The Need for Humility in Scholars

The Importance of Humility in the Lives of Scholars

Worldly sciences are mostly connected to fame and wealth, which is why the more a person is associated with higher knowledge and holds a greater degree, the more famous they become, and the more distance they maintain from the general public. In fact, their life becomes more extravagant and pretentious. For example, in the medical field, a nurse or compounder has a certain status in society, but a doctor will be regarded more highly, and among doctors, a specialist, like a surgeon, will hold even more value. Likewise, academic degrees also bring distinction – an MBBS has its own recognition, while an MD carries even more prestige. These examples are being mentioned in the context of humility, as individuals in worldly professions, the greater their degrees or positions, the more likely they are to be far from humility and may display arrogance, except for those whom God has mercy upon. If this is the case with worldly sciences, then it is an inevitable reality that materialistically empowered worldly people will hardly exhibit humility. For instance, when someone becomes a village chief, they will stand out from others; a district commissioner will be higher in rank, a provincial minister more prominent, and a national ruler will be the one showing superiority over all. These individuals adopt attitudes that reflect their status in society, where pride and arrogance are prevalent, and humility is almost non-existent.

In contrast, religious sciences are not linked to fame or business; their focus is on the betterment of the soul and heart, the development of humanity, the safety of individuals and communities, and the welfare and cooperation of society. The ultimate goal of religious knowledge is to gain awareness of the Creator and live according to His commands. Thus, the more a person excels in religious knowledge, the more they will know God, fear Him, immerse themselves in His worship, and embody humility and modesty. A scholar’s humility will surpass that of an ordinary teacher, and even more so in the case of a commentator, jurist, or hadith scholar. If these people are also equipped with material means, their knowledge will still keep them on the path of humility. The life of our great leader, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), is the highest example of humility. Although he held a revered status, his humility was such that both the richest and the poorest could approach him. The Quran mentions this beautifully:

فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لَانفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِكَ (آل عمران:159)
Translation: “By the mercy of Allah, you (Prophet) were gentle with them. Had you been harsh and hard-hearted, they would have dispersed from around you.”

The verse in the Quran (وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ) is also a strong proof of this. The lives of the great scholars who followed the Prophet (peace be upon him) are full of countless examples of humility, which cannot be mentioned here due to brevity.

Humility means modesty and humbleness, which is the opposite of arrogance and pride. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

إن الله اوحى إلي ان تواضعوا حتى لا يفخر احد على احد ولا يبغ احد على احد (صحیح مسلم:2865)
Translation: “Allah has commanded me to be humble so that no one may pride themselves over another and no one may oppress another.”

The one who adopts humility is of noble character and high morals. They are soft-hearted, gentle, and modest in all their affairs, whether in worship or in other matters. They neither boast over others nor harm anyone with their words or actions. A humble person’s life is filled with utmost grace and dignity, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

المؤمنُ غرٌّ كريمٌ ، والفاجرٌ خِبٌّ لئيمٌ (صحيح أبي داود:4790)
Translation: “A believer is naive and noble, while an evildoer is deceitful and vile.”

When Allah commands the Prophet to be humble and describes the believer’s character as noble and honorable, how much more so should the heirs of the Prophets, the scholars and preachers, embody this humility? They are always among the people, who are a mix of good and bad individuals. If scholars do not possess high moral character, the good people will avoid them, and even the bad ones will not approach them. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

مَنْ تواضعَ للهِ رفَعَهُ اللهُ (صحيح الجامع:6162)
Translation: “Whoever humbles themselves for the sake of Allah, Allah will raise their status.”

When we consider this hadith in light of the verse from Surah Fussilat (وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلا مِّمَّنْ دَعَا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ (فصلت:33)), it emphasizes that the one who calls others to Allah must also possess humility. Only with humility can they attract even the most wayward individuals and admonish them from their wrongdoings. Allah rewards humility with elevation in status.

The Quran describes scholars as the ones who fear Allah the most:

إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ (فاطر:28)
Translation: “It is only those who have knowledge among His servants who fear Allah.”

This verse implies that just as scholars are the ones who fear Allah the most, they should also be the ones who possess the most humility among the people. Humility is a reflection of the fear of Allah, and can a proud and arrogant person truly possess humility? Humility is found in the one who recognizes the might of their Creator, acknowledges their own weakness, and fears Him, living a life of piety.

Human beings were created to worship Allah, and this is the primary purpose of human creation. Therefore, humans should seek to gain knowledge of their Creator and worship Him alone. Allah has sent Prophets and Messengers throughout time to impart this message, and after the final Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the responsibility of transmitting this message lies with the scholars of each era. It is the duty of the scholars to call people towards the worship of Allah and to live their own lives immersed in His worship. A teacher must first practice what they preach, or else they cease to be a true teacher.

Having discussed that scholars call people to worship, let us now reflect on what worship is: it is the very essence of humility and submission. The manner, method, and teachings of worship all reflect submission. A servant stands before their Creator in worship, expressing their humility. In bowing (ruku’), this submission is visibly expressed, and in prostration (sujood), the expression of humility reaches its peak. This is worship. Now, consider how vital it is for scholars to embody this trait of humility in their lives.

After all that has been said, it is with great sorrow that I must say that just as humility is absent among individuals in worldly sciences, many scholars today are also found lacking in this quality. Why is it that scholars today are not embodiments of humility? The reason, as mentioned in Allah’s command to the Prophet, is that they think showing humility towards others will diminish their own status. They believe that being gentle and approachable makes them vulnerable to exploitation, and mingling with others diminishes their prestige.

Listen to the words of the Prophet (peace be upon him):

ما نَقَصَتْ صَدَقَةٌ مِن مالٍ، وما زادَ اللَّهُ عَبْدًا بعَفْوٍ، إلَّا عِزًّا، وما تَواضَعَ أحَدٌ لِلَّهِ إلَّا رَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ (صحيح مسلم:2588)
Translation: “Charity does not decrease wealth, and when a servant forgives, Allah increases their honor, and whoever humbles themselves for Allah, Allah raises their rank.”

Finally, I would like to share a personal experience. My first meeting with Dr. Wasiullah Abbas, the Mufti of Makkah, was at the Jeddah Dawah Center. In that meeting, I witnessed his sincere love, sociability, brotherhood, gentle demeanor, and eloquence. Whenever I contacted him by phone, I felt the same warmth and courtesy. He encourages me greatly, often urging me to keep writing, using my youth as an encouragement. I have realized that Allah has indeed made him an example of the hadith: “Whoever humbles themselves for the sake of Allah, Allah raises their status.” I am certain that Allah has kept him connected to the knowledge of the Haram of Makkah as a reward for his humility. I wish that the scholars could understand the importance of humility.