Modesty: The Price of Paradise

Realizing God’s Lordship, man realizes his position of helplessness and servitude. Then one kneels down before God, saying: “O, God, Forgive me.” These words of humility are the price of Paradise.

Before the advent of Prophet Muhammad there lived a man in ancient Arabia by the name of Abdullah bin-Judaan, who was a very noble and generous man. He often gave food to others and helped them. A tradition about Abdullah-bin-Judaaan has been recorded in Sahih Bukhari which is given here: “Hazrat Ayesha says that, she said to the Prophet Muhammad: ‘O Prophet’, Abdullah-bin-Judaaan fed the people and honoured the guests. Will his action benefit him on the Day of Judgement?’ The Prophet Muhammad replied, ‘No, because he did not say even once, ‘O, Lord! Forgive my sins on the Day of Judgement:’” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 214)

This tradition tells us what God requires from his servants. What is required is acknowledgement. When man realizes his position of servitude and God’s Lordship, an intense feeling of helplessness is produced within him. Before God’s greatness and perfection, his own existence appears altogether trivial. This realization compels him to kneel down before God, pleading for mercy and forgiveness, saying: “O, God, Forgive me.” These are the words of humility. And such words of humility are the final price of Paradise. The man who has neither any deed to his credit nor any confession of inaction, what will be the basis of his entry into Paradise?