Tawadhu’ is low self or humility. Tawadhu or humility is an akhlaq in Islam that is included into benefits of good deeds in Islam. Tawadhu in Islam means that someone make himself to be lower than Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala and His servants.
Someone who have tawadhu will not boast to anyone. He always consider and see that others are greater than himself. And a tawadhu person will accept every rightness and bow to that rightness, although that rightness come from a little child or his enemy.
If someone can not accept the rightness from someone who is weaker than him, then that person boast to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala because all of rightness come from Allah who is the Al-Haq.
Allah Subahanahu Wa Ta’ala has commanded humans to tawadhu’ and prohibited them to boast in this world.
In Q.S Al-Isra verse 37 :
“And do not walk upon the earth exultantly. Indeed, you will never tear the earth [apart], and you will never reach the mountains in height.”
In that verse, Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala has wanted human to do not boast, because human can not pierce the world and rise to over a mountain, so why do human boast?
And indeed people who are included as Allah SWT servants is those who do not boast and walk in this world with humility. Although people who is dumber than him, greet him with bad words, he is still low his heart and say Salaam to them. As Allah SWT said in Q.S Al-Furqan verse 63 :
“And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address the [harshly], they say [words of] peace.”
As we know, everything in Islam have virtues and badness for someone who did it. In humility, someone who do or has the behavior of humility will get some virtues from it.
The virtues of humility in Islam
Indeed the human nature is as a khalifah in this world, but it is not meant that human may boast in front of the Creator and His servants.
We must always tawadhu as a devoted servant of Allah, because someone who always humbles himself and his heart is one of the righteous behaviors. He always behaves as paddy, means just as the paddy that bends lower as it ripens, so too do those who are wise and knowledgeable display greater humility. He does not show off anything, either in matter, science and power.
Here are some virtues of humility in Islam :
- Humility will give a way to heaven
In narration of Muslim, Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam said :
“Will not enter Paradise someone who in his heart there is pride although it is only as big as zarrah.”
From that hadith, we know that a humble person will enter the heaven and whoever boast of him, although it is only a little, then he will not enter the heaven.
See also : The virtues of Salaam in Islam
[AdSense-B]
- Prevent someone from being proud and boastful
From Iyadh bin Himar radhiyallahu anha, The Messenger of Allah SAW said :
“And Allah reveals to me that you should be humble each other, so that there is no one should be proud of the others and no one should be zhalim in the others.” (Narrated by Muslim)
In that hadith, Allah SAW revealed to the Prophet that human humble each other to avoid the attitude of pride themselves.
- Allah SWT will raise the degree of those who humble themselves
From Abu Hurairah ra., Rasulullah SAW said :
“Alms will not reduce treasures. No one will forgive others, but Allah will add his glory. And no one humbles for Allah, but Allah will raise his rank.” (Narrated by Muslim)
From that hadith, we can know that Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala will add the glory of those who forgive others and Allah SWT will raise the degree of those who humble themselves or not boast in front of Allah SWT and His servants.
[AdSense-A]
- Respected by others
People will be reluctant and respectful to us, if they knew our advantages. But we have to still humble and not brag.
- Delighting many people
People will be more happy to people who always humble than with people who always boast, they will feel annoyed and to people who always boast. You may also read ways how to cure arrogance in Islam
- Have a lot of friends
Someone who always do tawadhu is not only liked by people, but he will have a lot of friends, both in work, school or community environments. Someone will be not uncomfortable to be friends with people who are always humble and inferiority. See also How to choose good friends in Islam
- Your heart is always calm
Someone who always humble, will feel peace and serenity in his heart. Because he does not need to boast in front of others and we will not feel jealous when there is someone who is taller and greater than him.
- Inheriting the noble attitude of the Prophets
The Prophets always humble themselves, whereas there are human who are chosen by Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala such as the Prophet Musa ‘alaihi sallam. He is not shy to do a job such as feeding and drinking the farm animals. He did it because he wanted to help two women who had an elderly father.
In a hadith, Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam always help his family’s job although he is a noble prophet.
From Al-Aswad, he said, Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said :
“I has asked to Aisyah about what the Prophet Muhammad did when he was at home.”
Then Aisyah answered :
“He always helps the work of his family and when the time of prayer comes, then he goes out to do the prayers.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari)
See also : Akhlaq of Prophet Muhammad SAW
- Tawadhu is one way to a noble position
From Abu Bakar Ash-Shidi, he said :
“we find that the glory comes from the nature of piety, qana’ah (feeling sufficient), arise out of confidence (on what is in the side of Allah), and a noble position can be got from the nature of tawadhu.”
- Make the Prophet Muhammad as a paragon
Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam is a person who always humble and inferiority. He never boast his glory and specialness. And even he wants to give Salaam to children who have levels under him.
From Anas, he said :
“Indeed, The Messenger of Allah always visits the Anshor. Then he gave Salaam to children and rubbed his head.” (Narrated by Ibn Hibban)
From some virtues of humility in Islam above, we can know clearly that low self and humble are a matter which is recommended by Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala. And as good Muslims, we have to always do tawadhu to be included into the group of people who fear with Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala.
Hopefully, this article is useful for you. Thank you.
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