Aslam

Praise be to Allah.Human societies have known all kinds of class systems.

In some societies there is a class of princes, a class of warriors, a class of farmers and

a class of slaves, and based on this there is a lot of oppression, abuse and trampling on

people’s rights. But the sharee’ah or law of Allaah does not recognize such

systems at all. Islam gives equal rights to all, rich and poor, noble and ignoble. The

basic principle on which people are differentiated in Islam is mentioned in the Holy

Qur’aan, in Soorat al-Hujuraat (interpretation of the meaning):

“O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and

made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most

honourable of you with Allaah is that (believer) who has al-taqwa [i.e., is one of the

muttaqoon or pious]. Verily, Allaah is All-Knowing, All-Aware”

[al-Hujuraat 49:13]

The Prophet

(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “O

people! Verily your Lord is One and your father [Adam] is one. An Arab is no better than a

non-Arab, and a non-Arab is no better than an Arab; a red man is no better than a black

man and a black man is no better than a red man – except if it is in terms of taqwa

(piety)…” (Reported by Imaam Ahmad, 22391; al-Silsilat al-Saheeh,

2700).

This is the principle on which society is based in

Islam. This is the global human society which mankind is trying to attain through its

far-fetched ideas, but is failing to do so, because they are not following the one

straight path that will lead them there, the way to God, may He be glorified, and because

they are not standing under the one banner that could unite them, the banner of God, may

He be exalted.

People live on this earth connected by all kinds of relationships, all

of which carry some weight or have some attraction in their lives… these include

lineage, power, wealth, etc. From these stem other connections, practical, economic, etc.,

where people have different positions and levels of status with regard to one another. So

some people have more status than others in worldly terms… Then Islam comes and says:

“the most honourable of you with Allaah [God] is that (believer) who has al-taqwa

[i.e., is one of the muttaqoon or pious]” so it ignores all the values that carry

weight in people’s lives, and replaces them all with this new value that is derived

directly from the Revelation and is the only one that is recognized in the standards of

God. This is piety and consciousness of God, which is manifested in the worship of God

lone, with no partner, no son, no equal… obeying what He commands and avoiding what

He forbids, seeking His pleasure and Paradise, and fearing His punishment and Hell-fire.

Allaah is All-Seer of His slaves.