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Humility
Submitted by Sumayyah

By Shaykh Ali Abu-Talib Son Of AbdunNur (Baba Ali)

2:284 Unto Allah (belongs) whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth; and whether you make known what is in your minds or hide it, Allah will bring you to account for it. He will forgive whom He will and He will punish whom He will. Allah is Able to do all things.


2:285 The messenger believes in that which has been revealed unto him from his Lord and (so do) believers. Each one believes in Allah and His angels and His scriptures and His messengers - We make no distinction between any of His messengers - and they say: We hear, and we obey. (Grant us) your forgiveness, our Lord. Unto Thee is the journeying.


2:286 Allah tasks not a soul beyond its scope. For it (is only) that which it has earned, and against it (only) that which it has deserved. Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget, or miss the mark! Our Lord! Lay not on us such a burden as you laid on those before us! Our Lord! Impose not on us that which we have not the strength to bear! Pardon us, absolve us and have mercy on us, you, our Protector, and give us victory over the truth hating folk.


Oh Allah Bless Muhammad's Soul And Rain Down Peace On His Househooldd:


Everyone talks about Prophet’s trust worthiness.  Everybody knows he was considered AlAmeen.  Everybody knows Prophet Muhammad’s generalship is legendary. Who doesn’t realize that Prophet Muhammad’s God Consciousness is beyond angelic, or that His praise worthiness is enshrined in his very name.


Though there’s no statues or pictures of Prophet Muhammad, there are very few Muslims who do not know that he was physically a very beautiful man. And you don’t have to be an Ayatollah to have been informed that Prophet Muhammad was generous to the extreme, and truthful beyond reproach.


The Holy Prophet was the best man that ever lived. Even his enemies thought so. Yet, despite all of these stellar achievements of virtue and virtuosity, THE MOST PRAISE WORTHY HUMAN BEING THAT WILL EVER LIVE, WAS MOST CERTAINLY NOT PROUD. PROPHET MUHAMMAD WAS NOT A PROUD MAN. In order to see this clearer let’s examine this word, “pride.”



The English word “pride” is said to denote both virtue and vice.  This was not always the case. The meaning of the word changed in time, like the meaning of the word “gay” has come to mean something altogether different than “bright, lively, mirthfully happy, and bubbling with exuberance.” In some religious circles, the word “pride” is still always thought to be synonymous with the word “arrogance,”  or in Arabic, “Kibr.”


In my humble opinion, it is more than unwise to use a word, “pride” which traditionally was exclusively used to denote arrogant self centered egoism; and use the same word, “pride” to denote the feeling one enjoys because of a hard earned accomplishment.


I contest that the best feeling one should entertain from being, or doing good, is the feeling of humble gratitude to God. Because without doubt, The Praise Belongs To Allah, The Lord Of Fate, Knowledge, and Every Auspicious Circumstance. AlHamdul Lillahi Rabil Alameen.  Unfortunately people believe that it is their right to feel proud, even about their accident of birth. But Prophet Muhammad did not have a spec of pride in his character.  He praised The Almighty Creator for all of his most excellent qualities. He was not proud. He embodied feelings of Love, Gratitude, and Loyalty towards God, and the feelings of self respect, and high self esteem that he harbored about himself, were all tempered in the firmest conviction that God’s Generosity was where his awesome good fortune welled from. Thus Muhammad harbored a do or die determination to always and forever do God’s Wills as a testament of God’s Greater Glory.


Pride is the most toxic spiritual poison of all. Prophet Muhammad (Allah’s Hallowed Praise and Blessings Be Upon Him And His Family) said, “A soul with just one spot of Kibr (Pride) staining it’s character will not enter paradise.”


One spot of pride does to the soul what one drop of urine does to an entire vat of milk. It corrupts it, and makes it unclean, and unfit to be consumed by humans who stand religiously vigilant over their bodies and souls. 


In reality, pride is a lie which fools tell to themselves. How can it be that a thing made from sperm and blood, and lives by consuming the lives of others, and defecates, urinates, and inevitably becomes a dead and rotting corpse,  think too highly of his or her self?



