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Chapter 1 Islamic Culture-World of Islam Unlimited Capabilities
Establishment of Religious Government, Demonstration of the Capabilities of
World of Islam
One of the main characteristics of Islam, which also
constitutes its main body, is being a social religion. The social principles of
Islam are so comprehensive that their scopes go beyond mere recommendations on
the nature of people’s relations with each other. In fact in order to implement
these principles, the existence of a system with executive power is
indispensable. The decrees on Imamate, following (obedience) consultation,
commandment of good and prohibition of evil, and holy war, which are called
governmental decrees, belong to this category.
Islam is the most perfect divine religion and the holy Quran
is the only divine book that has not been falsified. Moreover the Islamic laws,
legislated by the divine lawgiver, are based on man’s primordial nature and
project Islam as the most human-oriented culture. Therefore, Islamic political
thought which stems from the sublime Islamic culture, prepares the grounds for
the establishment of the most sublime and perfect structure of a religious
government - a government based on
divine laws headed by the most merited and qualified member of the Islamic
ummah. Such government offers a path for material and spiritual felicity and
perfection of man through revival and spread of sublime Islamic values in the
society.
Throughout the history of the Islamic civilization " since
the advent of Islam till date " Muslim thinkers, through proper understanding of
the unlimited capabilities of Islam for the formation of an Islamic government
and its role in guiding human beings, particularly the Muslims, as well as the
restoration of the grandeur of the world of Islam have always been preoccupied
with the establishment of a religious government.
“The concept of perfect man in the Islamic civilization and
its materialization in the person of Prophet Muhammad (PBHU) (in the Sunni
jurisprudence) and in the person of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the infallible
Imams (PBHT) (in the Shii jurisprudence) " “Ye have indeed in the Apostle of God
a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any of whose hope is in God and the Final
Day…”[10]
" and the social characteristics of Islam as well as its diverse principles and
decrees about the method of formation and establishment of a religious
government all in all are considered as valuable cultural-religious data for the
Muslim thinkers in their endeavor for social reforms. Hence, in their endeavor
to offer an alternative government model, Muslim thinkers enjoyed all the
required means on the basis of human-based, sublime divine teachings; and even
had the most perfect model of divine government is at their disposal.”[11]
In fact the prevailing issues and problems of every society
takes new shapes depending on the conditions of time and space and hence require
befitting reply. The concept of individual inference or individual reasoning (ijtihad)
in Islamic jurisprudence provides the qualified, pious Muslim jurisprudents to
offer suitable answers to these questions on the basis of
unambiguous principles of this discipline " the Book, the sunnah, consensus, and
reason. This is one of the secrets of the durability of Islam in the course of
time. In this regard Imam Khomeini states:
“I do not think that there is any method better than that of
the previous ulema for a thorough study of Islamic sciences. The millennium-old
history of research and investigation of the veracious ulema of Islam bears
testimony to our claim regarding the fruition of the sacred sapling of Islam.”[12]
Without any doubt the founder of the Islamic Republic of
Iran, Imam Khomeini, was the most distinguished disciple of the rich Islamic
culture, had the highest command of the Islamic teachings and was the greatest
social reformer in the world of Islam. Relying on his deep knowledge and proper
social insight, he could realize the challenges of the Islamic society and
founded the popular, Islamic struggles through revival of religious thought and
their spread among the Islamic ummah by relying on the power of the Muslim
masses. Finally through his insightful leadership of the struggles, he founded
the first religious government in the contemporary world " a world that has
distanced itself from spiritual values.
In sum, the establishment of the divine religion in the
Arabian peninsula, the legislation of the most human-based social decrees which
are based on human primordial nature, the experience of the establishment of
religious government, spread of Islam across the universe, the splendor and
glory of Muslims in the light of this government, the definition of new sublime
concepts as a model for the religious leaders of the Islamic society (perfect
man) and finally the creation of the discipline of individual inference by
reliance on genuine Islamic sources, all underline the unlimited capability of
Islam in establishing the most complete form of government (Islamic government).
Such a government sprouts from the clear spring of revelation and its leadership
is vested with the most righteous person who has the highest command of
religious teachings. One can claim that it is only under such a government and
the leadership of such an Imam that human societies can move towards felicity
and material and spiritual perfection and will find the way of redemption and
salvation in this world and in the hereafter.
