The path of humility

It may not come as a big surprise that humility and kindness are highly recommended in Islam as steps towards the goal. It’s something that most humans would want in their lives, regardless of background, after all. It’s the foundation for peaceful co-existence and understanding, a way to maintain comfort and stability in our lives.

But while most of us know the benefits of humility, we are also humans who are put in different challenging situations, and people deal with emotions in different ways. How can we handle that? There are some aspects that we might consider, and while many of them are self-evident, it’s still important to think of them and try to understand them in more depth…


* Self- Awareness. The difference between a wise person and a fool, is that the fool’s mistakes never teaches him or her anything. Humility involves having a clear and realistic understanding of our own strengths and weaknesses. It means recognizing and accepting our limitations and the sides in ourselves that we can grow and develop to improve our character.
That can be a challenge as many people are generally not too comfortable facing their flaws. But ignoring them is not a solution, because as long as flaws are not recognized, it may cause repetition. A humble character who acknowledges flaws is more open to change.

As the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates once said… “know thyself.”
Always see the world through your own flaws first, before you see them in others. In that sense, we might be able to see the world through a whole different light, forgive people who wronged us more easily, and become more grateful for the favours He has given us, inshallah.


* Open-Mindedness. Humble individuals are open to new ideas, feedback, and perspectives. They are willing to listen and learn from others, valuing different viewpoints and being open to constructive criticism. That means you can also learn things about yourself from others. Of course, this also depend on the person you talk to. Not all people may see things the same way. If there is a chemistry of respect between people, then that is always a good thing.

سورة الأحزاب ٧٠
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَقُولُواْ قَوۡلٗا سَدِيدٗا

Surah Al-Ahzaab 33:70
O ye who believe! Fear Allah, and (always) say a word directed to the Right

* Non-Defensiveness. Humble individuals are less likely to become defensive or take criticism personally. They view feedback as an opportunity for growth rather than as a threat to their self-esteem. And even if you disagree with someone… always think of it this way: whatever someone says about you, doesn’t say anything about you… it says something about them. That is always true, regardless of whether the feedback is positive or negative. That strategy usually works in situations I face, and may help against becoming too negative as a result of criticism, or too arrogant as a result of praise. No one knows you better than Him, and He knows all other humans equally. That is comforting to keep in mind, along with remembering this aya…

سورة النجم ٣٢
ٱلَّذِينَ يَجۡتَنِبُونَ كَبَٰٓئِرَ ٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡفَوَٰحِشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّمَمَۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٰسِعُ ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِۚ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِكُمۡ إِذۡ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَإِذۡ أَنتُمۡ أَجِنَّةٞ فِي بُطُونِ أُمَّهَٰتِكُمۡۖ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡۖ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ

Surah An-Najm 53:32
Those who avoid great sins and shameful deeds, only (falling into) small faults,- verily thy Lord is ample in forgiveness. He knows you well when He brings you out of the earth, And when ye are hidden in your mothers’ wombs. Therefore justify not yourselves: He knows best who it is that guards against evil.


* Empathy. A humble person often demonstrates empathy, understanding, and compassion for others. They can put themselves in others’ shoes and appreciate their feelings and experiences. We can gain that kind of understanding from something we have experienced ourselves. We may not have experienced the exact same thing, but somehow a similar situation as the person we are talking to. That makes it easier for us to connect with the other person and how they are feeling. If they feel you understand them, they will open up to you.

These are some aspects that are good to keep in mind and may be helpful in becoming more aware of yourself and the path of humility. I will continue with more pointers next time inshallah… make sure not to miss it. For now, I will take this opportunity to wish Jumma mubarak and hope that you will face a beautiful day ahead of you, inshallah. Really the best day, full of comfort and safety, for all of you. You deserve it.


The best of times to you all inshallah.
Peace, happiness, and stay faithful.

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