Excessive amounts of humility is called lowliness (Tazallul), or coarseness or holding one's self
down. Lowliness is prohibited (Haram). As is the case with other forbidden things, practising
this vice upon a forced necessity (Dharurat), also becomes permissible (Jaiz). Following are
some examples of forced necessities: protecting one's religion, property, honor, or life, or to save
one's self from a tyrant. Looking for an easy solution becomes permissible when there is a
forcing necessity or difficulty.
Excessive humility is one of the vices. The following is a good example of excessive humility.
When a scholar (Alim) is visited by a shoe maker, the scholar gets up to greet him and tells him
to sit in his place and while he is leaving, he walks along with him up to the door and places his
shoes in front of him. Alternatively, if the scholar would get up to receive him and then sit back
and show him where to sit and converse with him about his business and situation and ask him
the purpose of his visit as well as answer his questions with a cheerful and smiling face and
accept his invitation and help him to solve his difficulties, he would have shown humility. In one
of the hadith Rasulullah, peace be upon him, said, "Hajj and 'Umra'(nafila) rewards will be
given to the person who attends troubles of his religious brethren." Hadrat Hasan asked
Sabit Bananiya, may Allahu ta’ala, be well pleased with them, to do something for him. He said
he was busy in the mosque with devotions (Itiqaf) and he would do it some other time. Hadrat
Hasan, may Allahu ta’ala be well pleased with him, replied back, "Aren't you aware of the news
which says that attending to one of the brethren's needs is more rewarding than performing
[Nafila] pilgrimage 'Hajj'?" Also, this hadith was used for deriving the following meanings: It is
very rewarding for people who hold rank to use their position to help needy people. For scholars,
it is very rewarding (Thawab) if they help their students through property or by using their
position. Anyone who begs while having means [Nafaka] to support himself for one day wouldbe comitting excessive humility and thus would be comitting haram. If a person having one day’s
means (nafaka) collects donations for others who do not possess one day's means or for those
who owe money to others would not be committing excessive humility. Giving a small gift while
expecting a larger gift in return is excessive humility. Verses in the Qur'an prohibit this type of
gift giving. It is a very good deed to return a better gift in response to a gift received but it is not
permissible to give a gift in expectation of receiving a better gift in return. Going to a reception
without being invited would also be excessive humility. In one hadith, Rasulullah, peace be upon
him, said, "Not attending to an invitation is a sin. Going to a reception without being invited
to it is a theft." Attending to an invitation of a marriage ceremony is necessary (Wajib) if there
are no prohibited (Haram) things or affairs taking place at the ceremony. Attending all other
types of invitations is Sunnat. It is not permissible to accept invitations which are done for
boasting or ostentation or hypocrisy. Establishing friendships with government officials, rich
persons and judges with the thought of receiving worldly benefits from them is excessive
humility. The exception in the case of forced necessity (Dharurat) was already discussed above.
Greeting by bowing down or by prostrating upon meeting one of these people is excessive
humility and is a grave sin. Bowing down for the purpose of worshiping would cause disbelief. It
would resemble to the greetings of the Jewish people.
[ The poor means needy person. In Islam, a person who has enogh money to purchase his basic
necessities of life but does not enough money to purchase a sheep for slaughtering is considered
poor. The state of poorness Rasulullah, peace be upon him, asked from Allahu ta’ala and praised
those who possess it is different from the material poorness. It is the consciousness that everyone
in every actions and deeds needs the help of Allahu ta’ala. Abdullah ad-Dahlawi, may Allahu
ta’ala be pleased with him, in his book Durr-ul-ma'arif says, "In Sufism, poor (Fakir) means one
who has no desire or in other words, one who has no desire other than the consent of Allahu
ta’ala." A person who meets this definition will embrace patience and contentment when there is
no means (Nafaka) to satisfy the necessities of life. He will be content with the deeds and decree
of Allahu ta’ala and will work to obtain sustenance in order to comply with the commandment of
Allahu ta’ala. While he is working, he will not cease to perform the ordered worships (Fard) and
will not commit prohibited acts. He will follow the orders of Islam while he is earning and
spending. Poverty will be just as useful as being rich for this type of person and will be a means
for him to obtain both the happiness of this and next worlds. A person who follows his soul
(Nafs) and who doesn't have patience and contentment is not satisfied with the decree and
destiny of Allahu ta’ala. When he is poor, he objects to Him by saying that He gave so little.
When he is rich, he will not be content and ask for more. He will spend his earnings on forbidden
things. His poverty or riches will be a means of disaster for him in both in this and the next
worlds.]
