Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) The humble

Ali Zohery, Ph. D.

The Prophet showed civility, humility and modesty to all,

rich or poor, old or young. He preached humbleness to his
companions and demonstrated it by his actions. The Prophet is
reported to have said: “Shall I tell you about the inhabitants of
Paradise? They are very meek and humble persons. And shall I
tell you about the inmates of Hell? They are very ignoble, uncivil
and proud persons” (Bukhari, 2671). This two contrasting
statements about hell and paradise indicate the fact that the
Prophet was serious about manifesting humility and the lack
thereof: “He who has in his heart as much faith as a grain of
mustard-seed will not enter Hell, and he who has in his heart as
much pride as a grain of mustard-seed will not enter Paradise”
(Muslim, 267). Thus, every human was to ensure that he was very
clean of heart and not allow the slightest morsel of evil to be in
him because “Allah Most High says: Pride is My cloak and majesty
My lowest garment, and I shall cause him who vies with Me
regarding one of them to enter Hell” (Muslim, 2620). He was in
fact cautioning his followers against falling prey to excessive
pride. Pride of course leads to a fall out humility.
The humility and gentleness of the Prophet was quite
natural and free from all pretensions. People normally show
their pride by boasting when they gain victories against their
enemies in battle or when they achieve something really great
and glorious. But the Prophet behaved naturally in all
circumstances. After he entered Meccah victorious, instead of
punishing his previous enemies he told them: “Go you are free”
(Ibn Ishaq 1955, pp. 550-553). He was natural and in his usual
form when he was humiliated and beaten by the people of Ta’if
and when he suffered a setback in the battle of Uhud. He was
the same humble man when he was entering the city of Meccah
as its conqueror at the head of ten thousand victorious soldiers
of Islam. He did not show any pride in any way. Instead, he was
an epitome of modesty as would be portrayed in his subsequent
speeches.