Ethnic and Racial Harmony; The Islamic way

By: Sheikh Mohammed Kanneh March 25, 2007

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST GRACIOUS THE MOST MERCIFUL

All praises is due to Allah, who has flooded His choicest servants with special grace due to His might and Benevolence. He has united their hearts and with His blessings they formed one brotherhood. He has extracted malice from their hearts due to which they lived as friends and confidants in this world and in the hereafter they will be as mates and very close friends.

I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad (PBUH) is His servant and messenger. May Allah shower salutation upon him, his family and his companions who had followed him in speech, actions of justice and benevolence.

INTRODUCTION

Ethnic and racial harmony is highly emphasized in Islam. Islam forbids racism, tribalism, ethnocentrism, linguistic or color prejudices. These prejudices are harmful for human beings and for their societies, They create prejudice, discrimination, unfair relationship, injustice and oppression "

 Brothers and Sisters in Islam,

Assalaam Alaykum Warrahmatullah Wabarrakatuhu

Islam teaches us that all human beings come from one and the same family. Allah said in the glorious Qur'an: " O people, be conscious of your lord, who created you out of one soul and from it created its mate and out of the two spread abroad many men and women...(Al-Nisa'4:1).

Allah tells us here that the human progeny proceeded from one single soul. This clearly means that all humans are linked to each other and they are members of one and the same family. Being members of the same family means they are equal:

Allah has honored all human beings regardless of their colors, races, tribe, language or gender. He said : " Indeed, We have honored the children of Adam; provided them with transport on land and sea; giving them for sustenance things good and pure; and conferred on them special favors, above a great part of Our Creation." Qur'an... (Al-Isra' 17:70)

Differences of colors, languages and races are a sign of Allah's creative power and greatness. this diversity gives beauty and variety to the world

Allah say: " And among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages and your colors; verily in that are signs for those that know. (Al-Qur'an, al-Rum 30:22)

These differences are only for the purpose of knowing each other, not to despise or discriminate against each other, as mentioned in Surah al-Hujurat 49:13 quoted above.

According to the Qur'an, it is not the difference of color, which is bad, because that is the creation of Allah, but it is the color prejudice which is wrong. The evil does not lie in the differences of races or tribes; the evil is in racism and tribalism. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in his famous speech during his last pilgrimage:

" People have descended from Adam and Adam was made out of dust. There is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab, nor for a white over a black person... (Al-Tirmidhi, Sunan, Bab al-Tafsir, hadith no.49)

The Quran reminds us that righteousness or God consciousness (Al-Taqwa) is the sole criteria of human dignity and honor. Nobility - according to the Quran - doesn't lie in the color of one's skin, in the bones of one's ancestors or in the material possessions or achievements which one may acquire.

Taqwa comes from a constant working of faith in one's life. It is a generic quality, which activates one's life under a true consciousness of divine presence, under which a person moves works and deals with other human beings. This consciousness may vary from time to time and hence those of Taqwa are neither a class in society, nor a sect, nor a religious order, but these are individuals who through their true abiding by Islamic virtues acquire the pleasure of Allah which in return confers upon them a place of dignity, honor, love and respect among the human beings.

These teachings are emphasized in our actions and dealing with each other. This equality and brotherhood manifests itself daily on the local level during Islamic prayers, where without any difference of race, color,or material status all Muslims stand together in the Masjid five times a day. On the global level it is also manifest when Muslims from all over the world go for the pilgrimage (Hajj).

History bears testimony to the fact that Islam has uniquely and without any parallel in world religious and civilizations overcome the problems of color and racial prejudices. A historian like Arnold Toynbee faithfully admitted that Islamic civilization was unique in establishing social and racial harmony among peoples. He said:

"Two conspicuous sources of danger - one psychological and the other material- in the present relations of the cosmopolitan proletariat with the dominant element in our modern Western society are race consciousness and alcohol: and in the struggle with each of these evils. the Islamic spirit has a service to render which might prove , if it were accepted, to be of high moral and social value. The extinction of race consciousness between Muslims is one of the  outstanding moral achievements of Islam, and in the contemporary world there is , as it happens, crying need for the propagation of this Islamic virtue. ( Civilization on Trial, New York, Oxford University Press 1948, p. 205).

Muslims must take this challenge again and should work to establish social justice and racial harmony among themselves and among all people. we can do so by working with like-minded people and by taking some concrete steps in this direction.

In our homes, in our educational institutions, in our communities we must promote this virtue. we should not only guard ourselves against any racial, linguistic or ethnic prejudice, but we should also remind each other to treat every person with respect and honor regardless of his/her color, race, national origin or linguistic background.

DIVERSITY:

 Our religion gives much guidance on the subject of diversity, unity, harmony, tolerance, and peace. I would like to throw light on these matters because I have strong feeling that they contributed immensely in the calamity hanging over us as nation.

Islam teaches us that diversity is a fact of nature and it makes the nature beautiful. God has created this whole universe with diversity. God says in the Qur'an:

" See you not that Allah sends down rain from the sky? With it we then bring out produce of various colors. And in the mountains are tracts white and red, of various shades of color, and black intense in hue. And so amongst men and crawling creatures and cattle, are they of various colors. Those truly fear Allah, among His servants, who have knowledge: for Allah is Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving: (Fatir 35:27-28)

There is diversity among human beings, They have variety of genders, colors and languages and multiplicity of races and tribes. these diversities are considered natural and are called" God's signs" in the Qur'an (30:20-22) They are indicative of God's creative power and wisdom and are good and healthy since they endow human life with richness and beauty. God wants human beings to derive benefit from this diversity and not to allow it to generate unhealthy schisms and divisions in their ranks. 

