All human life carries inherent value. Our souls hold no more value or importance than the person sitting next to us, no matter where we may be sitting. A humble person appreciates the fact that the world does not revolve around him or her. And accepts their position as just a tiny piece in the giant puzzle. Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, honesty, and humility. Allah says:
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَىٰ أُمَمٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَأَخَذْنَاهُم بِالْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَضَرَّعُونَ
“And certainly We sent (Messengers) to nations before you, then We seized them with adversity and hardship so that they may humble themselves.” (Surah Al-An`am 6:42 )
Humility comes from knowing about God and recognizing His greatness, venerating Him, loving Him and being in awe of Him; and it comes from knowing about oneself and one’s own faults, and weaknesses. Humility is the opposite of aggression, arrogance, pride, and vanity. God gives this characteristic to those who struggle to become close to Him through deeds of piety and righteousness. Allah says:
وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخِيفَةً وَدُونَ الْجَهْرِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ وَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ الْغَافِلِينَ
“Remember your Lord in yourselves with humility and in private without announcing it in the mornings and evenings, and do not be among the heedless.” (Surah Al-A’raf 7:205)
A humble life results in contentment, patience, forgiveness, and compassion. Humility is a matter of finding value in the right places. Greatness belongs to Allah alone. He is in control of all the affairs of every single thing created. The two qualities were certainly not mutually exclusive, because dignity lies in giving honour to the soul created by Allah, while humility lies in downplaying one’s own actions and accomplishments. Allah says:
وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ
“And swell not thy cheek (for pride) at men, nor walk in insolence through the earth, for Allah loves not any arrogant boaster.” (Quran 31:18)
Humans, by definition, are finite and thus, limited in our understanding. Our talents are different, our minds are different, and our experiences vary from one another. Individually, we comprehend only a small, unique fraction of the world. Humble people realize their understanding is limited and embrace it. Allah says:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا فِي قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّبِيٍّ إِلَّا أَخَذْنَا أَهْلَهَا بِالْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَضَّرَّعُونَ
“And not We sent in a city any Prophet except We seized its people with adversity and hardship, so that they may (become) humble.” (Surah Al-A`raf 7:94 )
As a result, they wisely look for answers outside of themselves. Joy is not found in being right and arriving at the top. Instead, joy is found in helping others grow and succeed. Humility realizes that in those cases, both win. Allah says:
فَلَوْلَا إِذْ جَاءَهُم بَأْسُنَا تَضَرَّعُوا
“When Our punishment reached them, why did they not humble themselves?” (Surah Al-An’am 6:43)
A believer possessing humility knows that his knowledge, talents, and abilities are all from Allah and this keeps his feet on the ground, grateful to Allah and always kind to his servants. Humility offers its owner complete freedom from the desire to impress, be right, or get ahead.
ادْعُوا رَبَّكُمْ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ
“Call upon your Lord humbly and privately. Indeed, He (does) not love the transgressors.” (Surah Al-A`raf 7:55 )
How humility will make you the greatest person ever:
- Humility doesn’t require the ranking of things
- Humility is the cure for this natural egotism
- Humility is a construct of human behaviour
- Humility understands individual limitations
- Humility means a disposition to be humble
- Humility is an asset for self-improvement
- Humility means to go to be truly humble
- Humility no need to imply any skill level
- Humility leads to faster improvement
- Humility is being honest with oneself
- Humility is the act of being modest
- Humility embrace your humanness
- Humility keeps a positive attitude
- Humility provide honest feedback
- Humility as a virtue is beyond price
- Humility choose to live a happier life
- Humility is relative to social standards
- Humility is in the essence of a wallflower
- Humility creates success and confidence
- Humility is an asset for self-improvement
- Humility is a reflection of sincere emotion
- Humility is an absence allowing for growth
- Humility helps others and promotes others
- Humility is the key to becoming more coachable
Humility is considered as the act of lowering oneself in relation to others or having a clear perspective and respect for one’s place in the world. The humble person accepts him or herself and values you. Their judgment of you is not based on external qualities but on your value as a human being. Allah says:
وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخِيفَةً وَدُونَ الْجَهْرِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ وَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ الْغَافِلِينَ
“And remember your Lord in yourself humbly and (in) fear and without the loudness of [the] words, in the mornings and (in) the evenings. And (do) not be among the heedless.” (Surah Al-A`raf 7:205 )
Humility spends more time understanding… and less time being understood. The one who is truly humble is the one who is truly blessed. Every time he feels superior to others, he remembers God, the Greatest and Omnipotent, and humbles himself in true submission. A famous way of describing humility is that “it’s not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”Allah says:
ادْعُوا رَبَّكُمْ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ
“Call upon your Lord with humility and in private. Verily, He does not love transgressors.” (Surah Al-A’raf 7:55)
The essence of being a Muslim is being humble. One of the great rewards of humility is inner freedom from having to protect those parts that we try to hide from ourselves and others. In other words, we develop a quiet, understanding, and compassionate heart. It makes him an individual whose only concern is the pleasure of Allah and not the approval and recognition of those around him.
