Bismillah Rahman Raheem
"Classes for the Masses"
by Yusuf Estes

Are there social classes in Islam?
- Good Question.

Bismillah Rahman Raheem. Al Hamdulilah Rabbil Alameen was-Salat was-Salam ala rasoolulah.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. All Praise to Allah The Lord of the Worlds and His Peace and Blessings be upon His Messenger.

Throughout our history we humans have always had an irresistable tendency toward labeling and classifying the things in our lives to help us in determining what something is, what its value is and where it should be placed. The human being, himself has not escaped this system of 'classification.' This is something humans naturally do from before the time they learn to walk. We tend to feel better just knowing something has a name or classification rather than being the unknown or unassigned.

Some types of classifying people are quite understandable and acceptable such as in the medical, legal and business world. We fully expect that titles such as in the:
Medical field likewise provides us with a series of labels for the various job descriptions. Surgeons, doctors, nurses are now in various sub structures such as: RN (registered nurse), LVN (licensed vocational nurse), down to health care provider and attendant.
Political structure of the world where it is well known for titles bestowed by those in charge and those being governed. We find everything from president, vice-president, congressman, senator, governor, high-sheriff, chancellor, mayor, down to page boy (or girl).
Military provides us with titles from general, commander, colonel, major, lieutenant, warrant officer, master sergeant, tech sergeant and private, down to recruit.
Law enforcement finds titles such as sheriff, judge, prosecutor, attorney, officer, bailiff down to clerk and guard.

These various titles and proper names give us confidence in who we are dealing with and what their position is. For day to day living this has been most acceptable around the world throughout human history.

There is no area of human endeavor without some form of structure and labeling system which tends to classify and assign particular values to people in their various capacities. But we should keep in mind that these are more along the lines of classifying by job descriptions rather than human origins, attributes and qualities.

Another form of 'classification' of humans is establishing "royal" families. Human societies have known all types of class systems. Some societies have a classes of princes, nobles, warriors, farmers, merchants and of course peasants, slaves. Blood lines and families would then be the determining factor as to social place and value of a person. Kings, Queens, princes and princesses along with titles such as emperor, kaiser, duke, duchess, earl are a few of the 'royal' terms to identify the 'ruling class' from the 'working' or 'lower' classes such as serfs, slaves, servants, peons and pawns. The structure goes from top down to the bottom of the chain in importance and worth. Chance of birth would determine everything for that person's life without any chance of advancement or promotion, unless of course the hierarchy were destroyed or replaced by another. Based on this system you would naturally expect that there would be serious oppression, abuse and violations of individuals rights.

Religion certainly has not escaped this process for dividing up and separating people into "classes." Again it has always been within the natural condition man to establish some sort of labeling system to determine the hierarchy or structure of classes for the masses. Man felt he needed to do it. At least some men did. Some are held to be 'closer to the gods' than others, while still others are considered to have certain 'powers' or 'influence' on the things around us. Because of people's belief in these people as holding some special position with the 'gods' it became a natural necessity to classify them as well. Sorcerers and magicians always have their assistants, clerics and shaman have underlings and genies to help them hold influence other the masses. They maintained their various roles down through history by plying their trades of magic, mayhem and conjuring of demons.

Turning to the more conventional beliefs in 'modern religions' we find titles here as well. Reverends have their 'minions,' while bishops have their priests, and priests have their monks, and pastors have their 'elders' and 'deacons,' and ministers have their 'flocks' or 'congregations.'

Question is: "Where does Islam fit in these labeling processes and is there in fact, a social order or CLASS SYSTEM in Islam?"

Shari'ah or law of Allah does not recognize such systems at all. Islam gives equal rights to all, rich and poor, noble and ignoble. Any servitude or slave concept would only be that of a 'slave of Allah' who gives his total being over to the Will and Power of Allah the Almighty. The basic principle on which people are differentiated in Islam is mentioned in the Holy Qur�an, in Surah al-Hujuraat (interpretation of the meaning):

�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 al-taqwa [i.e., is one of the muttaqoon or pious]. Verily, Allah is All-knowing, All-Aware�
[al-Hujuraat 49:13]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
�O people! Verily your Lord is One and your father [Adam] is one. An Arab is no better than a non-Arab, and a non-Arab is no better than an Arab; a red man is no better than a black man and a black man is no better than a red man � except if it is in terms of Taqwah (piety)��
(Reported by Imam Ahmad, 22391; al-Silsilat al-Saheeh, 2700).

This is the principle on which society is based in Islam. This is the global human society which mankind is trying to attain through its far-fetched ideas, but is failing to do so, because they are not following the one straight path that will lead them there, the way to God, may He be glorified, and because they are not standing under the one banner that could unite them, the banner of God, may He be exalted.

People live on this earth connected by all kinds of relationships, all of which carry some weight or have some attraction in their lives � these include lineage, power, wealth, etc. From these stem other connections, practical, economic, etc., where people have different positions and levels of status with regard to one another.

So some people have more status than others in worldly terms� Then Islam comes and says: �the most honorable of you with Allah [God] is that (believer) who has al-taqwa [i.e., is one of the muttaqoon or pious]� so it ignores all the values that carry weight in people's lives, and replaces them all with this new value that is derived directly from the Revelation and is the only one that is recognized in the standards of God. This is piety and consciousness of God, which is manifested in the worship of God lone, with no partner, no son, no equal � obeying what He commands and avoiding what He forbids, seeking His pleasure and Paradise, and fearing His punishment and Hellfire.

Allah is All-Seer of His slaves.