Confronting Racism: What is a Muslim’s Obligation?
24 June, 2020
QSalaam alaykum wa rahmatullah. It seems that people in America and across the world are realizing that we can no longer ignore the issue of racism. I thought this was great as Allah has forbidden racism and I wanted to get involved in my area with some protests, but my brother said I shouldn’t. He says that because Allah has said racism is haraam then as long as we aren’t racist, our obligation is filled. He also said that “Black Lives Matter” means that we care more about black people than other races and that this is wrong. Why aren’t people supporting Muslim causes like Palestine, Syria, etc? What he says doesn’t feel right, but I can’t articulate why. Can you help?
ANSWER
Leah Mallery
24 June, 2020
Short Answer:
It is clear that as Muslims we are not supposed to be racist, but see our differences as a blessing from Allah. However, this is not always reflected in reality.
As Muslims, we need to start out by acknowledging the very real issue of racism in our own communities, worldwide.
Many Muslims want to focus on the fact that we are often discriminated against due to Islamophobia. This is true, of course, but it doesn’t excuse us from our own racist attitudes.
4 Things To Overcome Anti-Blackness & Racism Within Ourselves & Our Communities
4 Things To Overcome Anti-Blackness & Racism Within Ourselves & Our Communities
Alaykum salaam, sister. You pose a very good and important question. It is always important for Muslims to be confronting injustice, whether or not the issue is hot in the news or public consciousness. I agree with you that your brother’s thinking is wrong. Insha’Allah I can help explain why.
No Racism in Islam
It is all well and good to proclaim that there is no racism in Islam. No Arab has superiority over a non-Arab and vice-versa; no white person has superiority over a Black person and vice-versa. These oft-repeated phrases come from the Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) last sermon. Additionally, in the Quran in verse 22 of Surah Al-Rum, Allah mentions:
Among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the diversity of your languages and your colors.
It is clear that as Muslims we are not supposed to be racist, but see our differences as a blessing from Allah. However, this is not always reflected in reality. I, myself, am a white convert. When I became Muslim I was enthusiastically welcomed into the community. There were two other white converts in my area and a very fair-skinned Indigenous woman who converted as well. We were all welcomed.
However, I have heard from Black converts that unless they convert in a largely Black Muslim community, they receive chilly welcomes when they convert, if their conversion is acknowledged at all.
Furthermore, a lot of Muslims assume that Black Muslims are all converts. In fact, many enslaved people in the US were Muslim. There is a rich history of Islam in the Black American community that goes back far before there were significant numbers of Muslim immigrants and converts.
As Muslims, we need to start out by acknowledging the very real issue of racism in our own communities, worldwide. Many Muslims want to focus on the fact that we are often discriminated against due to Islamophobia. This is true, of course, but it doesn’t excuse us from our own racist attitudes.
Enjoin Good and Forbid Evil
Getting more to the point of your question: How many times have we heard this line during a Friday khutbah or a scholar’s lecture, or a class? Enjoin good and forbid evil! This comes from Surah Alee Imran, verse 104 – a command from Allah in the Quran.
So let us follow this line of logic: we know from Allah and from the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) that racism is evil. We are also commanded by Allah to forbid evil. Therefore, Muslims should not tolerate the evil of racism in any form. But your brother said: being not racist yourself means that we have fulfilled our obligation. I want to break this down into two points.
#1: We are all racist
This is an uncomfortable truth. As a person who was raised to appreciate diversity, this was a tough pill to swallow. However, the oppression of Black people in this country has a 400 year history. For 400 years it has been taught in our culture that Black people are deficient in intelligence, that they are aggressive and dangerous, that they are criminals.
It may be the case that these things are no longer overtly taught, but look at representations of Black people in popular culture. Black people are portrayed as thugs, drug dealers, gang members. They are characterized as being aggressive. Black people who are considered “respectable” often don’t “talk black,” meaning they don’t use African American Vernacular. They are portrayed as “acting white.”
It is impossible to live in our society and not absorb these things. Even if we are not overtly racist, these stereotypes of black people are embedded into the consciousness of this country and many countries around the world.
#2: Whoever amongst you sees an evil…
It is reported that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
“Whoever amongst you sees an evil, he must change it with his hand. If he is not able to do so, then change it with his tongue. And if he is not able to do so, then with his heart, and that is the weakest form of faith.”
We have already established that racism is evil. Therefore, we must act. It is fine to strive against racism privately, but as mentioned above, this is the weakest form of faith. So yes, sister. Attend protests, donate, provide supplies to protesters, post on social media, confront racism in your family. In doing so, insha’Allah you are enjoining what is good (equity and love between all people) and forbidding what is evil (racism).
Racist
Was Prophet Muhammad Racist?
Is saying “Black Lives Matter” racist?
No.
There are countless analogies out there explaining why it is not wrong to say “Black lives matter.” I won’t go through them here. They are easily searchable by looking for something like “black lives matter analogy.” In short: no one is saying that all lives don’t matter. What people mean is not “ONLY Black lives matter,” but that “Black lives matter TOO.”
In terms of supporting “Muslim” causes, there are a few points here. First and foremost, saying that BLM is not a Muslim cause is, again, erasing the very rich history of Black Muslims in this country and around the world.
Additionally, in 2016 the organization that is known as Black Lives Matter put out a statement in solidarity with Palestinians, condemning Israeli treatment of them. During the protests in Ferguson several years back, Palestinian resisters shared tips for withstanding tear gas with BLM protesters.
Even within the US, BLM is supportive of all victims of police brutality. In 2017, Daniel Shaver, a white man, was murdered by police. The Black Lives Matter organization spoke out for him, as well.
