Equality
is “similarity and justice,” meaning similarity and resemblance between two
things in degree and value. When we say that a person is equal to another, it
means that they are equal in rank, equivalent in human value, and have the same
rights and obligations. Equality is an important moral value in people's lives,
as it eliminates discrimination among members of society in obtaining what they
need or benefit from. It is a sound principle endorsed by Islamic law, accepted
by reason, and dictated by civilized social reality. In the Islamic concept,
equality means equal treatment of all people in their fundamental human rights:
gender, race, color, social standing, and environment. Among the manifestations
of this equality are equality between the strong and the weak, the rich and the
poor, the free and the enslaved, and Muslims and non-Muslims. Non-Muslims in
Muslim lands have the same general rights (human rights) as Muslims and are
subject to the same obligations, whether related to matters of religion and
belief; They are equal to Muslims in benefiting from the public treasury:
Muslim scholars have agreed that a dhimmi (non-Muslim living under Islamic
rule) has a right to the public treasury and that he is equal to a Muslim in
this right if he becomes elderly or incapable of earning a living and working.
Equality also applies to employment in all aspects except those related to
creed. However, the accounting of subsidiary rights that leads to equality
between dissimilar individuals is a different concept from the equality of
humanity, which God has honored. When people's circumstances and conditions
differ, their times and places vary, and there is diversity in races, colors,
languages, wealth and poverty, strength and weakness, knowledge and ignorance,
and social and economic standing among people, then societies impose standards
for differentiation among people in light of this diversity and difference. For
example, but not limited to: Is it possible to be equal in jobs and wages?
The
Holy Quran urges equality, as God Almighty says, “And indeed We have honored
the Children of Adam, and We have carried them on land and sea, and have
provided them with At-Taiyibat (lawful good things), and have preferred them
above many of those whom We have created with a marked preference.” (Surah
Al-Isra 70). This honor encompasses all of humanity; humankind is honored by
God without distinction between one group and another. This does not permit any
group or class to claim superiority over others based on environment, race,
color, or status. Indeed, Islam abolishes every reason that leads a person to
seek superiority and control over others, as God Almighty says, “O mankind!
Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from
him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], and from them both He created
many men and women and fear Allah through You demand your mutual (rights) and
(do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is ever an
All-Watcher over you.” (Surah Al-Isra 70).
The
concept of equality is also mentioned in the hadiths of the Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) in a beautiful analogy: “People are equal like the teeth
of a comb, and they are distinguished only by their health. A Muslim is strong
because of his fellow Muslim, and there is no good in the company of one who
does not see for you what you see for him.” (Narrated by Salamah ibn Dinar
al-Madani; Source: Lisan al-Mizan). The Sunnah did not merely mention equality
theoretically, but I applied it practically and in reality, as it was narrated
on the authority of our master Abu Dharr al-Ghifari that he said, “I met
(al-Ma’rur bin Suwaid) Abu Dharr in al-Rabadha, and he was wearing a robe, and
his servant was wearing a robe, so I asked him about that, and he said, ‘I
insulted a man and taunted him about his mother, so the Prophet, may God bless
him and grant him peace, said to me, “O Abu Dharr, did you taunt him about his
mother?” “You are a man in whom there is still some ignorance. Your servants
are your brothers, whom God has placed under your authority. Whoever has his
brother under his authority should feed him what he eats and clothe him with
what he wears, and do not burden them with what they cannot bear. If you do burden
them, then help them.” (Narrated by Abu Dharr al-Ghifari; Source: Sahih
al-Bukhari). Islam is a religion of high morals and noble manners towards all
people, even servants. It is a religion that does not differentiate between
people, nor does it They are distinguished not by lineage, nor by race, nor by
color, but rather by piety and good deeds.
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