Humility – A Quality of theIdeal

Allaah The Almighty describes thebelievers in their namesake chapter,
Saying (what means): {Indeed, they who are apprehensive from fear of
their Lord * And they who believe in the signs of their Lord *And they
who do not associate anything with their Lord * And they who give what
they give while their hearts are fearful because they will be
returning to their Lord.} [Quran 23:57-60] One may wonderwhat it is
that those believers fear, even though they hasten to do good deeds
and seek to outdoothers in that respect.
And yet, our amazement would increase when we consider the similar
response of Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, when their
intercession will be sought. The Prophet related that, on the Day of
Judgment, people "will go to Aadam (Adam) and say, 'O our father, ask
for Paradise to be opened to us.' He will say, 'Did anything get you
out of Paradise other than the sinof your father, Aadam? I am not in a
position to [intercede]; you should go to my son Ibraaheem (Abraham)
the intimate friend of Allaah.' [But, when they will come to him],
Ibraaheem willsay, 'I am not in a position to do that. Verily, I was
but a far friend;you should approach Moosa (Moses) to whom Allaah The
Almighty spoke directly.' They will go to Moosa, but he will say, 'It
is not my place; you should go to Jesus, the Word of Allaah and His
Spirit.' However, Jesus will say, 'I am not in a position todo that.'
Therefore, they will come to [me], Muhammad and [I] will be permitted
[to intercede]." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
This honorable response of the Prophets, may Allaah exalt their
mention, during those momentous circumstances, indicates their
continuous longing to increase in acts of worship and their tireless
efforts to quit minor sins. This stance of theirs marks their keenness
to perfect their servitude to Allaah The Almighty. What a sublime
characteristic for a soul to alwayslong for the loftiest of ranks!
Such souls would never be satisfied with attaining a status lower than
their abilities; that is why Abu Bakr for instance, aimed to enter
Paradise from all its gates.
What is humility?
Being humble is to be aware of one's sins and feel regret for one's
shortcomings, as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Lest a soul
should say, "Oh [howgreat is] my regret over what I neglected in
regard to Allaah}. [Quran 39: 56] And this characteristic of humility,
increases with knowledge, as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):
{Only those fear Allaah, from among His servants, who have knowledge}
[Quran 35:28].
To attain humility, one must reproach and endeavor to improve
him/herself; indeed, Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {He has
succeeded who purifies it [soul]} [Quran 91:9] It is such piety and
sincerity that acceptance of good deeds is contingent on, as Allaah
The Almighty Says (what means): {Surely Allaah [graciously]
acceptsonly of the pious.} [Quran 5:28] Also, the Prophet said, "The
[acceptance of] deeds [is] dependent on the intentions, anda person
will bear the consequences of what he [or she]intends…" Without piety
and sincerity, the charity of the charitable, the knowledge of the
reciters of the Quran and the martyrdom of the martyrs would be
fruitless; moreover, those whose deeds lack devotion, will be the
first to enter Hell.
Abu Ayyoob As-Sikhtiyaani used to humbly say, "By Allaah, I cannot
allege that I have a deed that I am certain that I have
donesincerely"; Ath-Thahabi, another pious man, would concur.
Similarly, Sulaymaan ibn Mahraan Al-'A'mash said, "By Allaah, I
believe that I have become blearyeyed, because the devil urinates in
my ears frequently." This refersto the saying of the Prophet who
remarked that a man who sleeps all night long is one in whose ears
Satan has urinated. What is amazing is that Sulaymaan made that
comment, even though he was keen on praying at night.
Being humble is to remember theHereafter often, dislike worldly
pleasures and be keen on attaining salvation. 'Umar used to say, "How
could you forget the Quranic verse in which Allaah The Almighty [tells
us what will be said to those entering Hell] (that means): {You
exhausted your pleasures during your worldly life and enjoyed them}
[Quran 46:20]?" He understood this also from the Prophet who once
asked him, "Are you not pleased with this division that they [i.e.,
the disbelievers] enjoy the luxuries ofthis life, and we reap the
fruits ofthe Hereafter?"
And, it is of humbleness, to be fearful of, more than being hopeful
about, that Day, and be certain of what will happen when {He may
question the truthful about their truth} [Qur'an 33:8], {secrets will
be put on trial} [Qur'an 86:9], and when every treacherous person
would be known by a sign. On that Day, {their excuse will not benefit
the wrongdoers and they will have the curse and the worst home}
[Qur'an 40:52], and, {there will appear to them from Allaah The
Exalted what they had not taken into account.} [Qur'an 39:47].
And,Allaah The Almighty will say to the wrongdoers (what means),
{Remain despised therein [Hell] and do not speak to Me.} [Quran
23:108]
This is the true understanding of religion, because {no one feels
secure from the plan of Allaah except the people of loss.} [Quran7:99]
Thus, Imaam Al-Bukhaari entitled a chapter of his book, Saheeh
Al-Bukhaari, "The believer's fear of having his deedsannulled, while
being unaware".
