{"id":3187,"date":"2010-11-29T20:23:54","date_gmt":"2010-11-29T15:23:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/?p=3187"},"modified":"2010-12-03T16:59:33","modified_gmt":"2010-12-03T11:59:33","slug":"humbleness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/devotee-contribution\/humbleness\/","title":{"rendered":"Humbleness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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Radhe Radhe ! Our new friend and member of Sweet Blog Premamritam ji, <\/strong>\u00a0has sent this beautiful post. He writes \u2013<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201c trinadapi suneechena tarorapi sahishnunaa<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Amanina manadena kirtaniya sada hari \u201c<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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We constantly hear and speak this great verse from Shikshatakam, so much so, that it has become boring \u2013 an oft repeated clich\u00e9. My father, an ardent Gaudiya Vaishnav since birth, used to jest \u2013 \u201c Baishnab hoite mone chhilo bodo saadh, trinadapi shlokete pode gelaam baad.\u201d ( I had a great desire to become a Vaishnav, but the \u2018trinadapi\u2019 verse put me off ! ) Is humbleness the prime requisite only for the GVs ?\u00a0 I have often wondered. \u00a0My friend Tahir Minawalla, a Bohri Muslim put my doubts to rest. He gave me some very interesting information regarding how the Prophet had instructed the true Muslim to be humble. When I heard his words of profound wisdom, I was convinced that we should indeed not be \u2018kupamanduks\u2019 (frog in the well), rather we should broaden our views to learn the good teachings from other paths as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Tahir<\/strong>\u00a0 penned down the following quotes from the Holy Quran for my benefit, and I would like to share them with you. Of course, I have input some words from my side, that you will easily understand.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The best way to achieve humbleness<\/strong> in the heart is contained in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah , who prescribed many methods to teach his companions how to be humble. We ask Allah to help us all become humble and stay firm on that path. Following are some of the methods and ways of achieving humbleness<\/strong>: <\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n

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1. Extending As-Salam<\/strong> (saying As-Salamu Alaykum, peace be unto you).
\nAbdullah ibn \u2018Amer said that a man asked the Messenger of Allah , \u201cWhich part of Islam is the best?\u201d He said, \u201cTo feed the food (to the poor), and to extend As Salam to those whom you know and whom you do not know.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Therefore, extending As-Salam to the old, young, rich, poor, noble, common folk, stranger and relative, will open one\u2019s heart to achieve humbleness<\/strong> and will shut the door closed for arrogance and tyranny.<\/span><\/p>\n

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We\u00a0 fully agree that for us Gvs too, greeting all people with \u2018Hare Krishna\u2019, \u2018Radhe Radhe\u2019 etc. irrespective of whether we know\/like him, will breed dainya in us.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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2. Muslims should hate that people stand up for them when they pass by them or enter their homes or businesses.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Mu\u2019awiyah bin Abi Sufyan once entered a house where Abdullah ibn Az-Zubair and Abdullah ibn \u2018Amer were sitting. Abdullah ibn \u2018Amer stood up while Ibn Az-Zubair did not. Mu\u2019awiyah said, \u201cO ibn \u2018Amer! Sit down, for I heard the Messenger of Allah say, \u2018Let those who like for people to stand up for them take their seats in the Fire.\u2019\u201d <\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n

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This Hadith prohibits the Muslim to like that people stand up for him when he meets with or passes by them. Furthermore, this Hadith teaches Muslims to enjoin righteousness and forbid evil, for Mu\u2019awiyah criticized Abdullah ibn \u2018Amer for standing up for him.<\/p>\n


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I like this\u00a0 injunction \u2013 I think it applies to us as well. To want that devotees should stand up when we enter a room, or when we pass by, is surely a sign of arrogance.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

3. Sitting wherever one finds space.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jabir bin Samurah said, \u201cWhen we used to come to the Prophet , we would sit wherever we find space.\u201d Also, Ibn Umar narrated that the Prophet said, what translated means, \u201cOne of you must not remove a man from his place and sit in it. However, (those already sitting should) make space and spread up (leaving adequate space for newcomers).\u201d
\n[Al-Bukhari & Muslim]<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Also, Ibn Umar used to avoid the place which a man vacated to make space for him. Therefore, one should sit wherever he finds space, whether in the center of the audience or not. Also, those who accept it that first-comers have the right to the best seats, because all Muslims whether rich or poor are equal, will achieve humbleness<\/strong> in their hearts and deed, Allah willing.<\/span><\/p>\n

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We should especially remember this when we attend discourses. I am extremely fastidious about keeping niyams during the month of Niyam Seva. I want to sit in the same place everyday without fail while hearing the afternoon rasa-katha. Krishna forbid, if another devotee has \u2018usurped\u2019 my seat ! I get all paranoid that now all my efforts to scramble into Golok dham is surely doomed. I scream, shout, abuse, and even try to grab the collar of the trespassing devotee ! This injunction penned down by Tahir is surely for me.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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4. Prohibiting the Muslim from claiming purity for himself. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Allah said, what translated means –<\/span><\/p>\n

