The Fallacy of Dignity: What is the Reality?
✒️ Mufti Muhammad Tasleem ud Din Al-Mahmoodi
These days, a new fitna (mischief) is rising in our society: a trend of inaction, indecency, and escape from religious responsibilities in the name of "dignity." Some people consider acting upon religion, especially adhering to the Sunnah, to be against their "honor" and "dignity." They fear that if they start following the religion, their social status, their "glory and grandeur," and worldly rank will be harmed. However, this thinking is entirely the result of ignorance and a lack of understanding of the religion.
What is the real reality of dignity?
In the light of the Quran and Hadith, true dignity is that which is obtained by acting upon the command of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. The command of Allah Almighty is:
"وَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ"
Translation: "And to Allah belongs [all] honor, and to His Messenger, and to the believers." (Surah Al-Munafiqun: 8)
True honor and dignity are in obedience to Allah, not in sin and negligence.
The Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and Dignity
Was there any action of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that was against "dignity"? He ﷺ raced with Hazrat Aisha (RA), joked with the Sahaba (companions), put children on his shoulders, and met the poor with a cheerful face—would any of these be called undignified? Absolutely not! Rather, these were the highest examples of perfect dignity, humility, and good manners.
Denial of Sunnah under the guise of Dignity?
Unfortunately, today some people abandon the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ by saying, "This action is against the dignity of our personality." For example, wearing a turban, keeping the trousers above the ankles, using a miswak, keeping a beard—all are Sunnah, but those who abandon them say that doing so will make people laugh or make us look small.
This is the same thinking against which the Prophet of Allah ﷺ said:
"مَن رَغِبَ عَنْ سُنَّتِي فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي"
Translation: "Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of me." (Sahih Bukhari)
Following the Messenger ﷺ is the Highest Level of Dignity
Today, if we talk to our wives with good manners, people say that it is against "dignity." However, the Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
"خَيْرُكُمْ خَيْرُكُمْ لِأَهْلِهِ، وَأَنَا خَيْرُكُمْ لِأَهْلِي"
Translation: "The best of you is the one who is best to his family, and I am the best to my family." (Sunan Tirmidhi)
That is, good manners, gentleness, humility, following the Sunnah—this is true dignity, not arrogance, self-admiration, or denial of religious responsibilities.
We should come out of the fallacy of "dignity" and include the Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ in our lives. The personality that is on the way of the Prophet ﷺ is truly dignified and honorable, and whoever goes against it, even if he is considered honorable in the world, will be humiliated and disgraced in the Hereafter.
May Allah grant us the ability to love the Sunnah and understand the true meaning of dignity. Amen.