Islam Creator of the Modern Age
4. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
~ 151 ~
The truth is that, in temperament and physique,
human beings display many differences, be they
inherited or acquired. For instance, one is black,
another white, one is rich, another poor, one rules,
another is ruled. These differences exist, according
to the Qur’an, as a matter of identification (49:13)
and for the sake of differentiating one from another
and not for the purpose of discrimination. One
might put it that these differences are a matter of
classification, so that the world may be properly
organized. This does not mean then that some are of
high, while others are of low status. These
differences exist only to facilitate the structuring of
the activities of a world, which exhibits so great a
diversity.
Just as man had formed unrealistic concepts
regarding physical phenomena under the influence
of superstitions born of polytheistic beliefs,
similarly, unrealistic concepts about human beings
also gained universal currency. Over the centuries,
these concepts came to form part of the traditions of
the peoples of the world. For instance, it was this
concept of inequality, which led to the formation of
the caste system in certain societies. It was believed