Characteristics of the Religious Government: Viewpoints of Imam Khomeini and Ayatollah
Khamenei
One of the most important characteristics of religious
government - which also
distinguishes it from other forms of government based on materialistic cultures
(non-religious governments) " is that it is value-based, based on defense of
truth and human dignity, and rejection of wrong including inequity, oppression,
infidelity, paganism, exploitation, and colonization. Hence the religious
government under the leadership of Imam is meant to safeguard right and reject
wrong, which is a divine mission.
A review of the ideas of Imam Khomeini and Ayatollah
Khamenei as well as foreign and domestic policies of the Islamic Republic of
Iran will demonstrate the unceasing struggle of the Islamic system, as the
harbinger of right, against the camp of global arrogance, led by the United States.
Establishment of United Islamic Ummah;
Unity, Key to Victory and Glory of Muslims
As a Muslim reformer and leader of the Islamic society, Imam
Khomeini always considered unity of word, solidarity and utilization of the rich
Islamic resources as the only strategy for the victory o the deprived,
disinherited masses over the arrogant powers as well as the restoration of the
magnificence and glory of the disinherited Muslims and always recommended the
Islamic government and ummah to observe these sacred issues:
“I have repeatedly invited the Islamic governments to unity
and fraternity vis-à-vis the aliens and their agents who want to dominate our
dear territories and colonize them and exploit their spiritual and material
resources by diving the Muslims and Islamic governments.”[13]
Elsewhere, Imam Khomeini clearly states that the main reason
for the backwardness and depravation of the Muslims, particularly the
Palestinian Muslims, is lack of theoretical and practical unity among the
Islamic countries and Islamic ummah and once again underlines the need for unity
and solidarity of the world of Islam on the basis of Islamic communalities as
the only key to victory and success against the camp of arrogance.
“If the heads of the Islamic countries give up their
differences and become acquainted with the sublime Islamic objectives and tilt
towards Islam, they will not become captives and slaves of colonialists as
such.”[14]
The Imam painfully warns that depravation, colonization, and
exploitation of the material and human resources of the Islamic world will
increase and there is no way for getting rid of from this problem except return
of the Muslims to the cultural, religious principles and revival of Islamic
unity of word.
“I have warned time and again that if the Islamic ummah does
not wake up and does not become aware of its duties, if the Islamic ulema do not
shoulder their responsibility and do not rise, if true Islam, which is the
result of unity and movement of all Islamic sects against the aliens and is the
guarantor of the mastery and independence of the Muslim nations and governments
continue to remain under the black veil of colonialism, and if the flames of
differences and disunity among the Muslims flare up, darker and more miserable
days await the Muslim society and a destructive threat will endanger Islam and
the Quranic principles.”[15]
In order to perform its divine mission, the Islamic
government of Iran
considers the establishment of the universal Islamic ummah as one of its duties
and will not spare any efforts in this regard. Article 11 of the Constitution of
the Islamic Republic states:
“On the basis of the Quranic verse, “Verily, this
brotherhood of yours is a single brotherhood, and I am your Lord and Cherisher:
therefore Serve Me,”[16]
all Muslims belong to one ummah and the government of the Islamic Republic is
duty-bound to base its policy on the coalition and unity of Islamic nations and
make incessant efforts to materialize political, economic and cultural unity of
the Islamic world.”
