The Sensible Person Must Cling to Humility – By Imaam Ibn Hibbaan [rahimahullaah]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Imaam Ibn Hibbaan [rahimahullaah] said: It is obligated on a sensible person that he adheres to humility and avoids pride.  Humility is of two types- the first one is praiseworthy and the other is blameworthy. Praiseworthy humility [necessitates] abandoning insolence and mockery. Blameworthy humility [occurs] when a person humbles himself in the presence of one who possesses the things of the worldly life and desiring what such a person possesses. Therefore, a sensible person maintains his abandonment of blameworthy humility in all circumstances and he does not depart from praiseworthy humility. [An Excerpt from Rawdatul Uqalaa page 58. slightly paraphrased]

Imaam Ibn Hibbaan (rahimahullaah) said: It is obligated on a sensible person to cling to humility and avoid being haughty. And if humility did not contain any [good] trait, except that whenever a person has a lot of humility he is increased in status, then it would have been obligatory upon him not to adorn [himself or herself] with other than it. [An Excerpt from Rawdatul Uqalaa. Page: 58]

Imaam Ibn Hibbaan [rahimahullaah] said: Indeed, none is haughty towards another (person) until he becomes amazed with himself and sees himself as having virtue over others. [An Excerpt from Rawdatul Uqalaa: page: 61]

Imaam Ibn Hibbaan (rahimahullaah) said:  The Poet said: Do not walk on the earth except with humility, for how many a people beneath it were of a higher status than you! And if you are in a state of honour, good and strength, then how many people have passed away who were more powerful than you! [An Excerpt from Rawdatul Uqalaa page 61]