How to be humble

I have the inclination of being arrogant and feel superior to others, and I would like to be humble. I hope that they can tell me something about the virtues of humility and their different types that Allah opens my heart toward it.

Praise be to Allaah.

Humility is one of the greatest blessings that Allaah may give him his servant. ةl says in the Quran (interpretation of the meaning):

"By the mercy of Allaah are compassionate with them." "If you would have been rude and hard hearted, they would have turn away from you; excuse them, ask forgiveness for them and consult them in decisions." [3: 159]

"Certainly you are of a great nature and morals." [68: 4]

This refers to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was a true servant of Allah in many ways and was all with the greatest kindness. His character was completely humble, based on the sincerity to Allah and compassion towards the servants of Allah, which are characteristics completely opposed to pride and arrogance.

Al - Majmu' al - Kaamilah li Mu 'allafaat al - Sheikh Al - Sa' di, 5/442, 443

There are many ways to acquire humility, and that muslim that adopts it will reach this characteristic. Imán Ibn al - Qayyim explained as follows:

Humility is known to Allah, their names and attributes, his greatness, and to venerate him, love him and feel overwhelmed before Him; also of knowing oneself, with their faults and weaknesses. So it can be developed an attitude of humility, which means feel powerless before Allah, and be humble and compassionate towards his servants, so the person does not feel superior to no one or think you have rights on the others; on the other hand, thinks that the others are better than him, and that their rights are rather than their own. This is the characteristic that Allah gives to those who love, honor and approaches towards Him.

Book Ar-Ruh, page. 233.

There are many reports that speak of the reward of humility. For example:

Abu Hurayrah (that Allah be please with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "the wealth does not decrease by the charity and Allah increases the honor of his servant when he forgives others." "No one humiliates to Allaah without that lifted by Allah (in rank)."

Reported by Muslim,  2588. Al - Nawawi as including in the chapter entitled: "recommendations of forgiveness and humility."

Al - Nawawi said:

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "no one humiliates to Allaah without that lifted by Allah (in rank)." This can be interpreted in two ways: the first, that He will raise his servant (in rank) in this world, and will give a high Rank to the hearts of the people for their humility, and will give high affection in the eyes of the others. The second interpretation is that it refers to their reward in the hereafter, where it will be increase his category for his humility in this world.

The scholars said: may be both interpretations valid (and its rank to be augmented) both in this world and in the hereafter. And Allah knows best.

Sharh Muslim, 16/142.

Humility can mean many things, for example:

1. A person who humiliates the commandments and prohibitions of Allaah, doing what He commands and avoiding what He prohibits.

Ibn al - Qayyim said:

A person may hesitate to fulfill his commandments by laziness, and therefore behave a reluctant in an attempt to escape his servitude to Allah, and his soul may have the desire to do things haraam, but when the person humiliates the commandments and prohibitions of Allaah, will be humiliate to the true submission ('ubudiyyah).

Al - Ruh page. 233.

2. Humble himself before the soberanي, Majesty and power of Allah

Ibn al - Qayyim said:

Every time you thinks it's big, remember the sovereignty Allah, and that that sovereignty to belongs Him only and recalled his intense anger towards those who compete with Him in His attributes; then humiliates before Him and undergoes the sovereignty  of Allah. This is the greatest humility and inevitably includes the first type of humility mentioned above, but it cannot happen to the contrary (i.e. this type of humility does not lead to the first type, but a person can undergo the commandments and prohibitions of Allaah without humiliating before his sovereignty).

Which is truly humiliating is that is blessed with both types. And Allaah is the one whose help we seek.

Al-Ruh, page. 233.

3. Humility in dress and the way of walking.

Ibn ' Umar (which Allaah pleasing him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "while a man proudly was leaving his clothes dragging, it was swallowed by the Earth and continued sinking until the Day the Resurrection."

Narrated by al - Bukhaari, 3297.

Al - Bukhaari (5452) and Muslim (2088) also narrated a Hadith reported by Abu Hurayrah. Version narrated by al - Bukhaari said: "while a man was walking, admiring himself of his hair beautifully groomed, Allah made the Earth to swallow it and continue sinking until the DAy the Resurrecction”

4. Humility and attitude of support and collaboration

Is said that al - Bara' ibn ' Aazib (which Allaah pleasing him) said: the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) dug the Earth with us in the day of al- Ahzaab, and I saw him with dust covering the whiteness of his stomach, and he (the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)) said: "(oh Allah!)" Without You we would have not been guided, we would have given charity nor we had prayed. Therefore (Oh Allaah!) send us tranquility (Sakinah) because they (the heads of the enemy tribes) have rebelled against us. "And if their intention is afflicting us (i.e. terrorize us and fight us) then we do not (we will not flee but we will resist)." And while saying so, he lifted his voice.

Narrated by al - Bukhaari, 6809; Muslim, 1803.

5. Humility and attitude of help in the relationship with the wife

Narrated that al - Aswad said: he asked to 'Aa' aa'ishah what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used do at home, and said: he used to serve his family and when was the time of prayers he was going to pray.

Al - Bukhaari, 644.

To the - Haafid Ibn Hajar said:

This encourages us to be humble and not arrogant, and shows that man must serve to your family.

Fath Al - Baari, 2/163 to

6. Humility towards children, and the recommendation of joking with them.

Anas said: the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was the person with best character. I had a brother whose name was Abu ' Umayr and when he (the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)) approached, said to him: "Oh, Abu Umayr, was "what happened with the nughayr (a small bird that Abu’ Umayr used to have as a pet)?"

Narrated by al - Bukhaari, 5850; Muslim, 2150.

Al - Nawawi said:

The nughayr is a small bird.

This Hadith teaches us a lot, such as be kindness with children. This shows the good character of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and that was a person of character noble and humble.

Sharh Muslim, 14/129

7. Humility towards the servants

Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "If his servant brings them food and does not want to sit and eat with you, then offer him one or two bites, since he has prepared and served."

Narrated by al - Bukhaari, 2418 and 5144; Muslim, 1663.

We ask Allaah to keep us among those who humble themselves before His sovereignty.

And Allaah knows best.

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