong building nothing will happen" when the plumbing needs fixing. Indeed, most people skip going to the doctor for years under the logic that "I'm as strong as an ox, nothing will happen to me," and feel no need to receive any treatment for their illnesses. Due to this indifference in the Religion of the Ignorant, a very high number of people live for years unaware of the tumors or viruses in their bodies, and are already at death's door by the time these are finally diagnosed.

Another danger indifference brings is the possibility of causing harm to others. Some, for example, will leave a 3-year-old child alone at home, with the idea that nothing will happen. Often people return home to find their children seriously injured from playing with the gas or electricity, or killed by eating medicines or falling out a window. Reports of this kind appear every day in the newspapers. However, at this point the indifference of Ignorantism reveals itself. Reading such reports, people fondly believe that such things could never happen to them, and so carry on in just the same way as before.

Indifference is so prevalent in the society of the ignorant that people are always telling one another not to worry, that nothing untoward will happen. Indeed, because of that religion's distorted mindset, people are embarrassed to take precautions in the face of any danger, or even to suggest that others do so. For instance, it's very difficult for workers in a plant with no sprinkler system to suggest that the necessary apparatus be brought in, or to request that the elevator be modernized. In all likelihood, others at that plant will treat those making such requests as cowardly. In fact, though, the consequences of indifference resulting from the "show everyone what you are made of" mindset are generally harmful to the individuals involved.

One very important point to emphasize is that of course, excessive panic or sudden loss of control are undesirable forms of behavior in the face of danger. In the Qur'an, Allah commands people to be submissive, to place their trust in and rely on Him when facing times of danger. Some verses on this subject read:

As can be seen in the above verses, the Prophet Jacob (as) advises his children to be submissive, but also reminds them to take precautionary measures in what they do. That is the behavior required of a sincere Muslim. Neither the indifference required by the Religion of the Ignorant nor lack of submission—which Allah has revealed to be displeasing to Him—are proper forms of behavior. People must use their intelligence and take precautions against any perceived threat, and must also submit to our Lord in the knowledge that no danger can be overcome unless He so wishes.

5- Cruelty

Ignorantism brings with it an exceedingly ruthless and inhumane attitude, such that the great majority are exceedingly thoughtless and lack compassion for those around them. For that reason, people become depressed, offended, and upset many times each day. Because of the cruelty of the Religion of the Ignorant, their lives are full of tension, distress and suffering. Even people known for being extroverted and joyful spend hours weeping when they go to bed. They suffer enormous pain, because Ignorantism completely dominates society in general and it is exceedingly difficult for adherents to put up with the behavior and gestures that this false religion brings with it, even if they do exactly the same themselves.

Consider, for example, someone whose financial situation compels him to wear the same clothes to work every day. That causes him considerable distress, because other people will inevitably talk, attach little value to him, and mock him with thoughtless comments along the lines of "Haven't you anything else to wear?"

It is most troubling to know that in a workplace, school, or anywhere within a community are people who talk behind others' backs. People inevitably come to hear what has been said about them and feel great distress as a result.

People manage to distress each other by very clever methods in the Religion of the Ignorant. For example, telling someone wearing a new outfit, "It's great, but it doesn't really suit you. The one you wore yesterday was more you," is generally done for the purpose of disparaging the other party. There is no room for praise, compliments or references to beauty in Ignorantism. Therefore, people do not praise one another's attributes. Telling someone with a new hair-do, even though one may actually like it, that, "The other style suited you more" is the kind of barb employed in the Religion of the Ignorant. Finding some flaw in every thing of beauty and speaking about what is flawed rather than what is attractive is a rule in Ignorantism. A requirement of this rule is to avoid praising an attractive person by saying things like, "She's pretty, but I've seen prettier," or, "She's pretty, but her dress lets her down," or, "She would have been even prettier if her eyes were green."

Enjoying oneself at the expense of other people's errors or deficiencies is another cruel aspect of the Religion of the Ignorant: Laughing at someone's being cross-eyed, for example, behind their back, saying, "I can't tell if he's looking at me or you," or "I can't manage to look him in the eye." Saying things like "Hold tight!" when handing something to a clumsy person, or telling someone who's going bald of all the new hair restorers on the market, or saying things like, "They've developed a new hair-replacement treatment. We'd better get you an appointment," or, "It looks like you've lost a few more hairs since last night." Saying ignorant things to a short person such as "How's the air down there?" or, "How's the view from down there?"

