Q: I am very confused about the position of Arabs over other races in Islam. The prophet himself said that an Arab is not better than a non-Arab, yet I also have heard that Arabs, as a whole, have been given a superiority over other races. How do we reconcile these two views? Could you explain exactly in what way Arabs are considered superior?
Does this superiority also exist with regards to religion – for example if two people are equally religious and one is Arab and one is non-Arab, is the one that is Arab more excellent in religion or more pious or more beloved to Allah?
Lastly, are Arab women not considered compatible with a non-Arab men in most scholars’ opinions, yet all non-Arabs are considered compatible with each other. So, from what I understand this compatibility issue is not about cultural differences, because then non-Arabs would not be compatible with other non-Arabs of different races/cultures. So, what is the reason for the incompatibility between an Arab woman and non-Arab man? What is the evidence for this?
A: We need to show respect on account of the fact that they are of the same race as Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).
It is like incompatibility between an Indian and a Zulu.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)