The Salaf were humble—Beware of snobbish behaviour due to the little you know!
Imaam Fudayl Ibn Iyaad (rahimahullaah) was asked about humility; so he said: ”(It is ) to humble oneself to the truth, submitting to it and accepting it from the one who said it. He accepts it even if he heard it from a child or from the most ignorant amongst the people.” [Madaarij As-Saalikeen 2/342]
Muhammad Ibn Waasi (rahimahullaah) said: ”If sins were a breeze, no one will sit with me.” [Siyar 6/120]
Khalaf Ibn Tameem (rahimahullaah) said: I saw Ath-Thawree at Makkah and many (people gathered or came to) him; so he said: ”To Allaah we belong! I fear that the Ummah will be lost when the people have a need of the likes of me.” [Siyar 7/275]
A man said to Maymoon Ibn Mehraan (rahimahullaah): ”The people will not cease to be upon good as long as Allaah keeps you (alive) for them;” so he said: ”keep yourself to your own affairs; the people will not cease to be upon good as long as they fear their Lord.” [Siyar 5/75]
A man said to Ibn Umar (radiyallaahu-anhu): ”O (you) the best of the people!” So he said: ”I am neither the best of the people nor the son of the best of the people; rather I am a slave from the slaves of Allaah. I have hope in Allaah and I fear Him. By Allaah you (people) will not leave a man until you destroy him.” [Siyar 3/236]
Whenever Sufyaan Ath-Thawree (rahimahullaah) was informed that he was seen in a dream, he said: ”I know myself better than those who see dreams.” [7/252]