Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 244
244 intercourse. Neither membership in a tribe nor citizenship in a state confers any privilege, nor are they sources of honour. The true source of honour in the sight of God is a righteous life (49:14). In his Farewell Address, the Prophet said; “You are all brothers and are all equal. None of you can claim 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. ” Islam has established a universal brotherhood. It is stressed that a true brotherhood can be established only by virtue of mankind’s 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 realisation 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 brothers; and you were on the brink of a pit of fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah