Islam Has No Concept of Humility

[MugenOne]

From the words of Spengler’s new essay, **Israel, the hope of the Muslim world, there is **no injunction to “turn the other cheek” is found in the Koran, no reflection on how to learn from defeat. Something like the Book of Lamentations, which tradition attributes to the Prophet Jeremiah after the fall of Jerusalem, is unimaginable in Islam. Jeremiah tells defeated Israel, “It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young … Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace.”

Islam has no inherent concept of humility; it can only be imported to Muslim countries from the outside. … The humility that goes hand in hand with doubt - conceding that one’s opponent might have a valid point - is what makes democracy possible in the first place.

**the words **“humble” and “humility” occur rarely in the Koran, and in most cases (7:206 and 17:109) refer not to Muslims but rather to Jews or other conquered peoples, as in “And [the children of Israel] fall down on their faces weeping, and it adds to their humility”, or “We sent [apostles] to nations before you then We seized them with distress and affliction in order that they might humble themselves.” There are a few references to the virtue of being humble before Allah, but not one suggestion that it is good to show humility to other human beings. Nothing like Hannah’s praise of YHWH, (I Samuel 2:28), “You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low,” occurs in Muslim scripture.

The Muslim submits to Allah, the absolutely transcendent ruler of the universe, in return for his mercy and beneficence. That is why Muslim faith hinges upon success.

I guess until Muslims learn some kind of humility, we’ll continue to experience acts of terrorism.

atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/IK20Ak01.html

 

[thedavidwilson]

From the words of Spengler’s new essay, **Israel, the hope of the Muslim world, there is **no injunction to “turn the other cheek” is found in the Koran, no reflection on how to learn from defeat. Something like the Book of Lamentations, which tradition attributes to the Prophet Jeremiah after the fall of Jerusalem, is unimaginable in Islam. Jeremiah tells defeated Israel, “It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young … Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace.”

Islam has no inherent concept of humility; it can only be imported to Muslim countries from the outside. … The humility that goes hand in hand with doubt - conceding that one’s opponent might have a valid point - is what makes democracy possible in the first place.

**the words **“humble” and “humility” occur rarely in the Koran, and in most cases (7:206 and 17:109) refer not to Muslims but rather to Jews or other conquered peoples, as in “And [the children of Israel] fall down on their faces weeping, and it adds to their humility”, or “We sent [apostles] to nations before you then We seized them with distress and affliction in order that they might humble themselves.” There are a few references to the virtue of being humble before Allah, but not one suggestion that it is good to show humility to other human beings. Nothing like Hannah’s praise of YHWH, (I Samuel 2:28), “You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low,” occurs in Muslim scripture.

The Muslim submits to Allah, the absolutely transcendent ruler of the universe, in return for his mercy and beneficence. That is why Muslim faith hinges upon success.

I guess until Muslims learn some kind of humility, we’ll continue to experience acts of terrorism.

atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/IK20Ak01.html

At least not universal humility. The muslim’s relationship with God is that of a slave to a slave owner. He is only to be humble to other muslims who are in positions superior to them. They are never to be humble to non-muslims unless this is deception and furthers the spread of islam and subjugation of non-muslims.

 

[Valke2]

It takes quite a bit of arrogance to allege that Islam doesn’t understand or teach the concept of humility.

 

[Kadaveri]

Muhammad’s prayer after being chased out of Ta’if by a stone-throwing mob:

*O God! I complain to You of my weakness, my scarcity of resources and the humiliation I have been subjected to by the people. O Most Merciful of those who are merciful. O Lord of the weak and my Lord too. To whom have you entrusted me?

To a distant person who receives me with hostility? Or to an enemy to whom you have granted authority over my affair? So long as You are not angry with me, I do not mind. Your favour is of a more expansive relief to me. I seek refuge in the light of Your Face by which all darkness is dispelled and every affair of this world and the next is set right, lest Your anger or Your displeasure descends upon me. I desire Your pleasure and satisfaction until You are pleased.

There is no power and no might except by You.*

The *cruciality *of humility is such a core and common recurring theme in Islam, I’m really quite speechless that anyone would contradict that so grossly.

