قال امیر المومنین ـ: أ زریٰ بِنَفْسِہِ مَنِ اسْتَشْعَرَا الطَّمَعَ، وَرَضِیَ بِالذُّلِّ مَنْ کَشَفَ عَنْ ضُرِّہِ، وَہَانَتْ عَلَیْہِ نَفْسُہُ مَنْ أمَّرَ عَلَیْھا لِسَانَہ

Ameerul Momineen (a.s) is his wise saying no 2 of this collection of sayings in Nahjul Balagha says:

أ زریٰ بِنَفْسِہِ مَنِ اسْتَشْعَرَا الطَّمَعَ
A person who develops greed and avarice inside him or imposes it over his self and makes greed his slogan then he has made his self defective

وَرَضِیَ بِالذُّلِّ مَنْ کَشَفَ عَنْ ضُرِّہِ
And one who expresses his problems in front of others has humiliated his self and has agreed upon his humiliation

وَہَانَتْ عَلَیْہِ نَفْسُہُ مَنْ أمَّرَ عَلَیْھا لِسَانَہ
And a person who comes under the control of his tongue and makes his tongue his commander or governor has insulted himself and declared himself ashamed, disgraced and abased.

In this wise saying Ameerul Momineen (a.s) has pointed towards three things expressing one common effect of all these three. First is greed, second is complaint and expressing our problems, difficulties and calamities in front of others like us and third being always full of words and excessive talking which means coming under the control of your tongue.

Ameerul Momineen (a.s) has mentioned one common effect of these three things and that is humiliation of self, lowliness and insult of self. These three things makes human self abased. Ameerul Momineen (a.s) has talked about these three things as an example. It is not that the affairs which disgraces the self are only confined to these three things.

The meaning of Insult of Self (Nafs)

Insult of self means making your self lowly, abased and weak in front of others and making your self disgraced and ashamed. This is not permitted for man.

Imam Sadiq (a.s) says:

 انّ اللّٰہ عزوجلّ فوّض الی المؤمن امورھ کلھا ولم یُفوّض اِلَیہ أن یُذِلَّ نَفَسہ،ألَم تَسمَع یَقُول اللّٰہ عزّوجلّ: وَللّٰہ العِزةُ و لِرسُولہِ ولِلمُؤمنین فالمُؤمن یَبنغِی أن یَکُونَ عَزِیزاً وَلَا یَکون ذَلیلاً یعِزُّہُ اللّٰہُ بِا الایمان و الاسلام

Allah (s.w.t) has created man and handed over everything to him. Though the word believer is used in tradition which implies the decision of every affair has been left to believer. But humiliation of self has not been left with believer, this means a believer has not been given the rights to disgrace and abase his self. Then He (a.s) says: Did you not here this saying from Allah (s)?

 وللّٰہ العزة و لرسولہ وللمومنین
Dignity is for Allah, Messenger and believers

Imam says:

فا لمؤمن یبنغی ان یکون عزیزا
Thus, It is essential for a believer to be dignified

ولا یکون ذلیلاً
A believer should never become humiliated.

He has no rights to adopt the path of disgrace and humiliation. After this Imam says:

 یعزّہ اللّٰہ با لایمان و الاسلام
Allah has granted believers dignity through faith and Islam

This enlightened saying is expressing an important chapter and topic which for all human beings and specifically for students of Islamic studies and scholars should be the first lesson. It is necessary for them to study this before studying anything else.

The late author of the book "Wasael-us-Shia" in the chapter of Jihad under the topic of Amr Bil Maroof has specified a complete chapter which consists of several traditions whose common content is the same; dignity of self and humiliation of self. The aforementioned tradition of Imam Sadiq (a.s) has been specified here also that believer has rights for everything except for the rights to become humiliated. This implies he can eat whatever he likes, he can drink whatever he desires, he wears what he wants and sleep where he wants; definitely after consideration of permissible and prohibited lawful limits of Shariah. Authority of affairs means that Allah has handed over the individual and personal affairs of a believer to the believer itself but the rights of one thing has not been given to him and that is to disgrace, humiliate and abase your self because Allah (s) has made man prestigious.

