Anas bin Malik reported: Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم had
a she-camel called Al-Adba’ which would not allow any other camel to
surpass her. A Bedouin came riding his camel which outstripped her. The
Muslims were much grieved at this. Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم perceived it and said, “It is Allah’s Way that He lowers whatever raises itself in the world.” [Al-Bukhari]
Commentary: This Hadith underlines a
principle of Allah that He never keeps anything in the world on the rise
eternally. Every rising star has its eventual decline. Individuals and
nations apart, this law of nature also applies to animal life. In it
embedded Divine wisdom. First, annihilation and fall is the fate of
everything. Second, lest power and growth shall go to man’s head, he is
warned by being reduced to smallness that there exists a Supreme One Who
holds sway over all creatures and can render the powerful weak and
helpless.
[Source: Riyad-Us-Saliheen by Imam An-Nawawi]
