Evil Equality: The Fatal Flaw in Leveling Virtue

Unveil the amazing wisdom: Societies thrive on virtuous distinctions, but equality in mediocrity spells utter destruction. A timeless warning for today. 

Arabic Text

Translation

Shu'ab al-Iman (The Branches of Faith):

(Hadith #8664) – Abu al-Hasan al-Muqri' said: Al-Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn Ishaq narrated to us, he said: My maternal uncle—meaning Abu 'Awanah—narrated to me, he said: Musa ibn Abi 'Awf narrated to us, he said: Ya'qub ibn Ka'b narrated to us, he said: Mukhlad ibn Hisham narrated to us, from al-Hasan (al-Basri), who said:

"The people will continue to be in goodness as long as they are distinguished (from one another in virtue/some are more knowledgeable, righteous etc). But when they become equal (in their mediocrity), that is when their destruction comes."

Source: Shu'ab al-Iman by Imam al-Bayhaqi (d. 458 AH), Hadith #8664

Al-Majalisah wa Jawahir al-'Ilm (Gatherings and Gems of Knowledge):

(Athar #2175) – Ahmad narrated to us, Muhammad ibn Ishaq narrated to us, Muhammad ibn Sallam narrated to us; he said:

It used to be said: "The people will not cease to be in goodness as long as they are distinguished (from one another). But when they become equal, then they have perished."

Source: Al-Majalisah wa Jawahir al-'Ilm by Imam Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Marwan al-Dinawari al-Maliki (d. 333 AH), Athar #2175

Detailed Commentary & Analysis

These two narrations—one attributed as a statement (qawl) of al-Hasan al-Basri (d. 110 AH), and the other transmitted as an anonymous wise saying (kana yuqal - "it used to be said")—contain profound wisdom about the nature of societies, the role of distinction in virtue, and the danger of moral and religious leveling.

A. The Narration from al-Hasan al-Basri (Shu'ab al-Iman #8664):

The statement is:

• Sound in meaning (sahih al-ma'na)
• Consistent with principles found in the Quran and Sunnah
• Represents wisdom that aligns with Islamic teachings

B. The Anonymous Saying (Al-Majalisah #2175):

This is transmitted as a statement that was commonly said among the early Muslims (kana yuqal), not attributed to any specific person.

Nature: This is a mawquf (stopped statement) and a piece of wisdom (hikmah) from the early generations.

Verdict: While not authenticated to a specific person, its meaning is sound and reflects the understanding of the Salaf.

2. Linguistic and Conceptual Analysis

A. "Ma Tabayanu" (ما تباينوا) – "As Long as They Are Distinguished":

Root: ba-ya-na (ب ي ن) - meaning to be clear, distinct, separate, different.

Form VI (تفاعل): Tabayanu - mutual distinction, differentiation among each other.

What Does This Mean?

The scholars explain this refers to distinction in levels of virtue, knowledge, piety, and righteousness, not worldly matters or social status.

Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (d. 795 AH) explained similar concepts in "Jami' al-'Ulum wa al-Hikam" when discussing the levels of people in faith and knowledge.

Types of Distinction Intended:

1. In Knowledge ('Ilm):
   • Scholars vs. laypeople
   • Those who know vs. those who are ignorant
   • Specialists in various fields of Islamic knowledge
2. In Worship ('Ibadah):
   • The devout vs. the negligent
   • Those who excel in optional acts vs. those who barely fulfill obligations
   • The night worshippers vs. the heedless
3. In Taqwa (God-consciousness):
   • The righteous vs. the sinful
   • Those who fear Allah in public and private vs. those who don't
   • The abstinent vs. those attached to worldly pleasures
4. In Action and Da'wah:
   • The active vs. the passive
   • Those who enjoin good and forbid evil vs. those who remain silent
   • Leaders in good vs. followers

Supporting Evidence:

Allah says: {Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?"} [Az-Zumar 39:9]

The answer is clearly: No.

