The Road to Humility

Share This Post

There was once a man who was revered by all who knew him. His oratory skills, influential ability and military prowess resulted in a multitude of people looking up to him as a role model. He was a teacher, a philosopher and an exceptional leader. There were even people who visited him from distant places hoping to be in the vicinity of his greatness and to learn something from him. You’d think a person like this probably lives in a palace and has a number of servants at his disposal. But the reality was quite the opposite. The person being spoken about here is our Prophet Muhammed (SAW). In spite of being highly admired and accomplished, he lived a very minimal life. He preferred having just enough to eat, wearing clothes and living in a simple abode. In fact, the Prophet (SAW) considered himself a servant of Allah and led a life that mirrored that of a servant.

When the Prophet(SAW) finally won control over Makkah, an accomplishment that came after twenty years of being tortured and chased out of Makkah, he had no feeling of revenge or malice in his heart. He entered Makah along with his army in a very peaceful manner. When the people of Makkah came running towards him, pleading for forgiveness, he said,

“I will say to you what Yousuf (AS) said to his brothers,” He said, “No blame will be there upon you today. Allah will forgive you and He is the most merciful of the merciful.” (Quran, 12:92)

The lessons that can be learnt from his mannerisms are many. But with this incident, the foremost lesson to be learned is humility. Humility is freedom from pride and arrogance. It is the feeling or the attitude that you have no special or higher stature than the rest of the people around you. We are a very small part of Allah’s creation and occupy a very small space as compared to the heavens and the earth. The fact that the ultimate fate of our bodies is to be one with the earth after being buried should make us realize our smallness.

Being humble helps you stay away from insecurities. A humble person wholeheartedly accepts their weaknesses. It is not to be mistaken though, as being the opposite of self-confidence. Being humble opens the door to being honest and fair with the people around you by being honest to yourself first. If you are humble, it shows that you are willing to see things with a different perspective. It shows that you are not afraid of making changes for the better. Your humility is a sign that you are open to feedback, be it from someone higher in authority, contemporaries, friends and family or even subordinates.

‘Iyad ibn Himar reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, Allah has revealed to me that you must be humble towards one another, so that no one oppresses another or boasts to another.” (Sahih Muslim, 2865)

The benefits of cultivating the quality of being humble are many.

● Firstly, welcoming feedback and being open to the various avenues to gain knowledge helps in self-improvement and takes you closer to self-actualization. It also makes you more self-aware.

● Humility is one of the qualities that separates the great leaders from the good leaders. It makes you more understanding and compassionate as a leader which in turn wins you more respect.

● It prepares you to deal with adversities in a more controlled and less anxious manner.

● When you are free from being arrogant and excessively proud, it makes you more tolerant and less defensive around people.

● The above benefits in turn leads to better relationships, be it in your professional or your personal life.

If you are on the road to striving to be humble, the following tips may help:

● Accept your mistakes. Don’t be afraid to be proven wrong. Nobody can be right all the time. Use your mistakes as a ladder for you to learn and grow.

● Improve your listening skills. A good listener has access to countless gems of knowledge which will prove to be supplements in their quest to learn and grow.

● Try and keep your achievements to yourself. Remember, riya (showing off) is a sin. Have silent goals.

● Make a conscious effort to appreciate others. It not only helps you be more compassionate but also adds on to mutual respect.

● Be grateful. Practice saying Alhamdulillah for everything.

“And do not turn your face away from men with pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah does not like any arrogant boaster.” (Qur’an 31:18)