world), I will reply, ‘By Allah! I am not among them.’”

After saying this, he rebuked himself and said: “O Dāwūd! in your youth you were disobedient; in middle age you became deceitful; and now, in old age, you have become ostentatious!”

Then he supplicated: “O Lord of the heavens and the earth! Grant me such mercy that rectifies my youth, protects me from all evils, and elevates my rank among the righteous.”^[1]

The excellence of Sayyidunā Dāwūd al-ṬāꜤī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه 

Dear Islamic brothers! You heard about the humility of Sayyidunā Dāwūd al-ṬāꜤī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه! He was a great walī of Allah, counted among the Quṭub al-Aqṭāb, and one of the distinguished students of  Imām Abū Ḥanīfah رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه. The great scholar, jurist and compiler of the Ḥanafī school, Imām Muḥammad رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه would often come to him for the solution of difficult juristic issues. He would engage abundantly in worship and recitation of the noble Quran.^[2]

Despite this, his level of humility was such that he did not deem himself worthy of being visited. Unfortunately, the state of our hearts today is pitiful. We crave position and rank in this world, find happiness in being honoured, and take delight in being praised and recognised by people. If only we could attain the blessed mindset of humility and sincerity possessed by our pious predecessors, for in this lies success in both worlds.

To learn more about the condemnation of love for fame, read about this topic in volume 3 of Iḥyāˈ al-ꜤUlūm, published by Maktabat al-Madinah. Remain connected with the religious environment of Dawat-e-Islami,