Is a massive problem for the global world. In particular
against Muslims in general because the biased and hypocritical media that paints
us all with the same brush. Yet, we also have regional problems of racism within ourselves.
There are many communities of Muslims who live in the west and have formed
masjids but only cater for their own ethnic backgrounds. This is a massive
problem for the new Muslim who is unable to be assisted or even catered for. Therefore,
they struggle for years without support and are, the very least, disappointed
due to all lectures being in a language they do not understand.
The Ayah
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ مِنْ
ذَكَرٍ وَأُنْثَى وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ
عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ
"O people! We created you from a male and female; We
made you people and tribes so you could know each other. The most honourable of
you with Allah is the most pious; Allah is all-knowing and well informed."
Quran 49:13
Imam Al-Tabarani said that this ayah came down when the
Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) had instructed Bilal
(may Allah be pleased with him) to make the call of prayer on the Ka'aba. This
destroyed racism and the arrogance that some felt because of their positions.
Ponder how the pagans viewed this moment. It was the opening
of Mekkah and the pagan power had come to an end, forever. The Ka'aba was
cleansed from idols because Ibrahim and his son Ismail (upon them peace) had
originally made it without any idols. Then the call of prayer was made to signify
a return to Monotheism. Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) made the call to
prayer. He was freed servant who had reached a high status in Islam that can
never be reached by anyone else. This illustrates that Islam raised the ranks
of people who came into its fold.
'O people' meaning all of mankind is addressed here. People could also mean addressing the Arabs alone but within the context of the sentence it means mankind/humanity. 'We
have created you from a male and female,' namely all of mankind started from
Adam and Hawa (upon them peace). This is the shared lineage of mankind so we
are all the same. People do have different ranks though like the companions, the
Ahl Al-Bayt, Awliyah and scholars etc. However, everyone else is at a similar
level. Then from this shared lineage, we made tribes and people so that we know
each other. Each people have things that are distinct to their countries:
dress, food, traditions, culture etc. This ayah destroys nationalism which is a
plague in many counties. Where people think they are better than others because
of where they come from. This ayah destroys that completely. It does not matter
where you come from but what matters who is more pious. Taqwa can mean god-fearing
as well as pious. Please see previous work on Taqwa. Therefore, a person's
honour with Allah is based on how much they fear Allah and not based on their passport.
Then the most important part of ayah that we have to pay attention
to is that Allah is all knowing and all aware. Allah knows everything about us:
our past, present and future. You cannot fool Allah because that is making a
fool of oneself.
This ayah alone
should be enough for you to reflect on your racist behaviour.
Hadith
وروى
أحمد (22978) عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ : " حَدَّثَنِي مَنْ سَمِعَ خُطْبَةَ رَسُولِ
اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ
وَسَلَّمَ فِي وَسَطِ أَيَّامِ التَّشْرِيقِ فَقَالَ
: ( يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَلَا إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ وَاحِدٌ وَإِنَّ أَبَاكُمْ وَاحِدٌ
، أَلَا لَا فَضْلَ لِعَرَبِيٍّ عَلَى أَعْجَمِيٍّ وَلَا لِعَجَمِيٍّ عَلَى عَرَبِيٍّ
وَلَا لِأَحْمَرَ عَلَى أَسْوَدَ وَلَا أَسْوَدَ عَلَى أَحْمَرَ إِلَّا بِالتَّقْوَى
، أَبَلَّغْتُ ؟ ) قَالُوا : بَلَّغَ
صححه الألباني في "الصحيحة" 6/199
Imam Ahmad reports from Abu Nadarah, "I was informed
that someone heard the sermon of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace
and blessings upon him) in the middle of the days of tashriq, he said, "O
people! Is not your Lord One; your forefathers are one. There is no superiority
of an Arab over a non-Arab. No superiority of a non-Arab over an Arab; no red
skinned over the black; no black over the red; it is but piety. Have I conveyed
[truthfully]." They replied, "You have conveyed."
This further illustrates the point of the ayah that the only
thing that makes one better than the other is the fear of Allah. The companions
confirmed this because they had been taught by the Messenger of Allah (may Allah
bestow peace and blessings upon him).
The caliphs of old
This is historical fact, Islamic civilisation accepted
people of other religions when no one accepted the other. Islam recognised the
religions of Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, and so forth. They also had
agreements to be protected by the caliphs of old.
This is how the caliph should be. Accepting of people's
faith; no matter who they are.
Mohammad Ali
Was one of the most inspirational figures in modern history.
He was known for being one of the greatest boxers of all time but what he did
outside the ring is what I will remember him most. He was often given a hard
time by the press for having confidence in his ability. This became the
standard of all the boxers that followed him. He was breaking all the moulds
that we given to him in the racist environment that he was born into.
