The Basis of Superiority by Maulana Ebrahim Bham

حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ عَنْ أَبِي هِلَالٍ عَنْ بَكْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لَهُ انْظُرْ فَإِنَّكَ لَيْسَ بِخَيْرٍ مِنْ أَحْمَرَ وَلَا أَسْوَدَ إِلَّا أَنْ تَفْضُلَهُ بِتَقْوَى

Hadrat Abu Hurairah R.A says that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam  told him, “You are not superior due to being red or black in complexion, except that you attain superiority on the basis of Taqwa.

 ‘Black’ refers to the non-Arabs whilst ‘Red’ refers to the Arabs. The meaning of the Hadith is that superiority is not based on one’s colour, physical features, or family lineage, that so and so is a Sayyid and so and so is a Pataan. The most superior amongst people is the one that possesses more fear of Allah Ta'ala.