Ali on Humility: Believers do not seek superiority over others

Abu Sallam reported: Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “If a man likes for so much as the strap of his sandal to be of better quality than his companion, then he is included in the Almighty’s saying: That eternal Home in the Hereafter We reserve only for those who seek neither supremacy nor corruption on the earth. The ultimate outcome belongs only to the righteous.” (28:83)

Source: Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī 18/344

Imam Ibn Hajar commented, “The purpose is to encourage humility so no one is treated more favorably than others, which entails equality. This cannot be achieved unless one abandons envy, rancor, malice, and malevolence, for all of them are blameworthy characteristics.”

Source: Fatḥ al-Bārī 1/58

عن أبي سلَّامٍ الأعرجِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ إن الرجلَ ليُعْجِبُه مِن شراكِ نَعْلِه أن يكونَ أجودَ مِن شِراكِ صاحبِه فيدخلُ في قوله تعالى تِلْكَ الدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ نَجْعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فَسَادًا وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

28:83 تفسير الطبري جامع البيان سورة القصص قوله تلك الدار الآخرة نجعلها للذين لا يريدون علوا في الأرض

قال ابن حجر الْمَقْصُود الْحَثُّ عَلَى التَّوَاضُعِ فَلَا يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَكُونَ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ فَهُوَ مُسْتَلْزِمٌ لِلْمُسَاوَاةِ وَلَا يَتِمُّ ذَلِكَ إِلَّا بِتَرْكِ الْحَسَدِ وَالْغِلِّ وَالْحِقْدِ وَالْغِشِّ وَكُلُّهَا خِصَالٌ مَذْمُومَةٌ

1/58 فتح الباري بشرح البخاري كتاب الإيمان باب من الإيمان أن يحب لأخيه ما يحب لنفسه

author avatar
Abu Amina Elias
Abu Amina Elias (Justin Parrott) is an academic librarian, researcher, and translator specializing in the Quran, Hadith, and their commentaries. He is a former instructor of Islamic Creed for Mishkah University.
Scroll to Top