30. Social Ethics

The Quran declares:

“Believers, let not some men among you ridicule others: it may be that the latter are better than the former: nor should some women laugh at others: it may be that the latter are better than the former: do not defame or be sarcastic to each other, or call each other by [offensive] nicknames. How bad it is to earn an evil reputation after accepting the faith! Those who do not repent are evil-doers.” (49:11)

Every man and woman possesses an innate desire for superiority—the urge to regard oneself as better than others. This tendency often leads people to focus on the faults of others, to ridicule, insult, or label them with disrespectful names in an attempt to elevate themselves.

However, the true standard of greatness is not determined by human claims. Good and evil are judged solely by God. The truly honourable person is the one who is righteous in the sight of God, while the truly disgraced person is the one condemned in His judgement.

Once this realization takes root in the human heart, the desire for arrogance and mockery begins to fade. Ridiculing others, humiliating them, exposing their faults, or calling them offensive names then appears entirely meaningless.

Such a person comes to realize that the final judgement of human worth and rank belongs to God alone. If I regard someone as insignificant, yet that very person is held in honour in the eternal world of the Hereafter, then how meaningless and misguided my judgement would be.