He famously could not get a meal at a restaurant because of
his colour. He had just won the Olympic gold medal in boxing and had been
refused service in the restaurant. He threw his medal away. Perhaps this early
experience made his refuse the war draft that came his way. He changed his name
from his 'slave' name Cassis Clay to Mohammad Ali; this was a shadow that
followed him.
He accepted Orthodox Islam with Malcolm X and became even
more disliked. It has to be noted that many historians noted that figures like
Martin Luther King were despised and only after death did things change.
M. Ali was a complete break from the norm of what the image
of what he should be. This should be an inspiration for you all.
Racism against Islam and Muslims
Attacking Islam and Muslim has become a drum that many use
to scare people. We ourselves have not done enough to dispel people's fears. We
hate the violence and criminal activity that occurs in the world. We do not
want to be painted with the same brush and similarly we cannot stand the
blanket salacious comments made by authorities who should know better.
The drums of war are profitable and there is no justice in
world were profits are built over the dead. This is the reality of our world
that we are living in.
So we should know better than to turn on other Muslims who
are not the same as us. In terms of their backgrounds, lineage or whatever.
Often those who do not share the same background do not treat people the same.
You go to Hajj and get treated differently. Some people rip people off who are
foreigners because they think they have more money. Taxi drivers too, do not
get me started on taxi drivers! Though the racism that is present in some
regions is of a low level but it is incomparable to the racism present in the countries
were the slave trade was abolished.
Muslims in the world have become 'the other' and they are
being killed and discriminated against. How is this when we have lived in the
west since the 1960's, how can we suddenly be the problem? You cannot blame 1/2/3/4/5%
of the population for 100% of the problems.
Sent to all nations
One of the first articles that I was blessed to write was
about generality of the Prophets message and it was for all of humanity. Read
the Quranic ayahs and the commentaries.
“Say: ’O mankind, I am the Messenger of God to you all, of
Him to whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and of the earth. There is no
god but He. He gives life, and causes death. Believe then in God, and in His
Messenger, the Prophet of the common folk, who believes in God and His words,
and follow him; haply so you will be guided.”
The Heights 7:158
Al-Tabari states in his Jami Bayan fi Tasfir Al-Quran, “The
Exalted informs the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him), O Muhammad say, to all mankind, “I am the Messenger of God to you all.”
Not to just some, excluding others, like the previous messengers who were sent
to some not others. As truly his message was not for some excluding others
rather his message was for everyone."
Ibn Ajibah states in Al-Bahr Al-Madeed fi Tafsir Al-Quran
Al-Majeed, “The Truth mighty and majestic proclaims, “Say,” O Muhammad, “I am
the Messenger of God to you all.” To the red, the black, non Arab , the Arab,
the peoples and the jinn are specified in this call.” See later note for the
meaning of red and black."
Al-Shanqiti states in Adowa Al-bayan fi Tafsir Al-Quran,
“The Exalted ordered him to say, “O Mankind, I am the Messenger of God to you
all.” This blessed passage clarifies that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) was sent to mankind and there are many passages
which clarify this further."
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “Allah sent
Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to the red and the black.”
What this means is all the colours of all the nations not specific to one
nation and one colour, all colours and creeds. Ibn Kathir confirms this and
adds that the Arabs and the non-Arabs are also addressed here.
“And We have not sent you
(O Muhammad) save as a bringer of good tidings and a warner unto all mankind;
but most of mankind know not.”
Sura Saba 34:28
The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him) said, “I was given five things that no one was given before; I was sent to
the red and the black, the Earth was purified place of prostration for me, I
was given victory over my enemy through fear over a month’s travelling distance
and I can partake in the spoils of war. It was said, ask and it is given and my
intercession is concealed from my nation.” (Muslim 521 and Ad-Dayrami 2468)
The conclusion of all these proofs is that the Messenger of
Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings be upon him) was sent to the entirety of humankind, all of them. This includes all
races, creed, cultures, regions and so on.
Then how can a Muslim be racist or feel superior to another
Muslim based on skin colour? Not only is this going against the wisdom of Allah
with creation and against the message, he claims to believe in.
Therefore, the
person has not only failed to grasp simple messages but has failed with basic
elements. Being racist stands against everything that this religion has ever taught because this is an inclusive religion and not an exclusive one!
We are
different races, colours etc but the glue that binds us is creed. On the other
hand, the simple fact we are human and we are all part of the human race.
If you do not like a particular race of Muslims then that is
your personal issue. You should keep your nonsense to yourself rather than
spread it across the internet that compounds the narrative against Muslims.
Work with your issues and talk to people and try to solve
your problems. Islam has nothing to do with racism and if you are racist then
Islam has nothing to do you.