Insha’Allah, sister, I hope you are able to see more clearly why your brother was incorrect. I hope you decide to attend protests or show your support however possible. Perhaps, insha’Allah, you will also convince your brother to come along.
Malcolm X and the Transforming Power of Hajj
Sheikh Ahmad Kutty
02 July, 2020
Malcolm X went to Hajj in the year 1964. He went as an ardent believer in Black Nationalism and returned to America a changed man.
He had a life-transforming experience. Prior to Hajj, he divided humanity into black and white and saw no possibility of uniting them. His experience of Hajj convinced him otherwise.
Hajj made Malcolm X a wholly transformed person – as if he were reborn. Afterwards he not only believed in the universal brotherhood of all of mankind; but became committed to work for the ideals he imbibed from Hajj.
The question is: How did this happen? How do we replicate this experience in order to attain the maximum benefits of Hajj and then continue to live by them?
📚 Read Also: How Hajj Can Be a Model for Life
Transformed by Hajj
First of all, Malcolm X was open and receptive to the experiences and lessons of Hajj: He explained himself thus:
“You may be shocked by these words coming from me. However, on this pilgrimage, what I have seen, and experienced, has forced me to rearrange much of my thought-patterns previously held, and to toss aside some of my previous conclusions.”
And of his life-transformation he says:
“Never have I witnessed such sincere hospitality and overwhelming spirit of true brotherhood as is practiced by people of all colors and races here in this ancient Holy Land, the home of Abraham, Muhammad and all the other Prophets of the Holy Scriptures.
…there were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world. They were of all colors, from blue-eyed blondes to black-skinned Africans. But we were all participating in the same ritual, displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe never could exist between the white and non-white.”
He had this message to share with America:
“America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion that erases from its society the race problem. Throughout my travels in the Muslim world, I have met, talked to, and even eaten with people who in America would have been considered white – but the white attitude was removed from their minds by the religion of Islam. I have never before seen sincere and true brotherhood practiced by all colors together, irrespective of their color.”
Malcolm-X was able to attain this because he was willing to change his earlier beliefs and embrace the truth. The lessons of Hajj taught him vividly the message of peace, and universal brotherhood under the lordship of one God.
It deepened his connection with God; it inspired in him a true spirit of trust and sacrifice; and above all, he experienced the deep meaning of Islam (surrender) and Iman (faith in God).
What to learn from Hajj
What Is the Message of Hajj?
Wahiduddin Khan & First Hajj Reflections
Therefore, in order for us to replicate the same experience, we must be willing to internalize the lessons of Hajj. Here are some tips to maintain the fragrance of Hajj:
1. Hajj deepens our awareness of our connection with Allah, our Creator and Lord. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us that all the rites of Hajj and, indeed, all acts of worship are instituted to establish the remembrance of Allah.
So, we ought to condition ourselves to make dhikr as second nature. This is possible only when we emulate the example of the beloved Prophet of Allah in his daily supplications and practice of dhikr.
2. Together with dhikr comes contemplation of death. Pilgrims are reminded of their final journey when they don the ihram garb – much like the shroud we are buried in. There is no better way to cure the rust accumulated in our heart than through dhikr and remembrance of death.
Brotherhood and Universal Citizenship
3. The lessons of brotherhood that we learn from Hajj must be translated into daily practice: when we come to the mosque, we need to set aside our tribal mindset, and be willing to embrace all as brothers in faith and humanity. The Prophet said,
“By Allah, you will not enter Paradise until you believe and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I guide you to something to do to that will make you love one another? Spread the greetings of peace (salam) among yourselves.” (Muslim).
So the next time you meet anyone in the mosque, share this spirit of love through salaam from your heart.
📚 Read Also: What Quran Says About Hajj Blessings
4. Salah in congregation is intended not only to bring us to the presence of Allah; rather, like Hajj itself, it brings believers of all shapes and colors to stand shoulder to shoulder like brothers. So being diligent in conscious performance of salah should be a priority for us all.
5. Since the Qur’an is the life-giving message, source of healing and mercy, we should begin and end each day with this enlivening message.
Reading the Qur’an is much more than chanting it; rather, it is receptiveness to receiving the message in one’s heart, for no spiritual awakening is possible without opening the heart. There is nothing like the Qur’an in achieving this goal – as long as we are open to it. The Qur’an refers to it as sharah as-sadr (broadening of the heart/mind).
6. Hajj is meant to make us universal citizens and train us to live in peace and harmony with everyone. Hence the lessons of interacting with others and living the lessons of brotherhood, forgiveness, tolerance, compassion, and generosity should be practiced within the community. We have ample opportunities to do this in our mosques, schools, offices, hospitals, and neighborhood.
Self-discipline
7. As the world is full of temptations, Hajj reminds us of the need to be vigilant about the snares and temptations of Satan; there is no way of overcoming them except through constancy in dhikr, contemplation of death and becoming occupied ourselves with God’s work. Imam Shafi’i said,
“If you don’t occupy yourself with good works, your carnal soul will keep you occupied with sins (i.e. Satan’s work).”
Opportunities for good works are all around us.
8. Finally, constancy in istighfaar (seeking Allah’s forgiveness) will keep us on track. One of the sages said,
“The best people to appear before Allah on the Day of Resurrection are those whose register is filled with istighfaar.”
Allah calls us to flee to Him. Through istighfaar we flee to Allah from our own failings, evil inclinations and sins.
I pray to Allah to forgive us all our sins: major and minor, first and last, secret and open, those which we know of and those which we have no knowledge of – Ameen.
