Is it permissible to prefer Arabs over non-Arabs?

Question:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner asks: Is it permissible for us to prefer Arabs over non-Arabs, or is preference for a person based on taqwa (mindfulness of Allah)?

Answer:
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah mentioned this in his book *Iqtida' al-Sirat al-Mustaqim* and elaborated on it extensively. Others have also written works on preferring Arabs over non-Arabs, and there are many hadiths on this. However, the intent is the race: the Arab race is superior to the non-Arab race. As for individuals, there may be among the non-Arabs someone who is better than many Arabs in terms of individual merit. For example, among the Persians, there is Salman al-Farisi (may Allah be pleased with him), like Imam al-Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him), Abu Hanifah, and Sibawayh. There are imams in knowledge and faith among the Persians. In terms of individuals, there is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, but in terms of race, the Arab race is superior to the non-Arab race. This is the rule. Yes.