In an age dominated by arrogance and superficial grandeur, embracing humility—like dust—can lead to inner peace, true greatness, and a more harmonious life
In the present age, arrogance has occupied every stage of our lives, while humbleness, in W.B. Yeats’ words, has “hid its face amid the crowd of stars.” Now, every person is drowned in the sea of egoism. Man has become too stiff to bend. In the current scheme of things, though guilty, no one is ready to budge even an inch from their position. The majority of us believe that being humble is a clear sign of weakness. Bending down, kneeling down, and bowing down do not befit anyone anymore. On the contrary, victory is seen in feigning greatness, in whatever way possible. The vicious display of mechanical talk, piled wealth, and glittering robes is the vices the modern man wants to wear on his sleeve. His obnoxious display of ruthlessness has made the earth toxic in the long run.
It is an acknowledged fact that man is a product of water and dust. Dust is what gives man the real meaning of this temporary life. Maulana Rumi said that becoming dust is to be in the good books of Allah. One who humbles himself for the betterment of his soul achieves the greatness of both this world and the Hereafter. In the same vein, the theme of this article stresses the fact that we must be humble in our dealings on this earth. At some stage of my life, I came across a beautiful saying: “Oh man! You are the tourist. Don’t bind yourself to fleeting things. Be humble and act like dust to raise your status.” This saying is the crux of my article.
I want to clarify the meaning of the word “dust” here. I am not referring to worldly dust. It symbolises nothingness and the acceptance of others. In our lives, stubbornness has, consciously or unconsciously, seeped so deep that we never bother to take others into account.
Being arrogant while despising others has serious repercussions. The chaos and confusion on earth are the by-products of that same haughtiness, which is slowly and steadily consuming us from within. Chasing contentment has given us unbearable pain. For the sake of comfort, we have become so uncomfortable that it seems there is no remedy for our self-inflicted wounds. What man has made of man is that everyone has become a god and wants to rule over others. The result is that, in the presence of innumerable gods, worship has lost its charm. The real and final God has become furious and is tearing us apart bit by bit, organ by organ.
To live peacefully and find one’s heart’s contentment, it is necessary to be a little humble. Live and let live is a living example of this. Let others pass the examination before you—accept it. Let others board the bus before you—there is no issue with that. Let others speak foul of you—you speak flowers. Let others try to bring you down—in that position, you are fit to bow to your God. Let us be humble in our dealings, our talk, and our behaviour. Who knows—perhaps my humbleness could play the role of a saviour?
Syed Mustafa Ahmad
sy**********@***il.com