Table of Contents
True Greatness in Humility
The humility of the Prophet ﷺ was one of the clearest signs that his greatness did not come from power, wealth, or status, but from complete servitude to Allah. Although he was the final Messenger, leader of a growing state, and beloved of his companions, he continued to live, speak, and behave as a humble servant of his Lord.
Servant of Allah before Anything Else
The Prophet ﷺ did not like exaggerated praise or titles that placed him above his true position. He taught the believers to keep him honored, but within the limits of servitude and prophethood.
He said:
عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ رضي الله عنه أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ
«لَا تُطْرُونِي كَمَا أَطْرَتِ النَّصَارَى عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ، فَإِنَّمَا أَنَا عَبْدُهُ، فَقُولُوا: عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولُهُ»
“Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians exaggerated in praising ‘Isa son of Mary. I am only His servant, so say: the servant of Allah and His Messenger.”
(Al Bukhari)
In the Quran, Allah gave him this honored description:
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا
“Glory be to Him who took His servant by night…”
(Surat Al Isra 17:1)
Allah mentioned him as “His servant” at the moment of the miraculous journey of Isra, to show that the highest rank is to be a true ‘abd, a servant who submits fully.
The greatest honor for a believer is to be a true servant of Allah, not to seek praise, titles, or status among people.
Simple Living despite Great Authority
Although resources entered Madinah and the Muslim community grew stronger, the personal life of the Prophet ﷺ remained simple. His humility appeared in his home, his food, his clothes, and his sleeping arrangements.
Aishah رضي الله عنها described his household:
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رضي الله عنها قَالَتْ
«مَا شَبِعَ آلُ مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ مِنْ خُبْزِ الشَّعِيرِ يَوْمَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ حَتَّى قُبِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ»
“The family of Muhammad ﷺ never ate their fill of barley bread for two consecutive days until the Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed away.”
(Al Bukhari, Muslim)
His bed was very simple. Umar ibn al Khattab رضي الله عنه once entered and saw that the Prophet ﷺ was lying on a mat that left marks on his side. Umar became emotional because the rulers of the world had luxury while the Messenger of Allah ﷺ rested on something so rough. The Prophet ﷺ replied, as in some reports:
«مَا لِي وَلِلدُّنْيَا؟ مَا أَنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا كَرَاكِبٍ اسْتَظَلَّ تَحْتَ شَجَرَةٍ، ثُمَّ رَاحَ وَتَرَكَهَا»
“What have I to do with this world? In this world I am like a rider who sat in the shade of a tree, then went on and left it behind.”
(At Tirmidhi)
This picture shows how his humility made him see the world as temporary and small, even when he had the right to live in comfort.
Humility in Daily Actions
The Prophet ﷺ lived among his people as one of them. He did not separate himself with signs of luxury or arrogance. Those who entered Madinah for the first time could not immediately tell which man in the gathering was the Messenger until they asked.
He ﷺ said, as reported:
«إِنَّمَا أَنَا عَبْدٌ، آكُلُ كَمَا يَأْكُلُ الْعَبْدُ، وَأَجْلِسُ كَمَا يَجْلِسُ الْعَبْدُ»
“I am only a servant. I eat as a servant eats, and I sit as a servant sits.”
(Abu Ya‘la and others, with supporting narrations)
He mended his own sandals, patched his clothes, and helped with household work. Aishah رضي الله عنها was asked what he used to do at home. She replied:
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رضي الله عنها قِيلَ لَهَا: مَا كَانَ يَصْنَعُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي بَيْتِهِ؟ قَالَتْ:
«كَانَ يَكُونُ فِي مِهْنَةِ أَهْلِهِ، فَإِذَا حَضَرَتِ الصَّلَاةُ خَرَجَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ»
“He used to be in the service of his family, then when the time for prayer came, he would go out to the prayer.”
(Al Bukhari)
Serving his own family and doing ordinary tasks was not seen by him as beneath his dignity. On the contrary, this was the practical expression of his humility.
True humility is shown in private daily life, in how one behaves at home and with close family, not only in public behavior.
Sitting and Walking among the People
Visitors and companions noticed how the Prophet ﷺ sat with people. He sat on the ground, ate on the ground, and sometimes rode a simple animal without appearing above others in pride.
