10. Musawat — Equality

مساوات

Dear friends! Islam is a foundational principle — and that principle is Musawat (Equality). Allah Most High says:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ

"O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you." (Al-Hujurat, 49:13) — We have created you from one origin and made you into tribes and communities as a means of acquaintance and recognition — not as a basis for pride or discrimination. The most honored among you in Allah's sight is the most pious.

This is the Islamic declaration of the equality of all human beings. Every person, whatever their color, race, language, nationality, or social class, is equal in the sight of Allah. The only distinction recognized by Islam is the distinction of taqwa (God-consciousness and piety).

One day I had a conversation with a Brahmin (Hindu) gentleman. He said: "I regard myself as the most worthy — it is obligatory upon me to regard my own caste as superior." I said to him: this feeling of superiority is a feeling of arrogance, and Allah Most High has told us — the Prophet is the family of Allah — and we are all in the same family. Allah says:

خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ

"He created you from one soul." (Az-Zumar, 39:6; An-Nisāʾ, 4:1) — We are all of Adam's origin. You made fire — but the fire came from Adam and he came from clay. So you bring up this point of fire and clay? Your arrogance says: I am better. But see:

خَلَقْتَنِي مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِن طِينٍ

"You created me from fire and created him from clay." (Al-A'raf, 7:12) — This is exactly what Iblis (Satan) said when he refused to bow to Adam. He reasoned from his origin of fire as being superior. This is the very same argument — and look where it led: to the eternal curse and expulsion from God's mercy.

In the hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "People who comb themselves in rows in prayer — they are all equal — there is no king, no rank." This is the message of equality in Islam. All colors are one color — the color of Allah:

صِبْغَةَ اللَّهِ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ اللَّهِ صِبْغَةً

"The coloring of Allah — and who is better than Allah in coloring?" (Al-Baqarah, 2:138) — In the color of Allah, all people are one color. This is the equality of Islam.

Allah Most High says:

إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ ۝ فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ ۝ إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ الْأَبْتَرُ

"Indeed, We have granted you Al-Kawthar (abundance). So pray to your Lord and sacrifice. Indeed, your enemy is the one cut off." (Al-Kawthar, 108:1-3) — We have given you the Kawthar. So pray and sacrifice. Whoever opposes you — it is he who is cut off (abtar), with no lasting legacy.

Dear friends! Islam is a foundational principle — and that principle is equality.