Pride is taking pleasure in one’s own self importance. Humble gratitude is taking pleasure in knowing, or at least hoping that God is pleased with a thing. Pride is masturbatory in nature. While humble gratitude is wedded to wisdom. And it is alleged that Prophet Solomon (A) said, “A Wise Head Fears God.”


A proud person is most apt to feel so secure in his, or her rightness, that he or she will view every criticism as an attack. These people tend to knee jerk into a defensive posture under any kind of criticism. Therefore they neglect the next step past the animal level of consciousness, which is nafsi lawamah, or self criticism.


Allah sent Prophet Muhammad, with the criterion for right and wrong. Yet, we tend to most often use the Quran to criticize others. Why? Could it be that we are too proud to see the ugly vision of our own disobedient, arrogant, Pharonic nature in the mirror of self criticism?  After all, our parents and their parents and everyone we know practice the same cultural foolishness that we know is, let us say, less than good.


If I am proud of my ethnic forefathers, I will most likely overlook “our” flaws and enshrine them as special favors from God. I will not strive nearly as hard as someone who reveres the achievements of the past, but is keenly aware that Allah will only add to his or her account the personal achievements of the present. 


Ethnically proud people are most likely to deem themselves righteous by virtue of their ancestral religion, and thus are more likely to neglect the noble acts of faith, and other virtues that truly testify to the worth of the individual. Thus prideful souls miss The Ark Of Salvation sent to rescue them from The Deluge of Viciousness that engulfs the planet. These unfortunate souls ultimately drown in their own, foolish sense of self importance.


Prophet Muhammad was not burdened by these kinds of prideful attitudes, or shamed by this kind of prideful behavior.  We Shias of Ali ibn Abi-Talib (A) learn at a very early age that the earliest Hashimites were bitter rivals with the earliest Ummayyids. 


Prophet contracted a nikah with a Jew and an African, and married one of his riches, most beautiful fair skinned cousins to a black skinned X-slave, who was one of his chief confidants.  I am speaking of none other than his ex-slave, turned adopted son, and trusted friend, Zayd, the father of Usama, Islam’s first general Prophet picked to lead a foreign expedition at age 18.


Prophet Muhammad was not a proud man, though he lived in a society where tribal and ethnic pride were considered virtuous.  He didn’t think himself too good to associate with any body. And he judged people according to their good deeds and excellent attitudes, never by their tribal affiliation, economic situation, or race. Prophet Muhammad was a most humble man.


This does not mean that he was unaware of his rank amongst men. True humility is not unnecessarily self deprecating. A good person who is humble, does not have to think of him or her self as bad.  A chaste person does not have to think of him or herself as loose. No.  But a good person who is humble does not look down on another person because he or she is of a lesser rank spiritually, socially, economically, athletically, scholastically, politically, or militarily. 


It is common sense righteousness to respect the good within one’s nature.  But what is the good within one’s nature? The good that is within us is that Breath of The Divine, that we call soul. It is this aspect of our humanity that is illuminated by the knowledge of God’s Divine Guidance that gives us the spiritual self awareness that causes pious people to reflect and witness God’s Ever Presence in the now, which generates and predicates the highest sense of rectitude in every situation.  This makes humans good.


Therefore it becomes clear that though it is natural to have a healthy degree of self respect, it is foolish at best, and megalomanic at worse to think too highly of one’s virtue or virtuosity. Because no matter how hard we worked to attain them, our virtues are no more than undeserved gifts from the Almighty Creator of The Universe Who “Breathed” The Capacity Into Our Earliest Ancestor. Thus, everyone has been blessed with some good in him. Prophet’s  behavior made it clear, that if we are not brothers and sisters in religion or faith, we are all, most certainly, brothers and sisters in humanity.


Prophethood is the highest office, that a human being can possess, and Muhammad was the greatest prophet ever to hold that sacred office.  Here is a man who possessed the political power of a king, and the metaphysical power of a miracle worker, yet he was so humble, that he behaved like a slave towards people unworthy to touch the hem of his cloak.


