2.13. HONOUR (concluded)

God says

O men! Behold, We have created you of a single [pair of] male and female,* and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another.** Indeed, the noblest of you in the sight of God is the one who is most deeply conscious of Him. -- Q.49 : 13

* It implies that this equality of biological origin is reflected in the equality of the human dignity common to all. ** I.e., know that all belong to one human family, without any inherent superiority of one over the other (Zarmakhshari)

Nay, verily, man becomes grossly overweening whenever he believes himself to be self-sufficient: for, behold, unto thy Sustainer all must return.* -- Q.96:6-8

*Lit., “is the return (ar-ruj’aa)”. The noun has here twofold implication: “everyone will inescapably be brought before God for judgment”, as well as “everything that exists goes back to God as its source”. In ultimate analysis, the statement expressed in verses 6 to 8 rejects as absurd the arrogant idea that man could ever be self-sufficient and, hence, “master of his own fate”; furthermore, it implies that all moral concepts – that is, all discrimination between good and evil, or right and wrong – are indissolubly linked with the concept of man’s responsibility to a Supreme Power: in other words, without such a feeling of responsibility – whether conscious or subconscious – the concept of “morality” as such loses all its meaning.

Prophet said

1. “You are in no way better than a Red one or a black one (or a white one) except that you surpass him on account of piety.” -- H: Ahmed. N: Abu Zarr.

2. “When a respectable man from a tribe comes to you, show him honour”--H: Muslim. N: Jabir.

2.13. HONOUR

God says

As for those who take the deniers of the truth for their allies in preference to the believers – do they hope to be honoured by them when, all honour belongs to God [alone]?* -- Q.4: 139

*The term “allies” does not indicate, in this context, merely political alliance. More than anything else, it obviously alludes to a “moral alliance” with the deniers of the truth: that is to say, to an adoption of their way of life in preference to the way of life of the believers, in the hope of being “honoured”, or accepted as equals, by the former. Since an imitation of the way of life of confirmed unbelievers must obviously conflict with the moral principles demanded by true faith, it unavoidably leads to a gradual abondonment of those principles.

He who desires might and glory [ought to know that] all might and glory belong to God [alone]. Unto Him ascend all good words, and the righteous deed does He exalt. -- Q.35:10

Prophet said

1. “The most honorable among men is one who is most pious among them’* -- H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.

*Ancestry, cast, colour, wealth, authority, popularity etc., form the basis for pride and not honour. All racial national or tribal prejudice is condemned both in the Qur’an and the Hadith. The famous saying of Messenger of God: “He is not of us who proclaims the cause of tribal partnership; and he is not of us who fights in the cause of tribal partnership; and he is not one of us who dies in the cause of tribal partnership” (H: Abu Daud. N: Jubayr ibn Mut’im.) When asked the meaning of ‘tribal partnership’, the Prophet answered, “It means helping thine own people in an unjust cause” (Ibid. N: Wasilah ibn al-Asqa) – Al-Hadis

2.12. BOASTING (concluded)

God says

As for that (happy) life in the hereafter, We grant it to those who do not seek to exalt themselves on earth, nor yet to spread corruption: for the future belongs to God-conscious.*-- Q.28: 83

* The last clause makes it clear that, in order to have spiritual value, man’s “not seeking” worldly grandeur of self-indulgence in things depraved must be an outcome, not of indifference or of a lack of opportunity, but solely of a conscious moral choice.

…do not, then, consider yourselves pure – [for] He knows best as to who is conscious of Him.* -- Q.53: 32

i.e., “never boast your own piety”, but remain humble and remember that “it is God who causes whomever He wills to remain pure” (4:49)

Prophet said

1. When asked: Is it party-spirit that a man loves his own people? “No,” said the Prophet, “but it is party-spirit that a man helps his people in wrong-doing.” – H: Ahmed and Ibn Majah. N: Ubadah- Kasir.

2 “Whoever helps his people in an unjust cause is like a camel which falls in a well and is pulled by his tail.” -- H: Abu Daud. N: Ibn Masud.

2.12. BOASTING

God says

… Indeed, God does not love any of those who, full of self-conceit, act in a boastful manner.-- Q.4: 36

And thus it is: if We let him taste ease and plenty after hardship has visited him, he is sure to say, “Gone is all affliction from me!” – for, behold, he is given to vain exultation, and glories only in himself.* -- Q.11:10

* Lit., “he is exultant beyond all measure, excessively self-glorifying” -- i.e., he usually attributes the turn of fortune to his own good qualities and his supposed “good luck” and not to God’s grace.

Prophet said

1. “There is no superiority of one over the other except for religion and piety.”--H: Ahmed and Baihaqi. N: Oqbah-b-A`mer.

2. “Behold, God has removed from you the arrogance of ignorance with its boast of ancestral glories. Man is but a God-conscious believer or an unfortunate sinner. People, every one of them, are children of Adam, and Adam was created out of dust.” -- H: Tirmizi and Abu Daud. N: Abu Hurairah.

3.“He who boasts of receiving what he has not been given is like one who puts on two false garments.” – H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Asma.