“…‘Those of you who spent and fought before the Conquest are not equal to those who spent and fought afterwards; the former are higher in rank than the latter, yet to each Allah has promised the finest reward.’

Negations of equality occur often in the Noble Quran:
‘Say, are the blind and the seeing equal? Or are darkness and light the same?’
And: ‘The two seas are not alike: one is sweet, fresh, and pleasant to drink, while the other is salty and bitter.’
There are many such verses.

I wish to call attention here to a phrase some people use—at times with good intentions, at other times with ill—namely their claim that Islam is “the religion of equality.” This is a false statement about Islam, for Islam is not a religion of equality; Islam is the religion of justice, which is to give every individual what he rightfully deserves. If two people are equal in entitlement, then—and only then—are they treated equally with respect to the consequences of that entitlement; but where they differ, they cannot be treated the same. One can never truthfully describe Islam as a religion of absolute equality—rather, it is the religion of justice, as Allah the Exalted says: ‘Indeed, Allah commands justice, excellence, and giving to relatives.’

This expression—“Islam is the religion of equality”—may be used by some people for an evil purpose. For example, one might say, “There is no difference between male and female; the religion is a religion of equality, so give the woman the same rights you give the man…” They argue thus because, they claim, Islam is the religion of equality. The socialists likewise declare, “The religion is the religion of equality; it is unacceptable that one person be extremely rich while another is extremely poor. We must take from the wealthy and give to the poor, for the religion is the religion of equality.” They employ this phrase with a malicious intent. And since the term can be invoked for good ends or for evil…"