The life and property of all citizens in an
Islamic state are considered sacred, whether a person is Muslim or not. Islam
also protects honor. So, in Islam, insulting others or making fun of them is
not allowed. The Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon
him, said: “Truly your blood, your property, and your honor are inviolable.”[1]
Racism is not allowed in Islam, for the Quran
speaks of human equality in the following terms:
“O mankind, We have created you from a male
and a female and have made you into nations and tribes for you to know one
another. Truly, the noblest of you with God is the most pious.[2]
Truly, God is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” (Quran 49:13)
Islam rejects certain individuals or nations
being favored because of their wealth, power, or race. God created human
beings as equals who are to be distinguished from each other only on the basis
of their faith and piety. The Prophet Muhammad said: “O people! Your God
is one and your forefather (Adam) is one. An Arab is not better than a
non-Arab and a non-Arab is not better than an Arab, and a red (i.e. white
tinged with red) person is not better than a black person and a black person is
not better than a red person,[3] except
in piety.”[4]
One of the major problems facing mankind today is
racism.
The developed world can send a man to the moon but
cannot stop man from hating and fighting his fellow man. Ever since the days
of the Prophet Muhammad, Islam has provided a vivid example of how racism can
be ended. The annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah shows the real Islamic
brotherhood of all races and nations, when about two million Muslims from all
over the world come to Makkah to perform the pilgrimage.
The developed world can send a man to the moon but
cannot stop man from hating and fighting his fellow man. Ever since the days
of the Prophet Muhammad, Islam has provided a vivid example of how racism can
be ended. The annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah shows the real Islamic
brotherhood of all races and nations, when about two million Muslims from all
over the world come to Makkah to perform the pilgrimage.
Islam is a religion of justice. God has said:
“Truly God commands you to give back trusts
to those to whom they are due, and when you judge between people, to judge with
justice....” (Quran 4:58)
And He has said:
“...And act justly. Truly, God loves those
who are just.” (Quran 49:9)
We should even be just with those who we hate,
as God has said:
“...And let not the hatred of others make
you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety....” (Quran 5:8)
The Prophet Muhammad said: “People, beware of
injustice,[5] for
injustice shall be darkness on the Day of Judgment.”[6]
And those who have not gotten their rights (i.e.
what they have a just claim to) in this life will receive them on the Day of
Judgment, as the Prophet said: “On the Day of Judgment, rights will be given
to those to whom they are due (and wrongs will be redressed)...”[7]
Footnotes:
[1] Narrated in Saheeh
Al-Bukhari, #1739, and Mosnad Ahmad, #2037.
[2] A pious person is a believer who abstains from all kinds
of sins, performs all good deeds that God commands us to do, and fears and
loves God.
[3] The colors mentioned in this Prophetic saying are
examples. The meaning is that in Islam no one is better than another
because of his color, whether it is white, black, red, or any other color.
[4] Narrated in Mosnad Ahmad, #22978.
[5] i.e. oppressing others, acting unjustly, or doing wrong
to others.
[6] Narrated in Mosnad Ahmad, #5798, and Saheeh
Al-Bukhari, #2447.
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