Is the statement, “I do not like to be in a privileged position in a community” a hadith?

The Details of the Question

Is that statement a hadith? Does it have a source?
Indeed I know that you will do it willingly but I do not like to be in a privileged position in a community.

The Answer

Dear Brother / Sister,

A narration regarding the issue is as follows:

When the Prophet (pbuh) took a break to eat during a journey, each of the Companions had a task. One took charge of cutting, one of skinning and one of cooking. The Prophet (pbuh) said, "I will gather wood for the fire."

The Companions wanted to prevent him from doing the task and said, "O Messenger of Allah! Please rest; we will do that, too."

Thereupon, the Prophet (pbuh) said:" I know you are really in a position to do it, and you are going to do it willingly but I do not like to be in a privileged position in a community. Allah does not like it either." The, He started to gather wood. (see Muhibbuddin at-Tabari, Khulasatu Siyari Sayyidil-Bashar, p. 87; Zurqani, Sharh, 4/265)

The Prophet (pbuh) acted as if He was one of them among His Companions. He never considered himself different from them, enjoyed listening to the problems of his Companions and finding solutions, helped them in their affairs, did not even mind being disturbed, endured the troubles and problems that came from them, and did not complain about them.

As a matter of fact, one day, the Prophet's paternal uncle, Abbas, was saddened when he saw that nomadic Arabs, unaware of the rules of etiquette and courtesy, came to the Prophet scuffling and in a disturbing manner.

When Abbas saw his nephew surrounded by such a Bedouin group on the dusty ground and under the hot sun, he could not stand it and said to him: "O Messenger of Allah! We shall build you a gazebo; at least you will be protected from the sun. You can listen to the problems of the Muslims under it.” Thereupon the Prophet (pbuh) said: “No! I will be among people until Allah takes me to His presence. I will not object to them stepping on my heel and pulling my garment.” (Darimi, Wafatun-Nabi, 76)

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), who was at the peak of humility, did not like to praise and to be praised. However, he would express the blessings that Allah had bestowed upon him, in a manner away from arrogance and ostentation because his Lord had given him so many blessings and bounties.

These blessings and bounties had to be expressed without arrogance, as an expression of gratitude. As a matter of fact, one of the first commandments revealed to him by his Lord was the verse "and proclaim the blessings of your Lord." (Surah Ad-Duha, 93/11)

Therefore, it is a duty of the servant to verbally or physically mention the material and spiritual blessings bestowed on him because, as the Prophet put it, “Allah loves to see the traces and signs of His blessing on His servant.” (Tirmidhi, Adab, 54)

From this point of view, our Prophet (pbuh), who received the greatest blessings of Allah Almighty, mentioned the blessings bestowed upon Him with an expression far from arrogance.

Questions on Islam

Was this answer helpful?
In order to make a comment, please login or register