Dear Islamic brothers! In order to remove the desire for respect and fame from your heart, to rid yourself of the calamity of arrogance, and to save yourself from wasting your good deeds due to ostentation, read the states of the pious predecessors رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ and their blessed words, and make an intention to act upon them.

It is narrated that a man accompanied Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Muhayreez رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه, and when he was about to part from him, he said, ‘Give me some advice.’ Sayyiduna Ibn Muhayreez رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه said, ‘If it is possible for you, do these three actions:

1.   You should recognise others, but you should not be recognised

2.   You should walk, but nobody should walk behind you

3.   You should ask questions, but nobody should ask you questions.’ (‘Ihya-ul-‘Uloom, vol. 3)

A unique account of humility

A man once entered the court of Sayyiduna Dawood Ta’ee رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه. He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه asked the reason for his coming, so he replied: I have come to see you. He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه said: By coming to visit me on account of your good opinion (considering me to be a good person), you have done something good for yourself, but what will become of me! If I am asked as to who am I to be visited, then what will I reply! If I am asked whether I am from the worshippers, I will reply, ‘By Allah! I am not from among them.’ If I am asked whether I am from the ascetics (i.e. those who turn away from the world), I will reply, ‘By Allah! I am not from among them either.’ After saying this, he rebuked himself and said: O Dawood! You were disobedient in your youth, you were a deceiver at middle age, and now, after becoming old, you have become ostentatious! After saying this, he made Du’a: O the One who is worshipped in the heavens and the earth! Grant me so much from your mercy that it rectifies my youth, protects me from all evils and