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Elite and Upper Castes in Islam: Read what does Quran say about them

Whenever We sent a warner to a society, its elite would say, “We truly reject what you have been sent with.” Holy Quran 34:34

By Justice Mirror Staff
While powerful Egyptian Pharaohs (Left) declared themselves God, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani (Right), a feudal aristocrat declared himself to be a Prophet.

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Throughout history, societies have grappled with the complex dynamics of wealth and power. The Quran, the central religious text of Islam, offers valuable insights into these dynamics, particularly regarding the role and responsibilities of the elite and upper classes/castes.

This article delves into the Quranic perspective on these social groups, exploring how they are portrayed and the expectations placed upon them. We will explore both the potential pitfalls and the opportunities associated with wealth and privilege, as presented within the Quranic framework.

Elites rejected Prophets of God

Holy Quran repeatedly points out the role of elite and upper-classes of any society in the rejection, obstruction and corruption of religion, people and truth.

It refers to these people as the biggest impediment not only to religion and truth but also to social justice, peace and equity.

An analysis of stories and anecdotes from Holy Quran also shows that elite and rich classes of any society played leading role in opposing and tormenting Prophets and Messengers of Allah who mostly came from marginalised classes, peasantry, nomadic tribes, poor and deprived sections.

Whenever We sent a warner to a society, its elite would say, “We truly reject what you have been sent with.” Holy Quran 34:34

Thus, whenever a Prophet was sent to any society, most of their social, political, intellectual and business elites were at the forefront of not only opposing and rejecting, but also obstructing the egalitarian prophetic teachings which they perceived threatening to their social status and domination. Consequently they were often punished by God.

Elites spread corruption on Earth and lead people Astray

Eventually,˺ Noah cried, “My Lord! They have certainly persisted in disobeying me, and followed ˹instead˺ those ˹elite˺ whose ˹abundant˺ wealth and children only increase them in loss, 71:21

And there were in the city nine ˹elite˺ men who spread corruption in the land, never doing what is right. Holy Quran 27:48

But as soon as We seize their elite with torment, they start to cry for help. They will be told,˺ “Do not cry for help today. Surely you will never be saved from Us. Indeed, My revelations were recited to you, but you used to back away ˹in disgust˺, Boasting of the Sacred House, and babbling ˹nonsense about the Quran˺ by night.” (Holy Quran 23:64-67)

Is it because they have never contemplated the Word ˹of Allah˺? Or ˹because˺ there has come to them something that did not come to their forefathers? Or ˹because˺ they failed to recognise their Messenger, and so they denied him? Or ˹because˺ they say, “He is insane?” In fact, he has come to them with the truth, but most of them are resentful of the truth. (23:68-70)

Had the truth followed their desires, the heavens, the earth, and all those in them would have certainly been corrupted. In fact, We have brought them ˹the means to˺ their glory, but they turn away from it. (23:71)

Elites worship worldly things

Also noteworthy here are some verses from chapter 14 of the Holy Quran that also points out the role of ungrateful elite sections and leaders in corrupting common people on matters of religion.

Holy Quran 14:28-29 Have you not seen those ˹disbelievers˺ who meet Allah’s favours with ingratitude and lead their own people to their doom? They set up equals to Allah to mislead ˹others˺ from His Way. Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Enjoy yourselves! Surely your destination is the Fire.”

Holy Quran repeatedly warns people against following such elite leaders who will not be able to protect anyone on the day of judgement.

Holy Quran 14:21 They will all appear before Allah, and the lowly ˹followers˺ will appeal to the arrogant ˹leaders˺, “We were your ˹dedicated˺ followers, so will you ˹then˺ protect us from Allah’s torment in any way?” They will reply, “Had Allah guided us, we would have guided you. ˹Now˺ it is all the same for us whether we suffer patiently or impatiently, there is no escape for us.”

Losers in this world and hereafter

In Chapter 9, verse 69, while severely reprimanding such people and leaders, the Holy Quran says that their deeds have become void in this world and the Hereafter and that it is they who are the true losers even they think they are over-smart.

Holy Quran 9:69 ˹You hypocrites are˺ like those ˹disbelievers˺ before you. They were far superior to you in might and more abundant in wealth and children. They enjoyed their share in this life. You have enjoyed your share, just as they did. And you have engaged in idle talk, just as they did. Their deeds have become void in this world and the Hereafter. And it is they who are the ˹true˺ losers.

And they will say, “Our Lord! We obeyed our leaders and elite, but they led us astray from the ˹Right˺ Way. 33:67

Also relevant are following verses of the Holy Quran in this regard.

Holy Quran 17:16 Whenever We intend to destroy a society, We command its elite ˹to obey Allah˺ but they act rebelliously in it. So the decree ˹of punishment˺ is justified, and We destroy it utterly.

Those ˹elite˺ have already led many astray. So ˹O Lord˺, only allow the wrongdoers to stray farther away.” Holy Quran 71:34

Elites are more devoted to their Forefathers

It’s no surprise that most of the cultural nationalists and chauvinists who boast about their forefathers, ancestral glory and achievements come from only the arrogant elite section of any society as rightly pointed out by Holy Quran in the following verse.

Similarly, whenever We sent a warner to a society before you ˹O Prophet˺, its ˹spoiled˺ elite would say, “We found our forefathers following a ˹particular˺ way, and we are walking in their footsteps.” 43:23

Meccan Elites also put forth such arguments against Islam and Prophet Muhammad PBUH.

Think themselves to be the masters of Religion

They often complained and argued that God would choose some learned, rich and influential man as his prophet and not a commoner and illiterate person like Prophet Muhammad PBUH as can be ascertained from the following verses.

