Islam and Human Rights — Page 42
Isl am and Hum an R ights 42 any privilege or any superiority over any other. An Arab is not to be preferred to a non-Arab, nor is a non- Arab to be preferred to an Arab; nor is a white man to be preferred to a coloured one, or a coloured one to a white, except on the basis of righteousness”. 4 Islam has established a universal brotherhood. It is stressed that true brotherhood can be established only by virture of our relationship with one another through God. Other factors-common interests, common pursuits, common occupations-may help to foster friendship and brotherhood to a degree, but the very same factors may also engender jealousy and hostility. It is only the consciousness that mankind are all equally creatures and servants of God and that they must all constantly seek the pleasure of God, that can bring about the realization of true brotherhood, which can stand the test of all the contingencies to which life is subject. “Hold fast, all together, by the rope of Allah, and be not divided; and remember the favour of Allah, which He bestowed upon you when you were enemies and He united your hearts in love, so that by His grace you became as brethren; and you were on the brink of a pit of fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah 4 Hanbal V, p. 411.