Mankind Enjoys Superiority

FARIDUD DIN AHMED

 Man is superior to all created beings simply by virtue of being human and is as such respectable. The greatness and dignity of man has been under­scored in the Holy Quran at several places:- 

"Verily We have honoured the children of Adam. We carry them on the land and the sea, and have made provision of good things for them and have preferred them above many of those whom We created." (17:70) 

At another place it is said: 

"Surely We created man of the best stature." (At-Tin: 4) 

These verses imply that man enjoys superiority over all the other creatures by virtue of his kind. Doubtless, the angels are chaste beings, but they have been created only for obedience to the Lord. The providence has not considered it wise to endow them with the capacity to commit sin or disobey. On the contrary, man has been allowed the choice between good and evil. 

Allah has appointed man His Vicegerent on earth and blessed him with reason and knowledge. Says He:-

 "And when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to place a viceroy in the earth, they said: Will thou place therein one who will do harm therein and will shed blood, while we hymn Thy praise and sanctify Thee? He said: Surely I know that which ye know not.

 And He taught Adam all the names. (2:30-31)

 And when We said unto angels: prostrate your­selves before Adam, they fell prostrate, all save Iblees. (2:34)

 According to Islam all men are equal. None of them is superior to others on the basis of race, colour, language or territory.

 The Holy Prophet (ﷺ) said in his Farewell Sermon:-

 "O people! All belong to one ancestry of Adam and Adam was created out of clay. There is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab and for a non-Arab over an Arab nor for the white over the black, for the black over the white except in piety. Verily the noblest among you is he who is the most pious."

"Know that the life of this world is but play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting and multiplying, (in rivalry) among yourselves, riches and children. Here is a similitude. How rain and the growth which it brings forth, delight (the hearts of) the farmers', soon it withers; you will see it grow yellow; then it becomes dry and crumbles away. But in the Hereafter- is a Penalty severe (for the devotees of wrong); and forgiveness from God and (His) Good Pleasure (for the devotees of God). And what is the life of this world, but a matter of illusion? " (57:20)

Besides, Allah says:-

O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female and have made you nations and tribes — (but) the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the best in conduct. (49:13)

"O ye who believe, come all of you into submis­sion (Unto Him) and follow not the footsteps of the devil."

 For the first time in the history of mankind Islam raised the status of women giving them an honourable position in society. It also gave a good tiding of a place in the Jannah to anyone who brings up his daughter (or daughters) well and affords her good education. The Holy Prophet (ﷺ) said: "You have certain rights over your women and your women have certain rights over you."

 The institution of slavery was a legacy of the past. The slaves in those days were deprived of all human rights and were little better than lifeless machines. But Islam bestowed upon them human dignity. The slaves were given the right to purchase their freedom by paying a settled amount to their masters. Besides, Islam declared that setting a slave free is the highest virtue. In his last Sermon the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) enjoined upon the Muslims to meet out kind treatment to the slaves that in later periods of Muslim history the slaves rose to the position of kings. The slave dynasties of Delhi and Egypt pro­vide striking examples of slave kings. 

The labour earns wages by the sweat of his brow to fulfil his duty towards his family. Islam, there­fore, gives him a respectable position in society. The Holy Prophet (ﷺ) said: 

"One who earns his livelihood by hard work is Allah's friend."