Allah says: {Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees} [Al-Mujadilah 58:11]

The Prophet ﷺ said: "The people are like mines (of gold and silver); the best of them in Jahiliyyah are the best of them in Islam if they gain understanding" [Bukhari #3374, Muslim #2638]

This shows that distinction in virtue is natural and praiseworthy.

B. "Idhā Istasaw" (إذا استووا) – "When They Become Equal":

Root: sa-wa-ya (س و ي) - meaning to be equal, level, uniform.

Form VIII: Istasaw - to become equal with one another, to level out.

What Does This Mean?

This refers to when society loses its distinctions in virtue, specifically when:

1. The Ignorant Equal the Scholars:
   • When people no longer respect or refer to scholars
   • When everyone considers their opinion equally valid
   • When Islamic knowledge is no longer pursued or valued
2. The Sinful Equal the Righteous:
   • When there's no social distinction between the pious and impious
   • When righteousness is mocked and sin is normalized
   • When evil is called good and good is called evil
3. The Heedless Equal the Devout:
   • When there's no difference between those who worship and those who don't
   • When religious practice becomes rare or hidden
   • When people are ashamed of piety instead of sin
4. Moral Relativism Prevails:
   • When all opinions are considered equally valid
   • When truth and falsehood are no longer distinguished
   • When standards of right and wrong collapse

C. "Dhalika Hina Halakihim" (ذلك حين هلاكهم) – "That is When Their Destruction Comes":

Root: ha-la-ka (ه ل ك) - meaning to perish, be destroyed, be ruined.

What Destruction?

This refers to multiple levels of destruction:

1. Religious Destruction:
   • Loss of Islamic knowledge
   • Widespread ignorance of the Shari'ah
   • Abandonment of worship and obedience
2. Moral Destruction:
   • Collapse of ethical standards
   • Normalization of major sins
   • Loss of shame (haya') before Allah
3. Social Destruction:
   • Breakdown of family structures
   • Loss of community cohesion
   • Confusion about roles and responsibilities
4. Political Destruction:
   • Rise of unqualified leadership
   • Chaos and disorder (fitnah)
   • Internal conflicts and divisions
5. Ultimately: Divine Punishment

3. The Deeper Meaning: What This Statement Teaches

A. The Blessing of Distinction in Virtue:

Islam Encourages Hierarchy in Knowledge and Piety:

This is not about worldly status, wealth, race, or lineage—all of which are equal in Islam.

The Prophet ﷺ said: "All of you are from Adam, and Adam was from dust. There is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, nor of a non-Arab over an Arab, nor of a white person over a black person, nor of a black person over a white person, except through taqwa (piety)" [Ahmad #23536, declared sahih by al-Albani]

But Islam absolutely establishes hierarchy in:

1. Knowledge:

   {Allah will exalt in degree those of you who believe, and those who have been granted knowledge} [Al-Mujadilah 58:11]

2. Piety:

   {Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you} [Al-Hujurat 49:13]

3. Striving:

   {Not equal are those believers remaining [at home] - other than the disabled - and the mujahideen} [An-Nisa 4:95]

4. Precedence in Islam:

   {And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhajirun and the Ansar and those who followed them with good conduct - Allah is pleased with them} [At-Tawbah 9:100]

Why This Distinction is Good:

1. It Creates Aspiration:
   • People look up to and emulate the righteous
   • Everyone strives to improve
   • There are clear role models
2. It Preserves Knowledge:
   • Scholars are recognized and referred to
   • Islamic knowledge is transmitted properly
   • Innovation is prevented by returning to the knowledgeable
3. It Maintains Standards:
   • Clear examples of righteous behavior
   • Sin is not normalized
   • Accountability exists
4. It Fulfills Allah's Wisdom:

   Allah says: {We have raised some of them above others in degrees [of rank]} [Az-Zukhruf 43:32]

