The invisible boundary we draw around whom we consider worthy of our time, resources, and loyalty—and how it reproduces injustice.
Every act of favoritism creates and reinforces a circle of exclusion: those we favor, and implicitly, those we do not. Rabia's vision of community imagined no such boundaries—her practice of love extended to everyone regardless of their utility to her or their place in society's hierarchy. The circle of exclusion operates silently in families (favored children receive more attention and resources), organizations (high-potential employees receive mentorship while others stagnate), and spiritual communities (longtime members receive honor while newcomers are overlooked). What makes this concept crucial is that exclusion is often invisible to those within the favored circle; they experience their preference as earned or natural. But from outside the circle, the cost is tangible: limited opportunity, diminished belonging, and the message that one's fundamental worth is contingent. Rabia's legacy asks us to examine our circles ruthlessly and consider whether they serve love or perpetuate harm.
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