Patience, Asceticism, Prudence and Humbleness

It is reported on the authority of Ibrâhîm b. Al-Ash’ath that he said, “I asked Al-Fudayl b. ‘Ayyâd – Allâh have mercy on him – about patience (al-sabr) in the face of adversity and he said, ‘It is to not broadcast it.’ I asked him about asceticism (al-zuhd) and he said, ‘Al-zuhd is to be content with what you have, and that is what it means to be rich.’ I asked him about prudence (al-wara’) and he said, ‘It is to stay away from what is forbidden.’ And I asked him about humbleness (al-tawâdu’) and he said, ‘It is when you submit to the truth and comply no matter who you hear it from; even if it was from the most ignorant of people, you would be required to accept it from him.’”

Ibn ‘Abd Al-Barr, Jâmi’ Bayân Al-‘Ilm wa Fadlihi Vol. 1 p498.

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March 18, 2009

Topics: Character, zuhd

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6 Responses to “Patience, Asceticism, Prudence and Humbleness”

  1. sajid on November 11, 2010 18:46

    Mashallah

  2. Dara on November 18, 2010 15:30

    What does it mean that patience ‘It is to not broadcast it.’? please explain it to me

  3. Owais Al-Hashimi on November 18, 2010 17:26

    It means not to complain about the adversity in a way that displays a lack of patience with what Allah has decreed.

  4. ummyahya on November 22, 2010 20:11

    brother please explain 'humbleness (al-tawâdu’) and he said, ‘It is when you submit to the truth and comply no matter who you hear it from; even if it was from the most ignorant of people, you would be required to accept it from him.’”

    Does this mean that you can listen to ignorant people speak about the deen?

  5. Dara on December 1, 2010 23:23

    I c.. thanks for the explanation…

  6. Owais Al-Hashimi on December 2, 2010 17:38

    Allah's Messenger – praise and peace of Allah be upon him – told us that kibr (arrogance) is to reject the truth and look down on the people. This narration reminds us of the desired opposite: humbleness, to accept the truth and not look down on people.

    It does not mean ignorant people can talk about the religion. It means if and when it is known that someone spoke the truth, it is to be accepted because it is the truth. This in no way gives a license for people who do not know their religion to speak about it. The Quran and Sunnah clearly forbid anyone from speaking about Allah and His religion without knowledge.