Superiority in Islam

[CarlEdwardRoss]

BISMILLAH IR-RAHMAAN IR-RAHEEM
Allahumma Salli ala nabi Muhammed
Aoodthu billahi min ash shaytaan ir-rajeem

006.159
Surely they who divided their religion into parts and became sects, you have no concern with them; their affair is only with Allah, then He will inform them of what they did.

As-salaamu laykum wa-rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu;
Since I have been on this website one thing has bothered me. Many people in their responses to me and others, perhaps because that assume that know my background or others, seem to be under the impression that because they have been “Muslim” longer then others that somehow they are better or superior to what they call “reverts”. They believe they would or should be better because they were born in a traditional Islamic country, their family had several generations of Muslims, speak a certain language, or being of a certain skin color thereb dividing us into parts. This is wrong! There is no superiority of anyone over anyone else in Islam, except in terms of taqwa (PIETY, consciousness of Allaah).

[al-Hujuraat 49:13]
“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 At Taqwa [i.e. he is one of the Muttaqoon (THE PIOUS)]. Verily, Allaah is All Knowing, All Aware”

Islam is the religion for ALL of mankind, no matter what their colour, land, tribe or language. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is the Messenger to all of mankind, of all origins and countries. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

[al-A’raaf 7:158]
“Say (O Muhammad): ‘O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allaah – to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. None has the right to be worshipped but He; it is He Who gives life and causes death. So believe in Allaah and His Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, who believes in Allaah and His Words, and follow him so that you may be guided.”

[al-Room 30:22]
“And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the difference of your languages and colours. Verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge.”

Showing disrespect and hate for the signs of Allah (soubhanna wa taa’la), some people even resulted to making insults based on race and skin color. The Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) affirmed the prohibition of racial discrimination and of despising coloured people, when he said in his famous speech:

“O people, your Lord is One and your father [i.e., Adam] is one. There is no superiority of the Arab over the non-Arab, or of the non-Arab over the Arab, or of the red over the black, or of the black over the red – except with regard to taqwa.” (Reported by Imaam Ahmad, 22391)
When a man insulted his brother (in Islam) for having a black mother, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to him, “You are a man who still has jaahiliyyah (ignorance) in him.” Abu Dharr (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “There was an argument between me and one of my brothers whose mother was non-Arab. I insulted him about his mother, and he complained about me to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). I met the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and he said, “O Abu Dharr, you are a man who still has jaahiliyyah (ignorance) in him.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari and Muslim; this version narrated by Muslim, 3139).
Piety WOULD NOT BE ONLY a matter of time. Piety would not be simply how long one had clamied belief and in which manner you were born. Piety is a matter of faith, belief and deeds. Allah (soubhanna wa taa’la) guides and rewards whom he pleases.
003.092
Ye shall not attain unto piety until ye spend of that which ye love. And whatsoever ye spend, Allah is Aware thereof.
049.003
Those that lower their voices in the presence of Allah's Messenger, their hearts has Allah tested for piety: for them is Forgiveness and a great Reward.
022.037
It is not their meat nor their blood, that reaches Allah: it is your piety that reaches Him: He has thus made them subject to you, that ye may glorify Allah for His Guidance to you and proclaim the good news to all who do right.
006.149
Say: Then Allah's is the conclusive argument; so if HE PLEASE, He would certainly guide you all.
039.023
Allah has revealed the best announcement, a book conformable in its various parts, repeating, whereat do shudder the skins of those who fear their Lord, then their skins and their hearts become pliant to the remembrance of Allah; this is Allah's guidance, HE GUIDES WITH IT WHOM HE PLEASES; and (as for) him whom Allah makes err, there is no guide for him.
024.038
That Allah may give them the best reward of what they have done, and give them more out of His grace; and Allah gives sustenance TO WHOM HE PLEASES without measure.

The “Jews” received the message of Allah (soubhanaa wa taa’la) before the “Muslims”. Would we say that the Jews are superior to the Mulsims. Of course not! History tells us that they went astray and Allah (soubhanna wa taa’la) cursed them for that. The Prophet Muhammed (salli allahu alayhi wa salaam) did not receive the message unitl he was about forty years old and his parents were not believers. So should it be said because we were practicing Muslims since birth we would be better than the Prophet Muhammad (salli allahu alayhi wa salaam)? Of course not!! For those that would think otherwise. The Koran said:

[al-Qalam 68:4]
“And verily, you (O Muhammad) are on an exalted standard of character”

[al-Ahzaab 33:21]
“Indeed in the Messenger of Allaah (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allaah and the Last Day, and remembers Allaah much”

Finally, again I would quote a hadith that proves that how long one has been a Muslim is not a definitive factor on one’s entering paradise.

Book 14, Number 2531:
Narrated AbuHurayrah:
Amr ibn Uqaysh had given USURIOUS LOANS in pre-Islamic period; SO HE DISLIKED TO EMBRACE ISLAM until he took them. He came on the day of Uhud and asked: Where are my cousins? They (the people) replied: At Uhud. He asked: Where is so-and-so? They said: At Uhud. He asked: Where is so-and-so? They said: At Uhud. He then put on his coat of mail and rode his horse; he then proceeded towards them. When the Muslims saw him, they said: Keep away, Amir. He said: I have become a believer. He fought until he was wounded. He was then taken to his family wounded. Sa'd ibn Mu'adh came to his sister: Ask him (whether he fought) out of partisanship, out of anger for them, or out of anger for Allah. He said: Out of anger of Allah and His Apostle. He then died and entered Paradise. HE DON’T OFFER ANY PRAYER FOR ALLAH.

Soubhanna Allah Wa Bihamdika,
Sheikh Ieesau Ibn Mhamed