Humility is achieved when one makes a concerted effort to not be a prick
CJ
Tag: humility
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The Arrogance of Religiosity
My pet peeve on Tumblr, and in general regarding the way we address each other, is still the haughtiness that is displayed by people that pretend to be sincere in their use of the term ‘Oh so-and-so…’. Then there are those that use words like ‘Indeed’ and ‘Verily’ in their posts disguised as advice as if they are such authorities that such a pompous use of language is warranted.
I say this about both the layman and the scholar alike. This use of language is taken from the style that is evident in the translations of the Qur’an, which is obviously fitting for Allah to use when addressing His creation. But to use it when talking to people or addressing people on Tumblr? Really? We think we’re so accomplished and aloof that we can address others as ‘O Muslims’ or ‘O Believers’ or use condescending terms like ‘Ahlul Bid’aa’ or the ‘Awwaam’ and the like?
The annoyance I have with many people that assume a position of authority after studying Islam in some form or another is that more often than not they cease to engage meaningfully with others, and instead start assuming a level of superiority that is rarely, if ever, warranted. We’re so steeped in arrogance that the moment we study Islam formally, we assume that it’s our responsibility to start preaching before we even start practising.
These are generalisations, I admit. And like all generalisations, there are exceptions. But look around you and I am quite certain you’ll agree that the number of sincere and humble scholars of the present day are few and far between. Most people that ascend the pulpit these days assume that by putting in the general disclaimers about what supposedly refers to them before it refers to anyone else is sufficient to disguise the arrogance and condescension with which they engage with those that don’t formally study Islam.
It’s the same old thing. We forget what it’s like to be Muslims, because we’re so indulgent in wanting to tell everyone how they’re supposed to be Muslims. I’m often reminded of the stories of the Sahaba when they used to travel to foreign lands. They didn’t first need to learn the language and the culture and make big bayaans and write extensive treatises in their efforts to spread the word of Islam. They convinced others about the superiority of Islam over any other way of life simply through the way they conducted themselves. By contrast, these days we’re told that we are not qualified to engage in debate or discussion with anyone about Islam unless we hold a man-made title that signifies our level of proficiency in Islamic studies.
We’ve turned Islam into an academic pursuit, embellished with sects and madhabs and pretentious scholars, while forgetting how to simply be Muslims. May Allah save us from ourselves.
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Random thought
Reading through some of my recent posts, I realised how much I annoy myself. I hate that I constantly tend towards speaking of ‘we’ instead of ‘me’. There’s a strong undertone of arrogance in such a presumptuous position, by assuming that I am capable of speaking on behalf of others when in fact my observations are nothing but a reflection of my own life’s experiences.
It seems sincerity and humility are still whiling away in the distance whilst I delude myself into believing that I’ve acquired it already. Like they say, the mere profession of humility is in itself arrogance.
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Asmaa’ bint Yazeed رضي الله عنها reported that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“Shall I tell you who is the best of you?”
They replied: “Yes”.
He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Those who remind you of Allah when you see them.”
He went on to say: “Shall I tell you about the most evil ones from amongst you?”
They said: “Of course.”
He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Those who go around with Nameemah. They make enmity between friends and they seek problems for the innocent.”
“Musnad” of Imaam Ahmad and al-Bukhaaree in “Al-Adab Al-Mufrad” (323) and graded as “Hasan” by Shaikh al-Albaanee
I’m often reminded of this hadith when I engage with many learned members of the Ummah. Some pretend to be more learned than others, but in most of my interactions, I’ve found that those who profess to be truer adherents of the Sunnah often had the most repulsive of manners. I’ve seen learned men, and men recognised as leading scholars of their time and in their communities speak with condescension and aloofness about those that did not agree with them, or revere their opinions.But similarly, as someone recently posted, it’s often those most humble without realising it, and those most subdued in their proclamation of virtues and practises that are the ones that have reminded me of Allah most. Rarely have I been reminded of Allah at the sight of an imam, or others that claim scholarly and leadership titles to embellish their profiles. Most often, those that maintain an overt appearance with distinction lack sincerity and moderation in their rebuking of others.
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Man has never created anything. We’ve only manipulated what we have in order to arrive at new configurations of what already exists, regardless of how complex the manipulation may be, it will always be nothing more than that. A manipulation of what exists.
Excerpt from a previous post on Destiny
Serves as a good reminder for me whenever I feel pompous about my achievements in life.
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To be humble is to accept the truth and submit to it even if you heard it from a child or someone who is uneducated or ignorant.
Al-Fudayl ibn Iyaad (via saliksays)