Origins of Prejudice

Prejudice is as old as the day Iblis complained to Allah, subhana watala, that he was better than mankind.  He based it on the nature of his creation (jinn), claiming that jinn are superior to mankind, similar to racial prejudice today, which is based on the principle that, "whatever I am, is better than whatever you are."  

Iblis made demands to Allah, subhana wat'ala, for the mere reason that he was made of smokeless fire and that Adam was made of clay.  Are we not doing the same today by thinking that our biological features, geographical location, financial status, or organizational ties, make us superior to others?  Beware of the shaytaan (satan) who feeds the people lies to cause division!

The Noble Qur'an - Al-Hijr 15:33
(Iblis) said: "I am not one to prostrate myself to man, whom Thou didst create from sounding clay, from mud moulded into shape."

The Noble Qur'an - Al-Hijr 15:39-40
(Iblis) said: "O my Lord! Because you misled me, I shall indeed adorn the path of error for them (mankind) on the earth, and I shall mislead them all.

"Except Your chosen, (guided) slaves among them."

The Noble Qur'an - Al-Baqarah 2: 34
And behold, We said to the angels: "Bow down to Adam" and they bowed down. Not so Iblis: he refused and was haughty: He was of those who reject Faith.

Racial prejudice is by no means new. The Prophet describes a long history (and future) of people finding fault in other's ancestry in the following hadith.  

Hadith - Bukhari (#397), Muslim, Tirmidhi, and Ibn Jarud
Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet of Allah said, "There are two things of which my people will never tire:  wailing over the dead and finding fault with people's ancestry."

Do not be Divided amongst Yourselves
(for eg. through your prejudices)

The Noble Qur'an - Al-Imran 3:103
And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah's favour on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus doth Allah make His Signs clear to you: That ye may be guided.

The Noble Qur'an - Al-Shura 42:13
The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah - the which We have sent by inspiration to thee - and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely, that ye should remain steadfast in religion, and make no divisions therein: to those who worship other things than Allah, hard is the (way) to which thou callest them. Allah chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him).

The Noble Qur'an - Al-An'am 6:159
As for those who divide their religion and break up into sects, thou hast no part in them in the least: their affair is with Allah. He will in the end tell them the truth of all that they did.

The Noble Qur'an - Al-Anfal 8:46
And obey Allah and His Messenger. and fall into no disputes, lest ye lose heart and your power depart; and be patient and persevering: For Allah is with those who patiently persevere:

Even though some people encourage division, one thing that we all have in common and cannot escape, is that we all eventually return to Allah swt at the time of death, on the Day of Judgement, awaiting Allah's judgment on our souls!

The Noble Qur'an - Al-Anbiyaa 21:93
But (later generations) cut off their affair (of unity), one from another: (yet) will they all return to Us.

The Noble Qur'an - Faatir 35:28
See you not that Allâh sends down water (rain) from the sky, and We produce therewith fruits of varying colours, and among the mountains are streaks white and red, of varying colours and (others) very black.

And of men and Ad­Dawâb (moving living creatures, beasts, etc.), and cattle, in like manner of various colours. It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is All­Mighty, Oft­Forgiving.

The Noble Qur'an - Al-Hujurat 49:10

The believers are nothing else than brothers (in Islâmic religion). So make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear Allâh, that you may receive mercy.

Racial Prejudice

Hadith - Muslim, Narrated Abu Malik al-Ash'ariy

"Four things are among my followers from the traditions of Jahiliyyah which will not leave: pride of lineage, slandering kinship, use of astrology for rain, and wailing"

[similar to that is narrated from him by Ahmad, at-Tabaraani, al-Hakim, and al-Bayhaqi in his Sunan]

Hadith - Narrated by Abu Hurayrah (r.a.), Ahmad, Abu Dawud

"Indeed Allah has removed from you the blind loyalties of jahiliyyah and the pride for ancestry. Either be a pious believer or a miserable insolent. (All of) you are children of Adam, and Adam is from dust. Let some men cease to take pride in others, who are nothing but burning coal for the HellFire, it will be easier for Allah to handle them than a dung beetle driving his nose into filth"

[This hadith is graded hasan; similar reported in at-Tirmidhi]

Hadith - Mishkat Al-Masabih, Vol. 2, p. 1021

The Prophet said on the authority of Ubayy Bin Ka'b: "If anyone proudly asserts his descent in the manner of the pre-Islamic people, tell him to bite his father's penis, and do not use a euphemism".

Prejudice Based on Financial Status

Your financial status does not gain you priviledges in Islam.  Some people hate the rich, while others despise the poor.  Neither is tolerated in Islam.  