A man entered his presence once and began to tremble out of awe. The Prophet ﷺ calmed him with gentle words:
«هَوِّنْ عَلَيْكَ، فَإِنِّي لَسْتُ بِمَلِكٍ، إِنَّمَا أَنَا ابْنُ امْرَأَةٍ كَانَتْ تَأْكُلُ الْقَدِيدَ»
“Be calm. I am not a king. I am only the son of a woman who used to eat dried meat.”
(Ibn Majah)
In another report it is mentioned that he sat with his companions like one of them so that a stranger could not immediately distinguish him.
His way of walking also reflected modesty. The companions described that he walked briskly, but not with arrogance or pride, and he firmly disliked the proud manner of walking with boastfulness. The Quran speaks about this moral quality:
وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا
“And do not walk upon the earth exultantly.”
(Surat Luqman 31:18)
The Prophet ﷺ was the best example of the Quranic command, including in such simple details as how a person walks.
Humility in Leadership
The humility of the Prophet ﷺ appeared very clearly when he led the community. He kept himself close to the poor and the weak, visited the sick, and responded to invitations of the humble and the wealthy alike.
He said:
«اللَّهُمَّ أَحْيِنِي مِسْكِينًا، وَأَمِتْنِي مِسْكِينًا، وَاحْشُرْنِي فِي زُمْرَةِ الْمَسَاكِينِ»
“O Allah, let me live as one who is miskin, cause me to die as one who is miskin, and gather me in the company of the masakin (the poor).”
(At Tirmidhi)
He did not push away those who were considered low in status by others. The Quran commanded him:
وَاصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ
“And keep yourself patient with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His Face.”
(Surat Al Kahf 18:28)
The occasion of revelation mentions poor companions whom some nobles looked down upon. The Prophet ﷺ continued to sit with the poor and honor them. In his gatherings, the same attention, smile, and gentle manners were given to the rich and to the poor.
During journeys and battles, he shared in the work. It is reported that when companions were preparing food and dividing labor, each took a task. The Prophet ﷺ said he would gather the firewood. They said that they would do it instead of him, but he answered that he disliked to be distinguished from them, and he joined the work. This attitude taught them that no leader is too important to serve alongside others.
Islamic leadership is based on service and humility, not on privilege or distance from ordinary people.
Humility in Victory and Power
A powerful test of humility is how a person behaves when he is victorious. When the Prophet ﷺ entered Makkah at the conquest, he had full power over a city that had persecuted him for years. Yet he did not enter as a proud conqueror.
Authentic reports mention that he rode into Makkah with his head lowered so much that his forehead was almost touching the saddle of his riding animal, an image of deep gratitude and humility before Allah.
On that day, he announced a general amnesty, even for many of those who had harmed him severely. His words reflected humility and forgiveness:
«اذْهَبُوا فَأَنْتُمُ الطُّلَقَاءُ»
“Go, for you are free.”
(Reported in Seerah works with supporting narrations)
This combination of humility, mercy, and power is one of the most striking aspects of his character.
Refusing Special Treatment
Humility also appeared when people tried to treat him with excess formality. Companions sometimes began to stand up whenever he entered. He did not like such behavior that could lead to exaggeration. It is reported that he said:
«لَا تَقُومُوا كَمَا تَقُومُ الْأَعَاجِمُ يُعَظِّمُ بَعْضُهَا بَعْضًا»
“Do not stand up as the non Arabs stand for one another, seeking to magnify one another.”
(Abu Dawud, Ahmad, with supporting narrations)
He allowed respect in an Islamic way, but he corrected any action that resembled excessive glorification. He wanted the believers to protect their faith from any form of worship or near worship directed to human beings.
Similarly, when people raised their voices in praise in front of him, he warned them about what such praise can do to a person’s humility:
عَنْ أَبِي مَعْمَرٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ
«احْثُوا فِي وُجُوهِ الْمَدَّاحِينَ التُّرَابَ»
“Throw dust in the faces of those who are excessive in praising people.”
(Muslim)
The aim was to discourage flattery that destroys sincerity and makes a person forget his real position as a servant of Allah.
