Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Shalawat and salam to our Prophet Muhammad, his family and companions.
Maybe there are those who think that the noblest are those who are rich in wealth, from the conglomerate class, who are beautiful and have high positions, come from Arab or aristocratic descent.
However, Allah himself asserts that the noblest are the most pious.
The verse that should be contemplated today is the word of Allah Ta'ala,
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ مِنْ ذَكَرٍ وَأُنْثَى وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ
O mankind, indeed We created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you in the sight of Allah is the most pious among you. Verily Allah is All-Knowing, All-Knowing. (Surah Al Hujurat: 13)
Ath Thobari rahimahullah said, “Indeed, the most honorable of you, O mankind, is the most pious of Allah, that is, by fulfilling various obligations and avoiding immorality. It is not the most honorable to behold from his majestic house or from a noble lineage." (Tafsir Ath Thobari, 21:386)
Ibn Kathir rahimahullah said, "Indeed you can be noble with piety and not be seen from your descendants" (Tafsir Al Qur'an Al 'Azim, 13: 169)
The companions of Ibn 'Abbas radhiyallahu 'anhuma said,
كرم الدنيا الغنى، وكرم الآخرة التقوى.
“The glory of a person in the world is because he is rich. But the honor of a person in the hereafter is because of his piety." This is quoted in the interpretation of Al Baghowi. (Ma'alimut Tanzil, 7:348)
Al Alusi said, this verse contains a prohibition to be proud of each other with descendants. Al Alusi rahimahulah said, "Verily, the most honorable and the highest in rank among you in the sight of Allah in this world and in the hereafter is the most pious. If you want to be proud of each other, be proud of each other in piety (you)." (Ruhul Ma'ani, 19:290)
In the commentary of Al Bahr Al Muhith (10:116) it is stated, "Indeed Allah made you as mentioned in the verse (ie some are from non-Arabs and some are Arabs). This is so that you get to know each other even though you are of different descent. Do not claim to be from another lineage. Do not be proud of the noble lineage of your father or grandfather. Claim each other who is the most noble with piety."
Muhammad bin 'Ali Asy Syaukani rahimahullah said, “Indeed, the most honorable of you is the most pious. It is the pious who are entitled to the glory, which is more noble than the person who does not have the character of piety. He is the most honorable and high in position (with Allah). So, if you claim to be proud of your noble lineage, then it doesn't show glory. It does not show someone is more noble and has the main position (with Allah).” (Fathul Qodir, 7:20)
In the commentary of Al Jalalain (528) it is stated, "Do not be proud of one another with the height of your lineage. You should be proud of each other which of you is the most pious."
Shaykh As Sa'di rahimahullah said, "Allah has made you into different nations and tribes (some are Arab and some are non-Arab) so that you may know each other and know each other's lineage. But glory is measured by piety.
That is the most honorable of you in the sight of Allah, who is diligent in obedience and stays away from immorality. The standard of glory (in the sight of Allah) is not seen from kinship and people, nor is it seen from the side of a noble lineage. Allah is All-Knowing and All-Knowing. Allah really knows who is pious outwardly and inwardly, or who is pious only outwardly, but not inwardly. Allah will repay him according to the reality." (Taisir Al Karimir Rahman, 802)
Many hadiths also mention the above, namely the noblest of humans is the most pious.
عَنْ أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ – رضى الله عنه – قَالَ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ – صلى الله عليه وسلم – أَىُّ النَّاسِ أَكْرَمُ قَالَ « أَكْرَمُهُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاهُمْ » . قَالُوا لَيْسَ عَنْ هَذَا نَسْأَلُكَ . قَالَ « فَأَكْرَمُ النَّاسِ يُوسُفُ نَبِىُّ اللَّهِ ابْنُ نَبِىِّ اللَّهِ ابْنِ نَبِىِّ اللَّهِ ابْنِ خَلِيلِ اللَّهِ » . قَالُوا لَيْسَ عَنْ هَذَا نَسْأَلُكَ . قَالَ « فَعَنْ مَعَادِنِ الْعَرَبِ تَسْأَلُونِى » . قَالُوا نَعَمْ . قَالَ « فَخِيَارُكُمْ فِى الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ خِيَارُكُمْ فِى الإِسْلاَمِ إِذَا فَقِهُوا »
From Abu Hurairah radhiyallahu 'anhu, he said that the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam was asked, "Who is the noblest person?" "The most honorable in the sight of Allah is the most pious of them", replied the Apostle sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam. The person said, "That's not what we asked". "The most noble of people is Yusuf, the prophet of Allah, the son of the Prophet of Allah, the son of the prophet of Allah, the son of His lover," he replied. The person said again, "That's not what we asked". "What from Arab descent?", he asked. They replied, "That's right". He said, "The best among you in the time of ignorance is the best in Islam if he is a fakih (understand religion)." (Narrated by Bukhari no. 4689)
عَنْ أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى صُوَرِكُمْ وَأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى قُلُوبِكُمْ وَأَعْمَالِكُمْ ».
From Abu Hurairah, he said, The Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Verily, Allah does not look at your appearance and wealth. But what Allah sees is your heart and your deeds." (HR. Muslim no. 2564)
عَنْ أَبِى ذَرٍّ أَنَّ النَّبِىَّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَالَ لَهُ « انْظُرْ فَإِنَّكَ لَيْسَ بِخَيْرٍ مِنْ أَحْمَرَ وَلاَ أَسْوَدَ إِلاَّ أَنْ تَفْضُلَهُ بِتَقْوَى »
From Abu Dharr, the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam said to him, "See, you will not be better than the red-skinned or black-skinned people until you surpass them in piety." (Narrated by Ahmad, 5: 158. Shaykh Shu'aib Al Arnauth said that this hadith is authentic in terms of other chains).
Not being white makes us noble, nor is it because we are descendants of blue blood, Arab descent, or children of conglomerates. What makes us noble is because of piety. Hopefully the lesson about this noble verse is useful and we can reflect on it and realize it. Wallahu waliyyut taufiq.
Alhamdulillahilladzi bi ni'matihi tatimmush sholihaat.
Reference:
- Fathul Qodir, Muhammad bin 'Ali Asy Syaukani, source book: Mawqi' Tafasir.
- Ma'alimut Tanzil, Abu Muhammad Al Husain bin Mas'ud Al Baghowi, publication of Dar Thoyyibah, fourth printing, 1417 H
- Ruhul Ma'ani fii Tafsir Al Qur'an Al 'Azhim was Sab'il Matsanii, Mahmud bin 'Abdullah Al Husaini Al Alusi, source book: Mawqi' Tafasir.
- Tafsir Al Bahr Al Muhith, Abu Hayan Muhammad bin Yusuf bin 'Ali bin Yusuf bin Hayyan, source book: Mawqi' Tafasir.
- Tafsir Al Jalalain, Jalaluddin Al Mahalli and Jalaluddin As Suyuthi, Darus Salam issue, second printing, 1422 H.
- Tafsir of the Qur'an Al 'Azhim, Abul Fida' Ismail bin Katsir Ad Dimasyqi, published by Muassasah Qurthubah.
- Tafsir Ath Thobari Jaami'ul Bayan 'an Ta'wil Ayil Qur'an, Abu Ja'far Muhammad bin Jarir Ath Thobari, published by Dar Hijr.
- Taisir Al Karimir Rahman fii Tafsir Kalamil Mannan, 'Abdurrahman bin Naashir As Sa'di, Muassasah Ar Risalah issue, first printing, 1420 H.
Sunnah.