First Human Merit

The first merit which Allah (s) has granted to man is human prestige (Karamat) and honour. Prestige (Karamat) means possession of honour, dignity and greatness.

In Arabic culture "Karamat" (Prestige) is the greatest of all merits amongst all the merits of human being. When Arab wants to highly appreciate someone they call him as "Kareem" (Prestigious). Imam Hassan's (a.s) fame was also from this title and even till date He is known with the title of "Prestige of Ahlulbayt" (Kareem-e-Ahlulbayt).

Prestigious (Kareem) means a very elderly personality, a very big personality and possessor of big capacity. A Prestigious and honoured person is one who has no lowliness and disgrace inside him. Allah (s) created man and granted him this prestige and honour لقد کرّمنا بنی آدم . We have given the children of Adam prestige, honour and virtues over many other creation of ours and amongst them the faithful and submissive servants are given superior prestige over others. This means the recognizers of Allah, the worshippers of Allah have superiority over other ordinary human beings. Thus man is the most honoured creation and believer is the most honoured amongst all.  A believer has prestige and superiority even over the honoured ones and this superiority has been granted by Allah. The blessing of Islam and faith has also been granted to him by Allah only  towards which the Holy Imam (a.s) has pointed at various instances. Specifically the Doyen of Martyrs says in his honoured supplication of Arafah has pointed towards this and gratified Allah for this bounty that " O my Lord! You have given us prestige and honour through Islam and Faith."

کرّمتنا و شرّفتنا

Prestige and Honour are the most precious pearls of man; the rights for wasting these is not given to man. Severe condemnation is there on wasting these. It is possible that man wastes his many other rights and Allah forgives him but if he looses this pearl of honour and prestige Allah will never forgive him because if this gem of human honour and divine prestige gets wasted, or in other words he looses his self respect, then all sorts of misguidance, deviation, humiliation, lowliness and disgraces gets developed inside human being.

The meaning of dignity

Dignity (Izzah) in Arabic literature comes from the word "Izaaz" which means that land which becomes so hard that even water cannot pass through it. It rains on it and water flows over it. The land for farming is not "Izaaz" because in it water, fertilizers and seeds all pass through. But certain lands are so hard and rocky that nothing passes through them which means there is such a state present inside the land that nothing can disturb it. This state is called "Izaaz" or "Izzah". This is the source where Holy Quran has acquired the meaning of "Izaah" (Dignity) for Allah, Messenger and believers. One of the names from amongst the beautiful names of Allah is Dignified (Azeez). Dignified means possessor of dignity وللّٰہ العزّة and Allah has also given the address of dignity that if you desire dignity and honour then do not go after infidels because the source of dignity is the essence of Allah (s).

 انّ العزّة للّٰہ جمیعاً

This means the essence of Allah is such a hard and firm essence that no errors, deficiencies, limitations and anything against his prestige can enter inside it. This is the reason that the essence of Allah is dignified; his essence is not subjugated in front of anyone, no one can dominate it; nothing can effect his essence because one that gets effected is not dignified. Though being effected by perfection is good because man is in pursuit of perfection. By demonstrating softness and getting effected in front of perfection develops dignity and honour. Man is deficient and it is with perfection his deficiencies are waded and it enhances his dignity. When man becomes dignified then he does not accept something which is not worthy of his prestigious status.

In the verse along with Allah, the Messenger is also declared as dignified. The essence of Messenger is dignified in regards to several aspects. In the same way the verse also declared believer as dignified. This statement comes under the category of Information which means information is being given the Allah, Messenger and believers are dignified. Allah and Messenger have dignity as their attributes by creation but a believer has to reach the level of dignity and become dignified.

Humiliation (Zillah) is against Dignity

Humiliation means softness and that too that kind of softness by which man is prepared to accept everything. When everything starts to get inside man then this state is termed as humiliation. Hence soft and fertile lands are those in which farming is done because the land for farming is soft and everything enters inside it.

