Life continuously and repeatedly humbles us. Over and over again, we are taught that we are mostly wrong about just about everything. Sometimes it takes just hours to learn that we were mistaken; sometimes it takes decades.
Over and over through this life of mine, I have been taught by circumstances to learn humility. Nearly everything I once thought to be true, turned out not to be true at all.
And then there are the shocking discoveries, capable of blowing to smithereens all assumptions and sense of self. The only way ahead in life is to ditch conceit, heeding the lessons we are taught time and again.
The servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk humbly upon the earth, who when the foolish address them, reply, ‘Peace!’
Quran 25:63
Repeatedly, life reminds us what we were taught by the tongue, that we must be humble towards one another, so that none wrongs another or is boastful. As it is said:
Charity does not decrease wealth; no one forgives except that God increases his honour; and no one humbles himself for the sake of God except that God raises his status.
Hadith
May the Most Merciful have mercy on my wayward soul and make me truly humble.
Last modified: 9 August 2022