They said, ‘Why was this Quran not sent down to one of the great men of the two cities?’ Is it they who apportion the mercy of your Lord? It is We who distribute among them their livelihood in the life of this world, and raise some of them above others in rank, so that they may take one another into service; and the mercy of your Lord is better than [the wealth] which they amass. Holy Quran 43:31-32

Say to them, ‘Surely, the true guidance is the guidance from God.’ [But you think it is impossible that] someone else may be granted [revelation] such as you were granted or else that they should contend against you before your Lord. Say, All grace is in the hands of God; He grants it to whom He wills: for God is boundless, and all-knowing, He singles out for His mercy whomever He pleases. God is the Lord of exceeding bounty. Holy Quran 3:73-74

“He is the One Who raised for the illiterate people a messenger from among themselves – reciting to them His revelations, purifying them, and teaching them the Book and wisdom, for indeed they had previously been clearly astray along with others of them who have not yet joined them ˹in faith˺. For He is the Almighty, All-Wise. This is the favour of Allah. He grants it to whoever He wills. And Allah is the Lord of infinite bounty.” (Holy Quran 62:2-4)

Say, “O Allah, Owner of Sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will. You honor whom You will and You humble whom You will. In Your hand is [all] good. Indeed, You are over and above all things competent. Al-Quran 3:26

When Prophet was accused of undermining Elites and elevating Shepherds

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr said, “We were sitting with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when a bedouin man wearing a robe with a border approached him until he stood before the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. He said, ‘Your companion has debased every horseman and elevates every shepherd.‘ The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, took hold of the folds of his robe and said, ‘I see that you are wearing the clothes of someone who is without intelligence.’ Then he went on, ‘When the Prophet Nuh, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, he told his son, “I will give you some instructions. I command you to things and I forbid you two things. I command you to say, ‘There is no god but Allah.’ If the seven heavens and the seven earths were a dark ring, they would be cut by ‘There is no god but Allah’ and ‘Glory be to Allah and by His praise.’ It is the prayer of every thing and by it everything has its provision. And I forbid you to associate others with and Allah and to be proud.’ Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 548

‘Abda ibn Hazn said, “The people of camels and the people of sheep vied with one another for glory. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Musa was sent, and he was a shepherd. Da’ud was sent, and he was a shepherd. I was sent, and I used to herd sheep for my people at Ajyad.‘” Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 577

Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Someone who eats with his servant, rides a donkey in the markets, and ties up his sheep and milks it is not proud.” Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 550

Amr ibn Shu’ayb reported via his father that his grandfather related that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “On the Day of Rising, the proud will be gathered like specks in the form of men. Abasement will envelop them on every side. They will be driven to a prison in Jahannam called Bulas. The hottest of fires will rise over them. They will have to drink the pus of the people of the Fire, the foul fluid that their skins excrete.” Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 557

Ali reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “One sheep in a house is a blessing, two sheep are two blessings and more sheep are all blessings. Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 573

Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The head (or summit) of disbelief lies towards the east and the pride and arrogance lie in people who possess horses and camels who are also coarse – the bedouins. Tranquillity lies in people who possess sheep.” Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 574

Elites and downfall of Muslims

While in the above cases, Holy Quran criticises the non-Muslim elite classes for obstructing the message of God and for oppressing people, noted Indian philosopher Allama Iqbal has also complained about some Muslim elites for the downfall of the progressive Islamic civilisations in many parts of the world.

He says that while rich and elite Muslims betrayed their pious obligations to uphold the spirit of Islam and still complaining about their downfall, it is poor Muslims who have been staunchly guarding the honour of this revolutionary faith.

Qalb mein soz nahi rooh mein ehsas nahi 
Kuchh bhi paigham-e-Mohammad ka tumhe paas nahi 
Ja ke hote hai masjid mein safara to gharib 
Zehmat-e-roza jo karte hai gavara to gharib 
Naam leta hai agar koi hamara to gharib 
Parda rakhta hai agar koi tumhara to gharib 
Umra nasha-e-daulat mein hai ghafil ham se 
Zinda hai millat-e-baiza Ghuraba ke dam se 

Your heart and soul seem devoid of any Regret
You seem indifferent to the message of Muhammad (s)
It is the Poor who fill the rows of Prayer Halls in Mosque 
It is the Poor who endure the pain of fasting for Islam
It is the Poor who remember my Name and Message
It is the poor who guard even your Privacy and Honour
The Rich are blind to me in their intoxication of Wealth
The exalted community is still alive because of the Poor

Case of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad: The False Prophet

It should be noted that Mirza Ghulam Qadiani who claimed to be a prophet also came from an elite feudal class of Punjab (India) and had deep and pervasive connections with the leading elites, ruling classes and agents of British Government.

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Allah did not send any prophet but shepherded sheep.” His companions asked him, “Did you do the same?” The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, “Yes, I used to shepherd the sheep of the people of Mecca for some Qirats.” Sahih al-Bukhari 2262.

Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but is the Messenger of Allah and the seal of the prophets. And Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of all things. Holy Quran 33:40

Concluding Remarks

  • Elite and upper classes should take the Quranic criticism constructively.
  • They should know that while they can hide their misdeeds from people by engaging in sorts of manipulation, they cannot hide them from the sight of Allah who is ever watchful over what they do.
  • As they have been bestowed with more wealth, resources and power, they also have greater responsibility towards society.
  • They should not misuse their resources and power for wrong ends but in they way of Allah as per the mandate of the Holy Quran.
  • As the Holy Quran has already exposed their wicked deeds in corrupting religion and people, they should repent for their sins and mistakes.
  • Given their historic role in obstructing divine message and messengers, they are a suspect category and hence they must strictly watch over their actions and deeds.

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