Many of the Meccans mocked, and then a revelation came to show that by nature
all men are equal, and that in the sight of God noble birth and pride of race or
rank is of little worth as compared with the fear of the Lord. The Quraish are
rebuked in:
O men! Verily we have created you of a male and a female; and we have divided
you into peoples and tribes that ye might have knowledge one of another. Truly,
the most worthy of honour in the sight of God is he who feareth Him most. Sura
Al-Hujurat (xlix) 14.1
In reply to a question asking the Meccans what they thought of him, Muhammad
received the answer from some of them, 'we think well of thee, O noble brother
and son of a noble brother. Verily thou hast obtained power over us.' Referring
to the Sura Yusuf (xii) the Prophet quoted the words in the ninety-second verse,
which were said by Joseph to his brethren:
No blame be on you this day. God will forgive you for He is the most merciful
of those who show mercy.2 Sura Yusuf (xii) 92.
With a few exceptions, 3 mostly of those who, it must be admitted,
deserved their fate, a general