From what Islam says, I get the impression that all human beings are equal. However, I do not really see them equal. Can you explain please?
What Islamic teachings tell us is that all human beings are equal in the eyes of the Creator as far as their status of human beings is considered. These teachings also tell us that we should likewise make no distinction between human beings while dealing with them as humans. In other words, Islam does not wants us to be arrogant because of our family, status, and abilities. The Qur’an says:
O mankind! We created you from a single pair of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes that you might get to know one another. Surely the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is he who is the most righteous. Allah is All-Knowledgeable, All-Aware. (49:13)
However, that doesn’t mean that people are not different from each other; it also doesn’t mean that one individual cannot be better than another in some areas. The Almighty has created a lot of diversity in us. Had it not been there, the system of our world wouldn’t have been able to function properly. We need different people with different interests and abilities to take care of the different obligations that our societies need to discharge. Had everyone been alike, this wouldn’t have been possible. The Qur’an says:
It is We Who distribute the means of their livelihood in the life of this world, raising some in rank above others, so that one may take others into his service. (43:32)
Thus all humans are equal as humans. They are however different in their abilities. They are also different in the most significant criterion of piety, about which only God Almighty is the best judge. No human can claim superiority over a fellow human on the basis of family, race, status, or any other worldly criterion.