The first sin in the story of mankind was pride, in one sentence: "I am better than him" 7:12. Humility is the cure: not needing to be above anyone.
From the Quran
وَعِبَادُ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ هَوْنًا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجَاهِلُونَ قَالُوا سَلَامًا
From the Prophet ﷺ
«وَمَا تَوَاضَعَ أَحَدٌ لِلَّهِ إِلاَّ رَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ»
Seen in the prophets
Sulayman commanded an army of jinn, people and birds. When a tiny ant spoke, he smiled at her words and asked Allah to help him be grateful 27:19. When a throne was brought to him in the blink of an eye, he said: "This is from the favour of my Lord, to test me: will I be grateful, or ungrateful?" 27:40
Musa, who spoke with Allah, followed a teacher and asked him politely: "May I follow you, so that you teach me some of the right guidance you have been taught?" 18:66
'A'ishah was asked what he ﷺ did at home. "He was in the service of his family, and when the prayer came, he went out to pray" Bukhari 676.
What it is not
Humility is not putting yourself down, or pretending Allah gave you nothing. Sulayman named his blessings out loud, and called them a test 27:40.
Today, in practice
Clean up after yourself, especially where someone is paid to clean.
Ask the youngest person in the room what they think, and listen.
Help at home without being asked.
Small, practical steps. This is friendly advice, not a ruling.
Your manner for the week
التَّوَاضُع Humility
Choose one manner and carry it for seven days. It is saved on this device only, nobody else sees it.
Their moments
Sources on this page
Quran 18:66Quran 25:63Quran 27:19Quran 27:40Sahih al-Bukhari 676Sahih Muslim 2588
Quran meanings are given in plain English, close to the Arabic. Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com.