Page 112 - Mary: An Exemplary Muslim Woman

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revealed, Islam values all people and brings honor, dignity, and re-
spectability to them in both worlds.

The Only Measure of True

Superiority

Unbelievers, whose values differ from those revealed in the Qur'an,

lead their lives according to their society's values, which are the product
of their own reasoning and therefore unreliable. In one verse, Allah asks
the following question:
Do they, then, seek the judgment of the Time of Ignorance? Who could
be better at giving judgment than Allah for people with certainty? (Surat
al-Ma'ida: 50)
One of the values based on unbelief is the criteria for superiority.
The unbelievers' criteria for distinction and superiority are derived from
such worldly values as property, status, career, fame, or physical attrac-
tion. If they cannot meet these criteria, they admire those who can and
feel relatively worthless in comparison.
As a result, the details of everyday situations become important
when classifying people. For example, some people consider it vital that
they live in a posh suburb, have the newest and most desirable car, have

parents with very successful careers, and have a desirable profession.
Or, they want expensive and designer-label clothing, well-placed rela-
tives, a diploma from the best university, and so on. When choosing
their friends, associates, or even their potential spouse, they follow these
same criteria.
In many countries, people place great importance upon skin color,
the language they speak, or their nationality. In fact, the same criteria for
superiority apply to all unbelieving societies, with only some minor dif-
ferences based upon culture, history, and other factors.

Mary: An Exemplary Muslim Woman