34: Prejudice - The Result of Arrogance and Ignorance
[Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)]
Diversity is natural
Diversity is an integral part of the reality of nature and hence part of the scheme of Allah's creation.
We are to reflect upon diversity [Qur'an 3:190] and learn lessons for our benefit.
"Have you not seen how that God sends down water from the sky, and therewith We bring forth with it
fruits of diverse hues? And in the mountains are streaks white and red, of diverse hues, and pitch black.
People too, and beasts and cattle are of diverse colors. Even so only those of His servants who have
understanding are truly dutiful to Allah." [Qur'an 35.27-28]
Islamic history testifies to the openness Islam has accorded towards diversity from its inception. In the first four people who embraced Islam, we have a cross-section of the entire society ... Khadijah (female, wife and first Believer), 'Ali (family member and youth), Abu Bakr (wealthy merchant and friend) and Zaid (foreigner and former slave). Among the companions of the Prophet was Salman (Persian), Shu'aib (Greek), Bilal (Ethioipian) and his wife Maria the Copt (Egyptian). This is a testimony to the all-embracing scope of Islam. Yet, there is a problem in the Ummah (global community of Muslims) today. Prejudice is not only perpetrated by others, it has become a very sad reality amongst many, many Muslims as well. This is not just on the level of small minority Muslim communities in non-Muslim lands, it is also a major problem in Muslim-majority countries. Years of nationalism in theory and practice have diminished the powerful universality Islam brought to these societies.
Sad reality in some Muslim lands
There are a number of countries in the Muslim world, in which racism and prejudice are in full swing and perpetuated by laws or social customs. These seek to exclude and shun on the basis of ethnicity and in some cases, race. In certain Middle-Eastern countries for instance ...
- discrimination is used to exclude from citizenship those who are not the original inhabitants of the land.
- workers of one national origin are paid less than others although they may excel in their skills, education, and experience. It has been noted that a white person carrying an American passport gets better pay than a person of Asian origin carrying the same passport.
- it is not permissible for children to study at a post-secondary level, even if their parents have been living or working in the country for a number of years. This is usually because of their national origin.
- unwritten laws in some Arab countries prohibit Arab women from marrying a non-Arab.
Remember, "The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority." [Methodist author, Ralph W. Sockman]
Sad reality among some Muslim individuals and communities
- Marriage - We know the Prophet married women across ethnic lines, and therefore, in Islam, there
is no ethnic bar to marriage. Contrast this with, for instance, the Hindu caste system, under which inter-caste
marriage is prohibited. Sadly, such Hindu notions still influence a number of Muslims. While some Muslims may
try to justify this as simply a measure to ensure compatibility between husband and wife, it is Islamically
unjustified to discriminate against upright Muslims on the basis of ethnicity. The prejudice often goes beyond
mere ethnicity, it revolves around the assumed superiority of one over the other.
Allah has surely saved you from the slavishly ignorant practices of boasting about ancestry. A person is either a pious believer or a miserable sinner. All human beings are the children of Adam and Adam was made from dust. [Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)] - Masjid or Islamic Center - Even multi-national neighborhoods result in ethnically dominant Masajid. Usually, negative attitudes of some, and language specific Masjid programs cause miscommunication. This is because some people want to make sure "their mother tongue" survives in America and "their culture" prevails. People who are not of that culture or language background then become marginalized. The problem here lies in the fact that many people tend to be Muslims culturally and seem unable to dissociate Islam as a universal civilization from a cultural tradition that they are accustomed to. Mosques are not meant to be cultural centers nor for the promotion of ethnicity or racism. We are warned that the mosque is dedicated for the sake of Allah and not to call upon or towards anything other than Allah.[Qur'an 72:18]
- Chauvinism and Racism - In many discussions we find blatant racist statements being made and there
is still a large gap between immigrant Muslims and Muslims who are Afro-American. There is no real effective
interaction and certainly very rare inter-marriage. This despite the Prophet Muhammad's final message ...
