Allah Loves The Humble By Al-Hafiz Ibn Abi Dunya

Humility before Allah is one of the most praised qualities in the Qur'an and Sunnah, and its opposite — arrogance — is among the most condemned. Allah says: "And do not walk upon the earth arrogantly. Indeed, you will never tear the earth apart, and you will never reach the mountains in height." (Surah al-Isra 17:37)

About This Book

Al-Hafiz Ibn Abi Dunya, one of the greatest scholars of hadith of the third Islamic century, compiled a detailed treatise examining what humility consists of, what produces it, and what the early Muslims said and did to cultivate it. Allah Loves the Humble gathers the hadith and narrations on this topic in one place — making it an invaluable resource for anyone who wants to understand humility as the Islamic tradition actually defines it.

What This Book Covers

The Virtue and Definition of Humility

The book establishes what tawadu' (humility) is from the texts of the Qur'an and Sunnah — distinguishing it from self-abasement, social conformity, or weakness, and showing that it is a quality of strength rooted in genuine awareness of one's station before Allah.

The Condemnation of Arrogance

Alongside the virtues of humility, Ibn Abi Dunya presents the narrations warning against kibr (arrogance) — including the hadith that the one who has even a mustard seed's weight of arrogance in his heart will not enter Paradise, and the many narrations showing how the Salaf fled from it.

The Examples of the Humble Among the Salaf

The book is rich with stories and statements from the early Muslims demonstrating what humility looked like in practice — scholars who sat at the feet of those younger than them, leaders who served those they governed, and worshippers who hid their deeds from others.

About the Author

Al-Hafiz Ibn Abi Dunya (208–281 AH) was a prolific Baghdad scholar of hadith known for his compilations on the heart sciences and Islamic character. Published by Dar as-Sunnah Publishers.

Who This Book Is For

Any Muslim who wants to cultivate genuine humility before Allah and with people, or who wants to understand the Islamic treatment of this quality from a classical hadith perspective.

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Browse the other titles by Ibn Abi Dunya, explore our books on purifying the soul, or see our guide to the best books on tazkiyah.