Dear Brothers and Sisters!

Racism is prejudice, discrimination or aggression towards other people based on their belonging to a different race or ethnic origin. In our era, we witness wars and conflicts stemming from this wrongdoing, leading to bloodshed, tears and atrocities. Millions of people in different parts of the world are practically subjected to genocide, with survivors being displaced from their homes and becoming refugees. Feeling superior to others based on the ethnic group one is born into is a symptom of a soul in need of healing.

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

The desire for fame and honour is a feeling inherent in human nature. People who have not reached spiritual maturity attempt to satisfy these feelings through their ethnic origins. They consider the solidarity provided by blood ties as a reason for superiority. They look down on and demean those outside their own people, thinking they can elevate themselves in this way. However, Allah (swt) states in the Quran: “O mankind! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you. Surely, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” 

The most important message to be taken from this verse is that being honourable and respected has nothing to do with the tribe or nation we belong to. On the contrary, superiority comes from the dominance of goodness, beauty and righteousness in our lives, that is, through righteous deeds.

Dear Jama’ah!

The Prophet Muhammad (saw), who is a beacon of compassion and mercy for all humanity, proclaimed an unchanging hope against tribalism during his Farewell Khutba: “O People! Your Lord is one! Your father is also one! The Arab has no superiority over the non-Arab, nor does the non-Arab have any superiority over the Arab; the white has no superiority over the black, nor does the black have any superiority over the white. Superiority is only in righteousness, in God-consciousness.” With such a magnificent statement, the Messenger of Allah (saw) showed us a perspective that would heal discrimination stemming from racism. People are equal, like the teeth of a comb. Superiority lies only in righteousness. No one has superiority over another. Discrimination among people that leads to injustice and lawlessness is, in every sense, oppression.

Dear Brothers and Sisters!   

Islam, aiming for humanity to live in peace and harmony on Earth, condemns all forms of racism. The Prophet (saw) said, “Whoever calls to racism is not one of us. Whoever fights for the cause of racism is not one of us. Whoever dies for the cause of racism is not one of us.” Combatting the common disease of tribalism is an important duty for every Muslim. In Islam, there is unity in Allah and diversity in humanity and the universe. The differences among people and the variety of colours in the universe are richness. As a requirement of our faith and Islamic identity, let us realise that all humanity descends from Adam (as).

May Allah (swt) preserve all humanity from intolerance, discrimination and racism. Ameen!

¹ Surah Al-Hujurat, 49:13

² Müsned-i Ahmed, H.No: 23489

³ Ebû Dâvûd, Edeb, 111-112

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