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09-12-05 8:25 AM

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Sunni_Student786 As salaamu alaykum. I have a question regarding the following Hadith quoted on page 523 of Shaykh Nuh Ha Mim Keller's (may Allah preserve him) translation of the Reliance of the Traveler (ar. Umdat us Salik): "Allah has chosen the Arabs above others"; Does anyone know about the authenticity of the narration?

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07-09-2005, 04:52 AM

If the narration is authentic, it would seem to contradict the statement that the Rasul (peace be upon him) made in his farewell Hajj wherein he said that, "An arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab save through Taqwa". I have read through brother GF Haddad's exposition of the issue of the Superiority of the Arabs, but it makes no mention of the narration in question, so if some of my more knowledgeable brothers and/or sisters could comment up it, I would appreciate it. Jazakallahu Khair. Wa'salaam.

Omar HH It's true, Arabs are the best of people. It says in the Hadith in Shaykh Jalaludin Suyuti's book on Ahlul Bayt: "Ahsanul nas ul 'Arab, wa Ahsanul 'Arab Quraysh, wa Ahsan Quraysh Bani Hashim"

07-09-2005, 05:05 AM

The best of people are the Arabs, and the best of the Arabs are Quraysh, and the best of Quraysh are Bani Hashim. That doesn't mean "la farqa baynul arabi wal 'ajami illa bit taqwa" "there is no difference between Arabs and nonArabs except with taqwa"

tilmeedh :salam:

07-09-2005, 05:17 AM

Hmm... so that superiority has to do with genes, or nobility, or intelligence, or piety... or what? ws.

Omar HH :salam:

07-09-2005, 05:21 AM

Hmm... so that superiority has to do with genes, or nobility, or intelligence, or piety... or what? ws. "Allah has chosen the Arabs above others" The Arabs are honored because the best of Creation ever Created was an Arab. The Seal of Prophets and Final
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09-12-05 8:25 AM

Messenger he was an Arab. The Qur'an is in Arabic and Shaykh Hamza says some 'Ulema even say that Allah created the Arabic language just for the Qur'an. So I mean the Arabs are chosen as the people who will have the Best of Creation as part of them. That doesn't mean we hate non-Arabs. It's like Ahlul Bayt - they are just born Ahlul Bayt and they have a special position - we are OBLIGED by the Qur'an to be good to them.

Omar HH :salam:

07-09-2005, 05:22 AM

Hmm... so that superiority has to do with genes, or nobility, or intelligence, or piety... or what? ws. By the way - that book by Shaykh Jalaludin Suyuti is respected by Shi'a - go look it up actually.

Sunni_Student786 It's true, Arabs are the best of people. It says in the Hadith in Shaykh Jalaludin Suyuti's book on Ahlul Bayt: "Ahsanul nas ul 'Arab, wa Ahsanul 'Arab Quraysh, wa Ahsan Quraysh Bani Hashim"

07-09-2005, 06:58 AM

The best of people are the Arabs, and the best of the Arabs are Quraysh, and the best of Quraysh are Bani Hashim. That doesn't mean "la farqa baynul arabi wal 'ajami illa bit taqwa" "there is no difference between Arabs and nonArabs except with taqwa" Bro, can you explain that last sentence i.e. "la farqa baynul arabi wal 'ajami illa bit taqwa" "there is no difference between Arabs and non-Arabs except with taqwa"? What is meant by that statement "there is no difference between Arabs and non-Arabs except with taqwa"? And do you have any info on the authenticity of the narration speaking about the superiority of the Arabs, where that narration is found, etc.?

