Source: The Asian Age, by Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi.

One of the glorious aspects of Islam is that it is an entirely pluralistic concept of faith, both culturally and religiously. It seeks to establish such a pluralistic society where all citizens of the state can enjoy equal rights and follow their respective religions without any discrimination. Its having originated in Saudi Arabia does not imply that Islam is an “Arabian religion” which aspires to “Arabianise” the whole world. The holy Quran has dispelled all such baseless notions in the following verse: “O men! Behold. We have created you all out of a male and a female, and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another. Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of God is the one who is most deeply conscious of Him. Behold, God is all-knowing, all-aware” (Quran 49:13).

The salient feature of this verse is: “Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of God is the one who is most deeply conscious of Him.” It apprises us of the divine truth that it is neither our culture, nationality, skin colour, nor caste, creed and language that elevates the status of a person in the sight of God. Rather it is our piety and God-consciousness that hold us in high regard.

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