Prophet Muhammad, Allah’s Hallowed Praise and Blessings Be Upon Him And His Family, was such a well mannered, sweet and personable gentleman, that visiting dignitaries were moved to tears, by his behavior. His tungsten-steel-like will, and his resolve was as immovable as The Rocky Mountains.  Yet his social posture was as flexible as a yogi, and as graceful, and beautiful as a ballet dancer, making his charisma nearly irresistible.   


True humility is one of the greatest strengths in the universe. Why? Because God Is Even Greater Than Prophet Muhammad, The Greatest Human Being Who Will Ever Live. So When Any Human Being, From The Greatest To The Least, Wisely Maintains A Humble Posture Before His Or Her Ever Present God, The Almighty Lord of The Universe And King Of The Judgment Day Pledged To Guide, Help, Sustain, Favor, And Love The Humble In Ways That Most Of Us Ordinary People Can’t Even Imagine. Contrarily, The Jealous God Of Prophets Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad Most Certainly Does Not Love Those Who Wrap Themselves In A Security Blanket of Pride, And Foolishly Usurp That Which Does Not Belong To Them, But Is Exclusively Owned By The Creator Of The Universe. Glory To My Lord’s Highness


Allah Says in  His Holy Book, “(O mankind!) Call upon your Lord humbly and in secret. Lo! He loves not AlMu’tadeen; The Transgressors [7:55].”


The prominent, controversial 16th century English reformer-statesman/ orator/author-philosopher/amateur theologian, Henry St. John, The Lord Of Bolingbroke, God Rest His Soul, wrote:


“As you desirest the love of God and man, beware of pride.  It is a tumor in the mind, that breaks and ruins all thine actions;  a worm in thy treasury, that eats and ruins thine estate. It loves no man, and is beloved of none; it disparages another’s virtues by detraction, and thine own by vainglory.  It is the friend of the flatterer, the mother of envy, the nurse of fury, the sin of devils, the devil of mankind.  It hates superiors, scorns inferiors, and owns no equal.  In short, till you hate it, God hates thee.”


Prophet Muhammad, Allah’s Hallowed Praise and Blessings Be Upon Him And His Family, was and still is the most loved person by God and man that has graced planet earth. Allah loved His most humble slave, and messenger so much He named Him, “God’s Beloved; HabibaAllah.” HabibaAllah, was only one of many attributes Allah bestowed on his beloved servant. Without a doubt, all of the many and beloved attributes that adorned Prophet Muhammad’s holy character, were saturated in the heady musk of humility.


Prophet Muhammad did not even allow pride to darken the relationships between him and his many women. The Most Holy Messenger lived in a time where women were commonly treated like slaves.  Most Arabs worked their women like mules, and used them as sexual play things, disregarding their women’s natural need for sexual fulfillment.


Though Prophet Muhammad had many wives, history has not recorded one complaint of sexual frustration from any of his women. He treated them with love and affection in every situation. He raced, and played silly games with the youngest ones. And he treated the older ones with such respect, that he bowed to their preferences and cooled his relations with them as their natural ardor cooled. 


Prophet Muhammad (S) was seen mending his own clothes, and doing chores that were traditionally reserved for women in Arab culture.  He was so kind to his wives that even when some of them were involved in nerve wracking trouble making, he divorced none of them, and I have never read one word recounting that he raised his voice at any one of them in anger. 


He treated his daughter Fatimah with such respect, that it was said that he treated her like his mother. And he treated Fatimah’s children like they were his own. And from these demonstrations of humble sweetness, we can safely say that even the misbehaving women in his life loved Prophet Muhammad for his tender touch, gentle ways, and sincerely humble personality.


This holy, humble human was loved by God, and all who knew him, except for
the most despicable, ego centric, prideful human beings. And he is still the most beloved person 1400 years after his passing.