The positive and negative interpretation of Humiliation

There are two interpretations of Humiliation; one is positive and other negative. The positive interpretation is that man becomes humiliated in front of Allah (s) as it is mentioned in religious teachings. This way man becomes soft and humble in front of perfection and guidance. When guidance approaches him he should accept it without any stubbornness. In this regards it is necessary for man to be soft but in respect to other affairs it is essential for him to be dignified (hard). At the same instance he should be soft and humiliated and as well hard and dignified. He should be humiliated in front of guidance and hard and dignified in front of non guidance as the Quran mentions the same about the Messenger and his respected companions:

 محمد رسول اللّہ والّذین معہ اشدّاء علی الکفّار رحماء بینھم

Two contradictory attributes were found in the Messenger at the same time; one was being hard and severe and second mercy and softness; severe on infidels but at the same time soft and merciful on believers.

 أذلّةٍ علی المؤمنین أعزّہٍ علی الکافر ین

The beloved servants of Allah are hard on infidels and humiliated in front of believers.

Allah (s) has granted such a precious gem in the name of Self Respect or Self Dignity to man from which many other attributes come into existence. If this gem vanishes from man than he is forsaken from other human attributes. This means if humiliation gets developed inside man in a negative form and  instead of Allah he accepts humiliation from people this makes him empty and develops a vacuum inside him. This is the reason it is said that Allah has not given you the rights to humiliate yourself.

Individual Self-Respect

This discussion needs to be looked inside from several visionary directions. First of all man should be thoughtful about Self Respect because this is the fundamental point in human development. This means the process of self development starts from Self-Respect whether it our own self development or of children or of students.

It is essential for nurturing that first Self-Respect should be developed in them; self-respect should be nurtured in students. This is the reason it is said that the first lesson in Islamic Seminary should be on Self-Respect. The system of Seminary though is not balanced hence when the possessors of Self-Respect come here within few months itself they have to wash their hands off Self-Respect. If you desire practical and courageous scholars in the seminary then first develop Self-Respect inside them. A scholar like Imam Khomeini (r.a) is not born by just reading books but instead born with nurturing and development, and this development starts with Self-Respect.

Why did Imam Khomeini (r.a) disliked being alive in the governance of Shah? It was due to Self-Respect. The environment in the period of Shah was not disturbing anyone else. They did not see any harm or anything wrong in that government. It is like us who are living our lives in so many corrupt systems and government without being concerned because we either completely lack Self-Respect or it is very less. If Self-Respect is present than man cannot live for a moment in such an environment. Why did Imam Hussain (a.s) start his uprising? It was for Self-Respect and he himself said that Self-Respect does not allow him to sit comfortably. My Self-Respect demands from me that I should not live my life under Yazid because Yazidiat is worthy of acceptance.

If a religious student wants to become an effective, God favourite and divine scholar then he should start his self development from Self Respect. After this the paths open up and become easy. There are many things disturbing us today and it has become very difficult for us to bear these troubles because we have lost that gem which would make us tolerate these which is Self Respect. If Self Respect was present then no trouble would have disturbed man and he would have remained happy even within calamities. But if Self Respect reduces or gets lost then man gets encircled and arrested by calamities. At some place we will refer to the traditions of our Holy Imams (a.s) and you will see to what extent this point has been expressed by them and this factor is a very important element of the Character of Imams (a.s). Every one of the Imams was either martyred by sword or poisoned and the Imams accepted these martyrdoms very comfortably and with ease; they did not make any wailing about it. At times they were aware that conspiracies are being planned against them and by just uttering one sentence they could have saved themselves. Like Imam Kazim (a.s) could have got freedom from the prison by just speaking one sentence. Several times Haroon tried that Imam should just speak that one sentence and he will release him but Imam (a.s) tolerated the most severe hardships but did not deliver that one sentence from his lips which Haroon desired to listen. This was the reason that Haroon martyred him. All these stages can become easy with Self Respect.

The Social expanse of Self Respect

The second dimension of this discussion is social. At present if we look at Muslims at a social level we can see that the Islamic World is a masterpiece of Humiliation and disgrace. The reason for this is that the Islam which has been propagated in the Islamic world was not an Islam of Dignity. The Islamic dignity has been concealed from Muslims and not been expressed in front of Muslims and the reason for this is  that the Muslims have been brought up with the liking of humiliation, they have come into existence with the liking of humiliation and consider liking of humiliation as worship. We need to assess that despite of being in such big numbers they are going through unimaginable sufferings. The followers of one religion living on this land in such big numbers are under such distressed state.

