In the history of Islām and the study of ḥadīth, knowledge was sought from its people, regardless of their lineage or “class”. To this day, in religions such as Hinduism, religious knowledge is restricted to those of noble lineage. In this benefit, a few narrations from the early generations of Islām highlight the excellence of the person of knowledge over the general people, despite their ethnic background. An example of how Islām was 1400 years ahead of the racial debate – no distinction between the educator and the student except for knowledge. It is ironic and unwarranted that some critics today attack Islām as being something unjust or archaic when the sharīʿah established the rights of people of all backgrounds and colours, male or female.