from the teachings of Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat (hafizahullah)

PRIDE IN THE FORM OF HUMILITY

Shaykh Zakaria ra used to say that Takabbur (pride) takes two forms:

Takabbur in the form of takabbur: when a person with pride in his heart is shown respect and made to sit on a place of respect, he thinks in his heart that he is deserving of this.

Takabbur in the form of Tawaadhu (humility): when a person with pride in his heart is shown respect and made to sit at a place of respect, he refuses saying he is not deserving of it and takes a lowly seat while thinking he is deserving of the respect but by lowering himself onlookers will admire his humility. This is a worse state to be in.



ANNHILATE THE “I”

“Tu” ko itnaa mitaa, ke “tu” na rahe, (annihilate yourself so “you” do not remain)
teri hasti ke rang awr boo na rahe (not even the colours or smell of “you” remain)

“Hoo” mein itnaa kamala paydaa kar (attribute all good to “Hoo” i.e. Huwa / Allah)
ke “Hoo” to rahe, “tu na rahe (so much so that “He” remains, you do not remain)

It is natural to recognise the special abilities, wealth, beauty, knowledge etc. which we have been blessed with i.e. I am beautiful, I have attained so much knowledge. The important thing is to acknowledge that it was Allah who granted me these blessings and in this way all good can be immediately attributed to Allah. On the other hand all shortcomings, deficiencies, evil should be attributed to oneself.


SHAYKH’S EASY METHOD FOR ADOPTING HUMILITY

When a slave adopts humility (tawaadhu i.e. I am nothing) for the sake of Allah Ta’aalaa, He elevates him, and when the slave lets pride (kibr i.e. I am something) overtake him, Allah Ta’aalaa disgraces him.

Shaykh explains that this means that when a person adopts humility then Allah will provide all the means required by which a person is elevated, i.e. piety, worship, knowledge, wealth and protection against disgrace. On the other hand one who is proud will be disgraced despite all the means by which a person is elevated, are present. The disgrace and honour will be in proportion to one’s pride and humility. For example, the Me’raaj was the means of the highest stage of honour for Rasulullaah sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam as his humility was of the highest degree.

The root of all the Razaa-il (evil characteristics) is pride, and according to the Pious Predecessors, it is the last to leave the heart when one adopts the path of rectification.

However Shaykh shows us an easy method:

All that is required is for a person to accept this: “What is my status in front of Allah Ta’ala? –Allah ke saamne meri kyaa hesiyat; He has total control over me with the power to take away that by which I am proud; the earth on which I walk with pride could open up under me; if He were to lift the cover over me no-one would want to sit next to me; my entry into this world was through the passage which is the means of passing urine and the blood of Haydh (menstruation), and my ultimate end is a smelly corpse being eaten by ants”.

Those who have this reality imprinted in their hearts will walk the earth softly fearing the ghazab (wrath) of Allah Ta’ala descending upon them.