[49] Surah Al-Hujurat [The Dwellings]: Ayat 013

১৩. হে মানব, আমি তোমাদেরকে এক পুরুষ ও এক নারী থেকে সৃষ্টি করেছি  এবং তোমাদেরকে বিভিন্ন জাতি ও গোত্রে বিভক্ত করেছি, যাতে তোমরা পরস্পরে পরিচিতি হও। নিশ্চয় আল্লাহর কাছে সে-ই সর্বাধিক সম্ভ্রান্ত যে সর্বাধিক পরহেযগার। নিশ্চয় আল্লাহ সর্বজ্ঞ, সবকিছুর খবর রাখেন।

Ayat 13. 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 honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa [i.e. one of the Muttaqun (pious). Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.

Tafseer of Surah Al-Hujurat Ayat 49. Al Hujurat (The Chambers) Ayat 13. O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). This is addressed to all mankind and not only to the Muslim brotherhood, though it is understood that in a perfected world the two would be synonymous. As it is, mankind is descended from one pair of parents. Their tribes, races, and nations are convenient labels by which we may know certain differing characteristics. Before Allah they are all one, and he gets most honor who is most righteous. 

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: It was asked, "O Messenger of Allah [SAWW]! Who is the most honorable amongst mankind?'' He [SAWW](PBUH) said, "The most honorable of them is one who is the most pious of them.'' They said, "We are not asking about this". He said, "Then, the most honorable of men was Yusuf (Joseph), the Prophet of Allah, the son of Allah's Prophet, who was the son of the Prophet of Allah, who was the son of the Khalil of Allah (i.e., Ibrahim (PBUH))' They said, "We are not asking you about this.'' He enquired, "Are you then asking me about the classes of the Arabs? The best of them in the Pre-Islamic Period of Ignorance are the best of them in Islam, provided they comprehend the religious knowledge".  [Muslim Book 30, Chapter 08, Hadith # 5679].

Lesson: as mentioned above in Surah Al-Hujurat Ayat 13 “Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa [i.e. one of the Muttaqun (pious)’’ We come to know from this Hadith that the families which enjoyed popularity and prestige for their eminent qualities (like generosity, chivalry, honesty, etc.) in the pre-Islamic period were also credited for these values after their acceptance of Islam. But now their respect was qualified with their religious knowledge and practice. Their capabilities, self-respect and other qualities were turned towards a different direction. These qualities which were previously used for paganism were now devoted for Islam.