The elders whose words we listen to and read to learn our religion—if we study their lives, we will realize that they considered themselves so insignificant that it is beyond measure. Accordingly, I have heard this saying of Hazrat Hakim-ul-Ummat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (may Allah have mercy on him) from countless elders. He used to say:

"My state is such that I consider every Muslim to be better than myself for the time being, and every disbeliever potentially better than myself. And the reason regarding the disbeliever is that it is possible Allah Almighty may grant him the guidance of faith (Iman) at some point, and he might surpass me."

Once, a special deputy (Khalifah) of Hazrat Thanvi, Hazrat Maulana Khair Muhammad (may Allah have mercy on him), said to Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Hasan (may Allah have mercy on him): "When I sit in the gathering of Hazrat Thanvi, I feel as if all the people sitting in the gathering are superior to me, and I am the most useless and worthless person among them." Upon hearing this, Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Hasan (may Allah have mercy on him) said, "My state is exactly the same." Both of them consulted each other and decided, "Let us mention this state of ours to Hazrat Thanvi, as we do not know whether this state is good or bad."

Consequently, both these gentlemen presented themselves in the service of Hazrat Thanvi (may Allah have mercy on him) and explained their condition: "Hazrat, this is the state both of us experience in your gathering." In response, Hazrat Thanvi (may Allah have mercy on him) said, "There is nothing to worry about. For you two are merely describing your own state, whereas I tell you the truth, when I sit in the gathering, my state is exactly the same—that I am the most useless and worthless person in this gathering, and everyone else is superior to me."

This is the reality of humility (Tawazu). Indeed, when this reality of humility dominates, then let alone other humans, a person begins to consider himself even lesser than animals.