Rafed English

Types of 'Tawadhu'

Adopted from the book : "Pride" by : "Mujahidali A.R. Sheriff"

Tawadhu - (humbleness and humility) is of three kinds :

1. Towards Allah (s.w.t.)

2. Towards the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) and Imams (a.s.)

3. Towards the people

All these are ways of showing humbleness and humility towards Allah (s.w.t.)

Tawadhu towards the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) and the Imams (a.s.)

Showing humbleness towards the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) and; (a s.) is as good as showing humbleness and humility towards Allah (s.w.t.). This is because the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) and the Imams (a.s.) are the greatest signs of Allah (s.w.t.) and His representatives to us on this earth. We have show humbleness towards them by :

- undermining their status and position amongst us.
- Not touching their respected names without Taharat.
- Mentioning their names with great respect and sending praises and greetings over them whenever we remember them.

It is said that some great people had the habit of mentioning the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.), and the Imams (a.s.) only in the state of Taharat. It is also reported that whenever Imam Jafar as Sadiq (a.s.) used to mention the name of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.), he used to bow down in respect and send praises and salaams. And amongst the other ways of showing humbleness towards Prophet (s.a.w.) and the Imams (a.s.) is to show humbleness towards the Ulema (religious scholars and authorities) and the sadaat (children of the Holy Prophet’s progeny).

Tawadhu to the People

It is important to note that man is the best of all creatures. After his creation, Allah (s.w.t.) gave him the honour and respect which He did not give to any other creature. And in order to preserve and secure man’s dignity, Allah (s.w.t.) sent His Sharia (the divine law) to which He bound the entire mankind. People who deviated from these laws lost their honour and dignity. The following verse discusses the honour and dignity bestowed upon man : "And surely we have honoured the children of Adam, And We carry them in land and the sea, and We have given them of the good things, and We have made them to excel by an appropriate excellence over the most of those whom We have created." (Bani Israel/70)

Once Imam Jaffer as-Sadiq (a.s.) along with his companions was performing a mustahab Tawaf of the Holy Kaaba when an outsider came and called for one of the companions. Since they were all in Tawaf, the companion who had been called ignored the caller and continued with Tawaf. Imam (a.s.) had observed the situation, and he went and asked his companion why he was ignoring the caller?

The companion asked : "Should I break my Tawaf and respond to him."

The Imam (a.s.) said : "Yes ! Verily, the respect of a believer is more dear to Allah than the sanctity of the Kaaba."

Therefore, man who is so much exalted and bestowed with such great honour and dignity deserves to be respected and not to be disregarded or considered inferior. Imam Muhammad al Baqir (a.s.) once came near the Holy Kaaba and said : "By Allah, the sanctity of a believer is greater yours.'

There are various narration through which the experts in the science to ethics "IImul Akhlaq" prove that pride is a kind oppression "Dhulm ". The proud one is a snatcher of rights from others as he demands their humiliation before himself.

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