The Proper Law of Equality in Islam

Equality is a concept where the state of being equal especially in form of status, right and also oppotunities.

It also means that we gave each people the same opportunities, support, or access to gain their right and future goal. This concept trying to ensure that no individuals are treated differently or less favourably.

Equality can be implemented on the areas of gender, race, disability, religion or faith, age, and so forth. There are so many benefits of equality in Islam that we should care about.

In Islam as the complete religion equality has been the foundation their though. Islam see equality as an important matter for human beings. Since for Allah SWT all human beings are equal, nothing can change their level beside their faith and worship to Allah SWT. Quran verse mentioned about this as follows,

“O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you people and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.” (QS. Al-Hujurat : 13)

Human both male and female are created by Allah SWT from clay and originated from Adam. It means that we have been equal since our existence in this world, there is no supperior one from the others.

Since we were born we do not bring any possession with us, and if we die we also did not bring anything along with us unless our piety. You may want to read about Rights of Servants in Islam.

Islamic View for The Law of Equality

So how exactly is the law of equality in Islam? Here we will discuss about this matter and see how Islam place equality in their though.

Equality does not mean as same

Yes indeed in Islam we saw equality is distinct from sameness. For example men and women are not same, according to their physical body, nature, character they were different.

It means that men and women created according to their own natural capacity and proper function. That men are able to work hard and women with their tenderness and affection are tend to be motherhood and take care of their families. You may want to read about Positive Aspects of Islam.

But, Islam did not prevent women from working, even they encourage all muslim to provide benefits for society through various works.

As long as women does not neglected their main role in motherhood they are allowed to work and do activities. Isn’t that our duty too, to increase insight and knowledge? [AdSense-B]

Muslims should spread the message of Equality

The Prophet Muhammad SAW said in the following hadith,

“O mankind, your Lord is One and your father is one. You all descended from Adam, and Adam was created from the earth. He is most honored among you in the sight of Allah who is most upright.

No Arab is superior to a non-Arab, no colored person to a white person, or a white person to a colored person except Taqwa (piety).” (At-Tirmidhi)

It means that Rasulullah teach us equality since the beginning because we have to respect each other. No other can distinct us in front of Allah except our Taqwa.

Thus, in Islamic teaching there is no such privilege for Arab people or white people. The law of Equality in Islam is obligatory.

Just take a look at the mosque, every muslim from any race, culture, background can perform prayer in the mosque. And whoever comes in first can filled the front rows despite their background.

Gender equality

[AdSense-A] Both men and women in Islam has their own right, their own will, and they play their own role. It is what we called as the importance of human rights in Islam.

So both men and women are equal in the sight of religion, but they also have their own natural character as mentioned before, a character where it could affect their role in life.

There are something that women can not do but men can do and there are something that men can not do but women can do. It just a matter of god’s will.

“He created you from one soul. Then He made from it its mate, and He produced for you from the grazing livestock eight mates. He creates you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation, within three darkness.

That is Allah, your Lord, to Him belongs dominion. There is no deity except Him, so how are you averted?” (QS. Az-Zumar : 6)

Because we have been created from a single soul it means that we basically one, both men and women. Therefore it does not mean if men is able to do certain matter as they are superior than women. But they have been destined as what they mean to be.

Rasulullah SAW also said in the following hadith that :

“A person who is blessed with a daughter or daughters and make no discrimination between them and his sons and brings them up with kindness and affection, will be as close to me in Paradise as my forefinger and middle finger are to each other.” (Muslim)

These hadith removes all concept of inferiority leveled for women in Islamic view. That Islam also arrange the rights of women in property, education, economic, spiritual, social life and also freedom of determine their way of life. You may want to read about Rights of Minorities in Islam.

Equality is the mission of all muslim since Islam forbid us to discriminate between people. They are all equal, even they are poor, disability, or they have different religion from us they are human in the sight of Allah SWT.

What make us different is our piety and our believe to Allah SWT and only Him who can account us for such matter. We can not force somebody to follow our rules, or we can not depriving others from their rights and happiness because they are different.

“And what is (the matter) with you that you fight not in the cause of Allah and (for) the oppressed among men, women, and children who say, ‘Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper?'” (QS. An-Nisa : 75)

Muslims can fight or against other person if needed, but it only can be done as the sake of and oppressed or tortured person who ask for help. Muslims must be careful on committing act if we do not want to commit sins or violating the rights of others. And that is the explanation for law of equality in Islam muslim should know.