Directions of Granting Due Regard to Ranks in Everyday Relations

After presenting the fundamentals of Islāmic equality, Islām addresses the question that if despite having a common origin the circumstances and qualities of people can be different, then given the existence of inevitable disparities, what behaviour should be employed in the everyday social affairs between people of different ranks? Hence, in relation to this, the Holy Prophet(sa) states:

“O Ye Muslims! It is incumbent that you give due regard to the well known ranks of people in your mutual affairs and deal with them in accordance to their circumstances and rank.”1

The purport of this Ḥadīth is that those people who acquire some religious or worldly greatness or rank in everyday affairs, it is a part of Islāmic morality to grant due regard to the rank of such people and deal with them with due respect. For example, there is an occurrence from the life of the Holy Prophet(sa) when Sa‘d bin Mu‘ādh Anṣārī(ra), who was the chieftain of the Aus tribe, arrived to pass a verdict in the matter of a Jewish tribe, the Banū Quraiẓah. When the Holy Prophet(sa) noticed him arriving, he said to his companions:

“Stand in the honour and veneration of your chief.”2

Similarly, it is found from the Holy Qur’ān that when God the Exalted sent Prophet Moses(as) to Pharaoh with His message, He emphatically instructed Moses(as) that since Pharaoh possessed a rank in the country, speak to him in a gentle and respectful manner.3