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So ascribe not purity to yourselves. He knows best him who fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him. [Surah 53:32]<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Mohammad ibn \u2018Amr ibn Ataa\u2019 said that he named his daughter Barrah (the righteous one). However, Zaynab bint Abi Salamah said that the Messenger of Allah prohibited using this name when she was called \u201cBarrah.\u201d He said, \u201cDo not ascribe purity to yourselves. Allah knows the righteous ones among you.\u201d The companions asked, \u201cWhat should we call her?\u201d He said, \u201cZaynab.\u201d [Muslim]<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Oh my Krishna ! And to think that I am always catching others to \u201csermon\u201d them since I think it is so uplifting for these downtrodden souls to hear the voice of a pure devotee as myself ! Once I was badly hurt when the author turned down my request to edit his book – \u00a0a divine text. I said to myself \u2013 \u201c Woe betide this devotee ! from where will he get another pure devotee as myself ?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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5. Prohibiting praising people in their presence.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Abu Musa said, \u201cThe Prophet heard a man praising another man and saying good words about him while he was present with them. He said, \u2018You have destroyed \u00ador broke the back of the man!\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

[Al- Bukhari & Muslim]<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Also, Abdur- Ra\u2019hman bin Abi Bakrah said that a man was once mentioned in the presence of the Messenger of Allah . Another man said good words of praise about him. The Messenger of Allah then said, what translated means, \u201cWoe unto you! You have beheaded your friend. If one of you has to praise, let him say, \u2018I think this and that\u2019 (about the praised man), if he thinks that he deserves it, \u2018And his reckoning is with Allah,\u2019 and let him not ascribe purity (to anyone).<\/span><\/p>\n

[Al-Bukhari & Muslim]<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Also, Ibrahim At-Taymi said that his father said, \u201cWe were sitting in the presence of Umar when a man praised another man to his face. Umar said, \u2018You \u2018Aqartahu (crippled him), may Allah do the same to you.\u2019\u201d Furthermore, Abu Ma\u2019mar said that a man stood up and praised one of the leaders, then Al-Miqdad started throwing sand in his face, and saying, \u201cThe Messenger of Allah ordered us to throw sand in the faces of the praisers.\u201d
\n[Muslim, At-Tirmithi, Abu Dawood & ibn Majah]<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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From these Hadiths and stories, we conclude that the Messenger of Allah prohibited praising others, especially while they can hear their praise. This is because such praise may encourage the praised persons to overestimate themselves, especially if they were people of position or wealth. Also, such praise may lead the praised person to be arrogant, which may lead to laziness and a lower number of good deeds, for one will depend on what he heard of praise and ignore acquiring more good deeds.<\/span><\/p>\n

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This to applies to me, since I am always trying to please my Gurudev, senior devotees and shikshaguru \u00a0by trying to flatter them using flowery language. I do this to make them feel what a pure devotee I<\/strong> am, and what high level bhajan I <\/strong>am performing. But I use this with maximum effect with the cook-prabhuji of our local Mandir, who passes the most delightful prasaadams to me. I need this to make myself a still-purer devotee, you see ! <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n

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6. Shortening the length of the clothes.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Ibn Juray bin Sulaiym said that the Messenger of Allah said, what translated means, \u201cLower your dress to half the leg.\u201d (The rich people in those days wore long dresses trailing behind them. They made slave boys \/ girls hold up these trains as they walked). The Prophet said further \u2013 \u201cIf you do not prefer that, then to the ankles. However, do not increase the length of the dress (lower than the ankles), for it is arrogance, and Allah does not like arrogance.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

[Abu Dawood, At-Tirmithi & Al- Hakim]<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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In this Hadith, the Messenger of Allah considered extending the length of the dress to cover the ankles an act of arrogance and pride, even if those who do this claim otherwise. <\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n

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Also, Abu Hurayrah said that the Prophet said, what translated means, \u201cWhatever is below the ankles will be in the Fire.\u201d<\/p>\n

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[Al-Bukhari]<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n

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Furthermore,<\/p>\n

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said, \u201cOn the Day of Resurrection, Allah will not look at he who used to drag his dress behind him (because it is too long below the ankles) out of arrogance.\u201d<\/p>\n

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[Al-Bukhari & Muslim]<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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These Hadiths above state that wearing long dresses which cover the ankles is a type of arrogance, or at least leads to such behavior. Therefore, shortening the length of the dress is a type of humbleness<\/strong> and leads to such behavior, Allah willing.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Tahir concludes by writing \u2013 \u201cThese are some of the ways with which one can attain the characteristic of humbleness<\/strong>, Allah willing. We ask Allah that He help us attain this attribute, He is the All-Hearer, the One Who can answer the supplication.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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As GVs we too can pray to the All-merciful Gauranga Mahaprabhu in a similar fashion begging Him to make us humble in all respects. Jay Nitai ! Jay Gour !<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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[Post-script \u2013 Premamritam-ji had written \u2013 \u201c Dear Madhumati Mataji, I cannot agree more with your last post \u2018Difference of Opinions\u2019. It has emboldened me to submit this article. Hope you publish it.\u201d]<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n

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Radhe Radhe ! Our new friend and member of Sweet Blog Premamritam ji, \u00a0has sent this beautiful post. He writes \u2013 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u201c trinadapi suneechena tarorapi sahishnunaa Amanina manadena kirtaniya sada hari \u201c \u00a0 \u00a0 We constantly hear and … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[251],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3187","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-devotee-contribution"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3187","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3187"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3187\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3198,"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3187\/revisions\/3198"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3187"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3187"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}