Humility before Allah in Worship
The humility of the Prophet ﷺ was deepest in his worship. His long night prayers, tears in sujud, and fear of Allah even though his past and future sins were forgiven, all showed his awareness of his Lord’s greatness.
Hudhayfah رضي الله عنه described his prayer at night and how he recited, bowed, and prostrated with reflection and submission. In another hadith, Aishah رضي الله عنها said:
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رضي الله عنها أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ يَقُومُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ حَتَّى تَتَفَطَّرَ قَدَمَاهُ، فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: لِمَ تَصْنَعُ هَذَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، وَقَدْ غُفِرَ لَكَ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ؟ قَالَ:
«أَفَلَا أَكُونُ عَبْدًا شَكُورًا»
“The Prophet ﷺ used to stand (in prayer) at night until his feet became swollen. I said to him: ‘Why do you do this, O Messenger of Allah, when your past and future sins have been forgiven?’ He said: ‘Should I not then be a grateful servant?’”
(Al Bukhari, Muslim)
His humility before Allah was the root of his humility before people. He knew that every favor comes from his Lord, so he never claimed greatness for himself.
Humility in front of people flows from humility in front of Allah, through sincere worship, remembrance, and gratitude.
Teaching Humility to His Ummah
The Prophet ﷺ did not only live humility, he also taught it clearly as an essential quality of faith. He said:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ
«مَا نَقَصَتْ صَدَقَةٌ مِنْ مَالٍ، وَمَا زَادَ اللَّهُ عَبْدًا بِعَفْوٍ إِلَّا عِزًّا، وَمَا تَوَاضَعَ أَحَدٌ لِلَّهِ إِلَّا رَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ»
“Charity does not decrease wealth. Allah only increases a servant in honor through forgiveness. And no one humbles himself for the sake of Allah except that Allah raises him.”
(Muslim)
In another hadith he ﷺ warned against arrogance:
«لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ مِنْ كِبْرٍ»
“He will not enter Paradise who has in his heart an atom’s weight of arrogance.”
(Muslim)
When a man asked if liking nice clothes and shoes was part of arrogance, the Prophet ﷺ explained that Allah is beautiful and loves beauty, but true arrogance is:
«بَطَرُ الْحَقِّ وَغَمْطُ النَّاسِ»
“Rejecting the truth and belittling people.”
(Muslim)
So humility does not mean neglecting appearance or strength. It means accepting truth and never looking down on others.
The Quran links success to this quality:
تِلْكَ الدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ نَجْعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فَسَادًا
“That home of the Hereafter We assign to those who do not desire exaltation upon the earth nor corruption.”
(Surat Al Qasas 28:83)
The Prophet ﷺ embodied this verse, and he raised a generation trained to live without seeking artificial greatness in the dunya.
Humility with Friends and Enemies
His humility extended even to those who opposed him. When people insulted him or rejected his message, he often responded with patience and supplication, not with self centered anger. This was connected to his mercy, but it was also a sign of his humble soul. He did not see personal revenge as important.
With his companions, he accepted advice, listened carefully, and sometimes changed a plan because of their input, which showed that he did not consider himself beyond counsel. This is more fully connected to his practice of shura, but it also reflects humility, because a proud leader does not like to be advised.
With the new Muslims and the young, he gave full attention. Each person felt that he or she was special to him, although his love was wide enough to cover all. That feeling came from his humble presence, not from flattery.
Practical Lessons for Today
The humility of the Prophet ﷺ offers clear guidance for believers in all times. His example teaches that a Muslim can be strong, successful, and influential, yet remain modest and gentle.
For personal life, his humility means doing simple tasks without shame, serving family, accepting mistakes when they are pointed out, and avoiding the desire for constant praise. For community life, it means leaders work alongside others, listen to them, and do not build distance with status symbols. For worship, it means remembering Allah’s greatness, recognizing our own weakness, and thanking Him for every favor.
Above all, the Seerah shows that Allah raises the humble. The Prophet ﷺ began his call as an orphan in Makkah, without wealth or position, but through complete servitude and humility, Allah made his name remembered across the world.
Whoever follows the humility of the Prophet ﷺ in belief, worship, and dealing with people, has taken a direct path to Allah’s pleasure and true honor in this life and the next.