21/05/2026
Summary of the Friday Sermon delivered by Hadrat Khalifatul-Masīh V (May Allāh be his Helper) on 15 May 2026 at Mubārak Mosque Islāmabād, Tilford, UK
Huzoor (May Alläh be his Helper) said: We believe, with full conviction, that if a perfect human being ever walked this earth, it was the Holy Prophet (May Allah's Blessings be upon him). No perfect human was bor before him, nor can one come after him. Whether in fulfilling the obligations of Allah or the rights of fellow human beings, all the highest moral virtues were united in his person. Among his supreme qualities, humility and meckness stand out as the most evident.
The Holy Prophet (May Allah's Blessings be upon him) consistently urged his followers to embrace humility. Indeed, Alläh Himself commanded him to proclaim this virtue with the words: "Say, I am but a man like yourselves." Today, I will present some sayings of the Holy Prophet (May Allah's Blessings be upon him) and reflections of the Promised Messiah (Peace be upon him) on this subject.
The Promised Messiah (Peace be upon him) says, "No model of a more perfect human being exists in the world than the Holy Prophet (May Allah's Blessings be upon him), nor can there be one until the Day of Judgement. Despite receiving magnificent miracles, the Holy Prophet (May Allah's Blessings be upon him) always maintained a spirit of servitude and repeatedly declared that he was no more than a man like others."
The Promised Messiah (Peace be upon him) further says, "One must shun empty boastfulness and hollow pride and instead embrace meekness and humility as guiding virtues. Consider the example of the Holy Prophet (May Allah's blessings be upon him) who was the most exalted and deserving of honour among all creation, but whose humility is immortalised in the very words of the Holy Qur'an. It is recorded that a blind man would regularly visit the Holy Prophet (May Allah's blessings be upon him) to leer the Holy Qur'an. On one occasion, the nobles and chieftains of Makkah had gathered in his presence, and he was engaged in conversation with them. The blind man waited for a time, then quietly withdrew. This seemingly insignificant occurrence was of such weight before Allah that He revealed an entire chapter of the Holy Qur'an in response to it. Upon receiving this Divine guidance, the Holy Prophet (May Allah’s blessings be upon him) personally went to the blind man's home, brought him back with honour and seated him upon his own blessed cloak. The fact is that those in whose hearts the majesty and greatness of Alläh truly resides cannot help but be humble."
Huzoor (May Allāh be his Helper) said: This is not merely an incident recorded in the Holy Qur’an or narrated by the Promised Messiah (Peace be upon him), rather, it is a lesson given to us that the Holy Prophet (May Allah’s blessings be upon him) is for you the most beautiful example to follow. If you truly claim to love him, then strive to attain the highest standards of meekness and humility.
The Holy Prophet (May Allah's Blessings be upon him) said: "Two chains are attached to every human being, one reaching toward the heavens, the other toward the earth. When a person embraces humility, the angel holding the heavenly chain lifts him upward. When he succumbs to arrogance, the earthly chain drags him down." He further said, "When a servant adopts humility, Allah elevates him to the seventh heaven."He also taught that charity does not diminish wealth in the slightest; that Alläh increases a person in honour through forgiveness; and that no one humbles himself for the sake of Alläh except that Allah exalts him.
Hadrat Anas (May Alläh be pleased with him) narrates that a man once addressed the Holy Prophet (May Allah’s Blessings be upon him) saying, "O our master, son of our master, O the best of us, son of the best of us." The Holy Prophet (May Allah's Blessings be upon him) replied, "O people, hold fast to righteousness and do not let Satan lead you astray. I am Muhammad, son of 'Abdullah, the servant of Allāh and His Messenger. By Alläh, I do not wish you to raise me above the rank Alläh has given me."
The Holy Prophet (May Allah's Blessings be upon him) once said that no one's deeds alone would admit him into Paradise. When the Sahaba asked, "Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?" he replied, "No, not even me, unless Alläh enfolds me in His grace." He also used to pray: "O Alläh, grant me life as a poor man, let me die as a poor man, and resurrect me among the poor."