The problems of our society and their solution

We need to orient this topic mostly towards our society. What are the difficulties of our society? whether it is Pakistan or India because the society is similar in both; no can make separate them and neither should we try to separate them. Many people after looking at the problems of this society ask as to what should be done. Everyone can see the problems but what is the solution for these problems? We need to find the source from where these problems have originated and what are its root.

The actual reason behind all the problems is that this society has not been made to realize self respect and instead compromises have been done with humiliation of self. You can see the situation of the Pakistani community today. Whatever is being done with this community is the height of its disgrace. This cannot be even imagined for other communities. At present this country is of Pakistani's and the government is of non Pakistani. People are aware about the current situations through news. The Kerry-Lugar Bill that has been passed recently is the most disgracing bill; even more humiliating than the bill signed off in Iraq. This is a much more disgracing act done in any other country. This bill has been passed but in order to get agreement of general public opinion various trips of ambassadors and embassy affairs are ongoing. They are giving away their country to others. A big area of Pakistan equivalent to the size of Qatar or Bahrain has been sold to Saudi Arabia so that they can make their colonies there whereas the Capital has been given in the hands of America and that too Black Water. You should be aware that Black Water in its exterior is a private company but in reality is a tyrant and cruel terrorist group whose name itself sends shivers across the spines even for Americans. It would be or as such there is no other cruel group than this. This group has carried out big time operations in Iraq and other countries. At present a big area of Islamabad has been handed over to them. All this is an outcome of humiliation. Pakistan was made but they forgot that the people living here also need Self Respect.

Dignity is the fundamental need for man

Man needs many things; he needs bread, clothing and shelter but all these things would be effective only when man has Self Respect. If Self Respect is not there than all these things are useless and both world and hereafter for man is destroyed.

 عزت ہے محبت کی قائم اے قیس حجاب محمل سے
عزت جو گئی غیرت بھی گئی محل بھی گیا لیلی بھی گئی

"O Qais! The dignity of love is established with veil on "Camel's litter"
If Dignity is lost, self respect is lost, "Camel's litter" is lost and even Laila is lost

Allah (s) has aroused the Prophets and Holy Imams and associated them with the people so that they can develop this gem inside man. The Messenger (s.a.w.s) did not change the situation of Arab society by just reading few books of Fiqh (Jurisprudence) and it was not that he has not read those books and was not aware about the rituals hence the Prophet arranged some classes in Medina and some in Mecca due to which such esteemed companions were developed. Amongst the companions some were ignorant even about the basic rituals but still the Messenger made them such high profile. He (s) did all this by developing this gem of Self Respect inside them.

Why did they leave the Idols? Just because the Messenger issued a verdict of prohibition they left it? Did they say that because the Messenger is telling it is forbidden to worship Idols we are leaving it? It was not like this but instead the Prophet said you are dignified and bowing in front of Idols is a humiliation for man, bowing in front of animals is disgraceful for man and prostrating in front of stars is humiliation for man. Allah (s) has granted you dignity and a person who feels this dignity will never bow in front of animals, he never submits in front of anything non divine, he never worships any idol and he never worships any personality.

The Messenger accomplished this task by developing the gem of Self Respect and this realization of dignity in them. Later Muslims lost this gem from their hands. They got many victories and conquered many lands but Self Respect was forgotten whereas there was a need for inventing this gem also inside them. Thus there is a need to look at this topic in a wide vision.

The causes for the downfall of Self Respect

Ameerul Momineen (a.s) says in this wise saying that three things stampede and demolish the Self Respect of man. Ameerul Momineen (a.s) has presented these three things because most of the times the dignified beings loose their Self Respect due to these. These three things are the highway dacoit for man.

If a person lacks dignity then it is due to lack of at least one of these three things. If there is a family that lacks dignity then it is due to absence of at least one of these three things. If a group or category like Scholars is lacking Self Respect than it is due to one of these three elements. These three are common and dominating factors due to which man is robbed of Self Respect hence there is a need to analyze individuals, groups, nation and society from this perspective. We need to see how due to one of these three factors several dignified beings are sitting on the dust of disgrace; thus it is necessary to be acquainted with these three elements.

