Being Humble
التواضعHumbling oneself for Allah and avoiding pride toward others
Qur'an
القرآن الكريموَعِبَادُ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ هَوْنًۭا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ ٱلْجَـٰهِلُونَ قَالُوا۟ سَلَـٰمًۭا
And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace,
Translation: Saheeh International
وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍۢ فَخُورٍۢ
And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful.
Translation: Saheeh International
وَلَا تَمْشِ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا ۖ إِنَّكَ لَن تَخْرِقَ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَلَن تَبْلُغَ ٱلْجِبَالَ طُولًۭا
And do not walk upon the earth exultantly. Indeed, you will never tear the earth [apart], and you will never reach the mountains in height.
Translation: Saheeh International
Hadith
الحديث النبويعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَا نَقَصَتْ صَدَقَةٌ مِنْ مَالٍ وَمَا زَادَ اللَّهُ عَبْدًا بِعَفْوٍ إِلاَّ عِزًّا وَمَا تَوَاضَعَ أَحَدٌ لِلَّهِ إِلاَّ رَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ " .
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
Charity does not decrease wealth, no one forgives another except that Allah increases his honor, and no one humbles himself for the sake of Allah except that Allah raises his status.
حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي السَّوَّارِ الْعَدَوِيِّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عِمْرَانَ بْنَ حُصَيْنٍ، قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " الْحَيَاءُ لاَ يَأْتِي إِلاَّ بِخَيْرٍ ". فَقَالَ بُشَيْرُ بْنُ كَعْبٍ مَكْتُوبٌ فِي الْحِكْمَةِ إِنَّ مِنَ الْحَيَاءِ وَقَارًا، وَإِنَّ مِنَ الْحَيَاءِ سَكِينَةً. فَقَالَ لَهُ عِمْرَانُ أُحَدِّثُكَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَتُحَدِّثُنِي عَنْ صَحِيفَتِكَ.
Narrated Abu As-Sawar Al-Adawi:
`Imran bin Husain said: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Haya' (pious shyness from committing religeous indiscretions) does not bring anything except good." Thereupon Bashir bin Ka`b said, 'It is written in the wisdom paper: Haya' leads to solemnity; Haya' leads to tranquility (peace of mind)." `Imran said to him, "I am narrating to you the saying of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and you are speaking about your paper (wisdom book)?"
حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ، شَيْخٍ مِنَ النَّخَعِ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ خَطَبَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " إِنَّكُمْ مَحْشُورُونَ إِلَى اللَّهِ حُفَاةً عُرَاةً غُرْلاً {كَمَا بَدَأْنَا أَوَّلَ خَلْقٍ نُعِيدُهُ وَعْدًا عَلَيْنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا فَاعِلِينَ} ثُمَّ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَنْ يُكْسَى يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِبْرَاهِيمُ، أَلاَ إِنَّهُ يُجَاءُ بِرِجَالٍ مِنْ أُمَّتِي، فَيُؤْخَذُ بِهِمْ ذَاتَ الشِّمَالِ، فَأَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ أَصْحَابِي فَيُقَالُ لاَ تَدْرِي مَا أَحْدَثُوا بَعْدَكَ فَأَقُولُ كَمَا قَالَ الْعَبْدُ الصَّالِحُ {وَكُنْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًا مَا دُمْتُ} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {شَهِيدٌ} فَيُقَالُ إِنَّ هَؤُلاَءِ لَمْ يَزَالُوا مُرْتَدِّينَ عَلَى أَعْقَابِهِمْ مُنْذُ فَارَقْتَهُمْ ".
Narrated Ibn `Abbas:
The Prophet (ﷺ) delivered a sermon and said, "You (people) will be gathered before Allah (on the Day of Resurrection) bare-footed, naked and uncircumcised." (The Prophet (ﷺ) then recited):-- 'As We began the first creation We shall repeat it. (It is) a promise We have undertaken and truly We shall do it.' and added, "The first man who will be dressed on the Day of Resurrection, will be Abraham. Lo! Some men from my followers will be brought and taken towards the left side, whereupon I will say, 'O Lord, (these are) my companions!' It will be said, 'You do not know what new things they introduced (into the religion) after you.' I will then say as the righteous pious slave, Jesus, said, 'I was a witness over them while I dwelt among them...(to His Statement)..and You are the Witness to all things.' (5.117) Then it will be said, '(O Muhammad) These people never stopped to apostate since you left them."
