Islam
and Racism
By: Sayyid Mujtaba Musavi Lari
The "Unity" is the
basis of Islamic theology. and therefore "Unity" is the ground of its philosophy
of society. All humanity is one; a great unit. Its individuals are members of one society
incorporate, which is so comprehensive that it includes all differences within its
oneness. The many find within the one that brotherhood, affection, friendliness and human
blood-relationship which is of the essence. Hence distinctions do not become differences -
not colour, nor culture, nor class, nor custom, nor conversational idiom. Mutual respect
as fellow-humans in pursuit of the common good is the rule throughout the world-wide
society of Islam, without superiority or inferiority, since all mankind were created in
one human soul to start with, from whom man and woman, black and white, poor and rich,
civilised and savage, all evolve, sharing one common humanity Truly "God made of one
flesh all the nations upon earth it haply they may feel after Him and find Him."
So it is written (Qur'an: Sura IV
Nisa'a-"The Women" 1st verse). "Reverence God Who created you all
from one person", leaving no room for nationalistic divisions. Differences in skin
and tongue are merely tokens of the Creator's power. They call on men to study the Holy
Will and Might of Him Who from one elemental root created so many variations of colour
countenance and conversation : as it is written (Qur'an: Sura XXX "Rome"
verse 21)"Signs of His Power are His creation of heaven and of earth, and the
varieties of tongues and skins; in all of which are sermons for the wise."
It is further written (Qur'an :
Sura II, Baqara -"The Heifer" verse 213): "Mankind was one single
nation. Then we sent messengers to them to give them glad tidings and warnings; and with
them we sent the Book in truth to judge between people in matters wherein they differed .
. . and God by His grace guided believers to the common truth on points about which they
differed; for God guides whom He will onto a path that is straight." This verse
reveals that in the beginning mankind was one single nation without differences or splits
or conflicts but enjoying unity, cooperation and harmony.
The martyred Imam Ali left us the
priceless legacy of the Nahj-ul-Balaghe, amongst which is his historic address to
Malek_iyAshtar in which he expresses this truth as follows: "Make thine heart a
throne of mercy towards thy people. Show them perfect love and care. Never treat them as a
ravening beast that tears and rends their properties and their persons. For they are in
one of two groups. Either they are thy brothers in the Faith- or they are thy fellow-human
beings of one flesh with thine own." This broad view embraces all races, all
cultures, all tongues.
Unity and union amongst
individuals will subsist under the aegis of unity of thought and spirit, oneness of
conviction and aim; nor can any unity obtain save under that orderliness. Should a society
fall into division of thought and conviction, its bonds of affection will be loosened:
and. when adversity arises, material needs will increase differences, conflicts and
tensions. That is why the strongest tie of unity amongst nations is the religious bond.
It is in this bond of union that
Islam has brought people and peoples together, freeing them from the trammels of division
and difference, and calling them to establish the bases of accord and agreement in a
society of brotherhood which is the natural state of man.
Islam treats mankind as one great
family of brothers and sisters. In the human family the relationship of father and child
is a stronger bond than that of brotherhood. But the qualities of respect and of
difference of age deprive the father-child relationship of full equality. That is why it
is brotherhood which Islam exalts as the expression of that perfect and heartfelt
affection which should reign within the human family. It should reign on the surface and
in the depths. Brotherhood is therefore the Qur'an's call. The sublimest levels of love
and the most sincere of friendships are those which arise between Muslims. They are called
brothers because of their brotherhood, because of the existence of the fact of this most
tender and beautiful of manifestations of equality; it is not the command to be brothers
which called the fact into existence. The command was uttered, but the natural upwelling
of the spirit engendered by that surrender (tasleem) to God (which Islam is) issues in
brotherhood.
This brotherhood is deeper and
higher than mere natural brotherliness, for it is the unity of a shared aim, the unity of
shared convictions, the unity of joint beliefs, the unity of hearts.
It is written (Qur'an: Sura XLIX,
Hujurat-"The Inner Apartments" verse 10): "Believers are a single
brotherhood. Make peace amongst your brothers and fear God that ye may receive
mercy."
The Prophet decreed: "The
members of the assembly of the believers are by love and affection one body, and any limb
of that which is pained causes all the other limbs to suffer in sympathy. If any
individual Muslim falls into a painful situation all the other members of the community
must run to his help and share in his sorrow." (Safeenatu-l-Behar, Vol. I,
p.13.)
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