All these are methods of cruelty employed in Ignorantism. Others include laughing at someone who has fallen, mocking someone whose clothes are tattered, or imitating someone who stammers.

In such situations, those on the receiving end generally respond with behavior appropriate to the Religion of the Ignorant. They may laugh to avoid giving the impression that their feelings are hurt. Yet inside, they still feel the pain those words caused. Alternatively, they may counterattack by referring to a defect in the other party, and thus this ugly behavior takes on a life of its own.

6- Provocative Tactics

Another important feature of Ignorantism is seeking to anger other people. Some people behave this way to annoy people they do not like, and others, to take revenge on someone who has offended them. For others, it becomes a lifestyle all of its own. They take pleasure in exposing others' weaknesses and watching them become angry, and satisfy their own worldly urges in this way. They behave toward their parents, teachers or friends in ways expressly designed to anger.

However, this component of the Religion of the Ignorant is not implemented in a blatant manner. Angering other people has its own particular methodology, which methods include:

"Playing It Cool"

This method is frequently employed by those who enjoy annoying others. Adopting an exceptional calm on subjects which others find important or feel excitement or concern about, is one way to upset them. One often encounters this behavior in young people's attitudes towards their parents. A young girl who wants to get back at her mother for not letting her go out in the evening will respond to all her mother's questions in a very calm, indifferent tone of voice.

While the woman frantically searches for car keys she has mislaid and asks her daughter to help her look, the girl may reply, "I haven't seen the key," in a placid tone and keep on reading her magazine. When her mother is talking on the telephone and urgently needs a pen and paper to write something down, her daughter may get up—very slowly—and bring her those items in an annoyingly laid-back manner. When her mother asks happily what she did at school that day, she may reply merely, "Nothing much." Asked how her day went, the daughter may just reply, "Fine," and carry on with whatever she's doing, knowing that all such behavior will annoy her mother.

Acting in a very calm manner is designed to hinder someone in a hurry and to slow them down—another method of annoying others with Ignorantism. For example, telling someone who's late for work that he's left his briefcase upstairs, just as that person is heading out of the door, and then walking very slowly upstairs to retrieve it, is performed with the sole purpose of irritating that other person. A student who listens with obvious lack of interest to something his teacher is telling him excitedly, and finally replies, "I have no idea what you are talking about" makes himself feel good by annoying that teacher. This is also behavior appropriate to the Religion of the Ignorant.

Another variation of "playing it cool" is failing to provide satisfactory answers to questions posed. For instance, when asked, "I've looked everywhere, but I can't find my shoes. Have you seen them?" merely replying "Yes" is a tactic designed to irritate. Merely answering "In the room," when asked where the shoes were seen, and failing to state which particular room forces the other party to ask still more questions, such as, "Which room? Wherein the room? In which cupboard, and on which shelf?" An issue that could be resolved in a single sentence is prolonged for several minutes, putting the other party to great trouble. Therefore, failing to give full and satisfactory replies is one of the irritating methods employed in Ignorantism.

"Pretending not to Hear, See or Understand"

In societies of the ignorant, this method is usually employed by people who dispute with each other in order to get back at each other. They use it to upset the person they have disputes with by annoying them, imagining that they are inflicting their revenge in this way. In a social setting, for example, looking at those one disputes with disdainfully and not talking to them, as if they did not exist, laughing at everyone's jokes except theirs, greeting everyone else but not them, not saying goodbye to them even though one does to everyone else, and asking after everyone's health except those particular individuals'. Cutting them dead this way effectively means "Just that you know, you are of no importance to me," according to the criteria of the Religion of the Ignorant.

People who have made this technique a habit use it very often. Pretending not to listen even though they can actually hear perfectly what another is saying , and making it clear how little they value them with such things as "Sorry, what were you saying?" or, "Did you say something?" is Ignorantist behavior adopted by such people. Making someone else constantly explain what one understands perfectly is another way of irritating others. Asking, "How do you mean?" when told that one is dawdling over and to act a bit faster, is a way of putting that person to extra trouble and making them regret having complained in the first place. The way that a young girl asks, "How do you mean?" when her mother asks her to be tidier is an annoying tactic employed in the face of such criticism. The fact is, everyone knows what acting quicker or being tidier means, and these matters can be put into practice without the slightest difficulty.

