Islamic Concept Of Equality

“And hold fast, all together, by the rope of Allah (God) and be not divided; and remember the favor of Allah which He bestowed upon you when you were enemies and He united your hearts in love, so that by His grace you became as brothers, and you were on the brink of a pit of fire and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah explain to you His commandments that you may be guided” (Qur’an, 3:103).

Islam does not just believe that all humans are equal but believes in the fact that every human being should be afforded as much dignity and basic rights as society can afford them regardless of who they are, or even if they are Muslim or not. And within the circle of Muslims, this idea transcends and incorporates over a hundred different cultures and ethnicities, differing dialects, races, and ways of life. Muslims are essentially to put these differences aside in the upliftment of one another and in the establishment of peace and harmony in society.

Islam established a concept fourteen hundred years ago which is now being promoted due to cross-border travel, international trade, multiculturalism, and a growing global society: people may be different, and have full right to those differences, but until and unless they treat each other equally and afford one another some basic human rights, society cannot stand. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) told us that reconciling between people is better than observing voluntary fasts, offering voluntary prayers, and giving voluntary charity.

We do not believe in the innate superiority of a Muslim over non-Muslims, with their actions being a determinant of their spiritual status, nor do we believe that the door of heaven only opens through the acceptance of Prophet Muhammad. Rather, goodness and a firm belief in and worship of God decide this, regardless of religion. This concept in itself not only leads to a social equality but more importantly, spiritual equality of all.