Allah Almighty says: {And lower your wing [i.e. show kindness] to those who follow you of the believers.} [Ash-Shu‘arā’: 215] He also says: {O you who believe, whoever of you should revert from his religion - Allah will bring forth [in place of them] a people He will love and who will love Him [who are] humble toward the believers, strict against the disbelievers.} [Al-Mā’idah: 54] And He says: {O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes so that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.} [Al-Hujurāt: 13] Allah Almighty also says: {So do not claim yourselves to be pure; He is most knowing of who fears Him.} [An-Najm: 32] He also says: {And the companions of the Heights will call to men [within Hell] whom they recognize by their mark, saying: “Of no avail to you was your gathering and [the fact] that you were arrogant.” [Allah will say]: “Are these the ones whom you [inhabitants of Hell] swore that Allah would never show mercy? Enter Paradise, [O people of the Heights]. No fear will there be for you, nor will you grieve.”} [Al-A‘rāf: 48-49]
1) The believers should be humble when they deal with one another. But they should not be humble towards the disbelievers. On the contrary, they should treat them in a superior manner. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Islam is always superior and nothing can be superior to it.” [Al-Dāraqutni]
2) They describe the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) as tough against the disbelievers, yet merciful towards one another.
3) They affirm the attribute of Love to Allah Almighty, as He loves and is loved: {Allah will bring forth [in place of them] a people He will love and who will love Him.}
4) They point out the wisdom behind Allah Almighty creating us as different peoples and tribes; it is to get acquainted, and not for the purpose of bragging before one another. The merit in Islam lies in piety and good deeds.
602/1 - ‘Iyād ibn Himār (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Verily, Allah revealed to me that you must be humble, so that no one boasts of himself before another nor oppresses another.” [Narrated by Muslim]
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1) A person should be humble to Allah Almighty and towards Muslims. He should look with respect and reverence at those older than him, with mercy and compassion at those who are younger, and with equality at those who are his peers. Indeed, showing humility to the people of faith helps spread justice and benevolence.
2) The Prophet’s Sunnah is a revelation from Allah Almighty, which was sent down just like the Qur’an.
3) Arrogance generates bragging amongst people, and bragging leads to oppression and severance of ties. So, let everyone shun this behavior.
603/2 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Charity never diminishes wealth, and Allah does not increase the one who pardons others except in honor, and no one humbles himself seeking the pleasure of Allah except that Allah will raise him in rank.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) We are urged to pardon; yet, this is conditional upon the achievement of reconciliation. Allah Almighty says: {But whoever pardons and makes reconciliation - his reward is [due] from Allah. Indeed, He does not like wrongdoers.}
2) If a person shows humbleness for the sake of Allah, Allah will raise his rank in this world and in the Hereafter. Recompense for a deed is of the same nature of the deed.
604/3 - Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reportedly passed by some boys and greeted them. He said: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to do so. [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1) It is recommended to greet children, for this teaches them the Shariah etiquette and trains people to be humble.
2) The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were keen to follow the Prophet’s example. This is what every believer should do. In every deed he does, he should do it sincerely for the sake of Allah and in compliance with the Prophet’s example.
3) When we deal humbly with children, this gives them a sense of worth and instills into them respect and reverence towards the adults.
605/4 - He also reported: A slave-girl of Madīnah would take hold of the Prophet’s hand and take him wherever she wished. [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
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1) It shows the Prophet’s remarkable modesty, as he used to stand with the weak and those who had needs to be fulfilled, though he is the noblest among all people.
2) Part of the Prophet’s guidance, which we are required to follow, is to help any person in need, whether he is near or far.
606/5 - Al-Aswad ibn Yazīd reported: ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) was asked: “What would the Prophet do at home?” She replied: “He would serve his family, and when the time of prayer came, he would go out to pray.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
1) It shows the Prophet’s complete modesty and kindness towards his family. When a man helps his family with their chores, this serves a variety of purposes, like sustaining harmony and love, in addition to following the Prophet’s guidance.
2) Worldly activities should not distract a person from prayer. Religious duties take precedence over worldly ones.
3) A person with complete servitude to his Lord would do every act of worship at its prescribed time.
607/6 - Abu Rifā‘ah Tamīm ibn Usayd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “I went to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) while he was delivering a sermon, and I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, a stranger (meaning himself) has come to inquire about his religion. He is quite ignorant about his religion.’ So the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) interrupted his sermon and came to me. A chair was brought for him and he sat on it and started teaching me of what Allah had taught him. Then, he resumed his sermon and completed it.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) It shows the Prophet’s complete modesty and compassion towards Muslims and points out his wisdom, as his way of teaching attracts people’s hearts to Islam.
2) We should pay attention to such important things that can be missed if they are not dealt with immediately. That is why the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) chose to interrupt the sermon and teach that man.
608/7 - Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that whenever the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) ate food, he would lick his three fingers (thumb, index, and middle fingers); and he said: “If any one of you drops a morsel of food, he should remove anything filthy on it and eat it and not leave it for the devil.” And he commanded us to clean out the dish, saying: “You do not know in which portion of the food the blessing lies.” [Narrated by Muslim]
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Clean out the dish: to take any food remaining in the dish with one’s fingers and lick the fingers.
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1) It shows the Prophet’s perfect way of teaching. When he mentioned a ruling, he would clarify the wisdom behind it, which serves two great purposes:
First: It demonstrates the sublimity of this Shariah, which primarily relies on taking people’s interests into consideration and removing evils. All his commands and prohibitions certainly serve our interests.
Second: When a person learns about the wisdom behind a certain ruling, he grows more reassured and certain and feels activated to do what is commanded and avoid what is prohibited.
2) The devil may share a person’s food and drink, unless he takes his precautions by the means prescribed in the Shariah.
3) Not wasting the food that falls on the ground teaches us to preserve wealth, no matter how little it is.
Licking the fingers after eating achieves two benefits:
- A Shariah benefit, which is following the Prophet’s example.
- A health benefit: some doctors said that when the fingertips are used in eating, they release a substance that helps with digestion - and Allah knows best.
609/8 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Allah did not send a prophet except that he tended sheep.” His Companions asked: “And did you?” He said: “Yes, I tended them for the Makkans in return for a wage.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
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1) Sheep herding trains one to be humble and shun arrogance.
2) Those who play the role of teaching and educating people should follow the example of the prophets (peace be upon them) in their humbleness and noble manners.
610/9 - He also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If I were invited to (a meal of) a sheep’s trotter or foreleg, I would accept the invitation; and if I were gifted a sheep’s foreleg or trotter, I would accept the gift.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
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1) We are encouraged to accept invitations, even if it were to little food, and to accept gifts, no matter how simple. This is part of modesty and it helps create intimacy between Muslims.
2) It shows the Prophet’s perfect modesty and how he would comfort people, especially the weak among them.
611/10 - Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “The Prophet’s camel, Al-‘Adbā’, would not be outstripped, or almost so. A Bedouin came riding his strong camel which outstripped it. Muslims were much grieved at this. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) perceived this and said: ‘It is Allah’s way that nothing rises in this world except that He lowers it.’” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
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1) It points out how insignificant this world is in the sight of Allah Almighty, and it encourages us to give up boastfulness, to act humbly, and to shed the garment of arrogance.
2) Anything that rises in this world will ultimately go down.
3) Anything that rises of the matters related to the Hereafter will not be lowered by Allah Almighty. {Allah will raise in ranks those who believe among you and those who were given knowledge.}