حَدَّثَنَا حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَنْبَأَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ الْحَارِثِ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ، عَنْ سِنَانِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَوْحَى إِلَىَّ أَنْ تَوَاضَعُوا وَلاَ يَبْغِي بَعْضُكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ " .
It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Allah has revealed to me that you should be humble towards one another and should not wrong one another.”
حَدَّثَنَا عَبَّاسُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الدُّورِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يَزِيدَ الْمُقْرِئُ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ أَبِي مَرْحُومٍ عَبْدِ الرَّحِيمِ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ مُعَاذِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ تَرَكَ اللِّبَاسِ تَوَاضُعًا لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ يَقْدِرُ عَلَيْهِ دَعَاهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَى رُءُوسِ الْخَلاَئِقِ حَتَّى يُخَيِّرَهُ مِنْ أَىِّ حُلَلِ الإِيمَانِ شَاءَ يَلْبَسُهَا " . هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ . وَمَعْنَى قَوْلِهِ " حُلَلِ الإِيمَانِ " . يَعْنِي مَا يُعْطَى أَهْلُ الإِيمَانِ مِنْ حُلَلِ الْجَنَّةِ .
Sahl bin Mu'adh bin Anas Al-Juhani narrated from his father, that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w)said:
"Whoever leaves(valuable) dress out of humility to Allah while he is able to (afford it), Allah will call him before the heads of creation on the Day of Judgement so that he can chose whichever Hulal of faith he wishes to wear." The meaning of his saying: "Hulal of faith" is the garments of Paradise which are given to the people of faith.
عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ عَرَضَ عَلَىَّ رَبِّي لِيَجْعَلَ لِي بَطْحَاءَ مَكَّةَ ذَهَبًا قُلْتُ لاَ يَا رَبِّ وَلَكِنْ أَشْبَعُ يَوْمًا وَأَجُوعُ يَوْمًا فَإِذَا جُعْتُ تَضَرَّعْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَذَكَرْتُكَ وَإِذَا شَبِعْتُ شَكَرْتُكَ وَحَمِدْتُكَ
Abu Umamah reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “My Lord presented me with the valley of Mecca that He might turn it into gold for me. I said: No, O Lord, rather I will be satiated some days and hungry some days. When I am hungry, I will humble myself before You and remember You. When I am satiated, I will be grateful to You and praise You.”
عَن أَنَسٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيه وَسَلَّم طُوبَى لِمَنْ شَغَلَهُ عَيْبُهُ عَن عُيُوبِ النَّاسِ
Anas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Blessed is he whose own faults preoccupy him from the faults of people.”
حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا حُمَيْدٌ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَاقَةٌ. قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدٌ أَخْبَرَنَا الْفَزَارِيُّ وَأَبُو خَالِدٍ الأَحْمَرُ عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ الطَّوِيلِ عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ كَانَتْ نَاقَةٌ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم تُسَمَّى الْعَضْبَاءَ، وَكَانَتْ لاَ تُسْبَقُ، فَجَاءَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ عَلَى قَعُودٍ لَهُ فَسَبَقَهَا، فَاشْتَدَّ ذَلِكَ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَقَالُوا سُبِقَتِ الْعَضْبَاءُ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ حَقًّا عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ لاَ يَرْفَعَ شَيْئًا مِنَ الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ وَضَعَهُ ".
Narrated Anas:
The Prophet (ﷺ) had a she-camel called Al-`Adba' and it was too fast to surpass in speed. There came a bedouin riding a camel of his, and that camel outstripped it (i.e. Al-Aqba'). That result was hard on the Muslims who said sorrowfully, "Al- Adba has been outstripped." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "It is due from Allah that nothing would be raised high in this world except that He lowers or puts it down."
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: مَا اسْتَكْبَرَ مَنْ أَكَلَ مَعَهُ خَادِمُهُ، وَرَكِبَ الْحِمَارُ بِالأَسْوَاقِ، وَاعْتَقَلَ الشَّاةَ فَحَلَبَهَا.
Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Someone who eats with his servant, rides a donkey in the markets, and ties up his sheep and milks it is not proud."
عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ آكُلُ كَمَا يَأْكُلُ الْعَبْدُ وَأَجْلِسُ كَمَا يَجْلِسُ الْعَبْدُ فَإِنَّمَا أَنَا عَبْدٌ
Yahya ibn Abi Kathir reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “I eat as the servant eats, and I sit as the servant sits. Verily, I am only a servant.”
