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Unlock This CourseIn The Multi-Ethnic Society, Racism and Racial Harmony you met prejudice, discrimination and racism. Now we look at what Islam teaches about them. Muslims see racism as wrong because of what they believe about Allah and about people.
Remember from The Muslim Family and the Mosque that the ummah is the worldwide community of Muslims. It matters here because it is not built on one race, country or language. A Muslim in Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey or Britain belongs to the same ummah. Many Muslims say it is like one family: what joins its members is faith in Allah, not skin colour or where they were born.
Key terms:
The key teaching is Qur'an 49:13. In meaning, the verse says that Allah created all of humankind from a male and a female and made them into peoples and tribes so that they may know one another. Then it says that the most honoured person in the sight of Allah is the one with the most taqwa.
Peoples and tribes are not a mistake or a ranking. Muslims understand the verse to mean that Allah made them so people can get to know each other. Another verse, Qur'an 30:22, names differences in languages and colours as one of Allah's signs.
Nobody can be proud of their race, because nobody chose it. What makes a person honoured is their taqwa, and Muslims believe only Allah can judge that.
This was a big change in Arabia. Before Islam, the time Muslims call jahiliyyah, tribal pride was strong and people were judged by their tribe. The verse teaches that no tribe or race is better than another.
The Prophet Muhammad gave his last sermon at Arafat, during the Hajj, a short time before he died. Muslims record that he said no Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab, and no non-Arab over an Arab. He said the same about white and black people. The only difference is taqwa. The sermon is studied in full later, in Paper 2. For now, note that it is one of the clearest Muslim teachings against racism, and Muslims treat it as advice for everyone who comes after.
Bilal ibn Rabah was an African who had been enslaved in Makkah. He became a Muslim and was later set free. When the Muslims in Madinah wanted someone to give the adhan, Bilal was chosen. He is remembered as the first muadhdhin of Islam. This is why Muslims point to him.
Pilgrims come from all over the world. Men wear the same simple white cloths and women dress modestly, so rich and poor, and people of every country, look alike. Everyone performs the same acts together.
In the mosque, Muslims stand in rows, shoulder to shoulder. A person's place in the row does not depend on race or status.
Malcolm X, an African American Muslim, made the Hajj in 1964. He wrote that he saw people of all colours treating each other as brothers, and it changed how he thought about race.
Muslims agree that racism goes against Islam. However, Muslim communities are made up of people, and some Muslims still hold racist attitudes because of culture, tribe or family tradition, not because of the Qur'an. Muslim scholars and organisations say these attitudes should be challenged. Sunni and Shi'a Muslims both teach that taqwa, not race, is what counts. Some Muslims say the best way to fight racism is to treat every person with respect in daily life. Others stress speaking out and teaching the verse and the sermon.
Paper 1 style, Islam.
(a) Identify three examples of racial harmony in Muslim practice. [3 marks]
(b) Outline two Muslim teachings that oppose racism. [4 marks]
(c) Choose one religion. Explain why people in this religion work for racial harmony. [6 marks]
(d) 'The best way to bring about racial harmony is through religion.' Evaluate this statement, showing you have considered different points of view. In your answer you should refer to at least one religion. [12 marks]
(a) 1. Pilgrims dress alike on Hajj. (1) 2. Muslims pray shoulder to shoulder in rows. (1) 3. Pilgrims from every country perform the same Hajj acts together. (1)
(b) Qur'an 49:13 teaches that Allah made peoples and tribes so that they may know one another. (1) The most honoured person is the one with the most taqwa, not the one of a certain race. (1) In his last sermon the Prophet said that no Arab is better than a non-Arab, nor a white person than a black person, except in taqwa. (1) So Muslims should not see themselves as better because of race. (1)
(c) Level 2 answer, five developed reasons.
Muslims believe that Allah made all people and that differences between peoples are part of his plan, so racism goes against his will.
Qur'an 49:13 says only taqwa makes a person honoured, so pride in race has no place.
The ummah is a worldwide community of all races, so looking down on another Muslim damages the whole community.
The Prophet's last sermon says that no race is better than another except in taqwa, and Muslims follow it as advice.
Bilal shows that someone of African origin who had been enslaved can hold a place of honour, which gives Muslims an example to follow.
(d) Plan. For: religions teach that all people are equal in worth, which gives believers a strong reason to act, such as Qur'an 49:13, the last sermon and the Hajj. Belief can change people deeply, as Malcolm X shows. A community such as the ummah brings people of every race together. Against: laws, such as the Equality Act 2010, can force change even where people do not want it. Non-religious people, such as humanists, also work for racial harmony because they believe in one human race. Some religious believers are still racist, because of culture and tradition. Conclusion: religion is a powerful motive, but law and education are also needed, so it is one of the best ways, not the only one.
In part (c), give each reason its own short paragraph and link it to a named Muslim teaching, so you move from describing to explaining.