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

Allaah [The Most High] said:

هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ إِذْ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ الْأَرْضِ وَإِذْ أَنتُمْ أَجِنَّةٌ فِي بُطُونِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ ۖ فَلَا تُزَكُّوا أَنفُسَكُمْ ۖ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اتَّقَىٰ

He knows you well when He created you from the earth [Adam], and when you were foetuses in your mothers’ wombs. So ascribe not purity to yourselves. He knows best him who fears Allah and keep his duty to Him. [Surah An-Najm. Aayah 32]

Imaam As-Sadi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: Weakness is present and witnessed from you since the time Allaah created you from the earth [i.e. Aadam (alayhis salaam)] and whilst you were in the wombs of your mothers. And even though Allaah [The Most High] place strength in you to perform what you have been commanded; however you have not ceased being weak [i.e. we can never be perfect].

[فَلَا تُزَكُّوا أَنفُسَكُمْ – So ascribe not purity to yourselves]- Meaning: Do not address the people about [yourself] by way of praise. [هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اتَّقَىٰ- He (Allaah) knows best him who fears Allah and keep his duty to Him]- Meaning: Because indeed Taqwaa is situated in the heart and Allaah [alone] is the One acquainted with its [true reality]. (1)

The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Many a person with dishevelled hair and covered with dust is turned away from the doors (whereas) were he to swear by Allaah (about something), Allaah will fulfil it”.(2)

Imaam An-Nawawi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] commented on this hadeeth: This type of person is one whom the people drive away from their doors in humiliation, but he is someone that if he were to swear by Allaah about something, Allaah will make it happen as an honour for him- by answering his request and safeguarding him from sin in relation to his oath. This is due to his great station in the sight of Allaah (The Exalted), even though he is something despised in the sight of the people. It is said that the meaning of [الْقَسَمِ in this hadeeth is (الدُّعَاءُ – supplication) and (إِبْرَارُهُ ) means (إِجَابَتُهُ -the response to the supplication)]. (3)

Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] said: This person is a close friend among the close friends of Allaah, and was he to swear by Allaah (about something), Allaah will make it happen due to his high status in the sight of Allaah, even though he is driven away from the doors. If he intercedes (for someone), his intercession will not be accepted; if he is absent, he is not missed, but he is a great one in the sight of Allaah. So do not scoff at a believer whatever his status is, for indeed a believer is noble in the sight of Allaah (Glorified and Exalted be He). A believer has a station; he has rights (that are not to be violated) and he has status in the sight of Allaah. Do not belittle and scoff at him. (4)

[Ref 1: Source: An Excerpt from ‘Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan’ by Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah). Publisher: Daar Ibn Hazm. 1st Ed. 1424AH (Year 2003). Slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 2: Saheeh Muslim. Number 2662. Kitaab Al-Bir Was-Silah Wal Aadaab]

[Ref 3: Sharh Saheeh Muslim’ Vol 15-16’ page 144’ publisher: Daar Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah’ 1st ed. (1421AH- Year 2000)]

[Ref 4: It’haaf At-Tullaab Bi-Sharh Mandhoomah Al-Aadaab’ page 101-102]