Is the saying: "People are equal like the teeth of a comb; an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab except by piety" a Prophetic Hadeeth, and what is its chain of narration (sanad)?
The hadith "People are like the teeth of a comb, differing only in well-being (al-afiyah)" was narrated by Ibn Adi, who ruled it to be fabricated. The hadith "People are equal like the teeth of a comb; no one has superiority over another except through the fear of Allah," was attributed by the author of Kashf al-Khafa' to al-Daylami, who did not mention its chain of narration. Al-Daylami's unique narration of it is sufficient to deem it weak. These weak hadiths are rendered unnecessary by authentic hadiths that affirm the same meaning. Among them is the hadith from Muslim, narrated by Abu Hurayrah: "Who are the most honored people?" He said: "The most God-fearing among them." And the hadith from al-Bayhaqi, narrated by Jabir: "Behold, no Arab has superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab, nor a red-skinned person over a black-skinned person, nor a black-skinned person over a red-skinned person, except by piety. Indeed, the most honorable among you in the sight of Allah is the most pious."
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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