Humbleness

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Once al-Najashi (a king of Abyssinia) called to his presence Ja’far ibn abu Talib and his companions. When they came in, they found the king sitting on the ground wearing two old pieces of cloth.’ The Imam said that Ja’far has said, ‘We felt compassion for him in our hearts when we saw him in that condition. When he noticed our feelings from our faces he said, “All praise is due to Allah for his giving victory to Muhammad and delight to his heart. Should I give you good news?” I said, “Yes, O King.” He then said, “This hour my informant people have come from your land and have informed me that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has granted victory to His prophet, Muhammad (a.s.) and has destroyed his enemies. So and so are taken captive when they met each other in a land called Badr, which has a great many bushes of Arak as if I can see it, because I was a shepherd grazing the herd for my master who was from the tribe of Damrah.” Ja’far then said to him, “O king, why do you sit on the ground wearing two pieces of old cloth?” He then said, “O Ja’far, we find in what Allah had revealed to Jesus that of the rights of Allah on his servants is to show humbleness when He does a favor for them. Since Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has done a favor for me by means of granting victory to Muhammad (a.s.) 1 show humility.’” When this was mentioned to the Holy Prophet he said to his companions, ‘Charity increases the wealth of the donor, therefore, give charity. Humbleness elevates the position of a person, therefore, be humble, Allah will raise your degree in meritorious status. Forgiveness increases the respect of a person, therefore, forgive, Allah will grant you respect.’”

“I heard the Imam saying, ‘In heaven there are two angels who guard the servants (of Allah). Whoever is humble before Allah, they raise him up, and whoever is arrogant, they bring him low.’”

‘‘In a Thursday evening the Messenger of Allah had completed his day’s fasting and dinner was served in the Mosque of Quba. He asked, ‘Is there any drink?’ Aws ibn Khuli brought him a bowl of milk mixed with honey. When he touched it with his lips he moved it away saying, ‘There are two drinks each of which is enough drink. I will not drink it and I am not making unlawful to drink it, but I want to be humble before Allah. Whoever is humble before Allah, He raises him up, and whoever is arrogant, Allah brings him low. Whoever economizes in his living Allah grants him sustenance. Whoever is a spendthrift, Allah deprives him. Whoever speaks of death very often, Allah loves him.’”

‘‘Whoever speaks of Allah very often, Allah will provide him shadow in His paradise.”

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘Once an angel came to the Messenger of Allah and said, ‘‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, gives you the choice to be a servant and a humble messenger, or to be an angel and a messenger.” He looked to Jibril who made a gesture with his hand to be humble. He (the Messenger of Allah) said, “I want to be a humble servant and a messenger.” The messenger (the angel) said, “Despite this, there is no reduction in what is with your Lord.” The Imam said, “With him were the keys to the treasures of earth.’””

“It is of humbleness to be happy with one seat instead of another seat, to initiate the greeting of peace to one who meets him and to avoid extreme argumentation even though one is right, and should not love to be praised for piety.”

“Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, sent revelation to Moses asking, ‘Moses, do you know why I chose you to speak to instead of My other creatures?’ He asked, ‘My Lord, why did You do so?’ The Imam said, ‘Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, revealed to Moses, “Moses, I turned My creatures upside down and I did not find anyone of a more humble soul than you. O Moses, whenever you prayed you had been placing your cheek on the soil,” or he said, ‘On earth.’”

“Once, Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) was passing by the lepers while riding his donkey. They were having their lunch so they invited him to join them for food. The Imam said, ‘Had 1 not been fasting I would have joined you.’ When he returned home he asked that good food be prepared. He then invited the lepers for food and he (Ali ibn al-Husayn) (a.s.) joined them at the table.’” (Leprosy is a contagious disease.)

"Verily, humility includes a man sitting below his social rank."

Abū ʿAbdillāh (AS) looked at a man from the people of Medina who had bought something for his family and was carrying it. When the man saw him, he felt shy from him (the Imam). So Abū ʿAbdillāh (AS) said: "You bought it for your family and carried it to them. By Allah, if it were not for the people of Medina, I would prefer to buy something for my family and then carry it to them."

"In what Allah, the Mighty and Exalted, revealed to David (a.s.): 'O David, just as the closest people to Allah are the humble, likewise the farthest people from Allah are the arrogant.'"

“I entered upon Abu al-Hasan Musa (a.s.) in the year when Abu Abdullah (a.s.) passed away. I said, 'May I be your ransom, why did you slaughter a ram while so-and-so sacrificed a camel?' He (peace be upon him) said, 'O Abu Muhammad, Noah (a.s.) was in the Ark, and it contained what Allah willed. The Ark was commanded (by Allah), and it circled around the Ka'bah—this was the circumambulation of women—and then Noah (a.s.) let it continue on its way. Allah, the Mighty and Exalted, revealed to the mountains that He would place the Ark of His servant Noah on one of them. So the mountains extended themselves and raised their heads high, while Mount Judi, which is near you, lowered itself. The Ark struck the mountain with its bow. Noah (a.s.) then said at that moment, 'O Mari, secure it!'—in Syriac, 'O Lord, make it sound!'" I then thought that Abu al-Hasan (a.s.) was alluding to himself.