Basic
Social Conduct
Surah: An-Nisa (1)
O People Fear Your Lord Who Created You From One Soul — The Origin of Human Equality
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفۡسٍ وَٰحِدَةٍ
— النساء الآية 1
Verse: "O people, fear your Lord who created you from one soul." (4:1) — The surah of human rights opens with the principle of common origin. "From one soul" = Adam, from whom Eve, from whom all humanity. This dismantles racial, class, and gender discrimination at its roots. The address "O People" (not "O Muslims") makes this a universal human right, not merely religious. The only criterion for distinction: taqwa.
Source: Ibn Kathir (2/204); Al-Sadi
Test Yourself
Why does the Quran say "O people" not "O Muslims" in the opening of An-Nisa?
Show Answer