Sounds familiar and reminds me of this.
Surah Al-An‘am (6:165):
“And it is He who has made you successors on the earth and has raised some of you above others in ranks, that He may test you through what He has given you…”
We are successors (khulafa) on earth not absolute owners. Whatever rank, resources, or opportunities we have are not permanent possessions but "tests" and not really ours to begin with. One person may have wealth, another knowledge, another patience in hardship, another influence. None of these are proof of superiority in the ultimate sense but are trials tailored to each "soul".
When it comes to how we see “rank", well, in worldly terms, rank often means privilege, status, or authority. But in God’s scale, the highest ranks belong to those with taqwa/piety and ihsan/excellence in character and action.
Also, piety isn't just vertical, between you and God, but horizontal too, in how you relate to creation. When you are good to creation, you are honoring the Creator. In that sense, worship is not locked inside rituals; it permeates life.