"Barbed Comments"

Another means of annoying other people is uttering barbed comments. At a business meeting attended by someone who has been appointed to a senior position through knowing someone influential, saying, "I wish I had important contacts so I could get to the top!" is one example. Alternatively, saying, "We have to pay the price for other people's mistakes" in the presence of someone who has made an honest mistake is another way of making barbed comments. Not mentioning a name, but referring to "certain people" is another of the ugly rules that apply in the Religion of the Ignorant.

A student envious of someone who always obtains higher marks may say, "Certain people actually study all night but never let on" in that person's presence, simply in order to annoy him.

"Annoying with a Glance"

People generally resort to using looks to express what they cannot put into words. An imputation expressed in a look can never be proven, and people can easily deny the intention behind their facial expressions. For example, anyone who directs a look of hatred towards someone can always say, "I was thinking of something else. That's why my expression changed. It had nothing to do with anyone," then everyone has to accept his explanation. Alternatively, when someone who used a mocking look says, "No, I was listening to you very carefully. It's just that something came into my head which is why you may have formed the impression I was laughing at you," no one can object. There is no physical proof of mockery in a facial expression. Yet a person's expression can express all kinds of opinions, positive or negative, in a crystal-clear way. So a great many in the society of the ignorant rely solely on looks to annoy others.

One's eyes can also hold a mocking look designed to make it clear how much one despises someone else. This method assumes the form of laughing with one's eyes while one's face remains expressionless. Someone who appears to be listening very seriously to what another has to say, but whose eyes are full of laughter, is actually saying, "Keep on talking, but what you are saying is going in one ear and out of the other."

7- Being Closed to New Ideas and Criticism

In terms of character and moral values, a person who lives by the Religion of the Ignorant can never register any progress through life. The Ignorantism places a strict ban on new ideas and criticism. It is almost impossible to criticize or suggest new ideas to someone older, richer, more cultured, in a higher position, more attractive or more experienced than oneself. Indeed, so strict are the rules in this regard that friendships that have lasted 20 or 30 years can come to an end, never to be restored, as the result of a single criticism.

For example, in the Religion of the Ignorant, it is exceedingly humiliating for anyone to be told about his behavior, moral values, character or gestures by another party. That is why in the society of the ignorant, you'll generally never see anyone asking anyone else's opinion or seeking their advice.

It is almost impossible, for instance, to hear such questions as, "Is there anything in my character you don't like? Can you see any flaws in the way I laugh, or walk, or in my facial expressions? Do you have any advice to give me about my personality? How could I be easier to get on with or more beloved?" or, "What do you think of my taste in clothes? Have you any advice you could give me as one listens?" That is in total contradiction of Ignorantism for someone to seek to improve himself by seeking advice from others. Everyone regards himself as the best, the most cultured, the most refined and the most intelligent. Even if he knows he has flaws and needs to work on himself, he'll never want to let those around him know.

The Religion of the Ignorant is completely against seeking advice and criticism. Consider, for example, a doctor or engineer who's an expert in his own field. If a client says that he has received a different opinion from another professional, the answer will inevitably be along the lines of, "In that case, go to him." Experts in their own field are generally reluctant to take advice from their colleagues and want clients to act on their own recommendations.

Under this belief, it's impossible for someone to take kindly to criticism from anyone younger—a nephew, for example. Practically no young person can make any suggestions about the character of his aunt or uncle. A youngster who wants some relative to be more patient, tolerant or more considerate will likely meet with a mocking, indifferent or angry reaction. People who answer, "I am not about to take advice from someone your age," imagine they need no help from anyone younger. But a young person with proper morals and deep faith can be a great deal more intelligent and spiritually mature, and have a finer conscience, than an older person without faith.

Indeed, the words spoken by the Prophet Abraham (as) to call his father to the true path, as revealed in the Qur'an, set an example:

In Ignorantism, rank and culture prevent criticism from being taken on board. A worker can never advise the boss of the factory where he works; neither regarding work, nor that person's character, nor any other matter. Indeed, if an intolerant, oppressive employer does receive advice from one of his employees, very likely the first thing he'll do is fire that worker. Offering advice in such a way is a grave insult in the Religion of the Ignorant.

