All praise due to Allah the Exalted.
People are created with both good bad traits. One of the latter is feeling superior toward others, which makes us underestimating them. Islam is indeed a righteous religion, but Muslims are full of flaws. Sometimes they can’t help but feeling that they are better than anyone else in some ways.
But what is the law of underestimating people in Islam? Is Islam ever allow such behavior to be shown by its believer? Here are the explanation regarding that matter.
Muslims must possess a good manner, and underestimating others is definitely not one of them. In socially living everyday, we must know how to treat people in the right way. Thus, having a good manner is important.
Our Prophet (peace be upon him) was sent down to Earth to fix all the horrible manner of human being and show them the right one. Also read Importance of Good Manner in Islam
Everyone wants to be loved, appreciated, and accepted by others. In fact, those three are included in the rights for people. Not giving them any of it means we are violating their rights. Belittling others means we neither love nor appreciate them.
People should live according to their own way and what they think is right. If we are ever underestimating them, we give provisions to them, which is not allowed. Also read Most Rewarding Deeds in Islam
In the stories of Ibn Kathir, Luqman once said to his son, “O my son: Let your speech be good and your face be smiling; you will be more loved by the people than those who give them provisions.”
We have to be able to keep a good relationship with fellow human, so that we will be able to live rightly in the world. However, if we underestimate others, we make the relationship going to the wrong way.
Humans are easy to get carried away with power, wealth, and many other good things in life. We credit all of our achievement to ourselves and never appreciate others. It’s a bad sign of arrogance, which is something that Allah SWT and the Prophet (peace be upon him) hate the most. Also read Prohibition of Arrogance in Islam
[AdSense-B]
Underestimating means arrogance. There is a good reason why Allah SWT hates arrogance: an arrogant people leaves many holes to Satan to get close to them. Once we fall into the trap of Satan, it will be difficult and almost impossible to get out of it.
“And turn not your face away from men with pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah likes not any arrogant boaster.” (31:18)
Making fun of others or mocking them often taken as a joke, but for some reasons it’s not acceptable. Sometimes people mock others not to joke but only to proof that they are all the way better by pointing out their weaknesses. Also read Rights of Minorities in Islam
“O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former. Nor let (some) women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better than the former…” (49:11)
Indeed, underestimating others and belittling them is an undesirable titles that no one would want to bear. Have some sense to fellow human by not pointing out what they’re lacking and spread it to others.
“… Nor defame yourselves, nor insult one another by nicknames. Evil is the name of wickedness after faith. And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed wrongdoers.” (49: 11)
[AdSense-C]
A good Muslim should stay away from any negative things. Underestimating, having suspicion, as well as pointing at the fault of others included in those. Also read Negative Attitude in Islam
As narrated by Abu Huraira (RA), the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:“Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the worst of false tales; and do not look for the others’ faults and do not spy, and do not be jealous of one another, and do not desert (cut your relation with) one another, and do not hate one another; and O Allah’s worshipers! Be brothers (as Allah has ordered you!).” (Bukhari)
Underestimating others not only damaging for the object, but also for people who is having the thought and doing the act. When someone is busy looking down at others, he unconsciously damage his good character, spirituality, and piety. In time, they will be led only to negative things.
If we don’t underestimate others and consider them as equal, we have many respect on them. Being respected is one of the rights of a Muslim that must be fulfilled. A Muslim himself should possess respect and honor to others. Thus, making judgment, especially one base only on imagination is a highly prohibited act. Also read Importance of Human Rights in Islam
Always have positive thinking and surround ourselves only with positive vibes do wonder to our heart. It makes our heart lighter and give it a relief. Living with peace in heart is a dream for every Muslim. Harboring bad thoughts and feeling superior toward others is not a Muslim’s character.
Those are the explanation on law of underestimating people in Islam. Even though there are no explicit law regarding that matter, we now know that underestimating others is close with many other bad deeds in Islam, thus makes it haraam. Other than that, underestimating people doesn’t show the true character of a Muslims.
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