Self Respect under all conditions

In this regard we need to pay attention to religious teachings and the emphasis of Holy Imams (a.s). It is present in traditions that Self Respect cannot be wasted in any condition. There are many things whose religious rulings are expressed subjective to two different conditions i.e. Regulations by choice and Regulations under conditions. Though it is said that under condition of starvation you can eat meat of dead animal like if a person is dying due to starvation and there is nothing to eat than a person can eat dead animal to a certain limit which saves his life, he can even drink alcohol, he can eat swine and dog meat. If there are no ways or like it is an instruction in many situations to adopt dissimulation, do not offer Salaat for the sake of saving life. Man has been permitted for the sake of saving his life to conceal a big portion of his religion but there is one group for which it is said that there is nothing by choice or under condition. اضطرارہ کالاختیار  His choice and conditions are same. This means the way he cannot forsake this by choice similarly he cannot forsake this under tough conditions as well, which also implies that it has no such thing as conditional state. It is like someone comes and on gun point says eat forbidden food or do something prohibited else I will shoot you; here religion allows you to eat or do something forbidden at this time for the purpose of saving life but later you should not do this. With the permission of religion many religious things can be forsaken under conditions of danger because these things are not the real gems of religion. Religion is telling to give away these gems for now because these can be later re acquired. But if the fundamental and true gem is lost then it cannot be re acquired under any circumstances and that gem is Self Respect which once lost does not gives man the rights to live because without this the life of man is no life.

If you are asked on gun point to get your dignity stampeded then you should let the bullet pierce your chest but do not allow your dignity to be stampeded, get yourself beheaded but do not loose your Self Respect, do not allow your self to be disgraced and these expressions are not just limited to a personal self but also you should not allow communities to be disgraced. Like if a community has come on a crossroad of Dignity and humiliation and a gun is kept on the forehead of the community asking them to accept humiliation or we will bombard you and destroy you then here this community should die but not accept humiliation. Religion says this only that in many other affairs you can surrender but you cannot play with this true gem of community, Muslims and believers. Here there are no conditional things hence if humiliation is accepted than it is an unforgivable crime and sin. If a person worships for thousand years and at some stage destroys his Self Respect than his thousand years of worship gets washed off and these worships are non reliant.

Self Respect under the light of traditions from Holy Infallibles (a.s)

In this regards lets us look at the religious teachings, the traditions and points of emphasis of Holy Prophet (s) and Imams (a.s)

1. Disgraceful person has no relationship with Ahlulbayt (a.s)

The Holy Prophet (s) says:

'مَن أقرَّ بِا لذُّلِّ طَائعاً فَلیسَ مِنَّا أھل البَیت
"Anyone who accepts humiliation with agreement and attraction is not from Ahlulbayt"
(Biharul Anwar, Vol 74, Pg 124)

This means he has no relation with us because Ahlulbayt is the family of dignity and guides of dignity. They are the leaders of dignity hence they have nothing to do with humiliated persons. Even if disgraceful persons keep on praising and chanting names of these dignified leaders for thousands of time then also they have no relationship with them. The people of Kufa kept on saying that Imam Hussain (a.s) is our Imam but the Doyen of Martyrs is himself announcing his disassociation with them and saying that we have no relation with you because the distance between us and you is too big. I am dignified whereas you are disgraced. There is no similarity or relationship between a dignified Imam and a disgraced nation (Ummah).

2. Disgraceful desires, attractions and passion

ما اقبح بالمؤمن ان تکون لہ رغبة تذلہ
(Kaafi, Vol 6, Pg 360)

How irritating and evil it is that a believer has such desires inside him which disgraces him or due to these desires he gets humiliated. Man is disgraced by his own desires and attractions (towards things) like if there is desire to acquire something man in order to fulfil this stretches his hands in front of someone, he pleads and begs in front of someone, he does buttering of others, he flatters someone so that he can acquire this desired thing and this is what is humiliation which is not permitted. As an example if a theological student (in Qom) has no residence permit but if by getting humiliated, flattering someone and getting abased it can be acquired than the tradition says    ما اقبح بالمؤمن ان تکون لہ رغبة تذلہ

3. Eyeing others wealth

It is a tradition of Imam Moosa Kazim (a.s) narrated by Hisham ibn Hakam:

 یا ہشام ایّاک و الطّمع وعلیک بالیأس ممّا فی أیدی النّاس و أمِتِ الطّمعَ من المخلوقین
"O Hisham! Beware, do not allow greed to develop in your heart and you should be despaired from all those things possessed by others."