Ibraaheem At-Taymiyya said, "I never compared my deeds to my words
without fearing that I was a liar." This was in the spirit of the
Companions as Ibn Abi Mulaykah narrates that of the thirty of them
that he had met, each one feared that he might be a hypocrite. None of
them claimed to be as faithful as Jibreel (Gabriel) and Mikaa'eel
(Michael) .
Indeed, that was characteristic ofbelievers, as Al-Hasan said, that
the hypocrites, on the other hand, felt safe from this worry. A Muslim
must guard against insistence on hypocrisy and disobedience without
repentance; Allaah The Almighty admires those, Saying (what means):
{[who] do not persist in what they have done while they know.} [Quran
3:135]
Humility also requires of us to allyourselves with the believers and
be dutiful to them. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):
• {And lower your wing to those who follow you of the believers.} [Quran 26:215]
• {And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their
Lord in the morning and theevening, seeking His countenance. And let
not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly
life.} [Quran 18:28]
The people of Nooh (Noah) foolishly said to him: {We do not see you
but as a man like ourselves, and we do not see you followed except by
those who are the lowest of us [and] at first suggestion.} [Quran
11:27] But, herefuted their allegation, saying: {And I am not one to
drive away those who have believed. Indeed,they will meet their Lord,
but I see that you are a people behaving ignorantly. * And O my
people, who would protect me from Allaah if I drove them away?Then
will you not be reminded? [..] Nor do I say of those upon whom your
eyes look down that Allaah will never grant them any good. Allaah is
most knowing of what is within their souls. Indeed, I would then be
among the wrongdoers.} [Quran 11:29-31]
Further, humility necessitates good manners on the believer's part,
which manifests in his or her overall conduct. The Prophet said,
"Arrogance is denying the truth and the rights of others" ; he also
cautioned, "It is enough sin for a person to despise his Muslim
brother."
Hence, it is a religious obligation upon Muslims to act cordially with
their fellow brothers and sisters in faith, such as by returning their
greetings, assisting them in mounting their ride and meeting them with
a cheerful countenance.
And, because they observed theseetiquettes perfectly, the righteous
predecessors were described by Allaah The Almighty as being "humble
toward the believers" [Qur'an 5:54], and "merciful among themselves"
[Qur'an 48:39]
Humility is also manifest in knowing one's real worth amongscholars
and his or her value, in comparison to them. Shaykh Ali Al-Qaari said,
"These days, [those who know little, but are respected as] scholars
are many, because true knowledge has declined."
Consider that the first ever to embrace Islam, Abu Bakr humbly refused
to lead the people in prayer, saying, "I could not lead the Prophet ."
Also, the son-in-law of the Prophet 'Ali ibn Abi Taalib would say to
his son Muhammad ibn Al-Hanafiyyah, "Your father is just one of the
Muslims."
Similarly, Al-Haafith Abu Al-HajjaajAl-Muzzi professed to ibn
Al-Haadi, when the latter tested his retention of Hadeeth by jumbling
their chains of narrators, "I am not qualified for such a test;
Al-Bukhaari is." Ibn Katheer remarked: "This answer was dearer to us
than matching each Hadeeth to its chain of narrators."
Also, when a man asked Al-Khateeb Al-Baghdaadi, "Are you Al-Haafith (a
senior scholar ofHadeeth) and Al-Khateeb (the orator)?" He answered,
"I amonly Ahmad ibn 'Ali ibn Thaabit; the last senior scholar of
Hadeethwas Ad-Daaraqutni."
The father of At-Taaj Al-Subky – At-Taqqiyy Al-Subky – who was then
the scholar of Daar Al-Ashrafiyyah, used to perform the night prayers
where Imaam An-Nawawi used to hold his classes. He would humbly wipe
his face in the place where An-Nawawi had stood, as an acknowledgement
of the latter's great role as a scholar.
Furthermore, humility is to show due respect towards Allaah The
Almighty and thank Him for all that He has granted us. Allaah The
Almighty praised His Prophet Ibraaheem as he used to feelremorse for
his sins and acts of disobedience.
A believing man is sharp and wise; he recognizes that he is buta
servant of Allaah The Almighty; his deeds are created by Him, his
success contingent on His decree and his progress is thanks to His
guidance.
Thus, the slogan of the Companions would be: "By Allaah, without
Allaah we would have received no guidance, nor given in charity, nor
prayed." They learned this spirit from the Prophet who said to
'Aa'ishah when she inquired why he stood in prayer for so long that
his feet would swell: "Should I not be a grateful slave of Allaah?"
May Allaah have mercy upon Al-Junayd, who succinctly said, "True
gratitude is to avoid using the blessings of Allaah The Almighty to
disobey Him."