However, this is a most erroneous perspective and incompatible with the moral values of the Qur'an. The arrival of criticism is a sign of a great blessing and of great friendship. The Qur'an commands people to encourage what is good and forbid what is bad. It is of course very poor behavior to prevent someone from abiding by this command or to turn one's back on good advice.

8- Attitudes Towards Guests

When people lose their spiritual values, the gap is filled by the Ignorantism, itself built upon irreligion. The Religion of the Ignorant will inevitably be present wherever Islamic moral values are absent. Wherever Ignorantism is found, behavior compatible with proper moral values such as humanity, consideration and devotion will be lacking.

We can cite the attitude of adherents of the Religion of the Ignorant towards guests. First, however, it will be useful to examine the pleasing aspects of Islamic moral values on this subject.

Assume that you are a guest in the home of someone living by the moral values of the Qur'an. Whoever receives you will be delighted to have you as his guest, because welcoming a guest is regarded as a virtue in Islam, and guests are always treated with the greatest respect. From the moment you enter his home, therefore, you will experience smiling faces, and warm and sincere interest, even from people you meet for the first time. Even if your host has only limited means, he will muster them all to welcome you, because in the Qur'an, Allah teaches a custom of welcoming by offering things even before they are needed. The attitude towards guests of the Prophet Abraham (as), as revealed in the Qur'an, reveals just what the perspective on guests should be:

As can be seen, the Prophet Abraham (as) treated his guests with great consideration, even though he did not know them, and offered them refreshment without causing any embarrassment.

When Ignorantism prevails, however, people's attitudes are exceedingly selfish and inconsiderate. If you go to the home of someone under the spell of the Religion of the Ignorant, you will experience an intense feeling of being a burden, because under the moral values of that religion, a guest is regarded as just another mouth to feed.

People concerned over mutual interests, of course, play host to one another at specific times to keep their relations on a sound footing. However, under the rules of Ignorantism, when one person visits the home of another, he is later expected to repay that hospitality in kind. Being someone else's guest three or four times in a row is out of the question!

The hosts impatiently await their guests' departure. They cannot abide their presence for more than a few hours. If the guest has not been specifically invited for dinner, they will not offer him anything to eat. Since the emphasis is on sending the guest back home by incurring as little expenditure as possible, a few of the very cheapest things may be brought in and handed round. Hosts generally set aside the best for themselves and minimize costs by offering the worst to their guests. It's regarded as the height of bad manners for guests to have more than one helping at dinner, and if they do ask for any more, the hosts will secretly gossip in the kitchen about how ill-bred they are, saying things like, "Don't they eat a lot? Let's hope they don't stay too long." Neither is the guest's wandering about the house welcomed, and no matter how long they may stay, never are they invited out of the living/dining room. If the guest does happen to leave the room, they are made to feel that this is unwelcome.

If the guest has traveled from a long way away and must stay for a few nights, the hosts' patience will be tried to the extreme. In a short while, everything the guest eats, does, and wears will become a separate cause for complaint. The hosts will calculate every penny they've spent, from the olive pits left on the plate to the cups of tea consumed, from the number of meals the guest has eaten to the number of baths taken and the volume of water consumed. Their every action will soon make the guest feel unwanted. It's therefore impossible to feel comfortable in such a home.

Of course, guests also behave in accord with the rules of the Religion of the Ignorant. That means seeking to extract as much benefit as possible from the home in which they are guests and never thinking whether they are making their hosts at all uneasy. They will engage in many other forms of thoughtlessness.

In conclusion, no matter what the situation, people establish an environment that troubles both themselves and others. The reason for this is poor moral values, far removed from those of the Qur'an. The difference between the warmth that Islam encourages in a person and the moral values prevailing in Ignorantism can be seen clearly in every aspect of daily life. Due to the inhumane, thoughtless and selfish behavior created by the Religion of the Ignorant, a great many are troubled, unable to live at ease or find a close, trustworthy friend. Nonetheless, millions continue to abide by Ignorantism with the greatest determination, thus causing themselves great distress. This situation is described in the Qur'an: