25 Benefits of Equality in Islam – Concepts

Review by : Yuli SE., MM

Equality is always called Al-Musawah in Islam. This means no one feels higher than the other and everyone has the same degree so there are not discrimination and rudeness towards someone. In the teachings of Islam, the human is not discriminated based on race, color, the rank of office, property, or other. Islam only sees man based on his devotion, that is, based on his obedience in carrying out his commandments and away from his prohibitions. Allah has already told that He creates human and love all of us without looking at an individual.

O mankind! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female and We made you nations and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, (the) most noble of you near Allah (is the) most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah (is) All-Knower, All-Aware. (Al-Hujurat 49:13)

1. All diversity is allowed

Equality means we respect the diversity that Allah creates in this world. Allah is really amazing because He creates humans different with their own strengths and weakness, so they complement each other. By equality, it means the diversity is accepted by us and we never discriminate someone because of the diversity.

And among His Signs (is the) creation (of) the heavens and the earth, and the diversity (of) your languages and your colors. Indeed, in that surely (are) Signs for those of knowledge. (Ar-Rum 30:22)

2. Create tolerance and respect each other

Equality creates tolerance that will make us respect each other even though there are some things different from us such as religion, race, skin and other else. We will respect other doings without judging them not correct and let them do what they want.

Say, “O disbelievers! Not I worship what you worship. And not you (are) worshippers (of) what I worship And not I am a worshipper (of) what you worship. And not you (are) worshippers (of) what I worship. For you (is) your religion, and for me (is) my religion.” (Al-Kafirun 109:1-6)

3. Remove arrogance

The arrogant attitude is seeing himself the truth one and feeling that he is above others. The arrogance person feels perfect and sees himself above other people because of his strength and someone’s weakness. This often makes one do not want to help others who are considered far below him. By having the equality, we can remove this trait that can make us separated.

And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful. (Luqman 31:18)

See also: Importance of Faith in Islam

4. Increase faith and iman to Allah

All humans are equal in the eyes of Allah according to the principle of equality. Therefore, the noble degree lies not in the differences that one has, but rather the quality of faith and iman to Allah SWT. It is because only with these we will get the degree of noble on His side.

“O All humans, verily your Allah is One, your father is one, there is no Arab over non-Arab, nor non Arabic over Arabs, nor is the person (skinned) black over the (skinned) red (ie white) nor vice versa except with faith, verily your glorious in Allah’s sight is the most pious. “ (HR Al-Baihaqi from Jabir Ibn Abdillah)

5. Does not create arbitrary power

Equality will make someone has a same power over the other. It will prevent something bad such as arbitrary power that can make the strong one can bully and take arbitrary action towards the weak one. Allah strongly condemns this act because He wants us to embrace each other in this world.

And whoever kills a believer intentionally then his recompense (is) Hell, abiding in it forever and Allah’s wrath will fall on him and He (will) curse him and He has prepared for him a punishment great. (An-Nisa 4:93)

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6. Make each other feel closer

Equality makes us feel closer to each other. We can talk, work, and do other else normally with other people without worrying something like the difference between us. In Islam, there is no so-called difference the Prophet SAW also made many of his friends who once regarded as a despicable slave to be a respected person. We need to follow Prophet because He thinks that all humans are His friends and needs to be appreciated.

Only the believers (are) brothers, so make peace between your brothers and fear Allah so that you may receive mercy. (Al-Hujurat 49:10)

7. All opinions are counted

By equality, all opinions are counted and heard by all people. There is no restriction when someone stands an opinion. By hearing all opinions, it can create the best solution without a disagreement and misunderstanding.

Those who they listen (to) the Word, then follow the best thereof, those (are) they whom Allah has guided them, and those are [they] the men of understanding. (Az-Zumar 39:18)

8. Can make use of the potential ability

By having the equality, we can make use of the potential ability that we have because there is no restriction for the resource that we can use to improve ourselves such as education, health, work, and other else. If there is a discrimination, of course, we can’t use these so it will obstruct us to improve.

And certainly, We have honored (the) children of Adam and We carried them on the land and the sea, and We have provided them of the good things and We preferred them over many of those whom We have created (with) preference. (Al-Isra 17:70)

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9. Create fairness and justice

We have already seen many times in Indonesia that there is a difference between people in the eyes of law when there is a case or punishment. The people who are rich and have a high position will get an easy punishment and they can easily avoid it. Meanwhile, the people who are poor will get a high punishment and can’t avoid it. This makes our heart hurt when seeing the injustice in this country because there is not the equality. So, the equality can create fairness and justice in the eyes of law and other fields.

Indeed, Allah orders you to render the trusts to their owners, and when you judge between the people to judge with justice. Indeed, Allah excellently advises you with it. Indeed, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing. (An-Nisa 4:58)

10. Life will be more organized and well maintained

By having the equality, the life will be more organized and well maintained. It is because the disaster can be avoided such as killing each other, corruption, and damaging the environment. We can live a peaceful and happy life in this world.

From time that, We ordained on (the) Children (of) Israel that he who kills a soul other than (for) a soul or (for) spreading corruption in the earth then (it) is as if he has killed all [the] mankind, and whoever saves it then (it) is as if he has saved all [the] mankind. And surely came to them Our Messengers with clear Signs yet, indeed, many of them after that in the earth (are) surely those who commit excesses. (Al-Maidah 5:32)

11. Create the emancipation of women

By having the equality, we can respect women more as a man. We have already known that there are many cases that the women are discriminated so they can’t have their rights even though they have the same degree with the men.

Indeed, the Muslim men and women, and the believing men and the believing women, and the obedient men and the obedient women, and the truthful men and the truthful women, and the patient men and the patient women, and the humble men and the humble women, and the men who give charity and the women who give charity and the men who fast and the women who fast, and the men who guard their chastity and the women who guard (it), and the men who remember Allah much and the women who remember Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a reward great. (Al-Ahzab 33:35)

12. Can have own wealth and property

In the past, we couldn’t have our own wealth and property because we were being colonized so we need to hand it over to the invaders. Now we can feel the result of our hard work because of the equality. We can have as much wealth as possible and it can’t be seized by others without strong reasons.