In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Abdullah Bin Salaam [may Allaah be pleased with him] walked in the marketplace whilst carrying a bundle of firewood, so it was said to him, “Has Allaah not given you enough wealth (to prevent you from) this?” He said, “Certainly; but I want to repel pride. I heard Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] saying, “The one with the weight of a grain of mustard seed of pride will not enter paradise”.

Al-Allaamah Zayd Bin Haadee Al-Madkhalee [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “This hadeeth is clear proof regarding the fact that pride is forbidden and that is one of the major sins. And because of this, a person is forbidden to characterize himself with pride-mocking at the people and rejecting the truth. Indeed, the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] described pride in his statement, [saying]: “Pride is to reject the truth and belittle the people”- meaning: rejects the truth and does not accept it; mocks at the people and does not consider them to be anything by looking down on them and raising himself above them- either due to his abundant wealth, high [social] status, lineage or due to other reasons. In this hadeeth, there is proof to show that a Muslim servant of Allaah- the sensible and smart one – guards himself, places himself in a situation that is pleasing to Allaah and disciplines himself with the Islamic manners. And when it is the case that the soul is weak and can be misguided, therefore Abdullah Bin Sallaam [may Allaah be pleased with him] desired to discipline his soul by carrying a bundle of firewood on his back or his head, even though he was able to hire someone else to carry it on his behalf; but he desired something that was very important and that was to repel pride from his soul, and place himself in a situation of humility, which Allaah loves to see from His slaves. (1)

Abdullah Bin Salaam Was An Aalim [Scholar]

Anas [may Allaah be pleased with him] narrated: `Abdullah Bin Salaam [may Allaah be pleased with him] heard the news of the arrival of Allah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] (at Medina) while he was on a farm collecting its fruits. So he came to the Prophet and said, “I will ask you about three things which nobody knows unless he be a prophet. Firstly, what is the first portent of the Hour? What is the first meal of the people of Paradise? And what makes a baby look like its father or mother?”. The Prophet said, “Just now Gabriel has informed me about that.” Abdullah said, “Gabriel?” The Prophet said, “Yes.” Abdullah said, “He, among the angels is the enemy of the Jews.” On that the Prophet recited this Aayah “Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel (let him die in his fury!) for he has brought it (i.e. Qur’an) down to your heart by Allah’s permission.” [2.97] Then he added, “As for the first portent of the Hour, it will be a fire that will collect the people from the East to West. And as for the first meal of the people of Paradise, it will be the caudite (i.e. extra) lobe of the fish liver. And if a man’s discharge proceeded that of the woman, then the child resembles the father, and if the woman’s discharge proceeded that of the man, then the child resembles the mother.” On hearing that, Abdullah said, “I testify that None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and that you are the Messenger of Allah, O, Allah’s Messenger! The Jews are liars, and if they should come to know that I have embraced Islam, they would accuse me of being a liar.” In the meantime some Jews came (to the Prophet) and he asked them, “What is `Abdullah’s status amongst you?” They replied, “He is the best amongst us, and he is our chief and the son of our chief.” The Prophet said, “What would you think if Abdullah bin Salam submits to Islam?” They replied, “May Allah protect him from this!” Then `Abdullah came out and said, “I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” The Jews then said, “Abdullah is the worst of us and the son of the worst of us,” and disparaged him. On that `Abdullah said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! This is what I was afraid of!” (2)

[Ref 1: An Excerpt from At-taleeqaat Al-Maleehah Alaa Silsilah Al-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah. Vol 1. Page 269. Slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 2: Saheeh Al-Bukhaari 4480]