There are many good acts can be done in our lives to attain happiness and develop humility in our hearts. These are some examples of what I think every human being should practice:
1. Show gratitude to others
It is norm a for us to greet people we know with a smile. Then, another sunnah habit is to provide salam.
I think most of us have no problem doing it. But do you greet or even smile at the strangers especially those whose doing multiple services around you. How many of you actually smile at the cleaning lady in public toilets? Maybe you should try to give a smile and greet them every time you need to use the toilets, it could bring joy and make their days too.
Generally, we choose who we want to be nice to, preferably to those who brings benefits to us. For example, we select friends who are most popular, wealthy or have certain criterion and interests but neglect those who are poor, disabled and weak.
Some of us treat the waiters in restaurants badly - no thank you being mentioned to them when they serve food, throw money rudely on the counter or even ignore the cleaning lady at public toilet. Easy explanation, they don't mean anything to us.
This in fact not true at all. We might not know them and we might think that they have no influence in our daily lives. But have you ever thought that every single thing we face, every person we meet and every incident occurs to us are actually a test.
And the worldly life is not but amusement and diversion; but the home of the Hereafter is best for those who fear Allah , so will you not reason? (Al-An'am ayah 32)Spread love by showing no discrimination towards other human beings especially to those who are less fortunate and do not be biased with certain people who are less important to us. Nevertheless, they are in our lives with purpose and the purpose might be a test.
And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace (Al-Furqan ayah 63) And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful. (Luqman ayah 18)
2. Look out for reminders and constantly remind others
Have you ever come across Islamic reminders on social media which you feel that these reminders are exactly what you need at the moment? Human are made to be forgetful. Thus, it's our duty to constantly remind each other about the deen using whatever medium we can access to.
And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers. (Ad-Dhariyat ayah 55)
But, preach is nothing good if there is no act upon it. Apparently, those who pass down the reminders should carry out the deeds or at least trying to work on them.
There are times when we are so focus with our worldly lives, we tend to disregard our connections with the Ultimate Creator. Thus, we feel empty. Yes, imaan can goes up and down connected to the link we have with Allah (azzawajal). At this point, any kind of reminders would certainly help us to shift our thoughts to the hereafter - the eternal home.
When you always feel angry, sad, disappointed, restless or even hateful, probably it is the time for you to check your connection with Allah. When was the last time you read the Quran, do zikr and pray tahajjud at night? Or at least, listen to good tazkirah or attend an usrah? We need constant reminders in our lives, getting involve in these Islamic activities would help to boost our imaan, inshaAllah.
3. Do daily charities
Charities can be done in many ways. But some of us limit the act of charity to provide money, food and essential items to the poor and needy only. In fact, since we don't meet the poor every day, we tend to forget about the importance of giving sadaqah (charity).
Try to give sadaqah every day, you will feel more humble and at peace. For instance, keep a plastic of cat food at home or in your car (even for those who don't have a pet); whenever there is any stray cat or dog crying for food, you know what to do.
Other than that, don't throw away your leftovers - rice or bread - put them outside your place; the birds would love some easy food to be shared.
If you cook something nice, make some extra portion; pack them and head over to your neighbours. A homemade nasi goreng with a sincere smile of yours would never be turn down for sure.
Equip ourselves with the spirit of always giving. Give give give, inshaAllah, He will do the same to us too.
So there you go with 3 simple acts you can do to constantly plant humility in ourselves. There are many acts you can definitely perform, but it is good to start somewhere. Allah loves small but consistent good deeds than any huge deeds which are done once in a blue moon.
Narrated `Aisha رضى الله عنها: Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately and know that your deeds will not make you enter Paradise, and that the most beloved deed to Allah’s is the most regular and constant even though it were little.” [Sahih Bukhari]
Nadiah is a freelance writer for Zaahara. Read more of Nadiah Rosli's writings at Purplelurve.
