A Muslim is Humble and Modest

There are a number of hadiths which encourage modesty and humility, reminding those who possess these virtues that as long as they continue to be humble towards one another in obedience to Allah’s command, Allah will raise their status. For example, the Prophet (pbuh) said:

No-one is humble for the sake of Allah, but Allah will raise him in status.” (Muslim)

Allah told me that you should be so humble towards one another that no-one should boast to anyone else and no-one should oppress anyone.” (Muslim)

The Prophet’s (pbuh) life is a practical, living example of humility, gentleness and tolerance. Whenever he passed a group of children playing, his position as Prophet and the great status which Allah had bestowed on him alone did not prevent him from greeting those children, smiling at them and exchanging a few words with them. Anas said that he passed by a group of children and greeted them. He added, “The Prophet (pbuh) used to do that.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Anas gave another account of the Prophet’s humility: he reported that one of the slave-women of Madinah used to take the Prophet’s hand and lead him wherever she wanted, until he had sorted our her needs. (Bukhari)

Tamim ibn Usayd came to Madinah to ask about the rules of Islam. He was a stranger, but he did not find any barrier or guard between him and the Prophet (pbuh), the first man in the Islamic state, who was on the minbar addressing the people. Tamim came forward to ask some questions, and the Prophet (pbuh) welcomed him with all the warmth, humility and compassion. Tamim tells the story, as was related by Islam Muslim:

I came to the Prophet (pbuh) whilst he was giving a speech. I said, “O Messenger of Allah, a stranger has come to ask about his religion, he does not know what his religion is.’ The Prophet (pbuh) welcomed me, interrupted his speech, and came to me. A chair was brought for him, so he sat down and began to teach me from what Allah had taught him. Then he resumed his speech and finished what he was saying.”

The Prophet (pbuh) used to instill the attitude of humility, based on tolerance, gentleness and a good nature, in the hearts of his Companions. He said

“If I were to be invited to a simple meal of a sheep’s foot or leg, or if I were to be offered this food as a gift, I would accept it” (Bukhari)

This is modesty in its purest form and human greatness of the highest degree.