Humility & Humbleness
6. Sura al-Anam
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلَقَدْ
أَرْسَلنَآ
إِلَى أُمَمٍ
مِّن قَبْلِكَ
...
6: 42. Before thee We sent (Messengers) to many nations
...فَأَخَذْنَاهُمْ بِالْبَأْسَاء وَالضَّرَّاء لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَضَرَّعُونَ ﴿٤٢﴾
and We afflicted the nations with suffering and adversity, that they might learn humility.
Asad’s Version:
6: 42 And, indeed We sent Our messages unto people before thy time, and visited them with misfortune and hardship so that they might humble themselves:
25.Surah Al Furqan
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَعِبَادُ
الرَّحْمَنِ
الَّذِينَ
يَمْشُونَ عَلَى
الْأَرْضِ
هَوْنًا...
25: 63. And the servants of (Allah) Most Gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility,
... وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجَاهِلُونَ قَالُوا سَلَامًا ﴿٦٣﴾
and when the ignorant address them, they say, "Peace!"
C3123. Ignorant: in a moral sense.
Address: in the aggressive sense.
Their humility is shown in two ways:
- to those in real search of knowledge, they give such knowledge as they have and as the recipients can assimilate;
- to those who merely dispute, they do not speak harshly, but say "Peace!", as much as to say,
"May it be well with you, may you repent and be better"; or
"May Allah give me peace from such wrangling"; or
"Peace, and Good-bye; let me leave you!"
Asad’s Version:
H. HUMILITY ( BE HUMBLE )
25:63 And the servants of (God) most gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, “Peace !”
7. Sura al-Araf
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَمَا
أَرْسَلْنَا
فِي قَرْيَةٍ
مِّن نَّبِيٍّ
إِلاَّ أَخَذْنَا
أَهْلَهَا
بِالْبَأْسَاء
وَالضَّرَّاء
لَعَلَّهُمْ
يَضَّرَّعُونَ
﴿٩٤﴾
7: 94. Whenever We sent a prophet to a town, We took up its people in suffering and adversity, in order that they might learn humility.
C1065. Man was originally created pure. The need of a prophet arises when there is some corruption and iniquity, which he is sent to combat.
His coming means much trial and suffering, especially to those who join him in his protest against wrong. Even so peaceful a prophet as Jesus said; "I came not to send peace but a sword" (Matt. 10:34).
But it is all in Allah's Plan, for we must learn humility if we would be worthy of Him.
Asad’s Version:
7: 94 and never yet have WE sent a prophet unto any community without trying its people with misfortune and hardship, so that they might humble themselves; (Asad)
7: 94 ..in order that they might learn humility. (Y.Ali)
11.Surah Hud
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ
الصَّالِحَاتِ
وَأَخْبَتُواْ
إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ...
11: 23. But those who believe and work righteousness, and humble themselves before their Lord --
C1516. Note that the humility is to be "before their Lord," i.e., in Allah's sight.
There is no virtue, quite the contrary, in rubbing our noses to the ground before men. We are not to be arrogant even before men because we are humble as in Allah's sight. Nor does true humility lose self-confidence; for that self-confidence arises from confidence in the support and help of Allah.
...أُوْلَـئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الجَنَّةِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ ﴿٢٣﴾
they will be Companions of the Garden,
to dwell therein for aye!
مَثَلُ
الْفَرِيقَيْنِ
كَالأَعْمَى
وَالأَصَمِّ
وَالْبَصِيرِ
وَالسَّمِيعِ...
11: 24. These two kinds (of men) may be compared to the blind and deaf, and those who can see and hear well.
...هَلْ يَسْتَوِيَانِ مَثَلاً...
Are they equal when compared?
...أَفَلاَ تَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٢٤﴾
Will ye not then take heed?
Other versions:
11: 23
Yusuf Ali But those who believe and work righteousness and humble themselves before their Lord they will be Companions of the Garden to dwell therein for aye!
Pickthall Lo! those who believe and do good works and humble themselves before their Lord: such are rightful owners of the Garden; they will abide therein.
Transliteration Innal lazina a_manu_ wa 'amilus sa_liha_ti wa akhbatu_ ila_ rabbihim, ula_'ika asha_bul jannah(ti), hum fiha_ kha_lidu_n(a).
11: 24
Yusuf Ali These two kinds (of men) may be compared to the blind and deaf and those who can see and hear well. Are they equal when compared? Will ye not then take heed?
Pickthall The similitude of the two parties is as the blind and the deaf and the seer and the hearer. Are they equal in similitude? Will ye not then be admonished?
Transliteration Masalul fariqaini kal a'ma_ wal asammi wal basiri was sami'(i), hal yastawiya_ni masala_(n), afala_ tazakkaru_n(a).