 

[thedavidwilson]

Muhammad’s prayer after being chased out of Ta’if by a stone-throwing mob:

*O God! I complain to You of my weakness, my scarcity of resources and the humiliation I have been subjected to by the people. O Most Merciful of those who are merciful. O Lord of the weak and my Lord too. To whom have you entrusted me?

To a distant person who receives me with hostility? Or to an enemy to whom you have granted authority over my affair? So long as You are not angry with me, I do not mind. Your favour is of a more expansive relief to me. I seek refuge in the light of Your Face by which all darkness is dispelled and every affair of this world and the next is set right, lest Your anger or Your displeasure descends upon me. I desire Your pleasure and satisfaction until You are pleased.

There is no power and no might except by You.*

The cruciality of humility is such a core and common recurring theme in Islam, I’m really quite speechless that anyone would contradict that so grossly.

He wasn’t to humble when he came to power in Media and began to wage war. This has served as an example to muslims for centuries. Remain humble when you don’t have the upper hand, but when you do get the upper hand wage war on dar al harb, subjugate the people of the book, make them pay a tax and take away their rights. If the people are not of the book then ask them to convert and if they don’t kill them. This is what has happened to hindus, zorastorians, etc for centuries. Again I state humility in islam is not universal. It is only directed towards other muslims or if you are not in a position of power.

Matthew 23:11 He that is the greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled: and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

 

[paarsurrey]

Hi

I think it would be good to clear the misconception if I quote from Quran/Islam/Muahammd regarding humbleness/humility.

[23:1] In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
[23:2] **Successful indeed are the believers, **
[23:3] **Who are humble **in their Prayers,
[23:4] And who shun all that which is vain,
[23:5] And who are prompt and regular in paying the Zakat,
[23:6] And who guard their chastity -
[23:7] Except from their wives or what their right hands possess, for then they are not to be blamed;
[23:8] But those, who seek anything beyond that are the transgressors -
[23:9] And who are watchful of their trusts and their covenants,
[23:10] And who are strict in the observance of their Prayers.
Unqutoe

Indeed humbleness is an essential quality of a believer of which he is trained with the prayer.

Thanks

 

[paarsurrey]

Hi

Yet another passage from Quran on humbleness:

[57:17] Has not the time yet arrived for those who believe that their hearts should feel humbled at the remembrance of Allah and at the truth which has come down to them, and that they should not become like those who were given the Book before them, but because the period of the bestowal of Allah’s grace upon them was prolonged for them, their hearts became hardened, and many of them became rebellious?
[57:18] Know, then, that Allah quickens the earth after its death. We have made the Signs manifest to you, that you may understand.
[57:19] Surely, the men who give alms and the women who give alms, and those who lend to Allah a goodly loan - it will be increased manifold for them, and theirs will also be a honourable reward -
[57:20] Those who believe in Allah and His Messengers, they are the Truthful and the Witnesses in the sight of their Lord. They will have their full reward and their light. But those who disbelieve and reject Our Signs, these are the inmates of Hell.
Unquote

Thanks

 

[AgnosTheist]

The cruciality of humility is such a core and common recurring theme in Islam, I’m really quite speechless that anyone would contradict that so grossly.

The point is, where does islam teach humility to another human being?

 

[thedavidwilson]

The point is, where does islam teach humility to another human being?

Or more importantly a non-muslim.

Matthew Chapter 5
43 You have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thy enemy. 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies : do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you: 45 That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, who maketh his sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust.

46 For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? do not even the publicans this? 47 And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? do not also the heathens this? 48 Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.

*46 “The publicans”… These were the gatherers of the public taxes: a set of men, odious and infamous among the Jews, for their extortions and injustice. *

 

[exoflare]

I will concur with this. The only type of humility a Muslim is taught is a forced submission toward “God” and toward other Muslims who are in positions of power over them. However there is no universal concept of voluntary or altruistic humility as Christians are taught.

