What is the criterion of superiority in the sight of Allah (SWT)? Is there any particular race or nation that Allah (SWT) favors?
In the verse, which prohibits racism and instructs that men are descended from the same ancestors, Allah Almighty announces, Surely the noblest, most honorable of you in Gods sight is the one best in piety, righteousness, and reverence for God. Surely God is All-Knowing, All-Aware. (Al-Hujurat Surah, 49:13)
Bewaring from racism is included in the command of being the most righteous.
Those who are more welcome in the sight of Allah (SWT) are not those belonging to this or that race but those who are most righteous regardless of race.
In the religious context, taqwa, this is an Arabic expression in origin, means fearing Allah (SWT), bewaring from and keeping away from His prohibitions When we look at the verse pertaining to the qualities that those with taqwa have, we see that taqwa is the embodiment of a total life of Islam.
In the Surah Al-i Imran, Our Sustainer calls us to His mercy and Paradise. At the end of the verse, He states that Paradise has been prepared for those with taqwa:
They spend (out of what God has provided for them,) both in ease and hardship, ever-restraining their rage (even when provoked and able to retaliate), and pardoning people (their offenses). God loves (such) people who are devoted to doing good, aware that God is seeing them. They are also the ones who, when they have committed a shameful deed or wronged themselves (through any kind of sinful act), immediately remember God, and implore Him to forgive their sins – for who will forgive sins save God? – and do not persist knowingly in whatever (evil) they have committed. (Al-i Imran Surah, 3:134,135)
The beloved servants of Allah are those who bear these qualities. Peoples nation, class, social status, and financial status do not matter at all in this respect. Those who have the consciousness of being the servant of Allah (SWT) and experience this pleasure are responsible for approving of what Allah (SWT) approves of. While Allah (SWT) approves of some servants of His, how can believers approve of a citizen of his who is far from these qualities?
In the Surah Al-Baqarah, it is so significant to draw our attention to taqwa by stating, Holy Quran is guidance for those with taqwa. In this Surah, the qualities of those with taqwa are numerated as having faith in the unseen, performing prescribed prayer, spending what Allah has bestowed, having faith in the Quran and previous Books, having faith in the Hereafter without a doubt.
In this Surah there is no implication to race, tribe, boss, official, slave, master whatsoever These verses are only two examples When judging from this point of view, we could clearly see that all of the verses of the Quran reject race distinction.
All commands are for either whole humanity or believers. In the verses calling for guidance, addressing is to the whole of humanity; there is no favor for any race, or tribe, or status, or rank. An Arabs being rightly guided is no more of importance than an Englishmans being rightly guided.
As for the orders related to worship and obedience, addressing is to the believers. In this respect, there is no difference between believers. Orders such as Worship Allah, Prostrate to Him, Give your alms and prohibitions such as Do not receive interest, Do not commit adultery, Do not backbite, are for all believers. The virtue of following these orders and staying away from these prohibitions is the same for all nations.
Also, there are verses of punishment; the warning verses about the punishments, which befell the previous nations In these verses, Allah Almighty draws our attention to the crimes, rebellions, denials, fierceness of the nations and the torments they inflicted upon their prophets. Torment befell them because of these crimes, not because of their belonging to this or that nation.
This expression of the Prophet Muhammads (PBUH) reveals beautifully that racism has nothing to do with reason and knowledge: An inclination of ignorance
Man can be neither good nor bad because of his race. Within the description of good and bad is not such an element. Just as every mind confirms that, every conscience also knows that clearly. While talking about the goodness of someone, we tell about his good conduct, good deeds, uprightness, and diligence. All of these have to do with his will. Seeing that nobody has chosen his own race with his own will, if we say that this and that man is good because he is from this or that race, we would proclaim our own ignorance.
No matter where you may examine the racism, it is nothing but ignorance.
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did not emphasize his being Arab. He was sent as a mercy not only for Arabs but also for all beings. He (PBUH) rose with the cause of Unity. He (PBUH) found polytheism all around of him. He (PBUH) wished to make people slaves for Allah Almighty by delivering them from the slavery of idols, from the captivity of evil-commanding self, from the oppression of superstitions. He (PBUH) would have justice replace oppression and do away with any kind of fallacy with the light of revelation. He (PBUH) would replace any kind of amoral with the moral of Quran. This cause of his has gone beyond the tribes, races and even the universe. How should a slave who does not believe in his Creator be superior? Then He (PBUH) would start with faith. He (PBUH) did so anyway.
How could a slave who rebels against his Sustainer be virtuous? Then he would gather people around worship Allah Almighty. He did so anyway.
His tribe opposed him. His own relatives opposed him. His very uncle opposed him.
