Quran Verses About Humility
The Quran's portrait of humility opens Surah Al-Furqan's honor roll: 'the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them, they say words of peace' (25:63). Arrogance is rebuked in posture, pace, and voice (31:18-19), and true prayer requires a humbled heart (23:2). These eleven ayahs teach lowliness before Allah and gentleness with people.
Updated July 16, 2026
- Surah Al-Furqan 25:63
وَعِبَادُ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَمۡشُونَ عَلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ هَوۡنٗا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ ٱلۡجَٰهِلُونَ قَالُواْ سَلَٰمٗا
The (faithful) slaves of the Beneficent are they who walk upon the earth modestly, and when the foolish ones address them answer: Peace
The signature of the servants of the Most Merciful — a gentle walk, and words of peace for harsh words received.
- Surah Luqman 31:18
وَلَا تُصَعِّرۡ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمۡشِ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَرَحًاۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخۡتَالٖ فَخُورٖ
Turn not thy cheek in scorn toward folk, nor walk with pertness in the land. Lo! Allah loveth not each braggart boaster
Luqman's warning to his son — no contemptuous cheek turned toward people, no strutting through the earth.
- Surah Luqman 31:19
وَٱقۡصِدۡ فِي مَشۡيِكَ وَٱغۡضُضۡ مِن صَوۡتِكَۚ إِنَّ أَنكَرَ ٱلۡأَصۡوَٰتِ لَصَوۡتُ ٱلۡحَمِيرِ
Be modest in thy bearing and subdue thy voice. Lo! the harshest of all voices is the voice of the ass
Humility in the details — a moderate pace and a lowered voice.
- Surah Al-Isra 17:37
وَلَا تَمۡشِ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَرَحًاۖ إِنَّكَ لَن تَخۡرِقَ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَلَن تَبۡلُغَ ٱلۡجِبَالَ طُولٗا
And walk not in the earth exultant. Lo! thou canst not rend the earth, nor canst thou stretch to the height of the hills
The deflating image for arrogance — you will never tear the earth apart nor match the mountains in height.
- Surah Al-A'raf 7:55
ٱدۡعُواْ رَبَّكُمۡ تَضَرُّعٗا وَخُفۡيَةًۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُعۡتَدِينَ
(O mankind!) Call upon your Lord humbly and in secret. Lo! He loveth not aggressors
How to ask — call upon your Lord in humility and privately; He does not like transgressors.
- Surah Al-Baqarah 2:45
وَٱسۡتَعِينُواْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلۡخَٰشِعِينَ
Seek help in patience and prayer; and truly it is hard save for the humble-minded
Prayer and patience are heavy — except for the humbly submissive.
- Surah Al-Mu'minun 23:2
ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ فِي صَلَاتِهِمۡ خَٰشِعُونَ
Who are humble in their prayers
The first mark of successful believers — khushu, humble submission, inside the prayer itself.
- Surah Al-Hadid 57:16
۞أَلَمۡ يَأۡنِ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَن تَخۡشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمۡ لِذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَلَا يَكُونُواْ كَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ مِن قَبۡلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡأَمَدُ فَقَسَتۡ قُلُوبُهُمۡۖ وَكَثِيرٞ مِّنۡهُمۡ فَٰسِقُونَ
Is not the time ripe for the hearts of those who believe to submit to Allah's reminder and to the truth which is revealed, that they become not as those who received the scripture of old but the term was prolonged for them and so their hearts were hardened, and many of them are evil-livers
The heart-check verse — has the time not come for hearts to humble themselves at the remembrance of Allah?
- Surah An-Nahl 16:23
لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعۡلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعۡلِنُونَۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُسۡتَكۡبِرِينَ
Assuredly Allah knoweth that which they keep hidden and that which they proclaim. Lo! He loveth not the proud
The plain divine position on pride — 'indeed, He does not like the arrogant.'
- Surah An-Najm 53:32
ٱلَّذِينَ يَجۡتَنِبُونَ كَبَـٰٓئِرَ ٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡفَوَٰحِشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّمَمَۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٰسِعُ ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِۚ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِكُمۡ إِذۡ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَإِذۡ أَنتُمۡ أَجِنَّةٞ فِي بُطُونِ أُمَّهَٰتِكُمۡۖ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡۖ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ
Those who avoid enormities of sin and abominations, save the unwilled offences - (for them) lo! thy Lord is of vast mercy. He is Best Aware of you (from the time) when He created you from the earth, and when ye were hidden in the bellies of your mothers. Therefor ascribe not purity unto yourselves. He is Best Aware of him who wardeth off (evil)
The end of self-congratulation — do not claim yourselves to be pure; He knows best who fears Him.
- Surah Al-Hajj 22:34
وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٖ جَعَلۡنَا مَنسَكٗا لِّيَذۡكُرُواْ ٱسۡمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّنۢ بَهِيمَةِ ٱلۡأَنۡعَٰمِۗ فَإِلَٰهُكُمۡ إِلَٰهٞ وَٰحِدٞ فَلَهُۥٓ أَسۡلِمُواْۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلۡمُخۡبِتِينَ
And for every nation have We appointed a ritual, that they may mention the name of Allah over the beast of cattle that He hath given them for food; and your god is One God, therefor surrender unto Him. And give good tidings (O Muhammad) to the humble
Good tidings are addressed to a specific temperament — the humble before their Lord.
Arabic text: Tanzil Uthmani (public domain). English translation: Marmaduke Pickthall, “The Meaning of the Glorious Koran” (1930) — public domain.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Quran say about humility?
It praises those who 'walk upon the earth easily' and answer ignorance with peace (25:63), condemns arrogance in manner and voice (31:18-19, 17:37), and calls hearts to humble themselves at Allah's remembrance (57:16). Good tidings are for 'the humble' (22:34).
What is khushu in prayer?
Khushu is the humble, attentive presence of heart the Quran makes the first trait of successful believers — 'they who are during their prayer humbly submissive' (23:1-2). It is attention and lowliness before Allah, not just physical stillness.
Why is arrogance so condemned in Islam?
Because it claims for the self what belongs to Allah. The Quran mocks its pretension — you cannot tear the earth or rival mountains (17:37) — states flatly that Allah 'does not like the arrogant' (16:23), and forbids even spiritual self-congratulation (53:32).
Sit with these ayahs, not just skim them
Read each verse in its surah, favorite the ones that hold you, and ask Noor about anything unclear — free to start.
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