O human beings! Acknowledge that your Creator is one, your forefather is one;
Take note that there is no superiority of any Arab over any non-Arab nor of any non-Arab over any Arab;
Neither is there any superiority of any white over any black person nor of any black over any white person;
Except by piety. Surely, the most honorable of all human beings are those most pious. [Qur'an 49:13]
Standard of Human Excellence
[Qur'an 49:13]
There are several principles, which this verse presents:
- This message is not just for Muslims because Allah is addressing all of humanity.
- While Muslims are one fraternity, this is part of a larger family of humanity.
- He says that He created us from one pair implying then that we are all from the same origin.
- It also means that all human beings are created through the same process, not in a manner in which some are created with a better mechanism than others.
- Diversity is a sign from Allah. "And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colors. Verily, in that are indeed signs for those who know." [Qur'an 30:22].
- The only source of preference among human beings is not on a national or group level,nor on race, color, gender or ethnicity but it is at the individual level.
- The only criterion of preference, Taqwa, is not measurable by human beings.
"Do not ascribe righteousness to your self. Allah alone knows best who are pious." [Qur'an 53:32]
This is an integral part of the deeply embedded ideals of Islam which still bring people to this way of life; not because of Muslims but in spite of us. This abolition of prejudice convinced noted historian, Professor A.J.Toynbee in 1948 to say; "The extinction of race consciousness as between Muslims is one of the outstanding achievements of Islam, and in the contemporary world there is, as it happens, a crying need for the propagation of this Islamic virtue."
Rise above Prejudice
We are each burdened with some prejudice and it is noble to rise above each and every prejudice we have. Note the following ...
- Preconceived notions are the locks to the door of wisdom.
[artist, Mary Browne] - Our thoughts are unseen hands shaping the people we meet. Whatever we truly think them to be, that's what
they'll become for us.
[author, Richard Cowper] - Remember it is often difficult to extricate prejudice out of the prejudiced because prejudice was not
reasoned in to him and can not be reasoned out of him.
[18th century English essayist, Sydney Smith] - When the judgement is weak, the prejudice is strong [18th century Irish dramatist, Kane O'Hara] because prejudices are what fools use for reason. [Philosopher, Voltaire]
- Opinions founded on prejudice are always sustained with the greatest of violence.
[19th century writer, Francis Jeffrey] - Unfortunately, closed minds are rarely attached to closed mouths. Note that minds are like umbrellas, they are only useful when open.
- It is never too late to give up our prejudices.
[Universalist, H.D.Thoreau]
Use the opportunities we have effectively
- The prayer - a lesson in Muslim unity
Five times a day, every day, Muslims all over the world, of every cultural and ethnic background, stand shoulder to shoulder; praying in the same manner, facing the same direction, reading from the same Qur'an. Congregational prayer is not just an exercise in Muslim unity, but also in ethno-national harmony and manifests supra-national identity. Our mode of prayer belies our prejudices. In reality, we are one despite our prejudices.
'Allama Muhammad Iqbal said; "What benefits or harms any of us as Believers affects all of us as Believers. We have one final messenger, one way of life, one faith tradition, one qiblah, one Allah, one Qur'an ... how great it would have been if all Believers were one." - Muslims united in pain
With headlines focused on the suffering of Muslims in Kashmir, Palestine, Chechnya, Somalia, Iraq ... Muslims all over feel the anguish, donate generously and pray for their oppressed brothers and sisters.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "Believers are like one body, if any part is afflicted the rest of the body suffers restlessness and fever". - Change
Curing the disease of racism, chauvinism and bigotry involves awareness, effort, humility, and sincerity. It requires seeking out the right guidance to develop the right attitude. It means admitting we were or are wrong, sincerely repenting and making a concrete effort to change.- Remove all forms of arrogance
That person will not enter Paradise who has a grain of kibr in his heart ...
Kibr being the denial of reality and the undermining of people.
[Prophet Muhammad(pbuh)] - Do not judge by the wrong criteria
Surely, Allah does not judge you by your appearance or your physical features,
He rather considers the sincerity of your heart and your actions.
[Prophet Muhammad(pbuh)]
- Remove all forms of arrogance