Brotherhood and Barriers to Unity

Muslim Unity
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Islam has brought us complete and profound teachings that always lead to that which is positive and good for humanity. Among the things that Allah the All Wise has encouraged and taught us about is dealing with differences that are based on race, tribe, colour or nationality. Our little island holds great potential in realizing the harmony of Islamic brotherhood that is based firstly and foremostly on shared faith and not on external differences of colour or language. The creed is what unites us and that is the best unifier. The reason that the creed or belief is the best unifier is that unity based on race is not a clear or effective principle for unity. We see this manifested in the various movements that approach unity from the standpoint of race. How many people are oppressive to others and they come from the same nation, the same tribe and the same colour? All of these shared factors did not bring about the imagined unity that they were seeking. The ummah is a nation spanning several countries and continents, united by a shared faith regardless of colour or language.

Indeed the factors that help the believers to attain unity are many and diverse. From them is the fact that the Muslims worship One God, follow the same Prophet , pray to one qiblah (direction to face in prayer), read one book, revealed in one language.

Allah said:

"And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your languages and your colors. Indeed in that are signs for those of knowledge.
myquran
Holy Quran
Surah Ar-Rum (30:22)

Muhammad Bin Ahmed al Qurtuby wrote in explaining this verse

And in this, the differences in languages: from Arabic to non-Arabic, Turkish and Greek. In the differences in colour in the appearance: From white, black and red, so that you will almost never find someone, except that you differentiate between him and someone else. These are not actions of the sperm nor the parents, there must be a doer. It is known that the doer is Allah the Exalted and that is from the strongest proofs which point to the Designer the Maker.
Islamic Scholar
Muhammad Bin Ahmed al Qurtuby
Al Jaam’I Li Ahkaam al Qur’an Vol:16 pg. 413

In another verse, Allah said:

"O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you nations and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted
myquran
Holy Quran
Surah Al-Hujurat (49:13)

Despite this, there are still people who claim Islam as their way of life, but fall short of the mark in being true believers in a brotherhood that transcends the boundaries of race. Another of the divisive calls that abounds today is that of nationalism which is given priority all too often over the brotherhood of Islam. The Arabs themselves whom the message first came to had to struggle with this reality and there are many ahaadeeth and incidents in Islamic history from the time of the Prophet ﷺ until today that show that we as Muslims need to strive in order to fulfill the task of attaining universal brotherhood as prescribed by our Creator.

Malcolm X wrote about what he witnessed in Makkah after making hajj. Let us remember that he was one of those who was heavily influenced by the problems of racism and he joined a group founded on the principle of resistance to the inequality faced by the people of African descent in America. When he made hajj however, he came to the conclusion that it was Islam that held the possibility of the unification of mankind, and that this unity superseded that which was based on race. He said:

America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion that erases from its society the race problem. Throughout my travels in the Muslim world, I have met, talked to, and even eaten with people who in America would have been considered white, but the white attitude was removed from their minds by the religion of Islam. I have never before seen sincere and true brotherhood practiced by all colors together, irrespective of their color. During the past eleven days here in the Muslim world, I have eaten from the same plate, drunk from the same glass, and slept on the same rug, while praying to the same God, with fellow Muslims, whose eyes were the bluest of blue, whose hair was the blondest of blond, and whose skin was the whitest of white. And in the words and in the deeds of the white Muslims, I felt the same sincerity that I felt among the black African Muslims of Nigeria, Sudan and Ghana. We were truly all the same, because their belief in one God had removed the white from their minds, the white from their behavior, and the white from their attitude. I could see from this, that perhaps if white Americans could accept the Oneness of God, then perhaps, too, they could accept in reality the Oneness of Man, and cease to measure and hinder and harm others in terms of their differences in color.
malcolmx
Malcolm X
His Letter from Mecca

It is true that overlooking differences of tradition and race can sometimes require effort. One of the reasons for this is that Shaytaan does not like for the believers to be united. In addition to that, differences of language and custom can sometimes place a barrier between Muslims. It is necessary in such circumstances to remember the statement of Allah. “Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you”. If one is still tempted to feel superior, he should reflect on another ayah where the Exalted said

So do not claim yourselves to be pure; He is most knowing of who fears Him.
myquran
Holy Quran
Surah An-Najm (53:32)

I am not saying that it is wrong for Muslims who come from the same place and speak the same language to prefer to be among others who share similar backgrounds as we have seen for example from students in the universities, however it is of great benefit for the brothers to mingle and to get to know their brothers from other places. This knowledge leads to the enrichment of their personality and understanding of others and can even help them in the issue of Islamic rulings that may be subject to time and place.

Here are just a few of the statements of the Messenger ﷺ connected to this issue;

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, said in the final days of the pilgrimage: “O people, your Lord is one and your father Adam is one. There is no favor of an Arab over a foreigner, nor a foreigner over an Arab, and neither white skin over black skin, nor black skin over white skin, except by righteousness. Have I not delivered the message?
Sahih Hadith
Abu Nadrah
Musnad Ahmad (22978)

Another well-known incident recorded in an authentic hadeeth is what occurred between Abu Dharr and Bilaal may Allah be pleased with them both.

Abu Dharr reproached Bilal about his mother, saying, “O son of a black woman!” Bilal went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he told him what he said. The Prophet became angry and then Abu Dharr came, although he was unaware of what Bilal told him. The Prophet turned away from him and Abu Dharr asked, “O Messenger of Allah, have you turned away because of something you have been told?” The Prophet said: “Have you reproached Bilal about his mother? By the one who revealed the Book to Muhammad, none is more virtuous over another except by righteous deeds. You have none but an insignificant amount.
Sahih Hadith
Abu Umamah
Al-Bayhaqi (4760)

This hadeeth shows the Prophet’s ﷺ firm position in disapproving of comments or actions that showed pride, boasting, racial or tribal superiority of one person over another. This incident is amazing given the fact that Abu Dharr was one of those who had a pure heart that rejected shirk even before Islam, and the fact that he sacrificed himself almost immediately after becoming a Muslim by proclaiming the shahada at the ka’aba in front of Quraish for which he was severely beaten. He was also a beloved companion of the Prophet ﷺ and came from the well-known tribe of Ghifar. Despite all this, the repugnance of the effects of the days of al Jaahiliyyah were too great for the Prophet ﷺ to keep quiet about. This incident shows the true position of Islam to the calls of racism and tribalism. Regardless of how some Muslims today have strayed from this guidance, the records show the position of Islam towards racism and that is the true yardstick by which we measure our own perspective.

In another narration reported by Abu Harayra, the Prophet ﷺ said:

Verily, Allah has removed from you the pride of the time of ignorance with its boasting of ancestors. Verily, one is only a righteous believer or a miserable sinner. All of the people are the children of Adam, and Adam was created from dust.
Sahih Hadith
Abu Hurairah
Sunan at-Tirmidhī (3955)

We ask Allah to make us of those who achieve true Islamic brotherhood working united for the cause of Allah. Aameen!

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