Omar HH

07-09-2005, 07:41 AM

Bro, can you explain that last sentence i.e. "la farqa baynul arabi wal 'ajami illa bit taqwa" "there is no difference between Arabs and non-Arabs except with taqwa"? What is meant by that statement "there is no difference between Arabs and non-Arabs except with taqwa"? And do you have any info on the authenticity of the narration speaking about the superiority of the Arabs, where that narration is found, etc.? I worded it bad, i meant those two hadiths about how the Arabs are the best of people does not contradict the hadith "la farqa baynul 'arabi wal 'ajami illa bit taqwa" "there is no difference between Arabs and non-Arabs except with taqwa" at least thats the wording of the hadith that I have heard from Rasul Allah :saw:'s final sermon I do believe. It's true no Arab is better than a non-Arab and no non-Arab is better than an Arab except with taqwa. But this being said we should not disregard the narrations about the Arabs especially about Quraysh. The Arabs have been honored by Rasul Allah :saw:. Also Ahlul Bayt has been honored by Allah ta'ala and in the Qur'an we are asked to be good to them. Quraysh is even honored with their own Surah. Many 'Ulema say that the Khalifa MUST be from Quraysh.
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09-12-05 8:25 AM

The Arabs are honored, Quraysh is more honored, and Bani Hashim is even more honored. Wa Jazakallahu Khayrun, Allahu 'Alam - I am no 'Alim by anyone's standards - just Omar's little explanation. Ahobak billah wa Allah yarda 'alayka.

tilmeedh :salam:

07-09-2005, 11:43 AM

From what I know, and what I firmly stand by, no one is superior by race. Even if the ahlul-bayt is more superior to others, we cannot use it as a reason to say that ALL arabs are more superior to the other races. If one were to generalize in this way, I could say that Bani Ibrahim :as: is superior to all. Or if one wants to be specific, one would say Bani Hashim is superior. 'Course we cant say this, because there were quite a number of bad apples. We judge by taqwa, not skin. :salam:

Omar HH :salam:

07-09-2005, 02:56 PM

From what I know, and what I firmly stand by, no one is superior by race. Even if the ahlul-bayt is more superior to others, we cannot use it as a reason to say that ALL arabs are more superior to the other races. If one were to generalize in this way, I could say that Bani Ibrahim :as: is superior to all. Or if one wants to be specific, one would say Bani Hashim is superior. 'Course we cant say this, because there were quite a number of bad apples. We judge by taqwa, not skin. :salam: We're not saying it in a racist sense. But I think even you Shi'a accept that hadith in your books actually: Ahsanul nasul 'Arabl wa Ahsanul 'Arabl Qurasyh wa Ahsan Qurasyh Bani Hashim. Go ask a Shi'a scholar but I even saw that hadith on a big Shi'a wesbite (*************).

tilmeedh :salam:

08-09-2005, 08:15 PM

Let's stick to this hadith, and not talk about shi'i ahadith for now. For one thing, the words in the shia version is slightly different (implying that Allah chose Kinanah from the sons of Isma'il..... and ... Hashim from the sons of Quraish). A similar sunni hadith exists too. And it does not imply 'tafdheel' of an entire race over another. In any case, let's put aside the shia hadith for now. My questions were pretty clear I think. [u]How are the arabs better than the other races? Is it because the Prophet was an arab? Does that really imply superiority of the arabs, or does it show the dismal state the arabs were in because of which Allah sent His BEST Prophet to them? Also, using your philosophy, I could say that many a Hashimi was 'better' than the other Qureishis simpy because (s)he was closer to the Prophet by blood.

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09-12-05 8:25 AM

Looking forward to seeing clarification of the word 'tafdheel', insha Allah. Wassalam.

Omar HH And it does not imply 'tafdheel' of an entire race over another. We do not say one race is better than another in a racist sense. Look at the Prophet Muhammad's :saw: last sermon.

08-09-2005, 10:48 PM

For example you and I both agree about how Ahlul Bayt are honored. To be Ahlul Bayt is better than to be nonAhlul Bayt (if you could chose one). I think you will agree. So if someone is honored by being Ahlul Bayt he is honored by being honored by lineage to Rasul Allah :saw:. We can reconcile the hadiths: "No Arab is better than a non-Arab, and no non-Arab is better than an Arab except in taqwa" and, "The best of people are Arabs, the best of Arabs are Quraysh, and the best of Quraysh are Bani Hashim" and, "Allah has honored the Arabs over all people" Go see: http://www.abc.se/~m9783/fiqhi/fiqha_e76.html So it means little to be a Sayyid or Sharif without taqwa, and even less to be an Arab unless one has taqwa. vBulletin v3.8.1, Copyright 2000-2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

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