(64) Humbleness

(64) Humbleness

I was in a gathering with a few elite people. One of them, who saw himself self-sufficient, began to speak, during which he said, “I passed by a worker and he extended his hand to shake my hand. I hesitated a little, but then shook his hand.” He then said with all pride, “Although, I do not tend to shake hands with anyone and everyone!”

MashaaAllah! He said, “I do not shake hands with anyone or everyone!”

As for the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him), then a weak slave-girl would meet him on his way and complain of her owners’ oppression and the amount of work she had to do. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) would set out with her to see her owners’ and to mediate on her behalf.

He used to say, “No one with an atom’s weight of arrogance will enter Paradise!”

How many times is it that we hear people say, “Dear brother, so-and-so is arrogant and thinks far too much of himself!” They hate and condemn him for his attitude.

You may ask a person, “Why don’t you ask your neighbour’s help?”

He would say, “He is very arrogant with us. He does not even like to speak to us with a straight face!”

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How hated these people are – they who are arrogant and talk down to others! How rejected is the one who transgresses because he sees himself as self-sufficient!

He is the one who puts on a contemptuous look for the people and walks through the land exultantly. He is the one wholooks down on workers, servants and poor people. He is too arrogant to speak to them, shake their hands or sit with them.

When the Prophet (Peace be upon him) entered Makkah as a conqueror, he began to pass by all the passages where he was abused and ridiculed.

How often did he hear in those valleys, “O madman! O magician! O soothsayer! O liar!” On that day, he passed through them as a powerful leader. Allah had humiliated those who had insulted him in front of his eyes.

How did he feel as he entered Makkah?

‘Abdullah bin Abu Bakr –may Allah be pleased with him and

his father– said, “When the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) reached Dhi Tuwa, he stopped, whilst still mounted on his ride, wearing a red mantle. And there he was, bowing his head in humility, upon witnessing the victory Allah had blessed him with, such that the end of his beard was almost touching his saddle.”

Anas – may Allah be pleased with him – said, “The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) entered Makkah on the Day of Conquest whilst his chin was touching his ride out of humility.”

Ibn Mas’ud – may Allah be pleased with him –said, “A man came to the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) and spoke to him regarding a matter. Whilst speaking to the Prophet (Peace be upon him), the man shivered.”

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Seeing this, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, “Take it easy! I am just a son of a woman from Quraysh who used to eat dried meat.”

He also used to say, “I sit as a slave sits and I eat as a slave eats.”

In short…

Whoever is humble for Allah’s sake, Allah elevates him. Allah only increases the honour of the one who is humble.

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