One of the milestones on the road towards destruction is rejecting criticism and advice. Serious consequences and dangers follow this disease. Rejecting advise is a strange behaviour in Islaam because Allaah has recommended taking advices for the Muslims in the Quran. Allaah describes the believers as "those who answer the Call of their Lord and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) and who conduct their affairs by mutual consultation." (Q42[Shura]:38) The following outlines a series of responsibilities which, if properly carried out would serve to help those who are afflicted by this flaw Meaning.
The expression "Rejecting Criticism and Advice" means: Refusing to comply with the opinion of a critic or an adviser, or to discuss any of one’s own defects, even if such a discussion conforms with all the known standards and manners of criticism and advice. The Islamic Perspective Allaah censures those who reject criticism and advice without an acceptable excuse, and He says: "And who does more wrong than he who is reminded of the signs of his Lord, but turns away from them forgetting what (deeds) his hands have sent forth." (Q18[Kahf]:57) Thus we see how Allaah censures the one who rejects any criticism or advice addressed to him. This was totally understood by our pious predecessors, and it is obvious in what Ibn Masud (RA) said, "One of the greatest sins is rejecting advice from a brother (in Islam) to fear Allaah, saying to him, Mind your own business. Who are you to advice me?" (Tabarani)
Causes
Following are some of the causes of rejecting criticism and advice: Lacking the Qualities and Conditions Accepting criticism and advice is dependent upon the availability of certain qualities and conditions, without which the advice may fall on deaf ears. Examples of these qualities and conditions are: choosing the most appropriate circumstances, the best conditions, the most proper words, highlighting merits and advantages being accurate in the inquiry and verification of facts, maintaining secrecy, ceasing any form of disputation and insistence, and bearing in mind that advice should be dedicated for Allaah’s sake in the first place and then for the welfare of the recipient. Naturally this should be done without scandalizing or gloating over people’s faults. If advice is given in the absence of the aforementioned, it is very likely that the advice would be rejected. That is why we see Allaah recommended to Prophets Musa and Harun (alayhimas-salaam) to speak to Firawn with leniency: "And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear Allaah." (Q20[TaHa]:44)
On the authority of Jarir (RA) who said that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, "The one who is deprived of leniency is deprived of goodness." (Muslim) And on the authority of Aishah (RA) who aid that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, "Never does leniency exist in anything but it adorns it and it is not withdrawn from anything but it makes it defective." (Muslim) Self-admiration, Vanity and Arrogance Self-admiration, vanity and arrogance are further reasons behind the rejection of criticism and advice. In this case the person being criticized or advised believes himself to be above criticism.
This causes great loss to him. Allaah says: "I shall turn away from My Ayat (verses of the Quran) those who behave arrogantly on the earth, without a right, and (even) if they see all the signs, they will not believe in them." (Q7[Araf]:146)
Hostilities or Enmities: If the adviser and the advisee are at odds with each other, therein lie’s another cause of rejecting criticism. It is also one of the causes that make’s the polytheists reject the believers call to Islaam or their call to piety and virtue. On this point Allaah says: "And indeed we have set forth for mankind, in this Quran every kind of parable. But if you (O Muhammad SAW) bring to them any sign or proof, (as an evidence for the truth of your Prophethood), the disbelievers are sure to say (to the believers): "You follow nothing but falsehood, and magic." (Q30 [Rum]:58)
Disputes & Arguments: Disputation in contentious arguments is among the causes of rejecting criticism or advice. The one who is involved in disputations often rejects criticism or advice, because in accepting advice, he would be admitting defeat and he obviously does not want to be defeated. In this case Allaah mentions the reply of Noah's people when he advised them, saying, "O Nuh (Noah)! You have disputed with us and much have you prolonged the dispute with us, now bring upon us what you threaten us with, if you are of the truthful." (Q11 [Hud]:32)
Following Ones Desires The one who follows his desires, has taken them as his goal, so naturally it is impossible for him to accept criticism or advice even if it is true. The one who follows his whims takes his whims to be his god, and this will naturally make him refuse any criticism even if it is true.
Feeling That The Critic Is Inferior To One: If the one being criticized feels that his adviser is inferior to him in rank, age, or in knowledge, then he will probably reject any criticism or advice.
If One Believes That He Can Do Without Advise From Others: One may think that he has reached such a level that h!! feels he can dispense with other peoples advice. This is clearly a terrible form of arrogance. The person forgot that perfection is an attribute fitting only for Allaah. "So ascribe not purity to yourselves. He knows best him who fears Allaah and keep his duty to Him." (Q53[Najm]:32)
Effect’s
Rejecting criticism and advice results in many serious and evil consequences. The following are some of them:
Persistence In Wrongdoing The wrongdoing could be in the form of preventing the truth or offending the innocent, of which destruction is the result. Allaah say about the destruction of the people of Prophet Salih (alayhi salaam) "So the earthquake seized them, and they lay (dead), prostrate in their homes. Then he [Salih1 turned from them, and said: "O my people! I have indeed conveyed to you the Message of my Lord, and have given you good advice but you like not good advisers." (Q7[Araf]:78-79)
Exposure To Contempt The one who rejects advice remains in self-delusion and presents an emptiness of noble qualities. Such a person is held in contempt by the people. He remains open to ridicule and slander, after which no dignity survives. Allaah says: "whomsoever Allaah disgraces, none can honour him. Verily! Allaah does what He wills." (Q22 [Hajj]: 18)
Remedy
The following are some of the remedies and precautionary measures to take care of this flaw:
Acknowledge The Weak Nature Of Human Soul: The one who receives advice should call to mind that it is natural for him to make mistakes. He should also realize that it is not shameful to err. The shame is persisting in the error. Allaah says of Prophet Yusuf (alayhi salaam): "And I free not myself (from the blame). Verily, the (human) self is inclined to evil, except when my Lord bestows His Mercy (upon whom He wills). Verily, my Lord is Oft-Forgivng, Most Merciful." (QI2[Yusuf]53) and the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "All the sons of Adam repeatedly err, but the best of them are those who repent. (Tirmidhi)
Develop The Virtue Of Modesty: To obtain this level of piety, the soul must be free of self-conciet, vanity and arrogance. One of the signs of having a modest soul is accepting criticism. The Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "the one who shows humility Allaah elevates him in the estimation (of the people)."(Muslim)
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited