NPD Contradicts Quranic Ethics and Islam as a Blessing for All Creation
Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is often understood solely as a psychological matter. However, when narcissistic tendencies — such as excessive self-love, a craving for recognition, a sense of superiority, exploiting others, dishonesty for personal gain, and low empathy — develop into a behavioural pattern, they seriously collide with the teachings of Islam as a blessing for all creation (rahmatan lil alamin) and with the ethics of the Quran.
Islam does not forbid a person from valuing and loving themselves, but it rejects excess that places ego, praise and self-interest above truth, humility, compassion and respect for fellow human beings. For this reason, N deserves to be discussed critically and proportionally — not to judge those who suffer from the disorder, but to examine how its characteristics stand against the foundation of Quranic ethics embodied in rahmatan lil alamin.
Paul M.G. Emmelkamp, a Professor of Clinical Psychology, and Katharina Meyerbroker, a licensed mental health psychologist at the Altrecht Mental Health Institute, outline the main traits of NPD in the second edition of their book Personality Disorders (Routledge, 2020). Among these traits, first is grandiosity — a psychological condition marked by feelings of superiority, a sense of uniqueness, believing oneself to be better, and feeling entitled to control or wield power.
Second, preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success. Third, feeling special and unique, believing that one is exceptional and can only be understood by certain people, and that one must associate only with those considered high-status. Fourth, an intense hunger for attention and praise from others.
Fifth, an excessive sense of entitlement, with unreasonable expectations of special treatment, and expecting others to comply with one’s wishes. Sixth, readily taking advantage of others to achieve personal goals, even trampling moral and religious rules in the process.
Seventh, a lack of empathy — an unwillingness to understand the feelings and needs of others. Eighth, frequently envying others or believing that others envy them. Ninth, arrogant behaviour, often displaying haughty and conceited attitudes.
People with NPD are generally highly sensitive to perceived insults, and thus react easily with anger when they feel insulted. Among the things that make them feel slighted are when others hold differing opinions or when their own views are challenged.
They feel insulted because differing opinions are perceived as a threat to their self-esteem. Judging by these general characteristics, several traits of NPD can be said to contradict the Islamic teaching of rahmatan lil alamin and the ethics of the Quran. Feelings of superiority, a sense of being special, hunger for attention and praise, and excessive entitlement are, in essence, forms of arrogance and pride.
As is widely known, Islam regards arrogance and haughtiness as traits despised by Allah. Arrogance is even described as a characteristic of Satan and the devil.