Commenting on the unity of Islamic ummah, the Leader of the
Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei, states:
“The entire Islamic ummah must remember this profound,
precise recommendation of our dear Imam and should not forget unity of word on
the basis of Islam. “And hold fast, all together, by the Rope Which God
(stretches out for you).”[17]
Hold fast to the rope of Allah and get united around the pivot of Islam. This
unity is remedy to all illnesses and demolisher of all enemies.”[18]
Addressing the Islamic ummah in the Islamic world, while
elaborating on the role of unity in the glory of the Islamic nation of Iran, the Leader mentioned Iran as a role
model for other Muslims:
“Unity of word has been the key to the victory of the
Iranian nation in various stages and today it is the best means for the
confrontation of our nation with the provocations and plots.”[19]
Defending the Disinherited and Downtrodden Against the Arrogance
“The founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran paid special
attention to the protection of the disinherited masses against the arrogant
powers so that only few months after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, he
put forth the idea of the establishment of an international party called the
Party of the Disinherited.”[20]
In this regard, he states:
“I hope that one party called the Party of the Disinherited
is established in the world and all the downtrodden of the world cooperate in
this party to remove the problems existing in their way and rise against the
arrogant powers and plunderers of the East and West and will no more allow the
arrogant powers to oppress the downtrodden of the world.”[21]
Clearly the Islamic system of Iran, in the light of its
divine mission, cannot keep silent against inequity and oppression and considers
campaign against oppression and support of the disinherited and oppressed people
of the world particularly the oppressed Muslims as one of its objectives in the
world and has full faith in the divine promise on the rule of the disinherited
over the world: “And We wished to be gracious to those who were being depressed
in the land, to make them leaders and make them heirs.”[22]
Commenting on the same issue the Leader of the Islamic
Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei states:
“Whatever we have, we owe to the blessings of genuine,
revolutionary Islam, which is concerned about the fate of the oppressed and
disinherited classes… the Islam of the weak and barefooted. The Islam that
grants dignity and mastery to the low classes of the society and rescues them
from lowliness and wretchedness. The Islam that overthrows the bullying thugs
and powerful oppressors from their seat of power. The Islam for whose spread our
honorable Imam spent his entire life.”[23]
All-Out Independence and Rejection of Dependence on Arrogant Powers
Genuine Islam is capable of guiding the Muslims towards
dignity and felicity and is able to empower them to confront the dominant
materialistic powers of the world without any dependence on the Eastern and
Western poles. The victory of the Islamic Revolution, which was a manifestation
of this concept of Islam, demonstrates this truth for the entire world.
Commenting on this issue, Imam Khomeini states: “If instead
of relying on the Eastern and Western blocs, the Islamic governments and nations
rely on Islam and hold fast to the illuminating, liberating teachings of the
holy Quran… they will not be frightened by the United States nor will they fear the Soviet Union.”[24]
Commenting on the comprehensive independence of the country and its preservation
as well as its impact on the political insight of the Muslims, and their faith
and awareness of the capabilities of Islam, the Leader of the Islamic
Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, states:
“Up to the establishment of the Islamic Republic, the Muslim
masses were told that Islam was not capable of bringing about dignity and honor
for them and that in search of felicity they should go after Western models and
European and American cultures or tilt towards imaginary hollow Marxist
theories; but after the victory of the Islamic Revolution and establishment of
the Islamic Republic in Iran, the honor and dignity the materialization of Islam
granted to the Iranian nation, thwarted all the longstanding achievements of the
colonial powers and showed in practice that Islam can rescue a nation from
indolence and oppression and direct it towards the apogee of dignity, courage,
and self-confidence and also it is able to grant them a firm, independent
system, capable of challenging the materialistic powers of the world.”[25]
Once again it should be borne in mind that the formation and
victory of the Islamic Revolution, the establishment of an Islamic government in
Iran, its honorable resistance against various plots of the global arrogance and
its internal and external agents, in fact, demonstrated the unlimited
capabilities of Islamic thought and culture in establishing the most perfect
form of government system (Islamic government) which meets the demands of
various societies with their indigenous cultures in all times and is capable of
directing the societies towards perfection and felicity. On the other hand, the
formation of the Islamic government could represent the most prefect practical
model of government for the disinherited and oppressed peoples of the world,
particularly the Muslim masses, preparing the grounds for the revival of
religious thought and culture and putting forth the need for return of the
Muslim masses to the foundations of Islamic culture.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei has
a clear remark on this topic:
“The impacts of the victory of the Iranian nation in the
face of the world challenges did not remain confined to the Islamic world,
rather, the Islamic breeze started blowing even in the non-Muslim countries
where the iron cage systems of party dictatorship or ethnic oppression had not
allowed the Muslims of those countries to even feel being Muslims; their dormant
faiths started simmering and the herald of Islam disturbed the tranquility of
the evils… This is an Islamic resurrection which has enlivened the dead souls
and is preparing the grounds for the day when in response to the question “Whose
will be the Dominion?”, it is said: “That of God, the One, the Irresistible.”