If you see your muslim brother giving favors to a person because of his wealth, kindly correct him.  Likewise, hatred or jealousy towards the rich is wicked and often involves "evil eye."  Meanwhile, the financially poor muslim is to be provided for through zakat as instituted in the Qur'an.  We must love for our brother what we love for ourself.  

Excerpt - The Prophet's Last Sermon

You know that every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. You are all equal. Nobody has superiority over other except by piety and good action.

Sahih Muslim, Book 16, Number 4214, Narrated Al-Bara' ibn Azib
     There happened to pass by Allah's Apostle a Jew blackened and lashed. Allah's Apostle called them (the Jews) and said: Is this the punishment that you find in your Book (Torah) as a prescribed punishment for adultery? They said: Yes. He (the Holy Prophet) called one of the scholars amongst them and said: I ask you in the name of Allah Who sent down the Torah to Moses if that is the prescribed punishment for adultery, which you find in your Book. He said: No. Had you not asked me in the name of Allah, I should not have given you this information. We find stoning to death (as the punishment prescribed in the Torah).

     However, this (crime) became quite common amongst our aristocratic class. So when we caught hold of any rich person (indulging in this offence) we spared him, but when we caught hold of a helpless person we imposed the prescribed punishment upon him. We then said: Let us agree (on a punishment) which we can inflict upon both the rich and the poor. So we decided to blacken the face with coal and flog as a substitute punishment for stoning.

     Thereupon Allah's Messenger said: O Allah, I am the first to revive Thy command when they had cancelled it. He then gave the order and he (the offender) was stoned to death. Allah, the Majestic and Glorious, sent down (this verse): "O Messenger, (the behaviour of) those who vie with one another in denying the truth should not grieve you..." up to "is vouchsafed unto you, accept it" (v.41).

     It was said (by the Jews): Go to Muhammad; if he commands you to blacken the face and award flogging (as punishment for adultery), then accept it, but if he gives the verdict of stoning, then avoid it. It was (then) that Allah, the Majestic and Great, sent down (these verses:"...And they who do not judge in accordance with what Allah has revealed, are indeed deniers of the truth" (v.44); "And they who do not judge in accordance with what Allah has revealed--they, they indeed are the wrongdoers" (v.45); "And they who do not judge in accordance with what God has revealed--they are the iniquitous" (v.47). (All these verses) were revealed in connection with the nonbelievers.

Do not Mock, Judge or Hurt Another
Because You think You are Better than the Other

The Noble Qur'an - Al-Hujurat 49:11
O ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others: It may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): Nor let some women laugh at others: It may be that the (latter are better than the (former): Nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames: Ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness, (to be used of one) after he has believed: And those who do not desist are (indeed) doing wrong.

The Noble Qur'an - Luqman 31:18
And swell not thy cheek (for pride) at men, nor walk in insolence through the earth; for Allah loveth not any arrogant boaster.

Discern People By Piety, Not Prejudice

The Noble Qur'an - Al-Hujurat 49:13
O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #5198, Narrated AbuDharr   [Ahmad transmitted it]
Allah's Messenger said to him, "You are not better than people with red or black skins unless you excel them in piety."

Hadith - Sahih Muslim, Book 8, Number 3465. Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As, r.a.

Allah's Messenger said: The whole world is a provision, and the best object of benefit of the world is the pious woman.

"Cultural Awareness" and How to achieve True Unity

As a muslim, the only "cultural awareness" that matters is that of Islam.  Muslims are not on a mission to stamp out prejudice by "cultural awareness events."  The muslim's culture is his deen, based solely on Quran and Sunnah, and breaking away from the days of jahiliyya in which a person searches for his or her identity in racial or national heritage.

Christian/Muslim dialogue is recently becoming a coined phrase for "potluck dinners" in which christians and muslims sit down with food from various parts of the world, and spend the evening getting to know one another, in a vain attempt to prove that muslims are tolerant. This agenda of "cultural awareness between muslims and non-muslims", fueled by the followers of W. Deen Mohammed and other similarly mislead groups of people, emphasizes non-Islamic "culture" and encourages people to engage in bid'a in an attempt to solve the problems of modern day racism, prejudice, and discrimination. See the topic of Auliya (friends, etc) for more information on why this type of social interaction is discouraged, and why the seeking of support from non-muslims is wrong.

Attempts at breaking down racial barriers in the ummah are futile when approached through the ploy of "cultural awareness."  The only culture a muslim needs to become aware of is studying his or her deen and following Quran and Sunnah..  To the degree that the ummah adheres to Quran and Sunnah, prejudice can be eqstinguished.  

Engaging in bid'a (innovation, "new ideas" in the religion that become tradition) is an arrogant way to approach a problem, because who is mankind to think that he can invent a better way than the Words of Allah, subhana wa ta'ala?  The Qur'an has more than adequately provided our solutions and prevention of division caused by prejudice.