This is because Ameerul Momineen (a.s) has said in this second wise saying (the title of this discussion) that anyone who develops the factor of greed in his heart he can never see the face of dignity. Greed and Dignity cannot gather together in one place. This is why Imam Kazim (a) warns that do not allow greed to develop in your heart and kill this greediness towards possession of others, choke the neck of greed and get freedom from it. You should not have greed towards other creation in any regards; neither in their wealth nor in their respect. Certain persons have this avarice inside them that people should respect me and even this desire disgraces person. For the sake of earning respect Man has to become humiliated and then only people respect him. This is a disgraceful respect.

Greed - The key of humiliation

 فانّ الطّمع مفتاح الذلّ

Greed is the key for humiliation, disgrace and lowliness. Anyone who desires to be abased and lowly should develop greed and avarice inside him.

Greed - The basis of downfall

 واختلاس العقل
"Greed is the key of downfall of intelligence"

Greed - The basis for downfall of manlihood

 واختلاف المروّات

Greed becomes the basis of downfall for manlihood attributes like valour, sacrifice and giving away life (for right cause).

Greed makes man dishonourable

وتدنیس العرض
Greed becomes the basis of loosing honour and earning disgrace

Greed - The basis for downfall of knowledge

 والذّہاب بالعلم
" And Greed is the  basis of termination of knowledge"

The Ghost of Greed in place of The Angel of Reliance

 وعلیک بالاعتصام بربّک و التّوکّلِ علیہ

Thus, O Hisham! You should purify yourself from Greed; than if someone questions that by terminating Greed how can someone survive? Imam said: Have Reliance on Allah (s). Greed in reality occupies the seat of Reliance. The ghost of Greed takes the place of the angel of Reliance thus Imam asked to develop reliance in your self. There are many negative traits in us because we do not possess reliance.

4. Socialization with people of your own level

Abu Basir asked Imam Sadiq (a.s) about a person who wanted to travel. It is necessary to pay attention here and see on what all places Imam (a.s) has guided us. A person in travel or stationary in one place, either sick or healthy, either rich or poor and in other state he should not allow his self to be disgraced and should not adopt humiliation in any circumstances. It is like if a person has to travel very often. During travel with whom he should spend time, with whom he should have friendship and proximity? His relations should be with which society? Abu Basir asked Imam Sadiq (a.s)

یخرج الرّجل مع قومٍ میا سر و ھو اقلّھم شیئا

A person had to travel and he went on his trip with those persons who are rich and comfort loving whereas he himself has nothing. He is straightened so under such condition what should he do?

This is a problem which people very often experience.

فیخرج القوم النّفقة ولا یقدر ھو أن یخرجَ مثل ما أخرجوا، فقال ما اُحبّ أن یُذِلّ نفسہ لِیخرج مع من ھو مثلہ

People are buying food for their own and eating but he is not in position to eat like them or buy ticket of their standard. So what should he do under this situation? Imam (a.s) replied that I do not like that he should travel with such persons. This is absolutely disliked by me that a believer, a follower of mine travels with those persons where he develops the feeling of lowliness and humiliation even if those others are also believers. Imam is saying that here also there is a danger of loosing dignity. Human beings dignity and self respect is threatened by keeping relationship with rich persons or travelling with them. He will have to unnecessarily eat in their plate, they will buy tickets for him and in this way he will have to become abased in front of them.

The solution for this is that man should travel with people like him and should keep relationship with people of his standard so that he does not faces humiliation. There are people who are enthusiastic about keeping relationships with rich persons, prince and sons of lords but there is nothing achieved apart from humiliation in such relations and our Imams (a.s) do not like such kind of relationships.