(The Holy Quran, 40: 16).[26]
Hajj, Symbol of Unity and Islamic Might
The divine religion of Islam appeared in the form of a
complete religious culture from the very beginning of its emergence. It
succeeded to establish a society with Islamic identity and an Islamic government
under the leadership of the Messenger of Allah and in the shortest possible time
it prepared the grounds for its spread across the globe.
A cursory look at the early years of the development of
Islam shows that the main divine mission of the Prophet (PBUH) was to implement
the Islamic culture and ideas and establish a religious society in order to lead
human beings towards felicity and perfection. As the founder of the Islamic
culture and religious, and given human-oriented nature of Islam,[27]
the Prophet (PBUH) of Allah based his endeavors and struggles on cultural
activities and by relying on the principle of the call, he tried to guide the
people directly or indirectly (dispatch of representatives to other
territories).
The history of human civilization shows that propagation of
a new culture, particularly a new religious culture and advocacy of a new method
of life, which calls for fundamental changes in the principles and pillars of
the previous culture and civilization does not recognize the traditional power
structures of the society, always faces certain problems and the first followers
normally endure lots of hardship, particularly inflicted on them by the
power-wielders, who found their interests endangered by the new religion.
The incessant struggles of the Prophet (PBUH) and his
companions for the propagation and introduction of Islam as well as the
establishment of the first bases of the Muslim communities and finally the
establishment of the first Islamic society and Islamic government along with the
hardships and difficulties they endured in this way bear eloquent testimony to
this very fact.
At this stage we witness that the efforts of the holy
Prophet (PBUH) and his companions for the establishment of the first perfect
government structure (Islamic government) bears fruit. However, with the passage
of time and as we go farther from the time of the departure of the Prophet
(PBUH), the government systems in the Islamic territories gradually become alien
to the religious government and get closer to monarchical dictatorial systems.
Also simultaneous with the decline and deterioration of the Abbasid dynasty and
emergence of local governments which did not enjoy any religious legitimacy
(they were neither based on Imamate of Shiism nor were they attributed to the
Quraish " legitimacy in Sunnite school)[28]
and hence the Islamic society and Muslim scholars started putting the legitimacy
of the government into question and the ruling sultan was considered as an
oppressor and usurper of the rulership in the Islamic world.[29]
By isolating and distorting the Islamic teachings, isolating
the Muslim thinkers from amongst the masses and interpreting the religion to
justify their own interests, the despotic rulers tried to consolidate the
pillars of their rule and in the process presented a distorted image of religion
to the society. However, by enduring hardships, the veracious Muslim thinkers
and scholars tried to preserve the Islamic sources and spread Islamic teachings.
Commenting on the role of the veracious ulema of Islam in preserving the
perimeters of the religious principles, Imam Khomeini states:
“If the dear ulema were not there, it would not be clear
what would have been presented to the people today as the Quranic sciences,
Islam and the Household of the Prophet (PBUT). The collection and preservation
of the Quranic sciences and the sayings and traditions of the honorable Prophet
and the precept of the infallible Imams; as well as their record and
preservation at a time when … the sultans and oppressors had mobilized all
resources to eliminate them was not an easy task.”[30]
In the contemporary era too the invading Western governments
and some ruling systems spread a poisonous atmosphere
[31]against the Islamic world and level charges and accusations against Islam by
relying no their propaganda means. They also try to inculcate the idea that the
main reason for backwardness and shortages in the Islamic world is the people’s
commitment to religious principles. Therefore the committed Muslim scholars and
thinkers, particularly Imam Khomeini, shouldered a heavy responsibility. They
had to purify the principles of religion and eliminate superstitions in order to
revive religious thought and hence launched their cultural, propagation struggle
in order to introduce genuine Islamic culture and thought. They therefore had to
innovate new value-based intellectual concepts.
Among the most important, profound concepts which was
created and whose theoretical elaboration left an outstanding impact on the
beliefs of the Muslims and made them realize the need for return to religious
principles was genuine Mohammedan Islam which was introduced by the greatest and
most pious disciple of the school of Islam, Imam Khomeini, that indeed
introduced a new meaning of Islam to the world.
