of God's servant. I was astray, but God guided me through Mohammed. I was poor, but God made me rich through Mohammed. I was slave, but God set me free through Mohammed. This is my lineage, Omar."
As he was told of the previous discussion, the Prophet (s) commented: "People of Koreish! A man's lineage is his religion, personality is his moralities, and origin is his intellect. Allah says: People, We have created you all male and female and have made you nations and tribes so that you would recognize each other. The most honorable among you in the sight of Allah is the most pious of you (49:13)."
He (s) turned to Salman and said: "Salman! No one of those is preferable to you by any means except piety. You are preferable to him whom you are more pious than he is." 147
The best evidence on the credibility of Islam in its denial of the confessional feud and deciding faith and piety to be the criterion of preference is the fact that Abu Lahab who was the real Arab and the uncle of the Prophet (s) was declared as disbeliever and that he would be punished and tortured in Hell because of his atheism:
"May the hands of Abu Lahab perish! May he too perish! His property and worldly gains will be of no help to him. He will suffer in a blazing fire. (111:1-4)"
Salman, on the other hand, was Persian and away from Arabism, but the Prophet (s) granted him that immortal medal of honor:
"Salman is one of us-The The Ahl ul-Bayt."
This was for nothing other than his high faith, genuine honesty, and wholehearted devotion to God and His Messenger.
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