Is the feeling of unworthiness for worship a form of arrogance?

From the perspective of the Holy Quran and Islamic teachings, the question, 'Is the feeling of unworthiness for worship a form of arrogance?' is a deep and multifaceted one, the answer to which depends on the roots and consequences of this feeling. Generally, Islam condemns any feeling that hinders a servant's connection with their Creator or leads them to despair of Allah's vast mercy. The feeling of unworthiness for worship, at first glance, might appear to be a form of humility, but if this feeling leads to the abandonment of worship, it could indeed have roots in arrogance or despair, both of which are considered significant spiritual and moral ailments. Firstly, it is essential to address the nature and purpose of worship. In the Holy Quran, the primary purpose of creating jinn and mankind is declared to be worship: 'And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.' (Surah Adh-Dhariyat: 56). This verse indicates that worship is not a privilege reserved for specific individuals but rather a duty and the right of servitude for all humanity, regardless of their past deeds or sinful status. Worship is a means of expressing servitude, gratitude, repentance, seeking aid, and drawing closer to Allah. Therefore, every human being, even burdened by heavy sins, is commanded to worship. This means that the door of divine mercy is always open, and Allah never turns anyone away from His presence unless they turn away themselves. Secondly, if the feeling of unworthiness leads to the abandonment of worship, it can be a subtle form of arrogance. Arrogance (kibr) is a major sin in Islam, and Iblis serves as its prime example when he refused to prostrate before Adam, deeming himself superior: 'And [mention] when We said to the angels, “Prostrate before Adam”; so they prostrated, except for Iblis. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers.' (Surah Al-Baqarah: 34). Arrogance is not necessarily about overt self-admiration; sometimes, deeming oneself excessively sinful to the extent of considering Allah's mercy insufficient can be a form of magnifying one's sins and, consequently, a hidden form of self-importance. An individual who says, 'I am so sinful that I cannot worship or be forgiven,' might, perhaps unconsciously, place the power of their sins above the power of divine forgiveness. This erroneous perception weakens the attributes of Allah as 'The Oft-Forgiving' (Al-Ghafur) and 'The Most Merciful' (Ar-Rahim) and can be considered a type of 'arrogance in sin'; meaning the person considers their sins so great that they believe even the boundless ocean of divine mercy is insufficient to wash them away. Whereas, from the Quranic perspective, no sin is so great that Allah cannot forgive it, provided the servant makes sincere repentance and turns to Him. Thirdly, this feeling can stem from despair and hopelessness in Allah's mercy. Despair of Allah's mercy is strictly forbidden in Islam. Allah says in the Quran: 'Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”' (Surah Az-Zumar: 53). This verse explicitly tells sinners and those who have wronged themselves not to despair of Allah's mercy, because Allah forgives all sins. If the feeling of unworthiness reaches a point where the person despairs of Allah's mercy and thus abandons worship, it is a clear manifestation of this Quranic prohibition. Despairing of Allah's mercy is itself considered a greater sin than many others, as it signifies a lack of understanding regarding the vastness of the Lord's mercy and power of forgiveness. In contrast, true humility means that despite being aware of one's shortcomings and sins, one wholeheartedly turns to Allah, knowing that their only path to salvation and growth lies in this connection and servitude. Genuine humility drives one towards more worship and seeking Allah's forgiveness, not abandoning it. A truly humble person recognizes themselves as utterly needy and poor before the absolute richness of Allah, and this very need compels them towards worship. Therefore, if the feeling of unworthiness for worship signifies an admission of shortcomings and faults, leading one towards repentance, seeking forgiveness, and striving for more sincere worship, then it is a positive feeling and a sign of humility. However, if this feeling becomes an excuse to abandon worship and to despair of Allah's mercy, then it can indeed have roots in hidden arrogance (seeing one's sins as greater than divine forgiveness) or despair and practical disbelief (lack of trust in Allah's promise of forgiveness). The solution is for a person never to despair of the Lord's grace and forgiveness, and regardless of the extent of their sins, to return to Him with sincerity and devotion, engaging in worship, for worship is the gateway to purity and closeness, not its prerequisite.