The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 37
II - Brief Note on Islāmic Equality 37 or authority, or power and influence, and the others are left behind in these areas, do they still not remain brothers regardless of this difference or become strangers to each other? Not at all, not at all. At another place, Allāh the Exalted states: خَيْرًا يَكُونُوا قَوْمٍ عَسَىٰ اَن يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌ مِّن لَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اَيُّهَا يَا. . . ٌ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ اِخْوَة اِنَّمَا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا ذَكَرٍ وَاُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا مِّن خَلَقْنَاكُم النَّاسُ اِنَّا اَيُّهَا يَا. . . ْ مِّنْهُم ٌ اِنَّ اَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اهللِ اَتْقَاكُمْ اِنَّ اهللَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِير “Verily, all Muslims are brothers 1. . . Hence, O Ye Muslims! let not one party from among you deride another party, and think of them as disgraceful, because (when all people are equal in their origin, and the ways of progress are equally open to all), it is possible that the party you deride today may outstrip you tomorrow or it is possible that on account of some of their merits, they may be above you even today 2. . . O Ye People! We have created you from the pair of a male and female; And no doubt, We have made you tribes and sub-tribes, but remember, this division is not so that you may boast and act in pride to one another. This division is only for the purpose that a means of recognition and mutual acquaintance may exist between you. Otherwise, the greatest and most honourable among you in the sight of God is the one who is the possessor of greater merits, and is more righteous and more pious. The rule of Allāh the Exalted, which He is presenting before you is based on great farsightedness and great wisdom, for He is All-Knowing, All-Aware. ” 3 Similarly, the Holy Prophet sa states in a Ḥadīth: ٍّ يَا ٓ اَيُّهَا النَّاس ُ اَلَا اِن َّ رَبَّكُم ْ وَاحِد ٌ وَاِن َّ اَبَاكُم ْ وَاحِدٌ. اَلَا لَا فَضْل َ لِعَرَبِی ٍّ عَلی ٰ اَعْجَمِی وَلَا لِعَجَمِی ٍّ عَلی ٰ عَرَبِیٍّ. وَلَا اَحْمَر َ عَلی ٰ اَسْوَد َ وَلَا اَسْوَد َ عَلی ٰ اَحْمَر َ اِلَّا بِالتَّقْویٰ. َ اَبَلَّغْتُ؟ قَالُوْا بَلَّغ َ رَسُوْل ُ اللّٰه ِ صَلَّی اللّٰه ُ عَلَیْه ِ وَسَلَّم 1 Al-Ḥujurāt (49:11) 2 Al-Ḥujurāt (49:12) 3 Al-Ḥujurāt (49:14)