Now there have been many humble men who graced this planet on which we all reside. But Prophet Muhammad (S) was graced with not only great humility. The Source Of Mercy To All of Creation, saddled him with an indomitable sense of duty, and then commissioned him with the difficult task of inviting the world to destroy their idols, turn their backs on their foolish ancestral traditions, and follow him in submitting to the unerring divine guidance of The One True, Ever Present, Eternal, and Infinite God, Glory To My Lord’s Highness.


Muhammad was humble, but he was not timid.  After preparing himself by retreating to the wilderness to submerge himself in prayer and profound introspection, he exhibited the bravest kind of confidence. His demonstration was even braver than Prophet Musa (A), who preached before Pharaoh, or our Holy Father Ibrahim (A) who preached before Nimrud. Muhammad was more like Jesus (S).  He preached where ever people would listen, never knowing who was insanely antagonistic to his preaching. He preached in the streets. In his ancestral temple, The Kabba, and at his and other’s houses.


The Prophet Muhammad left us a legacy that is unique, dynamic, and most fitting for men and women who claim to be submitted, believing witnesses for God.  Muhammad did not hesitate to tell the people, who were often foolish, dangerous, and truth hating people, that he was The Messenger of God... a Prophet sent to lead the world into The Light of God Consciousness.


Courage, Self Confidence, A Profound Sense Of Caring, and Sincere, Honest Humility... these are cardinal virtues that Prophet Muhammad exhibited that we who claim to be his followers must at least try to inculcate into our own souls.... Courage, Self Confidence, A Profound Sense Of Pity, and Sincere, Honest Humility.


Unfortunately, we take pride in being Arabs, Pakistanis, Iranis, Americans, Black, White, Male, Female, Affluent, Educated, Free, and Muslim.  Yes. We even take pride in being Muslim. But pride does not inculcate the courage, self confidence, and self sacrificial pity that it takes to do the job of spreading the light of Submitting only to God’s Guidance right here in The West.


Pride can move you to build great businesses, and secure very lucrative positions of employment. Pride can move you to become big time religious scholars, and write great books, and give great speeches.  But it takes a God given sense of humility to do exactly as Allah tells you to do at all times. It takes a great God given sense of humility to rise up every day, in rain, shine sleet, or snow to meet for predawn, evening and night prayers with your Faithful Muslim brothers, because God Almighty, your Ever Present Lord and Master suggested strongly that this is the most spiritually lucrative thing Faithful Muslim Men can establish. 


It takes a God given sense of humility to rise up a little earlier and go to bed a little later to read, memorize and become the Glowing Signs of Light revealed to The Final Messenger of God, Allah’s Hallowed Praise and Blessings Be Upon Him And His Family.


It takes a God given sense of humility for some of the most beautiful women on earth, to wear long, shapeless dresses, and long, wide pieces of cloth that covers their beautiful hair, neck, and the breast pockets, or the bodices of their dresses.


And it takes a God given sense of humility for men of means to support the work of The Prophets, bowing to the dictates, and suggestions of men, who are usually poor, but have dedicated their lives to studying, and bowing to the dictates of the written word of God, in The Tradition of Prophet Muhammad (Allah’s Hallowed Praise Be Upon Muhammad And On His Household).


Brothers and Sisters in faith.  I did not compose The Final Prophet to flatter Prophet Muhammad (S).  Nothing that I can say can do justice to his great name. My primary aim is to siphon some direction and motivation from Muhammad’s acclaim, so we can deepen our commitment and better our “game.” 


By “game,” I don’t mean the contests of children, which are nothing but play.  I mean our philosophy and psychology, how we deal with our selves and others, each and every day. Our attitudes towards God, and the guidance  He’s given us... our ambitions and priorities that have possessed us and driven us.  We are all folks of conscience. And in The West We Are Free. Yet, we know that we’re lacking, and we need a new paradigm to be all we can be.


I’ve written this book in search of the clues that moved the best people to see past the ruse and rise above normalcy and refuse to lose to the worst of the worst who had the worst points of views.  May Allah bless all of those who enter these pages with a love of truth and right ways.  Because we’re all going to need it in these the last days.
Shaykh Ali Abu Talib Son of AbdunNur