Self-esteem has much to do with self-estimation. It also has a vital link with knowing our Creator – the One Who placed the goodness and strengths along with the wickedness and weaknesses in us. It would not be wrong to state that people who are generally well aware of their Lord (swt) have a high self-esteem.
We, as humans, have some genuine needs that need to be recognized. Spiritual, physical, mental and emotional are the obvious ones. And a person’s self-esteem or self-worth has a direct connection to these needs. Allah (swt) has revealed the Quran via His Messenger Muhammad (sa) to address humankind’s spiritual needs. Likewise, the Merciful Rabb has provided us with the best of faculties and senses to fulfill our physical and intellectual demands to grow, learn, and develop. Lastly, we have been blessed with free will to choose our companions, pastimes, and conducive environments to satiate our emotional needs of belonging, being loved and, most importantly, loving and caring for others.
A person is disturbed when any of the above needs go unfulfilled. People with high self-esteem are able to fix the bad weather inside of them quicker – they move on, relying on other fulfilled needs, and ignore the ones that they are deprived of. However, someone who gets stuck in the storm inside of him and can’t get past his losses automatically feels a low level of self-worth.
Interestingly, people with a high sense of spirituality come out of their misery, even if their other needs remain unfulfilled. For example, the Sahabah of the Prophet (sa) performed at the optimum level, in spite of scarce resources, grave situations, financial losses, physical injuries, and deaths in the family. They were strong not only in self-esteem but also in gratitude and worship.
On the other hand, such personalities as Firawn, Namrood, and Qaroon failed miserably though they were right at the top of the material world with all their basic needs met. The only gaping void in their life was that of non-existing spirituality – it consumed them, high in arrogance but low in self-esteem.
Allah (swt) has honoured the humankind repeatedly in the Quran. From a human’s unique physical creation down to the fact that the entire universe is serving it round the clock efficiently and impeccably, it is a manifestation of Allah’s (swt) mercy and magnificence.
If our Lord (swt) is so highly exalted, how can His most favoured and blessed being be lowly? We are the ones to whom the angels bowed. They are continuously labouring in fulfilling Allah’s (swt) commands to run the world and meet our needs by the second. The same angels, who will have no reward in the form of Jannah – yet, they race each other to serve us. The same angels, who envelope the skies worshipping Allah (swt) without leaving even a hand span of space in between. And our Lord (swt) has preferred us over them for His ultimate Jannah. Simply because of the potential we carry and the effort we make to seek Allah’s (swt) pleasure by free will.
It only befits humankind that they behave in the most noble manner – especially so the believers who know their Rabb (swt) through the Quran and His Messenger (sa). There is no question of a low self-esteem.
A person who feels worthless has neither recognized his Creator nor the purpose of his creation. Hence, this person constantly measures himself by the fleeting and ever-changing worldly standards. His heart is not thankful of the Dunya he has or mindful of the Aakhirah he will soon face. He is angry with Allah’s (swt) decree for him and doesn’t expect a reward from Allah (swt) for his losses. He may be occupied in eyeing others and harbouring feelings of envy, depression, animosity, ingratitude, and low self-respect.
Conclusively, selfies don’t raise self-esteem. Selfless surrender to Allah (swt) and service to His creation does. Go ahead and try it!
About author
