The Way We Walk: Lessons from the Qur'an and Sunnah

Written by: Ustaz Erwin Shah Effandy

Islam is a religion that teaches us every aspect of life, even seemingly minute matters such as how a person walks. This is because Islam is not merely concerned with what a person believes or says, but also with how those beliefs manifest in character and conduct. The Qur'an does not only speak about faith and worship; it also speaks about the way a person carries himself upon the earth, for the way one walks often reveals the state of the heart before the tongue even speaks.

Some walk with humility and calmness while others walk with pride, arrogance and self-admiration. Allah s.w.t did not overlook even this seemingly small detail, for Islam is a religion that refines the soul, disciplines the ego and beautifies every aspect of a believer's conduct.

The Walk of the Servants of Ar-Rahman

Allah s.w.t says:

وَعِبَادُ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ هَوْنًۭا

“And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth humbly…” (Surah al-Furqan 25:63)

Allah began the description of Ibadurrahman not with prayer, fasting or charity, but with the way they walk upon the earth. Why is this so?

This is because humility appears naturally upon the limbs when it settles sincerely in the heart.

Their walk is not the walk of arrogance, attention-seeking or pride. They do not walk as though the earth belongs to them, nor as though people exist beneath them. There is tranquillity, dignity and sakinah in their presence.

Imam Ibn Kathir mentions that those who walk upon the earth with Hawn (humility) posseses:

“Sakinah (tranquillity) and Waqar (dignity), without arrogance or pride. These servants of Allah neither walk with arrogance nor boastfulness, neither with vanity nor self-admiration.”

Imam al-Qurtubi similarly explains:

“They walk upon the earth with forbearance (hilm), humility and moderation. They walk with balance, calmness and composure.”

He further points out that walking with qasd (balance and moderation), tu'addah (without haste or recklessness), and husn al-samt (a noble appearance and commendable conduct) are from the characteristics of the Prophets.

Even something as ordinary as walking becomes an act of worship when guided by humility and prophetic character.

The believer therefore asks himself: How do I carry myself when I walk? Do I walk seeking attention and displaying pride? Or do I walk with the humility, dignity and tranquillity which is beloved to Allah s.w.t?

For Allah s.w.t did not randomly begin the description of Ibadur Rahman with their walk. Rather, He teaches us that before a person speaks, before he is known by his deeds, and before he is recognised by his knowledge, the state of his heart is often visible in the way he walks upon the earth.

Thus, humility is not weakness. Rather, it is a noble strength that manifests through calmness, restraint and good character.

The Humility of the Believers

Ibn Kathir explains that the servants of Allah s.w.t walk with tranquillity and waqar, without pride, boastfulness or excessive self-admiration. They do not walk in a manner that seeks to elevate themselves above others. At the same time, this does not mean walking like a sick person out of pretence or showing humility for the sake of people.

Imam Hassan Al-Basri also commented on this verse by saying:

“The believers are a people of humility. By Allah, their hearing, sight and limbs have become subdued and obedient, such that you might think they are sick, though they are not sick at all. Rather, they are healthy people. However, they have been overcome by fear that others do not possess.”

The Prophet s.a.w was the most humble of people, yet when he walked, the Companions described him as though he were descending from an elevated place. His walk was firm, purposeful and energetic, as though the earth was being folded beneath him.

For this reason, some of the Salaf disliked an affected and weak style of walking. It is narrated that Umar ibn al-Khattab r.a saw a young man walking slowly and sluggishly. He asked:

“What is wrong with you? Are you ill?”

The young man replied, “No, O Amir al-Mu'minin.”

So Umar struck him lightly with his whip and instructed him to walk properly and with strength.

Therefore, humility is not weakness.

The Walk of Arrogance

Just as Allah praises the humble walk of the Ibadur Rahman, He also warns against its opposite: the walk of arrogance, pride and self-admiration.

Allah says:

“And do not walk upon the earth exultantly. Indeed, you will never tear the earth apart, nor will you reach the mountains in height.”(Surah al-Isra’ 17:37)

And Allah also says:

وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ

“Do not turn your cheek away from people in pride, nor walk upon the earth arrogantly. Indeed, Allah does not love every self-deluded boaster.”(Surah Luqman 31:18)

This is the walk of kibr (arrogance). A walk filled with self-amazement, pride, superiority and a love of being noticed. It is the walk of someone who carries himself as though he is above others, seeking attention and admiration through his mannerisms and presence.

This is the walk of kibr (arrogance). A walk filled with self-amazement, pride, superiority and a love of being noticed. It is the walk of someone who carries himself as though he is above others, seeking attention and admiration through his mannerisms and presence.

Allah reminds such people of their reality:

You are neither powerful enough to split the earth beneath your feet, nor tall enough to reach the mountains. So what exactly are you arrogant about?!

Many people think arrogance only exists in speech. But the Qur'an teaches that arrogance can even appear in posture, movement, facial expressions and the way one carries themselves around others.

Sometimes a person's body speaks before their tongue does.

This is why Allah commands the believer to walk with hawn (tranquillity, dignity and humility) and not with pride, harshness or self-importance.

The believer walks with confidence, strength and dignity but not with pride or harshness. He does not seek greatness through his appearance, his posture or the admiration of people. Rather, he recognises that all honour belongs to Allah, and that true humility begins in the heart before it appears upon the limbs.

The Walk of the Prophet s.a.w

The Prophet s.a.w was the most humble of people, yet he did not walk weakly or lazily.

The companions described his walk as strong and purposeful. When he walked, he leaned slightly forward as though descending from a slope. His walk was not the walk of arrogance, nor the walk of heedlessness. Rather, it was the walk of someone carrying revelation. The walk of someone who had purpose.

Many today walk without direction; wandering through life, distracted by the dunya, absorbed in screens and empty pursuits. This was totally different from how the Prophet ﷺ walked. A man who knew exactly where he was going, towards Allah, carrying guidance for humanity.

Even in travel, the companions mention that when they ascended elevated places, they would say:  “Allahu Akbar”

And when descending, they would say:“Subhanallah”

Their journeys were not disconnected from remembrance. Even movement became an ibadah with the right intention. A believer does not merely “move” through life. He walks with purpose, knowing the goal in front of him.

Walking Towards a Destination

Perhaps this is why the Qur'an repeatedly speaks about walking upon the earth.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ once took hold of the shoulder of Ibn Umar r.a and said:

«كُنْ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَأَنَّكَ غَرِيبٌ أَوْ عَابِرُ سَبِيلٍ»

“Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a traveller passing through.”

A traveller is always walking. He does not become attached to every stop along the road, nor does he mistake the journey for the destination. His eyes remain fixed on where he is ultimately heading. Perhaps this is why Allah teaches us not only where to walk, but how to walk.

Every human being is travelling a path. Some walk towards Allah s.w.t with humility, remembrance and obedience while others walk towards destruction while admiring themselves, deceived by their strength, wealth or status.

Some walk with purpose, knowing that every step brings them closer to Allah s.w.t while others wander aimlessly, distracted by the temporary attractions of this world.

The Qur'an therefore does not merely teach us the rulings of walking. It teaches us the reality of life itself. We are all travellers upon this earth, and every step is carrying us closer to our final destination.

The question is not whether we are walking. 

The question is: what are we walking towards?

الله أعلم