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَسَدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ عَوْنٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبِي خَالِدٍ، عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ رَجُلٌ فَكَلَّمَهُ فَجَعَلَ تُرْعَدُ فَرَائِصُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ " هَوِّنْ عَلَيْكَ فَإِنِّي لَسْتُ بِمَلِكٍ إِنَّمَا أَنَا ابْنُ امْرَأَةٍ تَأْكُلُ الْقَدِيدَ " . قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ إِسْمَاعِيلُ وَحْدَهُ وَصَلَهُ .
It was narrated that Abu Mas`ud said:
“A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and his voice trembled out of awe as he spoke to him. The Prophet said to him, “Be calm, for I am not a king. Verily, I am only the son of a woman who ate dried meat.”
وَقَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِيسَى حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا حُمَيْدٌ الطَّوِيلُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ كَانَتِ الأَمَةُ مِنْ إِمَاءِ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ لَتَأْخُذُ بِيَدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَتَنْطَلِقُ بِهِ حَيْثُ شَاءَتْ.
Anas bin Malik said, "Any of the female slaves of Medina could take hold of the hand of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and take him wherever she wished."
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ أَنَّ رَجُلًا سَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَيُّ الْبِقَاعِ شَرٌّ قَالَ لَا أَدْرِي حَتَّى أَسْأَلَ جِبْرِيلَ فَسَأَلَ جِبْرِيلَ فَقَالَ لَا أَدْرِي حَتَّى أَسْأَلَ مِيكَائِيلَ فَجَاءَ فَقَالَ خَيْرُ الْبِقَاعِ الْمَسَاجِدُ وَشَرُّهَا الأَسْوَاقُ
Ibn Umar reported: A man asked the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, “Which places are worst?” The Prophet said, “I will not know until I ask Gabriel.” Then he asked Gabriel, and he said, “I will not know until I ask Michael.” Michael came, and he said, “The best places are the mosques, and the worst places are the markets.”
Statements of the Salaf
أقوال السلفعن بكير بن الأشج أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ سَلَامٍ رضي الله عنه خَرَجَ مِنْ حَائِطٍ لَهُ بِحُزْمَةِ حَطَبٍ يَحْمِلُهَا فَلَمَّا أَبْصَرَهُ النَّاسُ قَالُوا يَا أَبَا يُوسُفَ قَدْ كَانَ يَعْنِي فِي وَلَدِكَ وَعَبِيدِكَ مَنْ يَكْفِيكَ هَذَا قَالَ أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أُجَرِّبَ قَلْبِي هَلْ يُنْكِرُ هَذَا
Bukayr ibn al-Ashajj reported: Abdullah ibn Salaam, may Allah be pleased with him, came out from behind a building while carrying a bundle of firewood. When people saw him, they said, “O Abu Yusuf, your son and your servant are enough to help you with this!” Abdullah said, “I want to compel my heart. Is it too proud to reject this?”
عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَدِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ عُمَر بْن الْخَطَّابِ رضي الله عنه عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا تَوَاضَعَ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ رَفَعَ حِكْمَتَهُ
‘Ubaydullah ibn ‘Adi reported: Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said upon the pulpit, “Verily, if a servant humbles himself for Allah Almighty, he will increase his wisdom.”
Source: Sufyān ibn ʿUyaynah, Juzʾ fīhi Ḥadīth Sufyān ibn ʿUyaynah 24
عن ابن المبارك عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ إِنَّكُمْ لَتُغْفِلُونَ أَفْضَلَ الْعِبَادَةِ التَّوَاضُعَ
Ibn al-Mubarak reported: Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said, “Verily, you are neglecting the best act of worship: humility.”
عَنْ صَالِح الْمُرِّيّ قَالَ خَرَجَ الْحَسَنُ وَيُونُسُ وَأَيُّوبُ رحمهم الله يَتَذَاكَرُونَ التَّوَاضُعَ فَقَالَ لَهُمُ الْحَسَنُ وَهَلْ تَدْرُونَ مَا التَّوَاضُعُ التَّوَاضُعُ أَنْ تَخْرُجَ مِنْ مَنْزِلِكَ فَلَا تَلْقَ مُسْلِمًا إِلَّا رَأَيْتَ لَهُ عَلَيْكَ فَضْلًا
Salih al-Murri reported: Al-Hasan, Yunus, and Ayyub, may Allah have mercy on them, were outside discussing humility. Al-Hasan said, “Do you know what is humility? Humility is that you leave your house and you do not meet any Muslim but that you view him as better than yourself.”
