One day, he got late and the blessed place was crowded with attendees. It was the custom for the latecomer to stand where he was present, if there was no space in the place. However, Sayyiduna Saabit Bin Qays رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ came ahead, saying, ‘Make space for me’. He continued to come forward until there was only one person between him and the Holy Nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. He said to even that person, ‘Make space for me’. The person said, ‘You have reached here. Now sit down’. Sayyiduna Saabit Bin Qays رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ sat behind him in anger. After some time, Sayyiduna Saabit Bin Qays رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ asked him, ‘Who are you?’ The person replied that he was so-and-so. Hearing it, Sayyiduna Saabit Bin Qays رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ said mentioning the name of his mother, ‘Oh! So you are the son of so-and-so woman.’ Hearing these comments, the person hung his head in shame because that way of talking used to be used in that era to make a person ashamed. Thereafter, the Quranic Ayah mentioned above was revealed.

Commenting on the above-mentioned blessed Ayah, Sayyiduna Imam Ahmad Bin Hajar Makki Shaafi’i رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated: The purpose of this Divine commandment is that you should not consider anyone inferior because that person may be better and greater than you in the Divine court and dearer to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ than you. (Az-Zawajir, vol. 2, pp. 11)

Nowadays, an adverse and worrying trend is growing. Some people ridicule carders [i.e. those who clean and prepare wood or cotton], weavers, butchers, barbers, etc. even if these are sincere and pious Muslims. Furthermore, they even look down upon the scholars of these communities merely because of their race. They make fun of them in their gatherings, laughing and making others laugh.

Even worse, those who became scholars by learning from their teachers for many years make fun of their own teachers merely on the basis of race difference. Boasting of their family and caste, they degrade and derogate others. For the sake of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! Tell how big sinners they are! Read the following commandments and warnings mentioned in the Holy Quran