There is No Place for Racism in Islam

When we are listening to the radio, or reading the newspaper, we are confronted daily with the same sad news: violence, crime, wars, and disasters.

This constant awareness of fear and tension should make any sensitive and compassionate person question seriously the progress of our modern world. This makes us think what has triggered such violence and what can be done to end it.

One of the main factors producing the differences between cultures and cultural attainment in the world is history rather than race.

If racial superiority is only a myth why then has race in the past played and continued to play a large part in world conflict today?

Why in some areas do people argue that others are biologically inferior to them?

Racism Defined

Racism is the belief that a particular race is superior or inferior to another; that a person’s social and moral traits are predetermined by his or her inborn biological characteristics.

It is the belief that different races should remain segregated and apart from one another.

Such racist attitudes are abhorred and condemned in Islam.

No Racism in Islam

Islam with its universal concept of this brotherhood rejects all artificial and man-made marks of distinction. No one can claim any superiority over the other based on race, color, language or wealth. This is emphasized in the last sermon of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him); it shows a high regard of humanity irrespective of color or race: All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor does a black have any superiority over a white except by piety and good action.

One story relays that a man once visited the Prophet Muhammad’s mosque in Madinah; then he saw a group of people sitting and discussing their faith together. Among them were Salman (who came from Persia), Suhaib who grew up in the Eastern Roman empire and was regarded as a Greek, and Bilal who was an African. The man then said:

“If the (Madinan) tribes of Aws and Khazraj support Muhammad, they are his people (that is, Arabs like him). But what are these people doing here?”

The Prophet became very angry when this was reported to him. He went to the mosque and summoned people to prayer where he addressed them saying: O people know that the Lord and Sustainer is One. Your ancestor is one, your faith is one. The Arabism of anyone of you is not from your mother or father. It is no more than a tongue (language). Whoever speaks Arabic is an Arab.

Racism is Ugly

As Muslims, it is fundamental we believe that discriminatory exclusion based on race is alien to the spirit of our faith; in turn we should raise our children with this belief. We should instill in them that there are no excuses or reasons for racism. It’s just wrong.

Racism is ugly. It divides people into us and them, based on where we come from or the color of our skin. And it happens when people feel that it’s acceptable to treat others badly as they go about their daily lives.

We must understand that God is the One who made human beings into different groups and people. These differences are not wrong, but rather a sign from God. God says in the Quran: And one of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the diversity of your languages and colors. Surely in this are signs for those of ˹sound˺ knowledge.