Humility is key to winning Allah’s favours, Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:
- “And when it is said to them, “Bow,” not they bow.” (Surah Al-Mursalat 77:48 )
- “Indeed, Ibrahim (was) certainly forbearing, imploring, and oft-returning.” (Surah Hud 11:75 )
- “My Lord! bestow on them thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood.” (Surah Al-Isra, 24)
- “And the slaves of God are those who walk on the earth in humility and calmness, and when the foolish address them (with bad words) they reply back with mild words of gentleness.” (Quran 25:63)
- “If (such) were Our Will, We could send down to them from the sky a Sign, to which they would bend their necks in Humility.” (Surah Ash-Shura, 4)
- “Humbled their eyesights, will cover them humiliation. That (is) the Day which they were promised.” (Surah Al-Maarij 70:44 )
Humility is one of the most important and necessary factors for success. It’s not just to be nice or just because it’s the right thing to do. Humility is an extremely difficult quality to acquire and master, and like the battle to acquire sincerity, it remains a dynamic struggle throughout our lives. Allah says:
وَإِذْ قِيلَ لَهُمُ اسْكُنُوا هَٰذِهِ الْقَرْيَةَ وَكُلُوا مِنْهَا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ وَقُولُوا حِطَّةٌ وَادْخُلُوا الْبَابَ سُجَّدًا نَّغْفِرْ لَكُمْ خَطِيئَاتِكُمْ سَنَزِيدُ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
“And when it was said to them, “Live (in) this city and eat from it wherever you wish and say, “Repentance,” and enter the gate prostrating, We will forgive for you your sins. We will increase (reward) (of) the good-doers.” (Surah Al-A`raf 7:161 )
Humility always begins in our hearts. As a result, it offers significant control over attitude, outlook, and actions. It has nothing to prove, but everything to offer. Confidence without skill is nothing. Skill without humility is stagnant. Skill with humility creates confidence. Allah says:
ادْعُوا رَبَّكُمْ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ
“Call upon your Lord humbly and privately. Indeed, He (does) not love the transgressors.” (Surah Al-A`raf 7:55 )
Humility begins with accepting who we are and what makes us human. As a result of this, you gain control over your attitude and outlook on life. Being humble is an important life skill. With it, we can choose to live a happier life. Allah says:
إِن نَّشَأْ نُنَزِّلْ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ آيَةً فَظَلَّتْ أَعْنَاقُهُمْ لَهَا خَاضِعِينَ
“If We will, We can send down to them from the sky a Sign so would bend their necks to it (in) humility.” (Surah Ash-Shu`ara` 26:4 )
Choose humble people who can make you humble too, and surround yourself with this kind of people as many as possible. Choose them who is better in terms of worldly and religious life and see how you still have a long way to go. We can never assume superiority to another even in the face of blatant external signs of hypocrisy or arrogance. Allah says:
وَاخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ الذُّلِّ مِنَ الرَّحْمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا
“Lower to your parents the wing of humility out of mercy and say: My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up when I was small.” (Surah Al-Isra 17:24)
Humility destroys all superiority complexes, but only truly superior people can manage to accomplish that. Humbleness is one quality that a good Muslim must have, as it’s commanded by Allah SWT and His Messenger. Let’s take account of ourselves, strive to fix our attitudes and be of those who humble themselves for the sake of Allah, for if we do that then Allah will raise us in status in this world and in the Hereafter, Insha Allah.
