HUMILITY

One of the key ethical teachings in Islam is humility. The Quran states:

“And do not turn your face away from people in arrogance, and do not walk on the earth with pride. Indeed, God does not like anyone who is arrogant and boastful.” (31:18-19)

A person’s value lies not in being proud, but in being modest. Pride does not suit a human being; humility is what truly fits humanity. A person’s strength is not in raising their voice, but in developing calmness and restraint in speech. Arrogant behaviour is often a sign of a lack of seriousness. Islamic teachings encourage a deep sense of seriousness and reflection. This is why, when someone sincerely follows the path of Islam, they naturally adopt an attitude of humility. Humility reflects the core of human values, and by extension, it also reflects the core values of Islamic teachings.

According to a hadith, the Prophet of Islam said: “Indeed, God has revealed to me that you must adopt humility, so that no one behaves arrogantly towards another, and no one takes pride over another.” (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith No. 4895)

The Islamic worldview asserts that only God holds true greatness. All human beings are equally subject to this higher authority. When this belief becomes firmly established in a person’s mind, it naturally leads to the development of humility.

Humility is a vital human quality. In any society where people demonstrate humility, other positive values tend to emerge on their own. A humble person remains aligned with their natural disposition, while someone who lacks humility tends to stray from it. Humility encourages a realistic understanding of oneself and the world. A person without humility often lacks this realism. They may appear human outwardly, but they lose a core part of what it means to live responsibly and ethically.