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.)