عَنْ وَهْبِ بْنِ مُنَبِّهٍ قَالَ قَرَأْتُ فِي بَعْضِ الْكُتُبِ الَّتِي أُنْزِلَتْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى قَالَ لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ أَتَدْرِي لِمَ اتَّخَذْتُكَ خَلِيلًا قَالَ لَا يَا رَبِّ قَالَ لِذُلِّ مَقَامِكَ بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ فِي الصَّلَاةِ
Wahb ibn Munabbih reported: I read in some of the books revealed from heaven, “Verily, Allah Almighty said to Abraham, upon him be peace: Do you know why I have taken you as an intimate friend? Ibrahim said: No, O Lord. Allah said: For your humility in standing before Me in prayer.”
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي حُسَيْنٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، قَالَ اسْتَأْذَنَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهَا عَلَى عَائِشَةَ، وَهْىَ مَغْلُوبَةٌ قَالَتْ أَخْشَى أَنْ يُثْنِيَ عَلَىَّ. فَقِيلَ ابْنُ عَمِّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمِنْ وُجُوهِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ. قَالَتِ ائْذَنُوا لَهُ. فَقَالَ كَيْفَ تَجِدِينَكِ قَالَتْ بِخَيْرٍ إِنِ اتَّقَيْتُ. قَالَ فَأَنْتِ بِخَيْرٍ ـ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ ـ زَوْجَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلَمْ يَنْكِحْ بِكْرًا غَيْرَكِ، وَنَزَلَ عُذْرُكِ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ. وَدَخَلَ ابْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ خِلاَفَهُ فَقَالَتْ دَخَلَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَأَثْنَى عَلَىَّ وَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي كُنْتُ نِسْيًا مَنْسِيًّا .
Narrated Ibn Abu Mulaika: Ibn `Abbas asked permission to visit Aisha before her death, and at that time she was in a state of agony. She then said. "I am afraid that he will praise me too much." And then it was said to her, "He is the cousin of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and one of the prominent Muslims." Then she said, "Allow him to enter." (When he entered) he said, "How are you?" She replied, "I am Alright if I fear (Allah)." Ibn `Abbas said, "Allah willing, you are Alright as you are the wife of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and he did not marry any virgin except you and proof of your innocence was revealed from the Heaven." Later on Ibn Az-Zubair entered after him and `Aisha said to him, "Ibn `Abbas came to me and praised me greatly, but I wish that I was a thing forgotten and out of sight."
Source: al-Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4753; user/secondary notes list 4573
عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ حَفْصٍ قَالَ كَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ رضي الله عنه لَا يَحْبِسُ عَنْ طَعَامِهِ بَيْنَ مَكَّةَ وَالْمَدِينَةِ مَجْذُومًا وَلَا أَبْرَصَ وَلَا مُبْتَلًى حَتَّى يَقْعُدُوا مَعَهُ عَلَى مَائِدَتِهِ
Abu Bakr ibn Hafs reported: Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, while travelling between Mecca and Medina would not withhold his food from a leper, nor an outcast, nor anyone afflicted, even letting them sit with him at his table.
عَنْ جَرِيرٍ قَالَ سلمان الفارسي رضي الله عنه يَا جَرِيرُ تَوَاضَعْ لِلَّهِ فَإِنَّ مَنْ تَوَاضَعَ لِلَّهِ رَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَا جَرِيرُ هَلْ تَدْرِي مَا الظُّلُمَاتُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ق قُلْتُ لَا أَدْرِي قَالَ ظُلْمُ النَّاسِ بَيْنَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا
Jarir reported: Salman al-Farisi, may Allah be pleased with him, said “O Jarir, be humble for the sake of Allah. Whoever humbles himself for Allah, Allah will raise him up on the Day of Resurrection. O Jarir, do you know what will be darkness on the Day of Resurrection?” I said, “I do not know.” Salman said, “Acts of injustice between people in the world.”
