Islam does not condone racism
Racism is defined as 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. Some people believe that different races should remain segregated and apart from one another. Racism takes many forms and can happen in many places. It includes prejudice, discrimination, or hatred directed at someone because of their color, ethnicity, or national origin. Direct discrimination also can be occurred between different religions or beliefs. However, Islam is a religion that does not condone racism. In Islamic doctrine, it is highly stressed on the matter of equality, tolerance, and harmony.
Firstly, all people regardless of their origin, are equal in Islam and the only thing that distinguishes them is their level of commitment to their religion. It is reported by Al-Tirmidhi in one Hadith that the Prophet Muhammad said “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 noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Aware” [Quran 49:13]. This is to assert that in Islam, no race is created to be above other races or to rise above them. Man’s worth in the eyes of men and the eyes of Allah is determined by the good he does, and by his obedience to Allah.
Secondly, prejudice and discrimination were not common in Muslim societies due to the diversity of our inhabitants. This tradition of tolerance is reflected in the teachings of Islam. Tolerance towards non-Muslims within Islamic societies stems from the Prophet Muhammad’s teaching that all ‘People of the Book’ should be treated with respect. This meant followers of other monotheistic religions who have a sacred text given to them by God, and at the time included mainly Christians and Jews. It says in the Qur’an “And do not dispute with the followers of the book…except those of them who act unjustly, and say: We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you, and our God and your God is One, and to Him do we submit” [Quran 29:46].
Thirdly, the Qur’an states that people should be fair with each other to help achieve a balanced and harmonious society. “Allah does not forbid you from showing kindness and dealing justly with those who have not fought you about religion and have not driven you out of your homes. Allah loves just dealers” [Quran 60:8]. Thus, building harmony society is the responsibility of all Muslims. “A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, so he should not oppress him, nor should he hand him over to an oppressor. Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allah will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever screened a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection” [Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Muzalim].
Some people said that there is a racism of Islamic countries against non-Islamic countries. In my view, racism is prohibited by Islamic doctrine. Originally, some problems which had arisen between countries may not be related to religious issues. It is may arise from the other common issues between the governments such as politics and economy, and because of the bias, prejudice, and direct discrimination between the religions. It is starting to raise the racism issue between people of the two nations. Islamic countries never see the non-Islamic countries as the enemy unless the opposite party starts to do something to destroy Islam.
In a nutshell. Racism worse enemy than an epidemic. This statement can be witnessed by us in today’s world’s situation. Virus pandemic can be guarded by having a vaccine but racism is practically hard to be solved. History of nightmare is something that may cause the racism issues to be exploded among people from time to time. Therefore, Islamic doctrine may use as an essential tool in solving racism problems. Islamic doctrine teaches people on the matter of equality, tolerance, and harmony.
#racism #justice #Islam
