Bigotry and Stubbornness Lead One Astray
Bigotry and stubbornness are two factors that take hold of a person and lead him astray.
Bigotry and stubbornness were among the reasons why people failed to accept divine prophets’ call.
Bigotry means unreasonable attachment to something, such as a belief, so much so that one sacrifices the truth for it. Stubbornness means insisting on something and refusing to change one’s opinion although it is against reason and logic.
One of the peoples who refused to follow divine messengers have been described in the Quran like this: “Every time I invite them to Your (guidance) so that You can forgive them, they put their fingers into their ears, cover their heads with their clothes, persist in their disbelief and display extreme arrogance.” (Verse 7 of Surah Nuh)
According to this verse, their bigotry was so much that they even refused to listen to the truth let alone accept it.
Reason and logic are factors that give direction to one’s moves. Those who disobey logic and reason and try to move against the path of nature will not only fail but also lose everything they have. Bigotry and stubbornness are the unreasonable factors that lead one astray.
No reason or logic influences the behavior and conduct of one who has bigotry. He looks at events the way he likes not the way they are. They insist on their wrong approach and refuse to listen to any reason.
The Holy Quran in various verses refers to such people who are entangled with bigotry and stubbornness.
1- The follow the path of their ancestors without questioning their reasonability. “As such, We never sent a warner before you to a village, except those living in luxury said: ‘We found our fathers following a creed, and by following in their footsteps we are guided.’” (Verse 23 of Surah Zukhruf)
2- Bigotry is one of the reasons for racism: “Had We revealed it to a non-Arab who would have read it to them, they (pagans) would not have believed in it.” (Verses 198-199 of Surah Ash-Shu’ara)
