Message for Friday - Islam condemns racism

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : من سره أن يكون أكرم الناس فليتق الله

Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) said, "Whoever fancies himself that he is the most honorable of men, then let him immediately fear G'd."

Prior to Islam coming to the Arab people, they were immersed in a caste system society were individual honor was linked to tribal affliation. At the lowest rung in that society, the Non-Arab (African, European, Persian & Indian) slaves were at the very bottom of the totem pole.

وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آَدَمَ
(17:70)

G'd says in the Qur'an, "And most certainly, We have honored [all] of the Children of Adam."

In Islam, skin color, tribal affliation, and monetary status is not what gives human beings honor and dignity. Human beings contain intrinsic dignity, and this dignity increases or decreases based upon respect to the commands and decress of the Creator. And only the Creator truly knows who has kept their duties to him.

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ مِنْ ذَكَرٍ وَأُنْثَى وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ
(49:13)

G'd says in the Qur'an, "Oh humanity! Surely We created you from a male and a female, and We made you into Nations and Tribes in order that you may know each other. Surely the most honorable of you with G'd are you who are the most pious; surely G'd is all knowing, all aware."

Stories that are in the news of East Indian workers being treated like second class citizens in Arab Gulf states to racist statements that made about blacks being referred to as slaves or monkeys has nothing to do with Islam. This treatment is a violation of Islam. Muslims can be racist, but Islam never condones racism.


And surely G'd knows best.