To clarify, the unity we strive to achieve is within the ummah (muslims, true believers and worshippers of Allah swt). The method we employ for unity is found in Quran and Sunnah, not "new ideas" from today's leaders.   

The Noble Qur'an - Al-Hujurat 49:10
The Believers are but a single Brotherhood: So make peace and reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers; and fear Allah, that ye may receive Mercy.

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 57, Number 56, Narrated Ubaida:
Ali (R.A.) said (to the people of 'Iraq), "Judge as you used to judge, for I hate differences (and I do my best ) till the people unite as one group, or I die as my companions have died." And narrated Sad that the Prophet said to 'Ali, "Will you not be pleased from this that you are to me like Aaron was to Moses?"

Majmoo ul-Fataawaa3/456
Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H) rahimahullaah said: "Everything which is outside the call of Islaam and the Qur'aan, with regards to lineage, land, nationality, schools of thoughts and ways, then it is from the calls of jaahiliyyah [ignorance]. lndeed, even when the Muhaa jirs (those Companions who migrated from Makkah to Madeenah) and the Ansaars (those Companions who aided and supported those who migrated) argued, such that one of the Muhaajirs said:" O Muhaajirs! (implying; rally to my aid) " And one of the Ansaar said: "O Ansaar!" Upon hearing this, the Prophet said: "Is it with the calls of Jaahiliyyah that you call, and l am still amongst you!" And he became very angry at that." [Al-Bukhari 8/137]

The Noble Qur'an - Al-Tauba 9:71
The Believers, men and women, are protectors one of another: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, practise regular charity, and obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour His mercy: for Allah is Exalted in power, Wise.

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 73, Number 160, Narrated Abu Huraira
The Prophet said, "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should serve his guest generously; and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should unite the bond of kinship (i.e. keep good relation with his Kith and kin); and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should talk what is good or keep quiet. "

The Noble Qur'an - Al-Mujadilah 58:22

You (O Muhammad SAW) will not find any people who believe in Allâh and the Last Day, making friendship with those who oppose Allâh and His Messenger (Muhammad SAW ), even though they were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred (people). For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and strengthened them with Rûh (proofs, light and true guidance) from Himself. And We will admit them to Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow, to dwell therein (forever). Allâh is pleased with them, and they with Him. They are the Party of Allâh. Verily, it is the Party of Allâh that will be the successful.

Do not confuse the two: all Arabs are not Muslim, and all Muslims are not Arabs. The words "Arab" and "Muslim" are not interchangeable. In fact, only approximately 15% of muslims across the world are Arab. 

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #5989, Narrated Salman
Allah's Messenger said, "Do not hate me and so abandon your religion." He asked how he could hate him when he was the means by which Allah had guided them, and he replied, "By hating the Arabs and so hating me."

Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan gharib tradition.

Action Items for the uttaqun:

• Because all prejudice is a form of arrogance, the Muttaqun strive to remove arrogance from every aspect of our being, for we know that not an ounce of arrogance will enter the gates of Paradise.

• Do not lump all muslims of a geographical, financial, or racial group into a category of "bad" or "disliked."

• Watch your tongue and eliminate negative refererences to minority (or majority) muslim groups.  Do not speak about evil, except on that which you have been wronged, and in the case of being wronged, do not blame all members of a racial or other group.  Instead of looking to blame, be humble and accept the responsibility for your actions and fear Allah swt instead of becoming boastful or arrogant.

• The only distinction among people should be "kaffir" versus "muslim", not "this muslim group" vs. "that muslim group" or otherwise.

• Discern muslims by piety, i.e. their adherence to Quran and Sunnah, and nothing else. Remember a muslim by his piety, not what he looked like or how much money was in his pocket.

• When looking to marry, make your initial criteria be that of piety in the deen of Islam. AFTER such criteria is met, THEN consider the other aspects pertinent to marriage. In other words, don't start by eliminating potential spouses of a certain skin color or certain financial standing! Seek the pious person first, and THEN determine if you can live with the rest.

• Do not waste time with "cultural awareness" themes and special events.  

• Do not confuse culture (customs of a group of people) and religion (way of life for the muslim).  Do not encourage cultural activities that in any way conflict with the teachings of Quran and Sunnah.  Some examples of popular cultural activities and beliefs that contradict Islam are:

  • Listening to music or dancing

  • Honoring a person and calling yourself his follower, as we only follow Qur'an and Sunnah, and the examples of Prophets.

  • Wearing clothes designed to specifically separate and identify yourself as belonging to a group of people other than to identify yourself as a muslim, and Allah swt knows all intentions.

• Read and study the Qur'an daily, to learn about the proper way to handle issues like prejudice.  It is much easier to be misled, when you don't read or have knowledge!

Remember... Allah, subhana watala, sees everything we do!

Related Link: Unity of Religions