ummitaalib

Subhaanallaah!! I had to blog this post! O that we can be like the truly humble ones!!

Originally Posted by Rahmaniyyah

A section from Hazrat Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmad Naqshbandi Mujaddidi's book translation of Rahe Salamat Tumhari Nisbat: Connections of Divinity

Remain Quiet When Praised in a Gathering

In addition to remaining quiet, do not start saying things like "We are lesser to everyone" or "We are like the dirt on shoes" etc. Such statements have been counted as the deceit of the Nafs. What the Nafs wants through these statements is to not let people think that it is enjoying the praise that it is getting.

There is more self-struggle in remaining quiet. He who is under the control of his Nafs should adhere strictly to remaining quiet. However, if Allah ta'ala has bestowed His Grace upon someone, such that he has overcome his Nafs like beating overcomes the raucous donkey, then it is up to him to answer or remain quiet.

Hadhrat Thanwi (ra) acted extremely wisely in one such situation. A man said to him "I notice you to be a Qutub". He answered "Yes, sometimes it appears to me as well." If he would have refused, then the Nafs would have been happy that the person would think him to be humble. If he remained quiet, even this could be the deceit of the ego. But the answer Hadhrat gave, it had grave implications for the Nafs. The person would become a rejecter instead of a lover, thinking that this person is attesting to his being a Qutub himself.