B. The Danger of "Leveling" in Virtue:

When Everyone Becomes "Equal" in Mediocrity:

This is what al-Hasan al-Basri warned against. It happens when:

1. Scholars Are Ignored or Silenced:

   The Prophet ﷺ said: "Indeed, Allah does not take away knowledge by snatching it from the people, but He takes away knowledge by taking away the scholars, until when He leaves no learned person, people take as their leaders ignorant persons who, when consulted, give their verdict without knowledge. So they go astray and lead others astray" [Bukhari #100, Muslim #2673]

   This is the leveling: When the ignorant equal the scholars in influence.

2. Sin Becomes Normalized:

   When what was once shameful becomes accepted:

   • Adultery becomes "relationships"
   • Usury becomes "finance"
   • Immodesty becomes "fashion"
   • Disobedience becomes "freedom"

   The Prophet ﷺ said: "When adultery and usury appear in a town, they have permitted upon themselves the punishment of Allah" [Al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak 2/37, declared sahih by al-Albani in Sahih al-Jami' #667]

3. No One Enjoins Good or Forbids Evil:

   When the righteous stop calling to virtue and the society doesn't care:

   The Prophet ﷺ said: "By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, you will enjoin good and forbid evil, or Allah will soon send upon you a punishment from Him, then you will call upon Him, but He will not respond to you" [Tirmidhi #2169, declared hasan by al-Albani]

4. The Righteous Are Hidden or Few:

   When piety becomes rare or mocked, and people are ashamed to worship Allah openly.

   The Prophet ﷺ said about the end times: "Islam began as something strange, and it will return to being strange as it began, so glad tidings (tuba) to the strangers" [Muslim #145]

5. Truth and Falsehood Become Indistinguishable:

   The Prophet ﷺ said describing tribulations (fitan): "There will be tribulations in which the one sitting will be better than the one standing, and the one standing better than the one walking, and the one walking better than the one running... In it, the truthful will be called a liar, and the liar will be believed; the trustworthy will be called a traitor, and the traitor will be trusted" [Ahmad #7631, declared sahih by al-Albani]

4. Historical Examples of This Principle

A. The Time of the Salaf - Distinction Preserved:

During the era of the Companions and Tabi'un:

• Scholars were clearly known and respected
• The righteous were honored
• People traveled to learn from scholars
• Sin was condemned publicly
• Standards of worship and morality were high

Result: The golden age of Islam—expansion, knowledge, piety, and strength.

B. Periods of Decline - Leveling Occurred:

Whenever Islamic civilization declined:

• Scholars were marginalized
• Ignorance spread
• Innovations (bid'ah) appeared
• Sins became widespread
• Leadership fell to the unqualified

Result: Weakness, division, and conquest by enemies.

Imam Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728 AH) wrote extensively in "Majmu' al-Fatawa" about how the decline of Islamic societies always correlated with the disappearance of distinction between the knowledgeable and ignorant, the pious and sinful.

C. Modern Times - The Warning is Clear:

Today we see:

• Scholars' fatwas ignored in favor of personal opinions
• Islamic knowledge replaced by "cultural Islam"
• Piety mocked as "extremism"
• Sin normalized and celebrated
• Leadership by the unqualified in religious matters

This is precisely what al-Hasan al-Basri warned against.

5. Practical Guidance for Muslims Today

A. Preserve Distinction in Knowledge:

1. Honor Scholars:
   • Respect scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah
   • Refer to them for religious guidance
   • Do not spread or follow ignorant opinions
2. Seek Knowledge:
   • Study your religion properly
   • Don't remain ignorant
   • Value Islamic education

   The Prophet ﷺ said: "Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim" [Ibn Majah #224, declared hasan by al-Albani]

3. Don't Give Platform to the Ignorant:
   • Don't treat everyone's religious opinion equally
   • Verify sources before spreading information
   • Warn against innovators and deviants

