Allah says in the Qur'an not to despise one another. So the

Hear the words of Hakeem Olajuwon, the towering athlete who found his true greatness not only upon the court but in the sanctuary of faith: “Allah says in the Qur'an not to despise one another. So the criterion in Islam is not color or social status. It's who is most righteous. If I go to a mosque - and I'm a basketball player with money and prestige - if I go to a mosque and see an imam, I feel inferior. He's better than me. It's about knowledge.” These words are a jewel of humility, for they proclaim that wealth, fame, and power are but dust compared to righteousness and knowledge in the sight of God.

Olajuwon reminds us of the Qur’anic command: “Do not despise one another.” In this divine teaching lies the foundation of human equality. The measure of a person is not the shade of their skin, not the size of their wealth, not the titles of their station, but the purity of their heart and the depth of their devotion. In a world obsessed with prestige and outward status, his words cut through the illusion: in the house of worship, all stand equal before Allah, and the truest superiority lies only in righteousness.

This truth is rooted in the earliest days of Islam. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, declared in his farewell sermon: “No Arab has superiority over a non-Arab, and no non-Arab has superiority over an Arab, except by piety and good action.” It was this message that lifted the hearts of former slaves like Bilal ibn Rabah, who rose from bondage to become the first caller to prayer. Though poor in possessions, Bilal was rich in faith, and his name endures through the centuries as proof that righteousness and knowledge outshine wealth and status.

Olajuwon, though celebrated across the world, confesses that when he enters a mosque and beholds an imam, he feels himself small. Why? Because the imam is adorned not in earthly glory but in spiritual wisdom. The imam carries knowledge of the Qur’an, of the way of God, of the truths that guide the soul to salvation. This kind of greatness cannot be bought, cannot be won in games, cannot be measured by applause. It is eternal wealth, and in its presence worldly prestige fades like mist before the sun.

The lesson here is both heroic and humbling. True greatness lies not in what the world praises but in what God accepts. A king may be inferior to a beggar if the beggar walks in righteousness. A champion may be smaller than a scholar if the scholar holds the keys of knowledge. To understand this is to be free from arrogance, to see clearly that life is not a competition of wealth but a striving toward truth, piety, and understanding.

And so we must ask ourselves: upon what do we build our sense of worth? If we rest it upon riches, it will vanish when fortune turns. If we rest it upon status, it will crumble when time passes. But if we rest it upon righteousness and knowledge, it will endure beyond death itself. Seek therefore not to outshine others with wealth or fame, but to surpass yourself in virtue, to grow daily in humility, wisdom, and devotion.

So I say unto you: remember Olajuwon’s words when pride tempts your heart. In the mosque, in the gathering, in the world—do not despise, do not exalt yourself above others. Honor those who carry truth in their hearts, for they are richer than kings and stronger than warriors. For as Allah has decreed, the criterion is not color nor status, but righteousness. And as Olajuwon reminds us, true greatness is about knowledge.

Thus his words endure as a reminder for every generation: fame fades, wealth perishes, but righteousness and knowledge shine forever. In the end, the only measure of greatness is how near a soul has drawn to its Creator.