Discover the meaning of the term Al-twaḍʿ (تواضع) in Islamic vocabulary.
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Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM
📖 2 min readDeeming great the merits of those who are below one in wealth and status, surrendering to the truth, and refraining from objecting to the decree.
The belittling and humbling of the soul in relation to the greatness of Allah, and accepting the truth with good character. It has also been said: abandoning arrogance and disclaiming one's own strength and power. It has also been said: observing the command and avoiding sin. And it has been said: perceiving one's shortcoming while feeling veneration. Al-Tunisi said (our master Shaykh al-Majd al-Tunisi is Abu Zayd Abd al-Rahman al-Rabi'i, known as al-Tunisi, Nafh al-Tib 2/560, and he is likely Ahmad ibn Arus al-Tunisi whom al-Manawi mentioned in his Kawkab, Chester Beatty manuscript, folio 82, and al-Nabhani in Karamat al-Awliya 1/326): the submissiveness of hearts to the Knower of the unseen through surrender to the courses of Allah's decrees.
The opposite of pride, which is adopting lowliness and showing humbleness, by seeing oneself as inferior to others in qualities of perfection. Whoever falls short of his peers is humble, and whoever acts arrogantly toward his peers is arrogant, as stated by Al-Qari.