TRAINING IN HUMILITY

The Quran tells us that fasting is prescribed for you so that you may fear God (Al-Baqarah, 2:183). So what does it mean to fear God? Fearing God means that man should acknowledge his helplessness vis-à-vis God’s greatness.

The feeling of helplessness (‘ijz) is not simply a feeling but is rather the greatest motivational force in the life of a person.

The feeling of ‘ijz relates to God. But when this feeling of ‘ijz is produced in man in the real sense, it finds expression in human relations. One who becomes truly modest before God finds this same spirit making him modest before human beings.

The height of spirituality is a person’s realization of his own helplessness and the supreme power of Allah. The biggest obstacle to a person’s spiritual growth is his own ego and false pride. This leads to his being distanced. The sole concern of a spiritually pure person is his earning God’s pleasure.