Falling into the trap of Nationalism and/or Racism

[MystifiedMuslimah]

Asslamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatu Allah

Many Muslims today around the world have fallen into the trap of nationalism. It is easy to fall into this trap because of the wonderful slogans that people can easily make up to promote nationalism. They convince the Muslim that their first duty is to their "nation", their "people", based on geographic, ethnic or linguistic borders. This clearly contradicts Islamic teachings, and goes against the very soul and core of Islam.

While nationalism tries to group people based on geography, language, ethnicity or tribal ties, Islam groups people based on their belief and value system, based on their ideology. There are many sayings of the prophet that point to the prohibition of nationalism and racism, the following are some examples:

It is narrated by Abu Da'wud that the Messenger of Allah (saaw) said: "He is not one us who calls for `Asabiyyah, (nationalism/tribalism) or who fights for `Asabiyyah or who dies for `Asabiyyah."

And in another Hadith, the Messenger of Allah (saaw) referring to nationalism, racism, and patriotism said: "Leave it, it is rotten." [Muslim and Bukhari].

In the Hadith recorded in Mishkat al-Masabith, the Messenger of Allah (saaw) said: "He who calls for `Asabiyyah is as if he bit his father's genitals."

Also, the Messenger of Allah (saaw) said, narrated by At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud: "There are indeed people who boast of their dead ancestors; but in the sight of Allah they are more contemptible than the black beetle that rolls a piece of dung with its nose. Behold, Allah has removed from you the arrogance of the Time of Jahiliyyah (Ignorance) with its boast of ancestral glories. Man is but an Allah-fearing believer or an unfortunate sinner. All people are the children of Adam, and Adam was created out of dust."

Also, the Messenger of Allah (saaw) said: "Undoubtedly Allah has removed from you the pride of arrogance of the age of Jahilliyah (ignorance) and the glorification of ancestors. Now people are of two kinds. Either believers who are aware or transgressors who do wrong. You are all the children of Adam and Adam was made of clay. People should give up their pride in nations because that is a coal from the coals of *****-fire. If they do not give this up Allah (swt) will consider them lower than the lowly worm which pushes itself through Khara (dung)." [Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi].

There are many examples of this also in the seerah, where the Prophet (pbuh) rebuked and was very angry with those who try to stir up tribal or nationalist sentiments. Another related issue is that of racism, which is prohibited and strongly denounced by Islam.

It is transmitted by at-Tabarani and al-Hakim that in one incident some people spoke very lowly about Salman al-Farsi. They spoke of the inferiority of the Persian in relation to the Arabs, and upon hearing this the Messenger of Allah (saaw) declared: "Salman is from us, the ahl al-bayt (the Prophet's family)." This statement of the Messenger of Allah (saaw) disassociates all links
based on lineage and tribal considerations.

It was as if the Prophet directed Abu Dhar that such a phrase does not belong and should never belong to the Muslim community, where colors just reflect the variety and colorfulness of Allah's creation, and nothing more.That instance was so alarming to Abu Dhar who, realizing his mistake, rushed to seek forgiveness from his brother Bilal and placed his head on the ground asking Bilal to step by his shoes on his face as a way of making him feel, to some extent, the offence he has directed to him.

Yet Bilal, who realized that Abu Dhar had understood the lesson, and that the insult was completely unintentional, took his hand and hugged him in a brotherly gesture.

In that society there was no place for discrimination as it was uprooted from the hearts before the minds. All considerations about color and class superiority were taken away from the worldview of Muslims.


Also, the messenger of Allah called upon all Muslims to be united, regardless of ethnicity, race, language or tribe. The following are some examples:

The Messenger of Allah (saaw) said: "The believers, in their love, mutual kindness, and close ties, are like one body; when any part complains, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever." [Muslim].

And: "the believers are like a body, if one organ is sick, the whole body comes to rescue"

And: "An Arab is no better than a non-Arab. In return, a non-Arab is no better than an Arab. A red raced man was not better than a black one except in piety. Mankind are all Adam's children and Adam was created out of clay." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim, on the authority of Abu Musa].

Muslims, whether they are of Chinese, African, European or Asian origin, are one Ummah and they cannot be separated from each other. No tribal ties should ever break their unity.

Furthermore, Allah (swt), says: "The Faithful are but brothers..." [Surah Al-Hujurat (49): ayah 10].

And the Messenger of Allah (saaw) said: "The Faithful are to one another like [parts of] a building - each part strengthening the others."

Narrated 'Abdullah bin Umar: Allah's Apostle said, "A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, so he should not oppress him, nor should he hand him over to an oppressor. Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allah will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever screened a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection . "


Therefore, Muslims should be very aware of the dangers of nationalism and racism, and of the strong denunciation of these concepts by Allah and his messenger. Muslims are one Ummah, and nothing should divide the Ummah into separate states as this is not allowed by Islam.

source: http://1fatanalheri1.iboards.us/viewtopic.php?t=268 - http://1fatanalheri1.iboards.us/viewtopic.php?t=268

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