In this approach,
Islam has been introduced as an anti-arrogance school which rejects all
manifestations of oppression and tyranny, supports all the disinherited and
oppressed peoples of the world, preserves independence, rejects any kind of
dependence, and safeguards such human rights as freedom and social justice.
Without any doubt in the light of such an image of Islam,
all religious principles and decrees find a clear meaning, the rust of
superstition is wiped out from religious principles, and the clear image of
Jamiat un Nabi " the utopia of the Muslim in all stages of the Islamic
civilization " becomes clearly visible.
Among the Islamic decrees, which underwent a change in the
light of the introduction of sociopolitical thought of genuine Mohammedan Islam,
was Hajj ritual. Imam Khomeini introduced Abrahamic Hajj instead of the
“American Hajj”, which in effect transformed Hajj ceremonies from mere
ritualistic ceremonies to a political-ritualistic ceremony. Thus the Hajj
occasion became a platform for the expression of the message of the oppressed
and wretched of the world and a manifestation of the Islamic unity, cry of
deliverance from the pagans and the arrogant camp and ultimately a platform for
the demonstration of the power of the Islamic world in confronting the camp of
arrogance.
Characteristics of Abrahamic Hajj in Viewpoints of Imam Khomeini and
Ayatollah Khamenei
In viewpoints of
Imam Khomeini and Ayatollah Khamenei, religious rites and rituals have various
aspects. The raison d’etre of Islamic principles can be studied from various
aspects including individual, social, ritualistic, and political ones. In other
words, within the framework of genuine Mohammedan Islam, Imam Khomeini depicted
a sociopolitical image of Islam. Thus he rescued Islam from social isolation and
changed it into a dominant culture and idea in the society and elaborated on it
theoretically in order deepen religious concepts among the Muslims. In this
line, in the opinions of Imam Khomeini and Ayatollah Khamenei, Hajj rituals have
individual, social, ritualistic, and political aspects and Hajj is rightly the
manifestation of great power of unity of Islamic ummah.
A) Characteristics of Hajj and
Its Spiritual Status
Commenting on the spiritual and ritualistic aspects of Hajj,
Imam Khomeini emphasized on the interconnection of this aspect with other
aspects:
“Spiritual position of Hajj, which is an eternal asset and
brings about closeness of man with horizon of monotheism and purity, will not be
achieved unless the ritualistic principles of Hajj are properly performed and
its political aspect is not fulfilled unless its spiritual and divine aspects
are accomplished.
… your labaiks (yes O Lord) should be a response to
the call of the Almighty God and wear the pilgrimage garment in order to get
close to the threshold of the Court of the Lord. While chanting labaik
migrate from self " a great source of infidelity " towards the Lord, glorified
is He.”[32]
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali
Khamenei, describes Hajj as an eternal source, a divine spring and a clear
rivulet for the Islamic ummah:
“Thanks be to Allah Who has ordained Hajj as an eternal
source, a divine spring and a clear continuous rivulet for the eternal ummah.”[33]
Elsewhere, he comments on the interrelations between spiritual, ritualistic
aspects of Hajj and its political, social dimensions: “Hajj is a worship and
chanting of prayers and repentance, but it is a worship and a repentance aimed
to resuscitate the pure life of the Islamic ummah and liberate it from the
chains of colonialism, dictatorship and mammons of wealth and power... It is a
Hajj which is among the pillars of religion and in the Nahj ul Balagha, the
Commander of the Faithful has called it the banner of Islam, the holy war of
every powerless, remover of poverty and destitute, and a source of proximity of
the believers to each other.”[34]
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei and
Imam Khomeini both lay emphasis on the importance of the city of Mecca and the
House of God (Bait ullah al Haram) " where the greatest culture and civilization
of the history of mankind was formed. Commenting on the issue, Imam Khomeini
stated:
“The holy Mecca
and the holy sites are the mirror of great events of the movements of the
prophets, of Islam and mission of the holy Prophet of Islam. Every spot of this
territory is a place of emergence of great prophets, the trusted Gabriel and
reminder of the years-long sufferings and hardships the Prophet (PBUH) endured
in the way of Islam and humanity. Presence in these holy sites while bearing in
mind the difficult, intolerable conditions of the appointment of the Prophet
acquaints us with the responsibility of preservation of the achievements of this
divine movement and mission.”
