Saad Tasleem – Racial Equality in Islam

			How does Islam view ethnic differences? We all come from different cultures and ethnicities. We have
different physical traits and abilities. We all have differences, yet there are people amongst us
who are racist and bigoted. As a Muslim. Islam does not allow me to be racist and bigoted, there's
no room for it. According to Islam, we are all human beings and all human beings share a common
origin, Adam, peace be upon him. In Islam, the only thing that makes a person superior are better
than others is their faith and piety and piety lies in the heart, and only God alone knows the
reality of what is in someone's heart. In the Quran, God says, oh, humankind, indeed we have created
		

			you from a male and a female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you may know one another.
Certainly the most noble of you in the sight of God is the most righteous of you. Certainly God is
all knowing, and all acquainted. Also the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said, oh people,
certainly your Lord is one and your father is one. An Arab has no superiority over a non Arab, nor
does a non Arab have superiority over an Arab, a white person has no superiority over a black
person, nor does a black person has superiority over a white person, except through piety. This is
how Islam teaches us that differences in language, race and ethnicity should not bring about
		

			feelings of superiority and animosity between us. Rather, these differences are in fact one of the
great signs of God that show His might and greatness. Look at this scene. Over 2 million people
gather in Mecca every year to perform the hajj, which is one of the pillars of Islam is a perfect
embodiment of the equality that Islam promotes. Here stand that the rich and the poor, black and
white people have different statues and shapes from many different nations. Here they move together
in unison around the Kaaba Neil and bow together in unison before God in the largest human gathering