The diversities of races, families and tribes also have a healthy and constructive purpose, viz. that " you may know each  other". Instead of enabling human beings to know each other better, there is no reason why these diversities should create barriers, or cause animosities among human beings.

In addition to these natural diversities there are others that are part of the human societies and cultures. There are diversities of viewpoints. the Qur'an recognizes the individuality of each human being as well as the the individuality of their groups and communities.

 Islam does not consider all viewpoints correct or equal value. however, it is also the fact well recognized in Islam that very often the differences of opinions are also a token of god mercy. If God had so willed, says the Qur'an, He could have forced people to come together to one point, but he did not do so. God send his prophets and Messengers from time to time so that the right path might be made clear through them. As regards the final judgment as to who followed the truth and who did not, that will be made known on the day of judgment by God Himself. In keeping with this principle, God forbade His prophets and the believers from having recourse to coercion in religion. " There is no compulsion in religion. " said the Quran (2:256)

UNITY:

Unity is also the need of human beings, But unity is not the total negation of diversity. Unity in Diversity means to explore and enhances common values that emphasize interdependence, equality, justice, human rights, and the sanctity of each individual's dignity. The goal should be to further a unified vision and recognition of the principle of "Unity and Diversity" and of the fact that we all are fellow-citizens of an emerging global village. We must try to build a more inclusive community grounded in respect of differences based on age, race, ethnicity, gender, creed, culture, political affiliation and national origin.

What is a common denominator between the revival of historical grudges and armed conflict in Liberia and Sierra Leone, the genocide and ethnic cleansing in Cote D'ivoire and Rwanda and alarming increase in the number of racial assaults in Dafour (Sudan)? What formal relationship, if any, exists between extremist or supremacist group around the world ? Is there any link between the violence that targets individuals and communities in one country and discrimination against some races, tribe, colors and religions in another country ?

The only immediately available answer is intolerance and the lack of respect for diversity. Intolerance causes economic injustice, political double standards and social oppression. Intolerance is on the increase in the world today and it is killing human beings on a massive scale. Intolerance raises many moral as well as political and economic questions. intolerance is a major threat to peace and security. This issue is alarming many governments and the public.

Intolerance ignited most wars, fueled religious persecutions and violent ideological confrontations. But the question is: Is Intolerance inherent in human nature ? Is it insurmountable? Can tolerance be learned ? How can communities and states deal with intolerance without infringing on individual freedoms? How can they foster individual codes of conduct, without harsh laws and without policing people's behavior? How can peaceful pluralism, multiculturalism or unity in diversity be achieved?

The UNESCO principles on tolerance say:

" Consistent with respect for human rights, the practice of tolerance does not mean toleration of social injustice or the abandonment or weakening of one's convictions. It means that one is free to adhere to one's own convictions and accepts that others adhere to theirs. It means accepting the fact that human beings, naturally diverse in their appearance, situation, speech, behavior and values, have the right to live in peace and to be as they are. It also means that one's view are not to be imposed on others.

The respect of diversity comes when we recognize four important principle:

1.The dignity of human beings

2.The basic equality of human beings

3.Universal human rights

4. Fundamental freedom of thought, conscience and belief.

Let me conclude this research with these recommendations. That is in order to promote unity in diversity and establish Ethnic and Racial Harmony

1.We must promote the Quranic idea that all human beings are one family and that we belong to each other.

2.We are allowed to compete with each other by doing good deeds, not by putting down others because of their color, looks, racial or ethnic background.

3.We must treat each other with respect, fairness and justice. We must not discriminate against any one because of color,race or national origin.

4. We must watch our comments, We should not stereotype or generalize about any race, nationality or group of people. We must not say that all Gio(Dahn) or Mano people are that way, all Mandingoes are this way, all blacks are that way or all white do this.

5.Other cultures and religious should not be misrepresented. Educational institutions and media outlets should be held responsible not to propagate or  perpetuate hate against any group of people and their organized faiths and values.

6. Tolerance must be practiced on all levels: individual, groups and states. It should be a political and legal requirement. Tolerance is the responsibility that upholds human rights, pluralism ( including cultural pluralism), democracy and the rule of law.

7.There are several levels of tolerance. But I want to emphasize two levels here in :

A. Tolerance between the members of the same community and

same religion.

As we are aware people of the same religion have differences of interpretation and understanding. Although they have common sources, common principles but they do vary in their interpretation due to various reasons. Here we need inter- community dialogues and building of relations like (National Muslim Council) to minimize contradictions and inconsistencies in our thinking or behavior.

B. Tolerance between the people of different faiths and cultures.

 Here we need interfaith relations and dialogs like (Interfaith Mediation Committee). Of course we have core differences in our religions but we must try to understand each other.As we learn about our own faith traditions and communities, we should also learn about others. Some one rightly said, " Understanding others changes us "  By understanding we learn the area  of  commonalities as well as differences. We can learn the nature of differences and the extent of differences. We must look  at what concerns for the well-being of others should drive our efforts to reach common ground for action. Each group must encourage and facilitate shared responsibility to create a more sensitive and welcoming environment for our diverse groups.

Allah said " 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 honored 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). Al-Hujurat 49: 13

Let us pray to Allah to grant us great courage and fortitude, to bless us with with complete Iman, unwavering trust and belief in the Holy Quran, and the ability to obey his commandments as they should be obeyed. May Allah showewr peace and blessing in great abundance, on our beloved Prophet Muhammad , the best of creation, and upon his family and his companions..

Wassalm

 Sheikh Mohammed Kanneh