How can I be humble?

The short answer

Humility means not seeing yourself as above others and accepting the truth from anyone. The Prophet ﷺ practised it in ordinary ways: helping at home, letting anyone approach him, and refusing excessive praise. He promised that whoever humbles himself for Allah, Allah raises him.

Evidence 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Explanation

The promise. "No one humbles himself for the sake of Allah except that Allah raises his status" 1. Humility looks like lowering yourself, but Allah turns it into elevation. The Prophet ﷺ also said, "Allah has revealed to me that you must be humble, so that no one oppresses another and boasts over another" 2.

What it looks like. The servants of the Most Merciful "walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace" 3. Luqman told his son not to turn his cheek in contempt at people or walk arrogantly, but to be moderate in his pace and lower his voice 4.

The Prophet's ﷺ example. At home, "He used to keep himself busy serving his family", until it was time for prayer 5. Even a slave girl of Madinah could take him by the hand and lead him wherever she needed 6. He told his Companions that every prophet had shepherded sheep, and that he had tended the sheep of the people of Makkah for a small wage 7. And he said, "Do not exaggerate in praising me... I am only a Slave" 8.

Practical steps:

  • Serve. Do the chores at home, clear the table, help with the jobs nobody wants.
  • Sit with everyone. Give your time to people who cannot benefit you.
  • Accept correction. When someone points out your mistake, thank them, even if they are younger or less qualified.
  • Remember where it all came from. Your talents, looks and money are gifts that can be taken back. Credit Allah in your heart when you are praised.
  • Keep your good deeds private where you can, and remember the good deeds of others.

Humility is not putting yourself down or refusing to use your gifts. It is knowing you are a servant of Allah, exactly like everyone around you.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 2588
    Sahih Muslim

    No one humbles himself for Allah except that Allah raises his status.

    Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:Charity does not decrease wealth, no one forgives another except that Allah increases his honor, and no one humbles himself for the sake of Allah except that Allah raises his status

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ، وَابْنُ، حُجْرٍ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ جَعْفَرٍ - عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ مَا نَقَصَتْ صَدَقَةٌ مِنْ مَالٍ وَمَا زَادَ اللَّهُ عَبْدًا بِعَفْوٍ إِلاَّ عِزًّا وَمَا تَوَاضَعَ أَحَدٌ لِلَّهِ إِلاَّ رَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  2. 2
    Hadith Sunan Abi Dawud 4895
    Sahih graded by Al-Albani

    Allah revealed that we must be humble so that no one oppresses or boasts over another.

    Narrated Iyad ibn Himar (al-Mujashi'i): The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Allah has revealed to me that you must be humble, so that no one oppresses another and boasts over another

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَفْصٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، حَدَّثَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ طَهْمَانَ، عَنِ الْحَجَّاجِ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ عِيَاضِ بْنِ حِمَارٍ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَوْحَى إِلَىَّ أَنْ تَوَاضَعُوا حَتَّى لاَ يَبْغِيَ أَحَدٌ عَلَى أَحَدٍ وَلاَ يَفْخَرَ أَحَدٌ عَلَى أَحَدٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  3. 3
    Quran Al-Furqaan · 25:63

    The servants of the Most Merciful walk humbly and answer the ignorant with peace.

    وَعِبَادُ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَمۡشُونَ عَلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ هَوۡنࣰ ا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ ٱلۡجَٰهِلُونَ قَالُواْ سَلَٰمࣰ ا ۝٦٣

    And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace

  4. 4
    Quran Luqman · 31:18–19

    Do not turn your cheek in contempt or walk arrogantly; be moderate in pace and lower your voice.

    وَلَا تُصَعِّرۡ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمۡشِ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَرَحًاۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخۡتَالࣲ فَخُورࣲ‏ ۝١٨ وَٱقۡصِدۡ فِي مَشۡيِكَ وَٱغۡضُضۡ مِن صَوۡتِكَۚ إِنَّ أَنكَرَ ٱلۡأَصۡوَٰتِ لَصَوۡتُ ٱلۡحَمِيرِ ۝١٩

    18 And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful 19 And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; indeed, the most disagreeable of sounds is the voice of donkeys

  5. 5
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 676
    Sahih Bukhari

    The Prophet ﷺ kept busy serving his family at home.

    Narrated Al-Aswad:That he asked `Aisha "What did the Prophet (ﷺ) use to do in his house?" She replied, "He used to keep himself busy serving his family and when it was the time for prayer he would go for it

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْحَكَمُ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ مَا كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَصْنَعُ فِي بَيْتِهِ قَالَتْ كَانَ يَكُونُ فِي مِهْنَةِ أَهْلِهِ ـ تَعْنِي خِدْمَةَ أَهْلِهِ ـ فَإِذَا حَضَرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ خَرَجَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ‏.‏

  6. 6
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 6072
    Sahih Bukhari

    Any slave girl of Madinah could take the Prophet ﷺ by the hand and lead him where she wished.

    Anas bin Malik said, "Any of the female slaves of Medina could take hold of the hand of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and take him wherever she wished

    العربية

    وَقَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِيسَى حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا حُمَيْدٌ الطَّوِيلُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ كَانَتِ الأَمَةُ مِنْ إِمَاءِ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ لَتَأْخُذُ بِيَدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَتَنْطَلِقُ بِهِ حَيْثُ شَاءَتْ‏.‏

  7. 7
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 2262
    Sahih Bukhari

    Every prophet shepherded sheep, and the Prophet ﷺ did so for the people of Makkah for a wage.

    Narrated Abu Huraira:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah did not send any prophet but shepherded sheep." His companions asked him, "Did you do the same?" The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "Yes, I used to shepherd the sheep of the people of Mecca for some Qirats

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمَكِّيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ يَحْيَى، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ مَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ نَبِيًّا إِلاَّ رَعَى الْغَنَمَ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقَالَ أَصْحَابُهُ وَأَنْتَ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ نَعَمْ كُنْتُ أَرْعَاهَا عَلَى قَرَارِيطَ لأَهْلِ مَكَّةَ ‏"‏‏.‏

  8. 8
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 3445
    Sahih Bukhari

    Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians did the son of Mary; I am only a slave.

    Narrated `Umar:I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, "Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians praised the son of Mary, for I am only a Slave. So, call me the Slave of Allah and His Apostle

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الزُّهْرِيَّ، يَقُولُ أَخْبَرَنِي عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، سَمِعَ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ يَقُولُ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ لاَ تُطْرُونِي كَمَا أَطْرَتِ النَّصَارَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ، فَإِنَّمَا أَنَا عَبْدُهُ، فَقُولُوا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولُهُ ‏"‏‏.‏

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

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