Islam’s Contribution
in the Building of Humanity

Fourteen hundred years ago, when Islam came, humanity was divided into different groups based on colour and race. Islam introduced the idea that the Creator of all human beings is one, and He created all people from the same substance. The visible differences in colour and race among people are only for identification—not for superiority. As Maulana Altaf Hussain Hali (1837 – 1914), an Urdu poet and writer, expressed:

“Yeh pehla sabaq tha kitaab-e-huda ka

Ke hai saari makhlooq kunba Khuda ka”

Meaning: This was the first lesson in the Book of Guidance, that every creation is the family of God.

This message of Islam was the voice of human nature. That is why it deeply entered people’s hearts. Those who were ruling others by dividing people into high and low classes strongly opposed Islam, because they saw that if this idea spread, their superiority—maintained for thousands of years—would come to an end.

But the message of Islam was the voice of nature, and it quickly spread among people. Gradually, the upper class became an ineffective minority. On the basis of human equality, Islam succeeded in bringing about a social revolution. This revolution began in Arabia and eventually spread across most of the known ancient world.

Before Islam, no person from a lower class could speak against someone from a higher class. Islam brought such a transformation that even a common person had the right to criticise the khalifah of the time. An ordinary person could bring the ruler to court. In the mosque, a poor person could stand shoulder to shoulder with rich people and kings during prayer.

In the same way, Islam instilled in people a sense of muhasaba (self-accountability). That is, human beings are not free to do whatever they wish without consequences. Instead, everyone is under God’s control and will be presented in His court after death. There, those who did good deeds will be rewarded, and those who did wrong will face severe punishment.

When this idea took root in people’s minds, it transformed them completely. People began to fear even thinking badly of others, because they knew that God is aware of what’s in their hearts. So how could one escape His questioning?

Those who had wrongfully taken land returned it to its rightful owners, because the Prophet of Islam said that land not rightfully yours, if you make it your property today, will become a burning coal for you tomorrow. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 2680)

Under the influence of this belief, people began to live with great care. They stopped speaking ill of others, gave up lying, and started speaking the truth. They abandoned dishonesty and became trustworthy. They gave up mischief and became peace-loving. They stopped injustice and adopted the path of justice. They gave up snatching others’ rights and started giving people their due. Those who once saw themselves as superior and others as low began to see all people as equals.

All these moral changes came because Islam made people understand that they are always under God’s watch. God’s angels are recording every action. In the life after death, this record will be presented, and Judgement will be based on it. This belief transformed people from living irresponsibly to living responsibly.

What’s more, Islam did not just preach high principles, it succeeded in practically establishing a society based on those teachings.

The society Islam built in Arabia and beyond was one where all people lived as equals. Every person had confidence that whoever he dealt with would not lie, break promises, act dishonestly, or exploit him. There was trust that others would not act selfishly or with ill intent. No one would try to cheat or harm others.

Islam created a society that was morally consistent and reliable. Every person was known for a predictable character. You could trust that someone would not harm you even if you criticised them. If a poor person became rich, or a subordinate became a ruler, he would not become arrogant. If there was any financial or property matter, people trusted each other to act justly.

A good human society is one in which people consistently behave with good morals—where character is predictable. And that is exactly the kind of society the Prophet of Islam built. It was a mercy for humanity and a blessing for the people of the earth.

All India Radio, New Delhi, 24 May 1996.