Amal Al-Sibai
Racism still lingers on in almost every society and it is an ugly truth that none likes to talk about.
Racism is a belief that inherent differences among various human racial groups determine cultural or individual achievement; it is the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to dominate others or that a particular racial group is inferior to others.
It can take on many forms. It can be systematic, such as when certain policies and government systems actually foster such discrimination, or it can be at a more personal level such as when we hear obnoxious racial slurs being called out on the streets of our town.
Until this day we have been unable to stamp out racism, and it persists across the globe.
In the United States, studies show that police are more likely to pull over and frisk African Americans or Hispanics than whites. In New York City, 80% of the stops made were blacks and Latinos, and 85% of those people were frisked, compared to a mere 8% of white people stopped. In 2010, the U.S. Sentencing Commission reported that African Americans receive 10% longer sentences than whites through the federal system for the same crimes.
Although the teachings of Islam strongly admonish discrimination and bigotry, racism exists in the Muslim part of the world as well. Racism is at the core of the mistreatment of immigrant workers. We witness incidents of racial discrimination against non-Arabs living and working in Arab countries.
It is time to stop denying that our societies perpetrate racial discrimination. We need to speak about this problem in our homes, schools, universities, work place, and media.
As Muslims, we should re-educate ourselves and our communities on what Islam has to say about racism. In Islam, racism is unacceptable.
Let us look to the Holy Qur’an to see the criteria which determines whether a person or group of people is better than another person or group.
{O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Aware.} (chapter 49, verse 13)
Nobility in the sight of Allah is not based on country of birth or family name or lineage but it is based on piety, righteousness, and good character.
In the Holy Qur’an, the difference in languages and color of skin among peoples is mentioned as a beautiful and interesting diversity, not as a means of determining superiority.
{And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your languages and your colors. Indeed in that are signs for those of knowledge. } (chapter 30, verse 22)
It is not color of skin, but it is the desire to learn, to seek knowledge, and how much we fear Allah that can make us better persons.
How did Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) deal with racist attitudes that existed in his community, and how did he (peace be upon him) strive to eradicate racism?
During the Prophet’s time, his companion, Abu Dharr, who was an Arab, was disputing with Bilal, who was African. Tempers escalated and Abu Dharr insulted Bilal, saying, “O son of a black woman!”
When the Prophet (peace be upon him) heard of this, he became angry with Abu Dharr and he reprimanded him, saying that Abu Dharr still retained the standards of the pre-Islamic days of ignorance. Islam has eradicated the false standards of judging people by race or color. The most honorable of men is the most pious and upright in conduct.
Abu Dharr felt remorseful and he immediately went to Bilal’s house. Putting his own head on the ground, Abu Dharr apologized and told Bilal to step on his face.
Bilal forgave Abu Dharr and said, “That face deserves to be kissed, not trodden upon.”
Time and again, the Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasized that no person is better than another by way of color of skin or wealth or tribal ties.
In the last sermon to deliver to the people, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon) left his people with these final words,
“O people! Your Lord is one and your father Adam is one. There is no virtue of an Arab over a foreigner nor a foreigner over an Arab, and neither white skin over black skin nor black skin over white skin, except by righteousness. Have I not delivered the message?” (Musnad Ahmad, #22978)
The message is clear.
We have a lot of work ahead of us to combat racism and hopefully end it in our communities. By aspiring to reach a higher level of piety and righteousness, that is one step in the right direction.
Other steps we can take to combat racism in our daily lives include abandoning stereotyping. Push your stereotypes and labels of certain ethnic groups aside, and look at each person you come across as an individual to be respected and appreciated.
Educate yourself and your children about other cultures, and teach them to respect all people. Read together about different cultures.
Go out of your familiarity; cultivate genuine friendships with people of different backgrounds. Such friendships help you learn a lot and are emotionally rewarding.
Do not tolerate racial discrimination. If a racist incident ensues at the store for example in your presence, speak up! Mention the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in which he said, “Behold! Verily, there is no good in red skin or black skin, but rather only by virtue of righteousness.” (Musnad Ahmad, #20885)
Remember, part of our duty as Muslims is to enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, and racism is evil!
