In the Sound Collection it is reported from Abū Hurayrah—may Allah be pleased with him—that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked, “Which people are the best?” He replied, “The most God-fearing among them.”

They said, “That is not what we are asking about.” He answered, “Joseph, the Prophet of Allah, son of Jacob, the Prophet of Allah, son of Isaac, the Prophet of Allah, son of Abraham, the Close Friend of Allah.”

They said again, “That is not what we are asking about.” He said, “Is it the lineages of the Arabs you want to ask me about? People are like the ores of gold and silver: the finest of them in the pre-Islamic era are the finest of them in Islam—once they acquire understanding.”

Thus both the Book and the Sunnah establish that the most honoured people in Allah’s sight are those who are most God-fearing.

In the Sunan collections the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, also said: “No Arab has any merit over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab; no black person over a white person, nor a white person over a black person—except through piety. You are all from Adam, and Adam was made of dust.”

And he, peace and blessings be upon him, also said: “Allah the Exalted has removed from you …"