Performing every kind of business or trade, working on a permissible job for a wage, e.g.,
working as a shepherd, gardener, stonemason or carrying load on one’s back or working at the
construction jobs, is not excessive humility. Prophets (peace be upon them) and saints performed
all of these kinds of work. Working to support one’s self, wife and children is an obligatory
(Fard) duty. It is permissible (mubah) to work at all kinds of jobs in order to earn more money
(beyond the fard amount) with the intention of helping others with the extra money one acquires.
Prophet Idris, peace be upon him, worked as a tailor. Prophet David (Dawud), peace be upon
him, worked as an ironworker. Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim), peace be upon him, warked as a
farmer and as a tradesman on textiles. Prophet Adam, peace be upon him, weaved fabrics for the
first time.[Enemies of religion write that the first human beings lived in caves and covered themselves
with leaves. They have no documentation or evidence to back up their allegations.] Prophets
Jesus (Isa), Noah (Nuh) and Salih (peace be upon them) practiced the professions of shoe
making, carpentry and bag or case making respectively. Most of the prophets (peace be upon
them) were shepherds. In a hadith, Rasulullah, peace be upon him, said, "Purchasing one's
household needs and carrying them to one's home is an indication of his not being a
conceited person." Rasulullah, peace be upon him, bought and sold various things. His
purchases were greater than his selling. He worked for others and employed others to work for
him. He participated in business activities like joining corporations or its equivalent activities at
his time and established business partnerships. He represented others by proxy as well as
appointed others to represent himself in several activities by giving proxy (Wakalat). He gave
and received presents. He borrowed money or other things. He established trusts (Waqf). But, he
never said any harsh words to anyone or became angry with anyone while conducting all of these
worldly activities. He took oaths and made others take oaths. He performed those things that are
required by the oath and in some occasions he did not carry out the things that are dictated by the
oath and thus paid compensation (Kaffarat) for breaking his oath. He made jokes but his jokes
were always based on truth and therefore were always useful and returned fruitful results. Not
performing all of the things mentioned above or feeling uneasiness or being ashamed while
performing any one of the above-mentioned actions would show conceit (Kibr). Many people
become confused on this subject and mix humility (Tawadu) with excessive humility (Tazallul).
The soul (Nafs) deceives many on this subject.
down. Lowliness is prohibited (Haram). As is the case with other forbidden things, practising
this vice upon a forced necessity (Dharurat), also becomes permissible (Jaiz). Following are
some examples of forced necessities: protecting one's religion, property, honor, or life, or to save
one's self from a tyrant. Looking for an easy solution becomes permissible when there is a
forcing necessity or difficulty.
Excessive humility is one of the vices. The following is a good example of excessive humility.
When a scholar (Alim) is visited by a shoe maker, the scholar gets up to greet him and tells him
to sit in his place and while he is leaving, he walks along with him up to the door and places his
shoes in front of him. Alternatively, if the scholar would get up to receive him and then sit back
and show him where to sit and converse with him about his business and situation and ask him
the purpose of his visit as well as answer his questions with a cheerful and smiling face and
accept his invitation and help him to solve his difficulties, he would have shown humility. In one
of the hadith Rasulullah, peace be upon him, said, "Hajj and 'Umra'(nafila) rewards will be
given to the person who attends troubles of his religious brethren." Hadrat Hasan asked
Sabit Bananiya, may Allahu ta’ala, be well pleased with them, to do something for him. He said
he was busy in the mosque with devotions (Itiqaf) and he would do it some other time. Hadrat
Hasan, may Allahu ta’ala be well pleased with him, replied back, "Aren't you aware of the news
which says that attending to one of the brethren's needs is more rewarding than performing
[Nafila] pilgrimage 'Hajj'?" Also, this hadith was used for deriving the following meanings: It is
very rewarding for people who hold rank to use their position to help needy people. For scholars,
it is very rewarding (Thawab) if they help their students through property or by using their
position. Anyone who begs while having means [Nafaka] to support himself for one day wouldbe comitting excessive humility and thus would be comitting haram. If a person having one day’s
means (nafaka) collects donations for others who do not possess one day's means or for those
who owe money to others would not be committing excessive humility. Giving a small gift while
expecting a larger gift in return is excessive humility. Verses in the Qur'an prohibit this type of
gift giving. It is a very good deed to return a better gift in response to a gift received but it is not
permissible to give a gift in expectation of receiving a better gift in return. Going to a reception
without being invited would also be excessive humility. In one hadith, Rasulullah, peace be upon
him, said, "Not attending to an invitation is a sin. Going to a reception without being invited
to it is a theft." Attending to an invitation of a marriage ceremony is necessary (Wajib) if there
are no prohibited (Haram) things or affairs taking place at the ceremony. Attending all other
types of invitations is Sunnat. It is not permissible to accept invitations which are done for
boasting or ostentation or hypocrisy. Establishing friendships with government officials, rich
persons and judges with the thought of receiving worldly benefits from them is excessive
humility. The exception in the case of forced necessity (Dharurat) was already discussed above.
