All human beings belong to a single species and share a common origin. They are born equal in dignity and rights. They should have equal opportunity to have access to social, economic, cultural, intellectual and political development. Any discrimination between the people on the basis of colour, caste and nation is unethical, immoral and unjust. Any action or attitude, that subordinates an individual or group based on complexion or race is against the law of God.
Racialism accepts and reinforces discrimination in all walks of life i.e. education, businesses, employment, professional associations, religion, media, etc. It creates social injustice and destruction to humanity. This type of most prevalent injustice is very harmful for the overall development of the person as NASP (National Association of School Psychologists) believes:
“Racism, prejudice, and discrimination harm all children and youth, and have a profoundly negative effect on school achievement, self-efficacy, and social–emotional growth. Poor student outcomes for all historically marginalised groups ultimately damage the well-being of our nation because of the long-term implications of educational success for adult employment, civic engagement, and health.”
During the last over half a century since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, the international community has made some important advances in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, and related problems. National and international laws have been enacted and numerous international human rights instruments, particularly a treaty to ban racial discrimination, have been adopted. But in spite of all this effort, the dream of a racial free world remains unfulfilled. The 21st century, in spite of all modernism of thought, advancement and philosophy, fails to save the humanity from destruction, injustice, mass killing, enmity and hatred. Still humanity suffers due to race, colour, culture, religion and language.
Jerusalem, the sacred place for Muslims, Christians and Jews, continues being the arena of racial hatred and discrimination. The most recent bloody clashes between two Muslim nations, Uzbeks and Kyrgyzs, in the Osh region of Kyrgyzstan and many other bloody conflicts once more remind us about catastrophic outcomes from stirring of ethnic and racial sentiments.
UNITY OF MANKIND AND DIGNITY
All human beings are creatures of one creator. They have descended from one parent. Their origin is the same. They are the most respectable and noble creature of God Almighty. God is the guardian and disposer of all affairs. He is All Wise, All Generous, All Compassionate and The Most Merciful on His entire creature. He Himself has given them right to live, to be respected, to use their potentials, strength and powers. He never allows anybody to do injustice on the basis of colour, religion, caste and culture. The Qur’ān addresses all nations belonging to all ages and therefore, the moral code it embodies is universal.
He chose man from among all his creation to receive direct and universal address from Him.
The Holy Qur’ān declares all these meanings very clearly when Allah says:
“O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created His wife (Eve), and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through whom you demand mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relation of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is watching over you”. (4:1)
In another verse Qur’ān says:
“Mankind is but one single community.” (2:213)
The similar message has been delivered by Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) during his last pilgrimage:
“O mankind! Your Lord is one. So is your father. Know this well that no Arab shall have superiority over a non- Arab, or a non- Arab over an Arab. A white man has no superiority over a Negro and a Negro has none over a white man in their merits. Except for their fear of God.”
The relationship of Muslims with people of other convictions should be based on mutual social benefit and for the good of all mankind. The Qur’ān says:
“Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity. It is only those who fought against you on account of religion, and have driven you out of your homes, and helped to drive you out, Allah forbids you to befriend them. And whosoever will befriend them, then such are the wrong-doers – those who disobey Allah.” (60: 8-9).
History tells us that the Islamic society prospered with the implementation of these values in all the generations in which the message of Islam flourished, and where the believers practised it correctly. For instance, at the time of the Prophet, Salmaan the Persian was side by side with Suhaib the Roman next to Bilaal the Abyssinian and with them Abu Bakr the Quraishite, all bond by the brotherhood of Islam.
“And remember Allah’s favour on you, for you were enemies one to another, but he joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren.” (3: 103)
Following the World War II, the leaders of the world promised universal brotherhood and called for a unified happy world, where one would be overwhelmed with peace, justice, freedom and prosperity. They have not achieved any of that, nor even sincerely tried for that.
RACISM AND NATIONALISM
Islam is not a race; it has nothing at all to do with genetics. It is an ideology, a set of beliefs about individual behaviour and the values of society, and a way of life for all human beings. Human beings gain value on the basis of virtues they possess, not on the basis of race.
Having love for one’s nation is not a wrong attitude, but it becomes wrong when it discriminates against others in all matters, avoiding justice and forgetting humanity. As it is stated in a Ḥadīth also that one of the companions of the Prophet asked:
“O Allah’s messenger, would one’s love for one’s tribe and nation be regarded as racism? The Prophet answered; No, it would not, Racism, rather is one’s helping one’s tribe in injustice and in wrong doing”.
However, if these natural sentiments begin demanding the superior loyalty of population over religion, or claim for superiority of a certain nation over other nations, it moves on its non-natural level, the negative level of nationalism or racism. In a Ḥadīth the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) said that in Islam, there is no difference between an Abyssinian slave and a leader of Quraish, once they have accepted Islam. The Prophet also declared:
“He who calls for racism is not from us; he who fights for racism is not from us; and he who dies for the sake of racism is not one of us.”
Islam accepts the reality of race and gives reason for these differences. The most well-known verse of Qur’ān on this subject is:
“O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable among you in the sight of Allah is that (believer) who has piety and righteousness.”(49: 13)
The wisdom behind dividing people into tribes and nations is nothing more than the creation of variety, so that they may come to meet each other in an atmosphere of mutual respect and co-operation, and not for the promotion of hostility and difference.