True Servants of Rahman

In a hadeeth related by Imam Muslim رحمة الله عليه in his Sahih, on the authority of Sayyiduna  Abu Hurairah رضى الله عنه, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم says ‘Never does anyone’s wealth decrease by giving in the way of Allah and never is a servant of Allah forgiving and merciful to anybody else except that Allah سبحانه وتعالى increases his honour and dignity, and never is a servant of Allah humble for Allah’s sake except that Allah سبحانه وتعالى elevates him’.

Allah hates those who are arrogant and loves those who are humble. In a hadeeth related by Imam Ahmad Ibn Hambal in his Musnad, Sayyiduna Huthayfah رضى الله عنه, says ‘Once we accompanied the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to a janaazah. There, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم stood over the grave staring in and then after mentioning the punishment of the grave, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said to us, Should I not inform you of the worst of Allah’s creation? Every man who is foul  mouthed and arrogant. And should I not inform you of the best of Allah’s servants? Every weak, humble and oppressed person who if he swears in the name of Allah عز وجل,  Allah سبحانه وتعالى will fulfil his promise. Allah would not allow his oath to go unfulfilled and unanswered.

These are the best of Allah’s servants. Allah loves those who are humble. In the Qur’an, Allah says:

Give glad tidings to those who are humble [N.B. Partial Translation]

[Surah Al Hajj 22:34]

In another verse, Allah says:


وَعِبَادُ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ هَوْنًا وَإِذَا


خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجَاهِلُونَ قَالُوا سَلَامًا

The true servants of Rahman are those who walk humbly upon the earth
[Surah Al Furqan 25:63]

They do not walk arrogantly. They do not swagger and stomp their feet. They walk humbly knowing their station in life, knowing who they are and their origins. In this calm and humble manner they always plod the earth. These are the true servants of Allah عز وجل. Anyone who is arrogant, walks arrogantly, carries himself arrogantly, Allah عز وجل destroys him, either in the dunya or in the aakhirah.

[This short excerpt is based on the talk ‘Humility before the Almighty’ which was delivered by Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq on 5th May 2000. For a more comprehensive understanding of this topic please refer to that lecture].

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