Greeting by bowing down or by prostrating upon meeting one of these people is excessive
humility and is a grave sin. Bowing down for the purpose of worshiping would cause disbelief. It
would resemble to the greetings of the Jewish people.
[ The poor means needy person. In Islam, a person who has enogh money to purchase his basic
necessities of life but does not enough money to purchase a sheep for slaughtering is considered
poor. The state of poorness Rasulullah, peace be upon him, asked from Allahu ta’ala and praised
those who possess it is different from the material poorness. It is the consciousness that everyone
in every actions and deeds needs the help of Allahu ta’ala. Abdullah ad-Dahlawi, may Allahu
ta’ala be pleased with him, in his book Durr-ul-ma'arif says, "In Sufism, poor (Fakir) means one
who has no desire or in other words, one who has no desire other than the consent of Allahu
ta’ala." A person who meets this definition will embrace patience and contentment when there is
no means (Nafaka) to satisfy the necessities of life. He will be content with the deeds and decree
of Allahu ta’ala and will work to obtain sustenance in order to comply with the commandment of
Allahu ta’ala. While he is working, he will not cease to perform the ordered worships (Fard) and
will not commit prohibited acts. He will follow the orders of Islam while he is earning and
spending. Poverty will be just as useful as being rich for this type of person and will be a means
for him to obtain both the happiness of this and next worlds. A person who follows his soul
(Nafs) and who doesn't have patience and contentment is not satisfied with the decree and
destiny of Allahu ta’ala. When he is poor, he objects to Him by saying that He gave so little.
When he is rich, he will not be content and ask for more. He will spend his earnings on forbidden
things. His poverty or riches will be a means of disaster for him in both in this and the next
worlds.]
Performing every kind of business or trade, working on a permissible job for a wage, e.g.,
working as a shepherd, gardener, stonemason or carrying load on one’s back or working at the
construction jobs, is not excessive humility. Prophets (peace be upon them) and saints performed
all of these kinds of work. Working to support one’s self, wife and children is an obligatory
(Fard) duty. It is permissible (mubah) to work at all kinds of jobs in order to earn more money
(beyond the fard amount) with the intention of helping others with the extra money one acquires.
Prophet Idris, peace be upon him, worked as a tailor. Prophet David (Dawud), peace be upon
him, worked as an ironworker. Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim), peace be upon him, warked as a
farmer and as a tradesman on textiles. Prophet Adam, peace be upon him, weaved fabrics for the
first time.[Enemies of religion write that the first human beings lived in caves and covered themselves
with leaves. They have no documentation or evidence to back up their allegations.] Prophets
Jesus (Isa), Noah (Nuh) and Salih (peace be upon them) practiced the professions of shoe
making, carpentry and bag or case making respectively. Most of the prophets (peace be upon
them) were shepherds. In a hadith, Rasulullah, peace be upon him, said, "Purchasing one's
household needs and carrying them to one's home is an indication of his not being a
conceited person." Rasulullah, peace be upon him, bought and sold various things. His
purchases were greater than his selling. He worked for others and employed others to work for
him. He participated in business activities like joining corporations or its equivalent activities at
his time and established business partnerships. He represented others by proxy as well as
appointed others to represent himself in several activities by giving proxy (Wakalat). He gave
and received presents. He borrowed money or other things. He established trusts (Waqf). But, he
never said any harsh words to anyone or became angry with anyone while conducting all of these
worldly activities. He took oaths and made others take oaths. He performed those things that are
required by the oath and in some occasions he did not carry out the things that are dictated by the
oath and thus paid compensation (Kaffarat) for breaking his oath. He made jokes but his jokes
were always based on truth and therefore were always useful and returned fruitful results. Not
performing all of the things mentioned above or feeling uneasiness or being ashamed while
performing any one of the above-mentioned actions would show conceit (Kibr). Many people
become confused on this subject and mix humility (Tawadu) with excessive humility (Tazallul).
The soul (Nafs) deceives many on this subject.