How significant it is for the Companions to be at war against the disbelieving relatives! At those wars, Companions killed their own fathers and brothers by standing shoulder to shoulder with the believing brothers whom they have no kinship or relation. With this blood shed, polytheism and racism flowed to the by-gone times.
Bewaring from racism is included in the command of being the most righteous.
Those who are more welcome in the sight of Allah (SWT) are not those belonging to this or that race but those who are most righteous regardless of race.
In the religious context, taqwa, this is an Arabic expression in origin, means fearing Allah (SWT), bewaring from and keeping away from His prohibitions When we look at the verse pertaining to the qualities that those with taqwa have, we see that taqwa is the embodiment of a total life of Islam.
In the Surah Al-i Imran, Our Sustainer calls us to His mercy and Paradise. At the end of the verse, He states that Paradise has been prepared for those with taqwa:
They spend (out of what God has provided for them,) both in ease and hardship, ever-restraining their rage (even when provoked and able to retaliate), and pardoning people (their offenses). God loves (such) people who are devoted to doing good, aware that God is seeing them. They are also the ones who, when they have committed a shameful deed or wronged themselves (through any kind of sinful act), immediately remember God, and implore Him to forgive their sins – for who will forgive sins save God? – and do not persist knowingly in whatever (evil) they have committed. (Al-i Imran Surah, 3:134,135)
The beloved servants of Allah are those who bear these qualities. Peoples nation, class, social status, and financial status do not matter at all in this respect. Those who have the consciousness of being the servant of Allah (SWT) and experience this pleasure are responsible for approving of what Allah (SWT) approves of. While Allah (SWT) approves of some servants of His, how can believers approve of a citizen of his who is far from these qualities?
In the Surah Al-Baqarah, it is so significant to draw our attention to taqwa by stating, Holy Quran is guidance for those with taqwa. In this Surah, the qualities of those with taqwa are numerated as having faith in the unseen, performing prescribed prayer, spending what Allah has bestowed, having faith in the Quran and previous Books, having faith in the Hereafter without a doubt.
In this Surah there is no implication to race, tribe, boss, official, slave, master whatsoever These verses are only two examples When judging from this point of view, we could clearly see that all of the verses of the Quran reject race distinction.
All commands are for either whole humanity or believers. In the verses calling for guidance, addressing is to the whole of humanity; there is no favor for any race, or tribe, or status, or rank. An Arabs being rightly guided is no more of importance than an Englishmans being rightly guided.
As for the orders related to worship and obedience, addressing is to the believers. In this respect, there is no difference between believers. Orders such as Worship Allah, Prostrate to Him, Give your alms and prohibitions such as Do not receive interest, Do not commit adultery, Do not backbite, are for all believers. The virtue of following these orders and staying away from these prohibitions is the same for all nations.
Also, there are verses of punishment; the warning verses about the punishments, which befell the previous nations In these verses, Allah Almighty draws our attention to the crimes, rebellions, denials, fierceness of the nations and the torments they inflicted upon their prophets. Torment befell them because of these crimes, not because of their belonging to this or that nation.
This expression of the Prophet Muhammads (PBUH) reveals beautifully that racism has nothing to do with reason and knowledge: An inclination of ignorance
Man can be neither good nor bad because of his race. Within the description of good and bad is not such an element. Just as every mind confirms that, every conscience also knows that clearly. While talking about the goodness of someone, we tell about his good conduct, good deeds, uprightness, and diligence. All of these have to do with his will. Seeing that nobody has chosen his own race with his own will, if we say that this and that man is good because he is from this or that race, we would proclaim our own ignorance.
No matter where you may examine the racism, it is nothing but ignorance.
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did not emphasize his being Arab. He was sent as a mercy not only for Arabs but also for all beings. He (PBUH) rose with the cause of Unity. He (PBUH) found polytheism all around of him. He (PBUH) wished to make people slaves for Allah Almighty by delivering them from the slavery of idols, from the captivity of evil-commanding self, from the oppression of superstitions. He (PBUH) would have justice replace oppression and do away with any kind of fallacy with the light of revelation. He (PBUH) would replace any kind of amoral with the moral of Quran. This cause of his has gone beyond the tribes, races and even the universe. How should a slave who does not believe in his Creator be superior? Then He (PBUH) would start with faith. He (PBUH) did so anyway.
How could a slave who rebels against his Sustainer be virtuous? Then he would gather people around worship Allah Almighty. He did so anyway.
His tribe opposed him. His own relatives opposed him. His very uncle opposed him.
How significant it is for the Companions to be at war against the disbelieving relatives! At those wars, Companions killed their own fathers and brothers by standing shoulder to shoulder with the believing brothers whom they have no kinship or relation. With this blood shed, polytheism and racism flowed to the by-gone times.
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