We Made You Into Nations and Tribes
Al-Hujurat 49:13. Also known as Verse about racism in the Quran, Inna akramakum indallahi atqakum, That you may know one another
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٖ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلۡنَٰكُمۡ شُعُوبٗا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ أَكۡرَمَكُمۡ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتۡقَىٰكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرࣱ ﴿١٣﴾
Ya ayyuha alnnasu inna khalaqnakum min thakarin waontha wajaAAalnakum shuAAooban waqabaila litaAAarafoo inna akramakum AAinda Allahi atqakum inna Allaha AAaleemun khabeerun
O people! We created you from a male and a female, and made you races and tribes, that you may know one another. The best among you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous. Allah is All-Knowing, Well-Experienced.
Verse 13 of Surah Al-Hujurat, the 49th surah, is the Quran's best-known statement on human equality. It addresses all people, not only believers, and says they were created from one male and one female and made into nations and tribes so they would come to know one another.
It ends by saying that the most honored person in Allah's sight is the most mindful of Him. Surah Al-Hujurat is a short Medinan surah of 18 verses about manners and relationships, and this verse is its center.
What it means
O people
Five earlier verses in this surah begin by addressing the believers. This one addresses all of humanity. Its message about shared origin applies to everyone.
From a male and a female
All people come from one father and one mother. No family, race or nation starts from a better origin than another.
Nations and tribes, to know one another
Allah made people into nations and tribes so they would recognize and get to know one another. Difference is given a purpose, which is acquaintance, and not a ranking.
The most honored is the most mindful
The one with the most honor in Allah's sight is the one with the most taqwa, mindfulness of Him. Honor depends on what a person does and how they live, not on where they come from.
Allah knows and is aware
The verse closes by saying Allah is all-knowing and fully aware. Only He truly knows who is most mindful, so no one can claim that rank for themselves.
Where it sits in Surah Al-Hujurat
The verses before this one set out how believers should treat each other. Verse 6 tells them to verify news brought by an untrustworthy person before acting on it. Verses 9 and 10 call for making peace between believers and describe them as brothers. Verse 11 forbids mocking other people, insulting them and calling them by offensive nicknames, and verse 12 forbids excessive suspicion, spying and backbiting. Verse 13 then widens the view from the believing community to all of humanity. Verse 14 follows with the desert Arabs who claimed faith and were told to say instead that they had submitted, because faith had not yet entered their hearts.
How it is used
This verse is often quoted in talks on racism and equality. Musnad Ahmad records a sermon of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ during the days of Hajj stating that no Arab is better than a non-Arab and no white person better than a black person, except through mindfulness of Allah. Sahih Muslim reports that the Prophet ﷺ said Allah does not look at people's appearances or wealth, but at their hearts and deeds.
Questions
What does the Quran say about racism?
49:13 says all people come from one male and one female, were made into nations and tribes to know one another, and that the most honored before Allah is the most mindful of Him. Honor is not tied to race or lineage.
Who is addressed in 49:13?
The verse begins O people, addressing all humanity, unlike the five earlier verses in Surah Al-Hujurat that begin by addressing the believers.
What does taqwa mean?
Taqwa means being mindful and conscious of Allah in a way that guides your actions. It is often translated as piety, righteousness or consciousness of Allah.