Kafa‘a, Equality and Nobility of Lineage

Question

Question: Does the existence of castes in India resemble or correspond to the peoples and tribes (shu‘ub and qaba’il) of the Arabs mentioned in the Noble Qur’an? Is the prevalence of caste in India contrary to the spirit of Islamic equality? If caste distinctions are contrary to the Islamic signs (?), what have the scholars done in this regard? What books have been written to refute this curse?

Answer

The parity (kafa‘a) mentioned in the books of fiqh is not contrary to the spirit of Islamic equality; but that which the new Muslims in India preserved as an inheritance from their forefathers, and which through the influence of association passed to other uninformed Muslims, is contrary to it, and the scholars of Islam have always rejected it.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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