The story relates the delusion of angels, who regarded themselves as the most pious beings. Allah, the Almighty, has clarified their misconception: they are righteous because they are devoid of a lustful lower soul, considered an earthly element. Similarly, many people who indulge in devotion or excess of praying consider themselves superior beings, and they look down upon others. It is sinful because “purification” means freeing oneself from all self-conception and delusions to regard Allah as the Master and guide of us all. The blessed must be empathetic towards the less fortunate or the wretched, not regarding money and status only but intellect, proper social skills, morality, and character.

Much of this false egoism and delusions are generated in one’s heart because of “Narcissism,” a psychological state characterized by indulging in too much ‘self-love’, a strong preoccupation with thoughts centered around oneself, and valuing oneself worthy of every “good.” Sometimes, it accompanies another psychological state, “denial,” disclaiming oneself as capable of any wrongdoing and thus disregarding oneself as worthy of any punishment. Unable to see “wrong” in one’s actions and thoughts, one may  “project” it onto others: others think ill of us, provoke us, blame me, etc. Ultimately, one starts building strong walls around oneself with a strong desire to protect one’s vulnerability. This state may lead to “avoidance” of certain emotions and relationships, or one may indulge in complete “social isolation.” Here begins pathological deviance in behavior, either in paranoia or rapid mood swings of a bipolar personality.

What is “ma’asiyyah”? It is disobedience, a state of non-conformity to social norms and disregarding the code of ethics. We only do so when our personal whims and selfish desires charge our behavior, i.e., it is under the direct command of the lower soul. The faculty facilitating the human mind in logical analysis and synthesis is not so common among people of lower intelligence than the highly intelligent. Still, there is another kind of “Ma’asiyyah” – all types of disregard and disobedience to Divine Law, i.e., disobedience to Allah the Almighty, exhibited in disrespect to Divine Revelation, Prophets, or other Divine beings such as angels or saints, failure to observe moral discipline, and negligence towards religious obligations. This state is common in highly intelligent persons with astute analytical and logical powers. They misconceive and fail to recognize the original divine source of wisdom from which all intelligence emanates. All such ideas mislead us and let us indulge in deviance and disruption. However, the Sunnah of God is unalterable (Qu’ran: 33:62, 35:43, 48:32). Therefore, none shall spare the due recompense, as Harut and Marut were ultimately punished for committing adultery. So, everyone should “seek” divine help and guidance. Whenever one soul overpowers the others, the balance is disturbed, whether the lower soul dominates the rational one or vice versa. A balance should be achieved by better controlling the lower and the rational souls to aspire towards the angelic soul – Nafs-i- Muttmaina.  

The story also alludes to the history of the intellectual evolution of humankind. It is no more blind following but the beginning of experiential learning, i.e., learning by doing. It indicates the start of an era of reason, where man shall no longer command fellowmen with this wild and brute force, ignoring Divine Law.  Will they ever be able to spread Knowledge and Justice in society? The angelic soul has lost its vision of paradise and is now more inclined towards worldly pleasures, thus gradually losing its purity and innocence. Rapidly blackened with viciousness, when spirits are no more heavenly, they shall not ascend back to heaven but remain stuck topsy-tervy in pits of earthly satisfaction.

Universally coded Divine Law operates in the Universe; each religion or theology explains almost the same permanent values. Sometimes, they clash strongly with our personal needs. At such conjuncture, we do not want ourselves to be tuned or modified according to the demands of a situation but demand ‘others’ to bow before us.; this is pure transgression. It calls for suffering harder to overcome; one constantly finds oneself in the face of hardship, adversity, trouble, difficulty, distress, vicissitude, trial, tribulation, hard knocks or anything similar, as if caught in a vicious circle.

The way of Deen is Islam, leading to the peace and stability that the human soul demands. What are the means to fulfill this objective: Blind following the tradition or carefully evolving for oneself the best of practices in the “Light” of Divine Law? It has remained forever a poignant challenge to fight for throughout the history of humankind. What are the best practices, and how may they evolve in one’s being? These practices have more to do with everyday human dealing than just physical and verbal naming of the “names” of God. The salvation is for active practitioners and not for blind followers. The blind following of a tradition may not serve our purpose, as the story of Artists tells us. Presenting your skill in the best possible way in a repeated tradition does not always win success. It is the “Will to surpass,” which is the gateway, and the key is cleaning oneself thoroughly of delusions and pretentious and false self-assumptions. Only then can we “see” our pathway to salvation cleared unto us without doubt, confusion, or lustful desires confounding it. Otherwise, we may be proclaiming to ourselves in the end,