Modesty

You know humans like to feel proud.

They like to feel that they have something special.

People like to feel that they are the best.

They even make up all sorts of games

to give themselves ways of competing with each other

to see who is the best at whatever game they choose,

who is the fastest,

the strongest, the bravest,

the most skilful.

Now the winners often get great praise and fame

along with their success,

which can make them feel really special.

When a lot of people say you are wonderful,

it feels really nice

and you feel better about yourself.

Even if you weren't sure if you were special beforehand,

if everyone tells you so you feel that's the way it must be.

Your life must be good if other people wish they were you.

People judge themselves by comparing themselves to other people.

And life is full of competitions

by which they measure themselves.

Schools have exams to find out who are the cleverest in different subjects.

The TV has talent shows to see who are the best at performing before a crowd,

and people have elections to see who they think is best to be in charge.

So of course it's OK for people to aim to be better than others,

to aim to be the best they can be,

reaching out beyond what they can do at the time,

and trying to achieve better.

And that struggle to do better can make the world a better place,

but being the best at something doesn't always make things better for the world.

Nor does being the best at something always make a better person,

because what makes a better person is what is good for their souls,

not necessarily the things they are good at.

Of course, if what they are good at is also good for their souls,

then what they do also makes them better people

as well as being better at whatever it is they are trying to be the best at.

But there are a lot of people in the world who are really proud of themselves

who don't need any help to think they are fantastic,

even though they may not only want to be the best,

but also like to hear people sing their praises.

And there are those who just believe the praise that comes their way,

even though they have had nothing to do with what they are being praised for.

Because the brain in someone's head that gets them through exams

wasn't put there by their own efforts.

And the beauty that attracts the envy of others

is something some people are born with,

not something they worked to achieve.

To be proud of that sort of thing is Vanity,

and we need to understand that any praise we get for such gifts

has no real value

as it is going to the one who received them,

not the One Who gave them.

Those who look to the opinion of those around them

may believe the praise that comes their way

for who they are and what they do,

but the one who looks towards

the best that is possible

can only be looking towards Allah,

and no matter how great anyone can be in this world,

there is no question that God is Greater.

Even in this world we can never be the best,

we can only be the best that we can be.

But God is the All-Powerful,

the Most-Beautiful, the All-Knowing.

For the one who looks towards the Greatness of Allah,

the awesome nature of the One Who deserves all praise

can only humble the one who looks.

That humility in a person is known as Modesty,

not being proud of ourselves but always aware of the Majesty of Allah,

and being grateful for such gifts as we have been given.

And Muhammad said that Modesty is the mark of a person's Islam.