The Most Honoured Person

The Most Honored Person with Allah is the Most Pious

By Sheikh Muhammahah Ibn Ibrahim Al-Tawaijri

In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;

All the praise and Thanks is due to Allāh, the Lord of al-‘ālameen. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam, is His Messenger

All people are the descendants of one man and one woman; they may be a believer and kafir, black and white, Arab and non-Arab, rich and poor, noble and ordinary. The Most Honored Person with Allah is the Most Pious.

Islam indeed does not pay attention to the differences in colour, race or lineage. All people hails from Adam, and Adam was created from dust. The Most Honoured Person with Allah is the Most Pious. However in Islam, the differentiation between people is based on faith (eman) and piety (taqwa), by doing that which Allah has enjoined and avoiding that which Allah has prohibited.

Allah says: “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 Muttaqun (the pious)]. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All aware”[Al-Hujurāt, 49:13]

Islam regards all people as equal as far as rights and duties are concerned. People are equal before the law (syari’ah).

Allah says:  “Whoever works righteousness — whether male or female — while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter)”   [Al-Nahl, 16:97]

Faith, truthfulness and piety all lead to Paradise, which is the right of the one who acquires these attributes, even if he is one of the weakest or lowliest of people.

Allah says: “And whosoever believes in Allah and performs righteous good deeds, He will admit him into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) to dwell therein forever. Allah has indeed granted for him an excellent provision” [Al-Talaq, 65:11]

Kufr, arrogance and oppression all lead to Hell, even if the one who does these things is one of the richest or noblest of people.

Allah says: “But those who disbelieved (in the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism) and denied Our Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), they will be the dwellers of the Fire, to dwell therein forever. And worst indeed is that destination” [Al-Taghabun, 64:10]

The advisors of the Messenger (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) included Muslim men of all tribes, races and colours. Their hearts were filled with Tawhid and they were brought together by their faith and piety – such as Abu Bakar As-Siddiq (radiyallāhu’anhu) from Quraysh, ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (radiyallāhu’anhu) from Bani Hashim, Bilal bin Rabah (radiyallāhu’anhu) the Ethiopian, Suhayb bin Sinan (radiyallāhu’anhu) the Roman, Salman (radiyallāhu’anhu) the Persian, rich men like ‘Uthman bi 'Affan (radiyallāhu’anhu) and poor men like ‘Ammar bin Yasir (radiyallāhu’anhu), people of means and poor people like Ahl al-Suffah, and others.They believed in Allah and strove for His sake, until Allah and His Messenger were pleased with them. They were the true believers.

Allah says:“Their reward with their Lord is ‘Aden (Eden) Paradise (Gardens of Eternity), underneath which rivers flow. They will abide therein forever, Allah will be pleased with them, and they with Him. That is for him who fears his Lord”  [Al-Bayyinah, 98:8]

[Excerpted from Usul al-Deen al-Islami by Shaikh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Tuwaijri.]