Commenting on the same issue, the Leader of the Islamic
Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei, states:
“In this place, the pivot and center of every sanctity is
God and circumambulation, running between Safa and Marva, and staying [in holy
sites]
as well as other rituals of Hajj each is a demonstration of attraction to
God and rejection, denial and deliverance from the enemies of God.”[35]
B) Social Aspects of Hajj
Hajj, the Manifestation of Unity of Islamic Ummah
In the opinions of Imam Khomeini and Ayatollah Khamenei,
Hajj is a manifestation of consolidation of Islamic unity and an expression of
integrity of the Islamic ummah.
Commenting on the issue, Imam Khomeini states:
“One of the most important pillars of the philosophy of Hajj
is creation of understanding and consolidation of fraternity among the Muslims.”[36]
Elsewhere, the Imam states: “We should bear in mind that one of the significant
reasons for gathering of [all Muslims]
from across the world in the this sacred
place is solidarity of the Muslims of the world, consolidation of unity among
the followers of the holy Prophet of Islam and the holy Quran against the
illegitimate rulers of the world.”[37]
Commenting on the same issue, the Leader of the Islamic
Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei says:
“Hajj is the manifestation of unity and solidarity of the
Muslims. Now the Almighty God calls all the Muslims and those who are able [to
travel]
to this particular point, at a particular time and assembles them
besides each other during certain nights and days to participate in certain
rites and practices which are the manifestation of coexistence, discipline and
coordination. Its first manifest impact is injection of the feeling of unity and
congregation in each of them and demonstration of the glory and splendor of the
congregation of Muslims to them as well as nourishing their mind with the
feeling of grandeur.”[38]
Hajj, a Platform for Solving the Problems of the Muslims
Imam Khomeini and
Ayatollah Khamenei consider Hajj occasion as an opportunity for proximity among
the world Muslims as well as an occasion for discussing the problems and
shortcomings of various Islamic societies and an occasion for reaching a
consensus to solve these problems. Imam Khomeini states:
“Now that it is the occasion of House of God and the Muslims
from across the world have gone on pilgrimage to the House of God, it is
necessary that during the performance of Hajj ceremonies they pay attention to
one of the greatest reasons for this great assembly, that is, paying attention
to the sociopolitical conditions of the Islamic countries and becoming aware of
the problems of their brother-in-faith and try to solve them in accordance to
their Islamic, humane duties. Paying attention to the affairs of the Muslims is
among the important obligations.”[39]
C) Political
Dimension of Hajj
Propagation and Awakening
The founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, who was
the political, cultural leader of the Islamic society, considered the Hajj
occasion as an appropriate time for enhancing the awareness of the Muslims and
awakening of the Islamic ummah. In this regard, he laid emphasis on the role of
the ulema, thinkers and writers of the Islamic world:
“O speakers and writers, during the great congregations in
Arafat, holy Mecca,
etc. describe the social and political problems of your regions for your
brothers-in-faith and seek each other’s assistance. O pilgrims of the House of
God, explain the plots of the plundering, aggressive US and criminal Israel for the
world people and realize the crimes of these criminals and beseech God for the
improvement of the condition of Muslims and severance of the hands of the
criminals.”[40]
Addressing all the Muslims, the Leader of the Islamic
Revolution, lays emphasis on spreading information and enhancing awareness about
the international issues during the Hajj ceremonies: “During great
congregations, particularly that of Hajj, the Muslims must discuss the problems
of the world of Islam.”
Imam Khomeini also underlines the political aspect of Hajj,
“One of the great philosophies of Hajj is its political dimension.”[41]
Elsewhere, the Imam says: “political dimension of Hajj is very significant.”[42]
Ayatollah Khamenei too lays emphasis on the political
dimension of Hajj: “Anybody who tries to segregate the political identity of
Hajj from these ceremonies is either ignorant or biased; God will not forgive
those who are prepared to achieve their own impure, trifle objectives by
depriving the Islamic Ummah of their greatest weapon against the global
infidelity and arrogance.”[43]
