The Forty Rules of Guidance
Part Five
Prepared by: Hacene Chebbani
War on Racism
13/‫”إن أكرمكم عند هللا أتقاكم“ الحجرات‬
“Indeed, the most noble of you in the
sight of Allah is the most righteous
amongst you.” 49/13
- Racism is one of the major social
diseases.
- It usually leads to hatred or intolerance
of another race or other races.
Definition
• “The belief that some races have
distinctive cultural characteristics
determined by some genetically
transmitted factors and that this
endows some races with an intrinsic
superiority over others.”
• Racism and prejudice can only be fought
with tolerance, learning, understanding
and faith.
Racism in the Sunnah
• “No Arab is superior over a non-Arab,
and no white is superior over a black,
except due to a greater fear of God.”
• Part of the speech delivered during the
farewell Hajj.
Context of this Segment
• “O mankind, indeed We have created you
from male and female and made you into
nations and tribes that you may know one
another. Indeed, the most noble of you
in the sight of Allah is the most
righteous among you. Indeed, Allah is
all-knowing and Acquainted.” 49/13
One Origin
• In spite of the racial, color and cultural
differences that exist among humankind,
their origin is one.
• Pride in lineage is foolish and pointless.
• All people belong to one family. They are
all the children of Adam (alaihi assalaam).
• “O children of Adam, wear your best
clothes in every masjid.” 7/31
Continued
• The Prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam)
adopted the same approach.
• Hadith: “And nothing will fill the stomach of
the son of Adam except dirt.” (B/M)
– Man’s love for wealth and his desire to have
more will never end until he is dead and
buried.
Allah’s Wisdom and Diversity
•
•
Diversity was mainly designed in order
for people to know each other.
This familiarity has two aspects:
1. Social Acquaintance.
2. Knowledge of family ties.
Social Acquaintance
• Imagine a world where all descendants of
Adam are identical.
• The blessing of variety is pleasing to
human senses and stimulating to the
intellect.
• People will keep learning from their
differences.
• Diversity is a great source of power.
Knowledge of Family Ties.
• They define the boundaries and limits of
marriage.
• They determine family obligations and
protect financial rights of the inheritance.
• Hadith: “Learn enough about you lineages
to know you blood relatives and treat them
accordingly.” (Tirmithi/Classified as
saheeh).
Islamic Naming System
• Hadith: “He who knowingly attributed his
fatherhood to someone other than his real father
will denied Paradise.” (B/M)
• Hadith: “Whoever attributed his fatherhood to
someone other than his real father or claimed a
different lineage, then he has exposed himself to
the curse of Allah, his angels and all people. And
Allah will not accept from him any deed on the
Day of Judgment.”
Islam and Sainthood
• Allah pointed out to Taqwa as the only
factor which makes any man or woman
superior to another.
• Hadith: Addressing Abu Dhar (May Allah
be pleased with him), the Messenger of
Allah (salla Allah alaihi wa Sallam) said:
“Verily you are not better than a brown
man or a black man except by having
more taqwa than them.” (Ahmed)
Who is the Most Pious?
• Only Allah knows the answer because the
home of Taqwa is the heart.
• It is not part of the sunnah to elevate people to
specific stations of spiritual achievement and
superiority over others, other than the Prophets.
• Ayah: “Do not claim yourselves to be pure, He is
most knowing of he who fears Him.” 53/32
• Allah knows best.