Marrakech- Racism is widely discussed and is the subject of much research. Every researcher defines it according to his or her particular social, economic, or cultural background.
Most individuals have been exposed to it in different ways. But the intersection of racism and religion raises interesting questions about culture, cause and effect.
Racism is forbidden and undesirable in Islam. However, when analyzing many of the verses of the Quran and the Hadiths, the texts seem to address people in the cultural context that prevailed at the time. For example, during Islam’s early days, the Quran promised Arab men El Hur Ein [very beautiful women] in paradise, because in the cultural context Arabs desired to have as many women as they could. On the contrary, the Quran did not make such a promise to women. Instead, it promised them many other things that they had already asked for but that they could not have in the first world. Thus, the texts spoke to people in the cultural terms prevailing at the time.
More telling is a review of texts that deal with the notion of ugliness or evil, characterizing such qualities as “black.” The color black does not seem to have any positive attribute or value in the Quran. It has been suggested that this may be because Arabs at that time looked down on and enslaved black people. The Quran includes several verses associating “black” with ugliness, or even hell. For example: Al ‘imran [3:107] On the day when some faces shall be white, and some faces shall be black. As for those whose faces will be black, it will be said to them: ‘Did you disbelieve after believing? Taste, then, the punishment because you disbelieved.’ Al ‘zumar [39:61] And on the Day of Resurrection, thou wilt see those who lied against Allah with their faces blackened. Is there not in Hell an abode for the proud? "When Allah created Adam He hit his right shoulder from which his descendants who are as white as pearls came out, then He hit his left shoulder from which his descendants who are as black as charcoal came out; then He said to the one's on his right enter the Paradise and that would not diminish from My dominion to the least and He said to the one's on his left enter Hellfire and that would not increase anything in My dominion" (Al-Haythami & Abul-Wazir Al-Yamani)
Based on these passages, is it natural for people to associate the color black with bad and undesirable things? Or is it something learned throughout the history, which the holy books have implicitly transmitted from one generation to another, even if younger generations are raised with an awareness of equality?Do the Quran and Hadith address people culturally, and describe their cultures in a way that can help them understand values? Do they aim at promoting people’s understanding of inferiority and hell by associating it with something white people, in the era of the Prophet, thought was inferior and had no value?
I frequently hear Imams, when describing a good believer, saying he or she is fair, good and white, while using words like ugly, bad, and black when describing an unbeliever. However, some religious scholars argue that the words “black” and “white” in Arabic translate to “bright” and “dark” in other languages. That is to say, God does not mean to reference any race when using these colors. Otherwise, why aren’t other races, such as the Chinese or Indians, who are neither white nor black, mentioned in the Quran?
On the other hand, it is not easy to grasp the way the words “black” and “white” are used in the Quran and Hadith, since the entire Quran and Hadith defend the equality of all races. For example:
“O People! We created you all from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another. Verily the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most God fearing of you. Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” (Al-Hujurat, 49:13)
Also in the Hadith, Jabir Ibn Abdullah said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) addressed the people during his farewell pilgrimage and said: “O People! Indeed your Lord is but One Lord, and Indeed your father is but one (Adam), an Arab is no better than a non-Arab, and non-Arab is no better than an Arab; and no dark skin person is better than a red skin, nor a red skin person is better than a dark skin except in piety. The most favored in front of Allah among you are the most righteous.”Racism is not a topic that should be ignored. The majority of people still do not embrace and tolerate racial or cultural differences. White people still discriminate against black people, and vice versa. Religion cannot be separated from the cultural norms and expectations, biases and preferences in which it was born. Indeed, it is a reflection of those societal factors. As society develops, interpretations can change.
People, especially those who are educated, should rethink some of society’s pervasive attitudes and stereotypes, so that all people can truly embrace each other, no matter how different they are. Additionally, religious researchers and scholars should rethink interpretations of the Quran, and make them clearer and more updated, so that the understanding of the Quran’s texts goes hand in hand with the cognitive and cultural development of people in the 21st century.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Morocco World News’ editorial policy
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