Guide Posts

Guide Posts HUMILITY (Bashir Ahmad Orchard) “O God! Keep me humble while I am alive and keep me humble when I die and let my resurrection on the Day of Judgement be with the humble.” (Prophet of Islam). Humility is a cardinal virtue refined and practised to a marked degree by all God-fearing people. In no way is it an indication of weakness but rather it is a sign of spiritual strength and maturity. God Himself has commanded: “And walk not on the earth haughtily.” (Quran 17:38). The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) declared: “Allah has revealed to me that that you should comport yourselves with humility towards one another so that no one transgresses against another, nor boasts of any superiority over another.” Jesus also declared: “He that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 14:11). Pride kindles the displeasure and wrath of God. The Quran refers to numerous instances where individuals and nations were punished or destroyed for their arrogance: “We afflicted them with poverty and adversity that they might humble themselves.” (6:44). GUIDE POSTS 3 The people of Noah were drowned in the flood for their arrogant mockery and rejection of God’s Messenger: “Do you wonder that an exhortation has come to you from your Lord through a man (Noah) from among yourselves, that he may warn you and that you may become righteous and that you may be shown mercy?” But they called him a liar, so We saved him and those with him in the Ark and We drowned those who rejected Our Signs. They were indeed a blind people. (Quran 7:64, 65). Similarly Pharaoh and his hosts were drowned in the Red Sea for their arrogance and hard heartedness: “And he (Pharaoh) and his hosts behaved arrogantly in the land without justification. And they thought that they would never be brought back to Us. So We seized him and his hosts and cast them into the sea. See, then, how evil was the end of the wrongdoers!” (Quran 28:40, 41). Around the world dictators and arrogant rulers have and continue to topple into oblivion. How the mighty have fallen! The higher we are placed the more humble we should walk. Saint Augustine stated: “Should you ask me what is the first thing in religion? I should reply: the first, second and third thing is humility.” Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah and Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam has written: “I tell you truly that on the Day of Judgement, other than the association of anything with God, no vice shall rank as high as arrogance. This is a vice that humiliates a person in both worlds.” (Aaeenahi Kamalate-i-Islam). 4 REVIEW OF RELIGIONS while on this earth; and to keep on course we must stand at the wheel of self-control as the captain stands at the wheel of his ship guiding it through tempestuous storms to its port of destination. Self-control moulds the character of a happy life. “He alone is happy who is free from hatred and malice and has his passions under control.” (BhagwadGita). Self-control increases self-respect: “Respect yourself or no one else will.” (Proverb). Self-control also attracts respect: “He who maintains self-respect is never degraded in the sight of others.” (Hazrat AH). “Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.” (Thomas Jefferson). Self-control develops the virtue of all virtues — patience: “O you who beHeve be patient and enjoin patience and be firm and fear God that you may prosper.” (3:199). Self-control fosters obedience without which no believer can make progress on the Right Path: “O you who beHeve, obey God and obey the apostle and those in authority among you.” (4:59). Developing the art of serf-control ranks among the highest and most rewarding of educations; but it should be remembered that the best instruction can only be of help to the extent to which it is put into practice. Self-control is not a gift but an accomplishment; and the secret of accompHshment is concentration which transmutes strong desires and mental visions into physical realities. We are the architects of our own souls and God is our Guide and Helper.