B. Preserve Distinction in Piety:

1. Excel in Worship:
   • Don't settle for the bare minimum
   • Increase in optional acts of worship
   • Be among those who pray at night, fast voluntarily, give charity
2. Be Proud of Your Islam:
   • Don't hide your religion out of shame
   • Openly practice your faith
   • Be recognized as a Muslim
3. Avoid Normalizing Sin:
   • Don't participate in, approve, or remain silent about open sin
   • Maintain moral standards
   • Teach your children right from wrong

C. Support the Righteous:

1. Honor Them:

   Show respect and love for the righteous Muslims

2. Learn From Them:

   Take them as examples and role models

3. Protect Their Reputation:

   Defend them against slander and accusations

D. Enjoin Good and Forbid Evil:

1. Speak Out:

   Don't remain silent in the face of wrongdoing (according to your ability)

2. Set the Standard:

   Be an example of righteousness yourself

3. Support Reform:

   Work toward creating a society where good is valued and evil is condemned

6. Important Distinctions (To Avoid Misunderstanding)

A. This Does NOT Mean:

• ❌ Social or Economic Hierarchy:

  Islam does not establish virtue based on wealth, lineage, or social status.

• ❌ Pride or Arrogance:

  Those who excel should be humble. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever has an atom's weight of pride in his heart will not enter Paradise" [Muslim #91]

• ❌ Looking Down on Others:

  Excellence in worship or knowledge should increase your mercy toward those who struggle, not your contempt.

• ❌ Creating Classes or Castes:

  Anyone can become a scholar, become pious, increase in worship—the door is open to all.

B. This DOES Mean:

• ✅ Recognizing Reality:

  Some are more knowledgeable, some are more pious—acknowledge this.

• ✅ Creating Aspiration:

  Look up to the righteous and strive to be like them.

• ✅ Maintaining Standards:

  Don't let moral and religious standards collapse.

• ✅ Respecting Hierarchy in Religion:

  The scholar is not equal to the ignorant, the pious is not equal to the sinful—this is Islamic teaching.

7. Statements of the Salaf on This Meaning

'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (d. 32 AH), may Allah be pleased with him, said:

"People will continue to be in good as long as they take knowledge from their scholars, their elders, and their trustworthy ones. When they take it from their young ones and their evil ones, they are destroyed." [Narrated by Ibn 'Abd al-Barr in "Jami' Bayan al-'Ilm wa Fadlih" (2/97)]

'Umar ibn al-Khattab (d. 23 AH), may Allah be pleased with him, said:

"I fear for this nation a hypocrite with an eloquent tongue (munafiq 'alim al-lisan), read by people but acting contrary." [Narrated by al-Darimi in his Sunan #283]

Imam Malik ibn Anas (d. 179 AH) said:

"The latter part of this ummah will not be rectified except by that which rectified its first part. (adherence to the true Sunnah and abandonment of innovation.)" [Narrated by ash-Shatibi in "Al-I'tisam" (1/24)]

8. Connection to Prophecies of the End Times

These statements align with numerous hadiths about the end times (ashrat al-sa'ah):

1. Ignorant Leadership:

   The Prophet ﷺ said: "Among the signs of the Hour: knowledge will be taken away, ignorance will prevail, wine will be drunk, and adultery will be widespread" [Bukhari #80, Muslim #2671]

2. Confusion of Standards:

   The Prophet ﷺ said: "Before the Hour, there will be years of deceit (sanun khaddaah), in which the truthful is disbelieved and the liar is believed, the trustworthy is accused of treachery and the treacherous is trusted, and the Ruwaybiḍah speaks." They asked: "What is the Ruwaybiḍah?" He said: "The worthless man speaking about public affairs." [Ahmad #7912, declared sahih by al-Albani]

3. Reversal of Values:

   The Prophet ﷺ said: "There will come upon people years of treachery, when the liar is believed and the truthful is disbelieved" [Ahmad #7631]