Be humble

Be humble

Do you feel superior to others because your family is well respected. Do your accomplishments give you a sense of greatness and superiority when compared to others less accomplished. Does your skin color, family descent, or nationality make you consider others inferior? If so, don't let power, wealth and fame corrupt you. Don't let your accomplishments deceive you. Don't let racism get the best of you. Don't let Satan mislead you into believing you are superior to others. You were once nothing, not even a thought. By the grace of God who creates what He wills, you were given life. You were given the opportunity to be something. Just like you, everyone is trying to be something. Be humble therefore, and honor you Creator by honoring His Creation.

You are significant because of who created you, but you are insignificant compared the greater creation around you. The planets and the stars, and the galaxies all around us are far superior to us. They will continue to exist far beyond our existence. Compared to the universe, Human beings are like an ant to planet Earth. The universe is much greater than us and is far more complex. God emphasizes the greatness of the Universe compared to human beings in the glorious Qur'an. Allah says: "The creation of the Heavens and the Earth is indeed greater than the creation of mankind; yet, most of mankind know not. [Al-Qur'an 40:57]" 

As advancement in technology and knowledge continue to increase, so does human arrogance. The more inventions we come up with, the more widespread arrogance and intolerance becomes. Because of this, we tend to consider ourselves as the greatest thing in this world. It has become a disease and many people are dying because of hate and intolerance. We have gone astray.

We human beings fail to put things in perspective and realize that we are neither creators of things, and neither did we create ourselves. We only make things from already created things. We can only do things and advance in technology as long as the air we depend on and food and water is available to us. We need to humble ourselves and realize that no matter how much knowledge we attain, and no matter what technology we come up with, no matter our accomplishments, gravity will continue to exist. Earth will continue to rotate and we can do nothing to stop it. Our existence can easily be replaced. We should therefore distance ourselves from prejudice and arrogance. We should humble ourselves. We should come to know each other, and embrace the uniqueness in everyone, not view each other as inferior.

We are all unique in our genetic makeup, but we are all equal in the sight of God. The only superiority anyone can have over anyone else is fear of God, faith in Him, and righteousness. Everything else, including language, nationality, race, and family lineage does not matter in the sight of God. As Allah says in the Glorious Qur'an: "O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). 49:13"

When Allah's Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings, was raised as a Prophet, the same kind of racism, under the name of tribalism, was prevalent in Makkah. The Quraish considered themselves in particular, and Arabs in general, superior to all the other peoples of the world. Prophet Muhammad rejected the ignorant belief, which considered some people superior to others because of their language, race, social status or ethnicity. He said, "Your descent is nothing to be proud of. Nor does it bring you superiority. O people! All of you are the children of Adam. You are like equal wheat grains in a bowl. No one has any superiority over anyone else, except in religion and heedfulness."

Prophet Muhammad emphasized the importance of equality in his last sermon. He said: "All mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. (Excerpt from the Last Sermon of Prophet Muhammad)" 

Be Humble, therefore!


-F.D