The Holy Prophet (May Allah's Blessings be upon him) showed absolute selflessness in his interactions with ordinary people, children, and the vulnerable. When a woman of impaired intellect approached him saying, "O Holy Prophet, I have some work for you," he replied gently, "O mother of (so-and-so), take me wherever you wish, and I will see to your need." He would frequently visit the children of the Ansar, greet them with peace, place his hands lovingly on their heads, and pray for them. Once, a visitor trembled with awe upon meeting him. The Holy Prophet (May Allah's Blessings be upon him) put him at ease, saying, "Be calm. I am no king. I am only the son of a woman who used to eat dried meat."
The Promised Messiah (Peace be upon him) says that as Allah Almighty granted the Holy Prophet (May Allah’s Blessings be upon him) greater and greater success, his humility only increased. He forbade excessive praise of himself, saying, "Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians exaggerated in their praise of the son of Mary. I am only the servant of Allah- say only: the servant of Allah and His Messenger." He also said that no one should consider him superior to Jonah, son of Matta. When someone addressed him as ajf (the best of creation), he said that that distinction belonged to Abraham. The Holy Prophet (May Allah's Blessings be upon him) was and remains the finest of all creation; but in his immeasurable humility, he directed such honor elsewhere.
When Makkah was conquered and the Holy Prophet (May Allah's Blessings be upon him) performed the Pilgrimage accompanied by one hundred thousand Sahaba, he rode on a plain camel-saddle and wore a cloak worth less than four dirhams.
The Promised Messiah (Peace be upon him) says, "The name Ahmad is a reflection of Divine beauty -JL,-while the name Muhammad is a reflection of Divine majesty -.. The secret of being beloved by Alläh, abe, is hidden in the name Muhammad, while the secret of being a devoted lover of Allah, Guutle, is contained in the name Ahmad.
Hadrat Anas (May Allāh be pleased with him) narrates that the Holy Prophet (May Allah's Blessings be upon him) would visit the sick, attend funerals, ride a donkey, and accept invitations from enslaved people. He would gladly accept even a simple meal. He once took the hand of a person afflicted with leprosy, shared his bowl with him, and said warmly, "Eat in the name of Allah, with trust and reliance upon Him."
The Holy Prophet (May Allah's Blessings be upon him) consistently refused any form of preferential treatment - whether on joumeys, at home, or during communal work. During a journey, when the Sahaba had divided among themselves the tasks of slaughtering, skinning, and cooking a goat, the Holy Prophet (May Allah’s Blessings be upon him) said, "The task of gathering firewood is mine." The Șahaba protested that they were enough to handle everything. He replied, "I know you can, but I do not wish to be set apart from you-for Allah does not like His servant to appear distinguished above others."
Hadrat 'A'isha (May Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Holy Prophet (May Allah's Blessings be upon him) regularly helped his family with household chores. Huzoor (May Allah be his Helper) said that this is a lesson for men who refuse to assist at home, which often causes friction with their wives. The Holy Prophet (May Allah's Blessings be upon him) would mend his own shoes, sew his own clothes, and engage in domestic work like anyone else.
The Holy Prophet (May Allah's Blessings be upon him) never sought special treatment. During the construction of the Masjid Nabawi, he worked alongside the Sahaba carrying bricks. During the digging of the trench, he laboured with them until his chest was covered with dust. On one occasion, when the Sahāba rose to their feet upon his arrival, he said: "Do not behave as the Persians do for their elders, for I am no king."
The Promised Messiah (Peace be upon him) says: "The path to spiritual purity demands the complete overcoming of pride. There is no better way to attain purity than for a person to rid himself entirely of pride and arrogance-whether it stems from knowledge, lineage, or wealth. Until a person treats a poor, helpless old woman with the same dignity and respect as he shows to someone of high social standing, and until he frees himself from every form of vanity and self-importance, he cannot enter the Kingdom of Allah."
May Allāh enable us to truly understand the essence of humility and always keep the blessed example of the Holy Prophet (May Allah's Blessings be upon him) before us. Āmīn.
