Some of the Characteristics of Aristocrats in Quran

Aristocracy in Quranic Teachings

Although in Arabic language nobles refer to big, good, genteel and well-known people and families and hence in Arabic the term also refers to seyyeds and the holy and grand family of Prophet Mohammad (p.b.u.h); but here nobles and nobility talk of rich and powerful people which Quran uses the term of welfare-seeking people to refer to them. Nobility and aristocracy is a characteristic of a social class having material powers which try to approach the owners of political and military powers and to be protected by them and hence to exploit their society and the people.
It seems that the structure of military and even political governments has been at first established for protecting this social group. In initial rural and tribal societies preserving riches made aristocrats employ a group of gallant young men to preserve them from theft by others. This military group then placed itself next to aristocrats and so the government was set. In this study we do not intend to cosider the historical procedure of establishment of governemnts and military forces, the aim is studying the coordination and close relation between these two social classes namely governments (military and political forces) and aristocrats. In many Quranic verses which study and analyze annihilation of different tribes and nations, the well set relation between these two strata and their opposition to invitation and reforms to justice and law set by Prophets have been refered to. Therefore cosidering and analyzing aristocracy in different societies is of great importance and value – many socities have been wiped out due to negative functions of aristocrats and undergone torture because of the divine laws governing societies and history, their names only exist. Knowing the insight, view and functions of this social stratum and following Quranic teachings can help Islamic socities to be away of these kinds of insights and views.

Aristocrats' Characteristics

Before discussing effects and functions of aristocracy in societis, we study some of their most important characteristics, because these traits can demonstrate who nobles are in the present societies and how we can trace them amongst others, because one of the characteristics of modern societis is the existence of floating classes – in which the members and classes can be changed any time and nothing is constant and permanent. Therefore knowing the traits and characteristics of the aristocrats can help us trace them even in fragile socities and hence stop their negative, harmful and exploitative functions as much as possible.
Among the most important characteristics of these people that Quran speaks of is their arrogant nature. Like Satan and Pharaoh, aristocrats are arrogant and consider nobody more superior and worthy than themselves. They always speak and behave in a way of "I am better than others" or "I act and behave better than others" or "I am more talented and capable than others". As God blamed Satan and Pharaoh for pride and arrogance, He also reprimands aristocrats and threatens them due to their approach and attitude towards themselves and others.

Aristocrats are far from Moderation

Extravagance is one of the traits of secular aristocrats. In pursuit of everything they seek no moderation and they always put extravagance on their agenda. This trait is arisen of their pride and they see themselves far superior than others and nothing can block their way. Managing their affairs and subordinates they step on the extravagance road and annoy others following their caprice (AL-KAHF (THE CAVE) Surah: 28).
One of the reflections and natural consequences of their arrogant spirit is their ambitious temper; they are never tire of rank and try hard to achieve higher ranks in any possible way. They are greedy and avaricious to the fullest extent hence no rank and ambition can satisfy them and always try to achieve more than what they possess of worldly ambitions. Thus we see that Israeli aristocrats wanted their prophet to grant them the kingdom not to someone else (AL-BAQARA (THE COW) Surah: 246, 247). Pride exists in their whithin and inner soul and they always take pride in their high and false self-confidence. Confidence comes from their wealth and materialistic facilities. They have gained everything due to their money and property and they even think they can buy others' love and attention and idea. In their opinion, everything can be achieved by money and power- this means that everything can be measured and valued by money and wealth. Excessive pride and arrogance destruct their souls and lives (AL-KAHF (THE CAVE) Surah: 32 & 34).
Therefore they stand against any right sound and oppose just and righteous men and silence any voice that call people to justice and right. By the aid of their material resources and oppressed people gathering around them, they suppress righteous men. They are deaf and blind to the truth and the light of right goes away from their hearts (AL-ARAF (THE HEIGHTS) Surah: 59-64).
These sorts of morales lead to the growth of two traits in their insight and character. In the scope of insight they're involved in blasphemy and turn away from God and His teachings and oppose the calls set by right men. So as we see aristocrats were and are the greatest enemies of Phrophecy and Revelation in any society (AL-ARAF (THE HEIGHTS) Surah: 66, 75, 76, 90 & HUD Surah: 27, YUNUS (JONAH) Surah: 75, 78).
This attitude and approach has caused them to ridicule the social traditions and customs and act contrary to the intellectual and rational traditions and overstep from their limits. Their attitude and belief is blasphemy and they disbelive in the resurrection, reward and punishment and they consider only this world genuine and real (AL-ISRA (ISRA') Surah: 16).

Effects and Functions of Aristocracy

The mentioned characteristics cause aristocrats to pursue a wrong, irrational and illogical way in behavior, action and reaction. Quran mentions that they follow a wrong way in valuation and the criterions of valuation have changed in their eyes (AL-BAQARA (THE COW) Surah: 246 & 247).
Social and political despotism is natural reflection of their arrogant spirit and their blasphemy. That is why they simply torture and abuse others and are not afraid of anything in this world and the hereafter (YUNUS (JONAH) Surah: 83).
They are not only proud in front of reality and truth, but they also block the way of real reformers of society and do not allow them to invite people to justice and truth; because the price of the invitation is too high and will restrain them from exploitation and misuse. So as we can see the greatst and most important enemies of Prophets are the proud aristocrats who take control of political and military as well as judiciary forces (AL-ARAF (THE HEIGHTS) Surah: 75-88 , YUNUS (JONAH) Surah: 75, SABA Surah: 34 & 35).
Aristocrats do not value others but they mock other people with arrogance and false pride. They want all social and economic privileges for themselves and do not accept others and if they find a privilege in somebody else's hand, they usurp it by injustice and cruelty. Hence they even claim the prophecy and do not want anybody else to take it, so they guard in front of the prophets and say if there is be a prophecy, it should be in the hand of aristocrats (AZ-ZUKHRUF (ORNAMENTS OF GOLD) Surah: 31).
These things cause problems in social behavior and political actions and reactions such as pride, egocentricity (AL-QASAS (THE STORY) Surah: 78 &79), jealousy (SAD (THE LETTER SAD) Surah: 6 & 8), humiliating and scoring others (AL-ANAAM (CATTLE) Surah: 53, HUD Surah: 25 & 27, AL-SHUARA (THE POETS) Surah: 107 & 111), reproaching others (AL-QALAM (THE PEN) Surah: 11 & 14, AL-HUMAZA (THE TRADUCER) Surah: 1-3), cheating society's general ideas and conspiracy (AL-MUMENOON (THE BELIEVERS) Surah: 23 & 33 & 34), objection to any reforms and rights (AL-ARAF (THE HEIGHTS) Surah: 75, 76, 88) and threating, expeling from their homes and killing people (AL-ARAF (THE HEIGHTS) Surah: 88).
These are some examples of properties and attitudes of aristocratic vision that just oppose justice and equity and lead communities to corruption and destruction as they have done with the previous societies; for societies are based on empathy and cooperation and practice of law and their stability is based on consistency and coordination of all members. Natural consequence of communities that allow aristocrats take control of society is nothing but abnormality in the social scope and the violation of rights and law in political and business affairs. Every one goes his own way and the result is an increase of oppression and destruction of solidarity and sympathy, and finally the collapse and annihilation of the community.