38:75-76 - the First Racist in the History of the Universe:

Are we also guilty for following in his footsteps?

قَالَ يَا إِبْلِيسُ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَن تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَيَّ أَسْتَكْبَرْتَ أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ الْعَالِينَ

قَالَ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِي مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِن طِينٍ

(Allah) said: "O Iblis (Satan)! What prevents you from prostrating yourself to one whom I have created with Both My Hands.

Are you too proud and arrogant (to fall prostrate to Adam) or are you one of the high exalted?"

[Iblis (Satan)] said: "I am better than he, You created me from fire, and You created him from clay." (38:75-76)

Iblis refused to obey a from Allah to prostrate to Adam, believing that because he was created from fire, he was more superior to Adam who was created from clay.

This refusal exposed a true disease in his heart – the first racist. The arrogance to believe in his self-superiority, which in fact wasn’t even on accord of his own actions – it was a given to him. An arrogance which would grow so great that it would eventually lead him to be condemned and accursed until the Day of Judgment & forever.

Now, there are profound lessons that we need to learn from the story of Iblis. The reality is, out of the wisdom and mercy Allah, He grants some of us certain things which are not of our own effort : our race, our family, our good looks, our intelligence, our status in society, etc. 

Because these are a GIVEN to us, we have NO right to feel superior over others because of what Allah granted us. Likewise, we shouldn’t feel INFERIOR to others who are ‘preferred’ in this sense either because this plants the seeds arrogance – that feeling that you would have been superior, if only you had been granted 'it'.

The Prophet Muhammad (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) said:

“Whosoever has an ATOM’S WEIGHT of ARROGANCE (kibr) shall not enter Paradise –

arrogance is to deny the truth, and to scorn (look down upon) the people” (Sahih Muslim, Book #001, Hadith #0164).

So if any of us has any hopes of entering Jannah, don’t ever discriminate others on the basis of race, good looks, family stature, talents, intellectual capacity, or physical ability – If you got it, you don’t have to flaunt it: These are all gifts and a trust from Allah. What matters isn’t what Allah Granted us, rather, what we DO with what He Granted us.

Even our achievements, our wealth, our jobs, our education, our successful families, aren’t completely our efforts – there are people out there who are better and 'more deserving' than us, but are not decreed by Allah to be in the position that we are in for Wisdoms best known to Him Alone. 

We need to humble ourselves to always acknowledge Allah’s blessings and therefore live in shukr (thankfulness) of Allah; never turn Allah’s blessings into a source of Arrogance which will prevent us from entering His Paradise.

وَلَا تَتَمَنَّوْا مَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بِهِ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا اكْتَسَبُوا وَلِلنِّسَاءِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا اكْتَسَبْنَ وَاسْأَلُوا اللَّهَ مِن فَضْلِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا

“And wish not for the things in which Allah has made some of you to excel others.

For men there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for women there is reward for what they have earned, and ask Allah of His Bounty.

Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything” (Surah An-Nisa 4:32)

Remember – at the end of the day, the most honourable in the sight of Allah is nothing to do with the ‘givens’. The most HONOURABLE is something that EVERYONE can develop without barriers – the one with the most taqwa (righteousness, consciousness and love/fear of Allah)

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ

“O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. 

Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has the most Taqwa. 

Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” 

(Surah Hujarat 49:13)

So let's ditch any hint of arrogance from our hearts, and strive towards what we CAN develop: TAQWA.

May Allah remove all forms of arrogance from our hearts, and make us amongst His humble and thankful slaves who strive to be of the people of taqwa .. ameen.