Are Arabs better than other Muslims—a preference for a race, not individuals—even if their levels of piety are equal? And who is the Arab referred to here? And does this make Islam an ethnic religion?

Allah has favored some people over others and diversified them in provision and blessings, for reasons and benefits. This disparity necessitates people's need for one another. Islam acknowledges the preference of some categories over others (such as wealth over poverty, and masculinity over femininity), but this does not mean preferring one person over another based on that. The true value of an individual in the sight of Allah is determined by piety and righteous deeds, not by innate attributes like lineage, color, or gender. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, emphasized that people are equal, and there is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, nor of a white person over a black person, except by piety. He also stated that boasting about lineage is among the blameworthy matters of the pre-Islamic era (Jahiliyyah). External virtues hold no regard with Allah unless they lead to an increase in piety and faith.