عن أحمد عَنْ مُطَرِّفٍ قَالَ رحمه الله لأَنْ أَبِيتَ نَائِمًا وَأُصْبِحَ نَادِمًا أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَبِيتَ قَائِمًا وَأُصْبِحَ مُعْجَبًا
Ahmad reported: Mutarrif, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “That I spend the night sleeping and awaken regretful is more beloved to me than to spend the night standing in prayer and awaken impressed with myself.”
Source: Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, al-Zuhd 1357
عن ابن حماد عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ رحمه الله قَالَ لَا يَبْلُغُ عَبْدٌ ذُرَى الْإِيمَانِ حَتَّى يَكُونَ التَّوَاضُعُ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الشَّرَفِ وَمَا قَلَّ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِمَّا كَثُرَ وَيَكُونُ مَنْ أَحَبَّ وَأَبْغَضَ فِي الْحَقِّ سَوَاءً يَحْكُمُ لِلنَّاسِ كَمَا يَحْكُمُ لِنَفْسِهِ وَأَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ
Ibn Hammad reported: Mu’adh ibn Jabal, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “A servant will not reach the heights of faith until humility is more beloved to him than nobility, until less in the world is more beloved to him than more, until it is the same whether he is loved or hated for the truth, and until he judges people the way he would love to be judged for himself and his household.”
Source: Nuʿaym ibn Ḥammād, al-Zuhd 191
عن ابن تيمية وَكَانَ مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ رضي الله عنه يَقُولُ اقْبَلُوا الْحَقَّ مِنْ كُلِّ مَنْ جَاءَ بِهِ وَإِنْ كَانَ كَافِرًا أَوْ قَالَ فَاجِرًا
Ibn Taymiyyah reported: Mu’adh ibn Jabal, may Allah be pleased with him, would say, “Accept the truth from whoever brings it, even if he is an unbeliever or a sinner.”
عَنْ ٱلْبُخَارِي قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ أَدْرَكْتُ ثَلَاثِينَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كُلُّهُمْ يَخَافُ النِّفَاقَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ مَا مِنْهُمْ أَحَدٌ يَقُولُ إِنَّهُ عَلَى إِيمَانِ جِبْرِيلَ وَمِيكَائِيلَ
Al-Bukhari reported: Ibn Abi Mulaykah, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “I met thirty companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and each one of them feared hypocrisy for himself. None of them said they had faith like the Angel Gabriel or the Angel Michael.”
Statements of Scholars
أقوال العلماءعن ابن أبي الدنيا قَالَ بِشْرُ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ رحمه الله لَا يَجِدُ حَلَاوَةَ الْآخِرَةِ رَجُلٌ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَعْرِفَهُ النَّاسُ
Ibn Abi Dunya reported: Bishr ibn al-Harith, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “A man will not find the sweetness of the Hereafter if he loves to be known by people.”
عن عَبْد الرَّحْمَنِ بْن مَهْدِيٍّ قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ رحمه الله فَجَاءَهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ جِئْتُكَ مِنْ مَسِيرَةِ سِتَّةِ أَشْهُرٍ حَمَّلَنِي أَهْلُ بَلَدِي مَسْأَلَةً أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْهَا قَالَ فَسَلْ فَسَأَلَهُ الرَّجُلُ عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ فَقَالَ لَا أُحْسِنُهَا فَبُهِتَ الرَّجُلُ كَأَنَّهُ قَدْ جَاءَ إِلَى مَنْ يَعْلَمُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَقَالَ فَأَيُّ شَيْءٍ أَقُولُ لِأَهْلِ بَلَدِتِي إِذَا رَجَعْتُ لَهُمْ قَالَ تَقُولُ لَهُمْ قَالَ مَالِكٌ لَا أُحْسِنُ قَالَ ابْنُ وَهْبٍ وَكُنْتُ أَسْمَعُهُ كَثِيرًا مَا يَقُولُ لَا أَدْرِي
Abdur Rahman ibn Mahdi reported: I was with Malik ibn Anas, may Allah have mercy on him, as a man came and he said, “O Abu Abdullah, I have come from a distance of six months travel. The people of my land have an issue to ask you about.” Malik said, “Then ask.” The man asked him about the issue and Malik said, “I do not know it.” The man was speechless, as if he had thought he came to someone who knew everything. The man said, “So what do I say to my people when I return to them?” Malik said, “Say to them that Malik said: I do not know.”
Ibn Wahb said, “I heard him many times saying: I do not know.”
Source: Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, Jāmiʿ Bayān al-ʿIlm wa Faḍlihi 2/838