 

[KarenNC]

… The humility that goes hand in hand with doubt - conceding that one’s opponent might have a valid point - is what makes democracy possible in the first place

Deomcracy comes to us from the Greeks, who also have no teaching that it is better to turn the other cheek, not the Jews or the Christians. Humility is taught in terms of avoiding hubris. “Know thyself”–know that you are men and not Gods, that you have human limitations.

The history of Christian-dominated society has been that of monarchies, not democracies.

 

[paarsurrey]

Hi

There is a Hadith/Tradition from the Truthful Prophet Muhammad with the following meaning:

A man becomes humble, so got lifts him up for showing this himility to the seventh sky.

The humility before God as well as humility with the fellow human beings in meant, I think, in the above tradition.

Thanks

 

[paarsurrey]

Hi

I searched for the word humble in only One Book of Hadith “Muslim”. Following is the result:
searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=humble&translator=2&search=1&book=&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all

SearchTruth is especially designed to search any word in the Quran and the Hadith. Search any word in the Hadith from Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abudawud, or Malik’s Muwatta.

Search in Hadith: in Sahih Bukhari Sahih Muslim Sunan Abudawud Malik’s Muwatta
Display: 10 20 50 100 results per page. Any Word All Words Exact Word

The word “humble” appear 25 time(s) in 19 hadith(s) in Muslim translation.
(1) It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) said: Faith has over seventy branches or over sixty branches, the most excellent of which is the declaration that there is no god but Allah, and the humblest of which is the, removal of what is injurious from the path: and modesty is the branch of faith. (Book #001, Hadith #0056)

(9) Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: Let him be humbled into dust; let him be humbled into dust. It was said: Allah’s Messenger, who is he? He said: He who sees either of his parents during their old age or he sees both of them, but he does not enter Paradise. (Book #032, Hadith #6189)

(10) Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Let him be humbled, let him be humbled. It was said: Allah’s Messenger, who is he? He said. He who finds his parents in old age, either one or both of them, and does not enter Paradise. (Book #032, Hadith #6190)

Thanks

 

[Booklover]

It takes quite a bit of arrogance to allege that Islam doesn’t understand or teach the concept of humility.

I disagree! Call me arrogant if you like. I believe that Islam instills pride and arrogance in its members.

Is it “humility” that makes Muslims think that Islam is the only religion that should exist on earth, and that all others should be eradicated?

Is it “humility” that makes Muslims think they have to right to force others to accept Islam against their will, because they believe Islam to be the “truth”?

Is it “humility” that makes Muslims think that their satanic sharia laws come from “God” and should be imposed on the rest of humanity, and that all other forms of government should be eliminated?

Is it “humility” that makes Muslims think they are the masters of the world, and that all nom-Muslims should be ruled and humiliated by them??

Is it “humility” that makes Muslims think they’re better and more pious than everyone else??

Vickie

 

[Valke2]

See, what I see in some of these answers, vicki, is the implied assumption that christians are better than muslims. How can you or anyone else say that Islam has no concept of humility with a straight face? Just to state say that sentence requires arrogance on the part of someone who does not follow Islam. Especially were specific examples contradicting the original post have already been given here.

Islam came and demanded of them, before anything else, to submit themselves wholly to the one and only Creator, and abandon all pride, arrogance, and feelings of self-sufficiency. islam.about.com/od/prayer/a/humility.htm

 

[KarenNC]

I disagree! Call me arrogant if you like. I believe that Islam instills pride and arrogance in its members.

Is it “humility” that makes Muslims think that Islam is the only religion that should exist on earth, and that all others should be eradicated?

Is it “humility” that makes Muslims think they have to right to force others to accept Islam against their will, because they believe Islam to be the “truth”?

Is it “humility” that makes Muslims think that their satanic sharia laws come from “God” and should be imposed on the rest of humanity, and that all other forms of government should be eliminated?

Is it “humility” that makes Muslims think they are the masters of the world, and that all nom-Muslims should be ruled and humiliated by them??

Is it “humility” that makes Muslims think they’re better and more pious than everyone else??

Vickie

Let’s see. From discussions on these boards I have come to understand that:

The only true understanding of the divine is that taught by the Roman Catholic Church.

The Roman Catholic Church is the only way in which anyone is ever saved by God.

