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Lesson: 28 Courtesy and Humility
Among all the
virtues which lead man to perfection and which are high in the sight of Allah
and which pleases people is the virtue of courtesy. We discuss it here in some
parts:
Reality
and the meaning of courtesy and humility
As to courtesy
it means that man, not only does not think himself to be higher than others
but imagines others to be better than himself. This virtue is the opposite of
pride. Hence we said: pride is to think oneself better than others.
Of course,
when man thinks others to be better than him, he should also never convert himself
abject and servile. That is, he should not damage the honour bestowed upon him
by Allah when He says: We have given an honourable status to the son of Adam.
In Islam, just
as pride is considered repulsive, making oneself degraded excessively is also
considered worse.
Islam maintains
moderation in everything. Therefore, it is said in this regard that: And
thus We have made you a medium just nation.
And in the
words of Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.): Excessiveness and squandering is waywardness
and moderation is the path desired.
Yes, Islam
has, for its followers, prescribed moderation in all problems and attributes.
Signs of
Humility
The Holy Quran
introduces courteous men like this: And the servants of the Beneficent God
are they who walk on the earth in humbleness, and when the ignorant address
them, they say: peace. And they who pass the night prostrating themselves before
their lord and standing. And they who say: O our lord! Turn away from us the
punishment of hell, surely the punishment thereof is a lasting evil.
And again it
says: Lowly before the believers mighty against the unbelievers.
And Imam Sadiq
(a.s.) has reportedly said: It is courtesy that you are pleased with sitting
down in a meeting and that you salute say salaam to whomsoever you meet and
avoid dispute and quarrel even if you are right and you do not like to be praised
for your piety or fear of God.
Two fine point
from Hadith:
1.He is pleased
to sit at a place which is below man's his dignity that is which makes no difference
from the spiritual viewpoint.
2. He does
not like to be praised for his good deeds. Allah! Help us so that we maybe become
your worthy slaves.
Whose Humility
is Better?
Humility and
courtesy is good and desirable. Bu it is better if forthcoming from those who
have an apparent or hidden spiritual personality. Hence it is reported from
Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.): How good is he who, due to overestimation of his own
defects, overlooks the shortcomings of others and thus shows humility despite
having no faults.
It is also
recorded from Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.) Decoration of a great person is his humility.
Again Ali (a.s.)
said: How nice is the courtesy of the rich towards the poor for the pleasure
of Allah and better than that is the pride of the poor over the wealthy for
reliance on the lord of the universe.
Today one of
the serious responsibilities and duties of the state officers is that they should
know that the power and status which is now for them is the blood money of the
millions of the best youths of this nation who have been martyred and it is
a blessing of thousands who lost their body organs and who gave up worldly and
material benefits for this Islamic revolution. Now it does not befit us to be
arrogant or haughty while dealing with this martyr-producing nation. Rather
it is necessary that we deal with them with humility and courtesy so that our
revolution can be resorted to the entire world just as our Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.)
and the pious Imam (a.s.) invited people practically toward spirituality.
Humility is
desirable from on the part of the wealthy. If a beggar shows humility, it is
his habit.
Anyway, humility
on the part of the higher ups is desirable. However, unfortunately, some of
the people lose themselves in such a way that they do not distinguish between
the head and the foot. May God protect us from the evil of desire and greed.
Verses and
traditions Praising Courtesy
1. The Almighty
commands His Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.): And be kind to him who follows you
of the believers.
2. At the time
of his departing Ali (a.s.) said in his will: Maintain courtesy because courtesy
is the biggest worship.
3. Imam Sadiq
(a.s.) has said: In what the lord revealed to Dawood (a.s.) was that: O Dawood!
As those nearest to me are the courteous so the farthest from Me are the haughty
and proud.
4. The Holy
Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: The one who shows humility for the sake of Allah, Allah
makes him great.
5. Imam Sadiq
(a.s.) has reportedly said: Luqman so admonished his son My dear son! Be courteous
for the sake of truth so that you may become the most wise. Indeed, a wise man
becomes low before the truth.