In an another tradition Imam Baqir (a.s) says:

اذا صحبتَ فأصحب نحوک ولا تصبحن من یکفیک فانّ ذٰلک مذلة للمؤمنین

Whenever you become a companion of someone then become a companion of those like you and never become a travel partner, companion and a partner of someone who is going to bear your costs and expenses. There are some persons who are very kind and generous; they do not show off their favours on others and also do not humiliate others but still do not travel with them. Travel with someone who is not having the capability and power to even buy a ticket for you or pay for your travel expenses. He should pay for his and you pay for your ticket. When eating in restaurant he should pay for his food and you pay for yours. This way I am not capable to pay for him so he should also not be capable to pay for me. You should befriend such persons else if someone keeps on doing everything for you then you will end up loosing your dignity and Self Respect.

5. No Rights for Self Humiliation

In another tradition Imam Sadiq (a.s) says:

 ان اللّٰہ تبارک وتعالیٰ فوّض الی المومن کلّ شیئٍ اِلَّااذلال نفسہ
"Allah (s.w.t) has given believers the rights for everything except Self Humiliation."

The tradition in this context has been mentioned in the beginning also that under no situation a believer is permitted to humiliate himself. Even if there is no other alternative except for being humiliated than also he should not adopt humiliation; the way The Doyen of Martyrs did and said:

ان الدعی ابن الدعی قد رکز بین اثنتین بین السلة و الذلة و ھیھات منا الذلة

This disgraceful son of a disgraceful father has brought me on a cross road; it is a crossroad of Sword and humiliation. And under this situation the slogan of religion is  ھیھات منا الذلة which means accept the wounds of swords and bullet but never accept humiliation. If such kind of teachings are imparted to people than they will realize what is Islamic dignity.

The Source of Dignity

It is an agreed fact that every human being is longing for respect and dignity; A Muslim is also desirous of dignity but in order to acquire respect he goes to infidels whereas the source and spring of dignity is with Allah (s)

 فانّ العزّة للّٰہ جمیعا
"All respect and honour is specific to the essence of Allah"

The effects of begging and questioning

In one tradition Imam Sadiq (a.s) says:

 ایّاکم و سوال النّاس

Beware! never plead in front of anyone or raise your hands (for begging) in front of anyone and never demand anything from anyone; though with this the mutual dealings are not intended. Like one day someone gave me something than other day I gave him something else. There is no harm in this. Here questioning means begging else mutual giving and taking has no element of humiliation. Being useful to each other and establishing relations amongst each other is a good affair. In this tradition begging and questioning someone by becoming lowly and abased has been prohibited.

اِنّہ ذُلّ فی الدّنیا وفقر تعجلونہ

It is because this is a worldly humiliation and poverty which you are approaching yourself.

 وحساب طویل یوم القیامة

This is a poverty which has a short span in this world but in the hereafter its accountability will be too long.

Those who establish the religion of Allah

In an another tradition Imam Sadiq (a.s) narrates from Ameerul Momineen (a.s)

لا یقیم أمر اللّہ سبحانہ الا من لا یصانع و لا یضارع ولا یتبع المطامعَ

This tradition is highly significant for religious students. Imam Sadiq (a.s) says that religion can be established by only those and can be acted upon by only those who posses below listed three qualities.

1. One who does not show softness and negligence in religious matters which means does not closes his eyes in religious matters and is concerned about religion.

2. One who never gets humiliated and insulted

3. One who is not a follower of greed and avarice. One who follows greed can never provide services to the religion of Allah.

Disobedience to Parents - Basis of humiliation

One of the causes of humiliation has been mentioned by Imam Haadi (a.s):

"Disobedience of Parents results into eradication of Self Respect inside man and development of humiliation."

Thus, three causes of Humiliation has been specified by Ameerul Momineen(a.s)

1. Greed

2. Expressing your difficulties in front of others

3. Sovereignty of tongue over your self (excessive speaking)

The fourth cause has been mentioned by Imam Haadi (a.s) that disobedience to parents also becomes a cause for humiliation and terminates Self Respect inside man.

......To be continued in next issue