The Roman Catholic Church is the only true Church and that all others are simply pale comparisons at best which might have a crumb of truth.

All secular law should be measured against the standard of Roman Catholic law because it comes from God. This is particularly obvious currently in the areas of birth control, marriage laws, provision of health care, etc.

All other forms of Christianity should seek to be reunited under the TRUE Church—the Roman Catholic Church–and subject themselves to the authority of the Pope as God intended.

Aren’t we lucky that we know the real true religion unlike all those other deluded simpletons who simply can’t see the inherent superiority of the Roman Catholic Church?

Doesn’t sound all that humble to me. Now I know that this is not necessarily true of every single Roman Catholic, but it is patently true of a goodly number as represented on these boards. Seems to be a difference in degree rather than in kind between a certain set of Christians (in this case Roman Catholics) and a certain set of Muslims.

I will fully agree that there is by definition an inherent large measure of pride and arrogance in any form of monotheism.

 

[Booklover]

Let’s see. From discussions on these boards I have come to understand that:

The only true understanding of the divine is that taught by the Roman Catholic Church.

Jesus established only one Church, the Catholic Church, the only Christian church that has existed since the time of Jesus. Jesus promised, " I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" (Matt. 16-18) This means that his Church will never be destroyed and will never fall away from him. His Church wil survive until his return. The Church also teaches only one set of doctrines, which must be the same as those taught by the Apostles (Jude 3). The Church has never changed any doctrine. Over the centuries, are doctrines are examined more fully, the Church comes to understand them more deeply.(John 16:12-13) but it never understands them to mean the opposite of what they once meant.

th Roman Catholic Church is the only way in which anyone is ever saved by God.

From the Catechism:

819 “Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truty” are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: “the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith; hope and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements.” Christ’s Spirit uses these Chruches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church. All these blessings come from Christ and lead to him, and are in themselves call to "Catholic unity.

The Roman Catholic Church is the only true Church and that all others are simply pale comparisons at best which might have a crumb of truth.

Jesus established only one Church, not a collection of differing churches, The Bible says the Church is the Bride of Christ. Jesus can have but one spouse, and his spouse is the Catholic Church.

All secular law should be measured against the standard of Roman Catholic law because it comes from God. This is particularly obvious currently in the areas of birth control, marriage laws, provision of health care, etc.

The Church has the right to intervene in matters of morality and the defense of human life from conception to natural death.

All other forms of Christianity should seek to be reunited under the TRUE Church—the Roman Catholic Church–and subject themselves to the authority of the Pope as God intended.

One flock and one shepherd as Jesus stated.

Aren’t we lucky that we know the real true religion unlike all those other deluded simpletons who simply can’t see the inherent superiority of the Roman Catholic Church?

Just what is Hellenic Neopagan Unitarian Universalist??

Vickie

 

[Valke2]

But we are discussing the teaching and concept of humility.

 

[KarenNC]

Just what is Hellenic Neopagan Unitarian Universalist

Not someone who claims that her religion is and should be the only possible one for the entire planet.

Again, it seems that it is not an issue of whether it is arrogant or humble to proclaim that one’s religion is the right one, it is that it is arrogant for someone of another religion to claim that their religion is the right one which in monotheism means that one of them has to be wrong. As I said, it would seem to be a matter of difference in degree not in kind. Not all Christians or all Catholics, for that matter, take this attitude and advocate running with it to the exclusion of every other religion. Neither do all Muslims as far as I have seen.

 

[Booklover]

Not someone who claims that her religion is and should be the only possible one for the entire planet.

Again, it seems that it is not an issue of whether it is arrogant or humble to proclaim that one’s religion is the right one, it is that it is arrogant for someone of another religion to claim that their religion is the right one which in monotheism means that one of them has to be wrong. As I said, it would seem to be a matter of difference in degree not in kind. Not all Christians or all Catholics, for that matter, take this attitude and advocate running with it to the exclusion of every other religion. Neither do all Muslims as far as I have seen.

Are you saying that thousands of religions, preaching different doctrines call all be right?? As our Muslim friends keep telling us, God is not the author of confusion!

Vickie

Back to the OP now