Ep. 34: Knowledge Requires Humility | Best Conduct

Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA) was the first cousin of the prophet (SAW). He was a very young boy during the time of the prophet (SAW) and he had the honor of spending time with him in his youth. He used to say, “When I was seeking knowledge, I remained humble and lowered myself, and when I had acquired knowledge, I became noble and respected.” How was he humble? First, he kept himself in the service of the prophet (SAW) and just helped when the prophet (SAW) needed something, even if it was the water for his wudhu. Ibn Abbas (RA) did this at the time of the prophet (SAW)’s tahajjud. When the prophet (SAW) passed away, Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA) started wondering, “What is going to happen to all this knowledge the prophet (SAW) left behind? If I do not take it from those who have acquired it, I will lose out.” He would go to them on their terms, meaning he would go outside and wait at there houses until they were free, and only then would he ask them what he wanted to ask them. In the meantime, he would simply spread a sheet outside of their door and sit there, sometimes for hours. Sometimes, the wind would be blowing dust onto his face and his clothes would be covered with dust, and when that sahabi would open his door to leave his house, he would find ibn Abbas sitting at his front door covered in dust They would get embarrassed and say, “O cousin of the prophet (SAW), your position is so high that we should have come to you for what you wanted.” He said, “No, I come to you for your knowledge, so I must abide by your terms.”

People like Umar (RA) knew that this young boy was learning very quickly. He used to keep him close, so much so that, when the senior sahaba would sit with him, he would ask Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA) to sit with them. This bothered some people and they said, “He is like a child in front of us. Why is Umar (RA) asking him to sit with us?” Once, Umar (RA) wanted to show his companions why the boy was so special, so he asked a question to them and asked Abdullah ibn Abbas to speak as well. Abdullah ibn Abbas responded, “I cannot speak before all of my seniors and elders. Let them speak first, and afterwards, I will present my humble view.” This is exactly what happened, and that question that Umar (RA) posed to them was about the tafsir of a surah in the Qur’an, surah Nasr. He asked the meaning of that surah, to which the sahaba (RA) gave the meaning. When Abdullah ibn Abbas spoke, he said, “I understand that this surah is telling the prophet (SAW) that his time in the world was up, and that he must prepare to depart from the world.” Umar (RA) said, “This is exactly what I understood from this surah.” In that short time, ibn Abbas (RA) had gained such a profound understanding of the Qur’an and the prophet (SAW)’s teachings, and because of the humility he had and humbling himself, he achieved the du’a of the prophet (SAW). The prophet (SAW) saw that Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA) was so diligent and he was working so hard to follow the teachings of Allah (SWT). After the prophet (SAW)’s passing, the people would come to Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA) for his teachings as an adult.

So, going back to Abbas (RA)’s comment, he said, “I was humble as a student of deen, and Allah (SWT) made me honorable as a teacher of deen.” This is the way to acquire honor in the sight of Allah(SWT) – we humble ourselves. There are many times where you feel like showing what you are and what you know, but when we are studying the knowledge of deen, there is no place for that. We keep ourselves humble. Ulama have said, “Knowledge for a proud person is just as destructive as a flood is for a tall building.” Knowledge is harmful for someone who has pride and who wants to be all about themselves and impress upon others their own superiority. It takes them down. If we stay humble and learn the teachings of the prophet (SAW) and the deen at a lowered state and a humble person, we will not be of those people who are destroyed by knowledge. May Allah (SWT) give us tawfiq and understanding.