tyrannical, is the privilege of spirituality. If some

persons think they know more of spirituality, of

ISLAM

123

God, they claim a superior privilege over everyone

else. They say, `Come down and worship us, ye

 Never let hatred of others lead you to deviate from Justice.

common herds; we are the messengers of God, and

Be just for this is closest to Righteousness. Remember God is

you have to worship us.' None can be Vedantists

well aware of all that you do. 

124

[Hindus], and at the same time admit of privilege

for anyone. The same power is in every man, the

Islamic scriptures proclaim the equality of all people, male

one manifesting more, the other less; the same

or female, rich or poor, of any race, class, caste or national

potentiality is in everyone. Where is the claim to

origin. The monotheistic belief that there is only one God

privilege? 

117

to all humanity and that all human beings originated

from a single pair, namely Adam and Eve, is clearly taught

 This is the gist of all worship to be pure and to

in the Quran. 

do good to others. He who sees Shiva [God] in the

poor, in the weak, and in the diseased, really

O, Humans! We created you from a single soul,

worships Shiva; and if he sees Shiva only in the

male and female, (Adam & Eve) and made you into

image, his worship is but preliminary. He who has

nations and tribes, so that you may come to know

served and helped one poor man seeing Shiva in

one another (not to despise each other). Truly, the

him, without thinking of his caste, or creed, or race,

most honored of you in God's sight is the one who

or anything, with him Shiva is more pleased than

is most righteous.

125

with the man who sees Him only in temples. 

118

A specific instance where Prophet Mohammed spoke

 What good is it if we acknowledge in our prayers

about race related problems originating from birth that

that God is the Father of us all, and in our daily

was rampant in Arabia or pre Islamic days is as follows: 

lives do not treat every man as brother? 

119

All humankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has

 Each is responsible for the evil anywhere in the

no superiority over a non Arab, and a non Arab has

world...All that unites with the universal is virtue.

no superiority over an Arab. A white person has no

All that separates is sin. You are a part of the

superiority over a black person, and a black person

Infinite. This is your nature. Hence you are your

has no superiority over a white person, except by

brother's keeper...Not one can attain liberty until

piety and righteous deeds.

126

every being (ant or dog) has liberty. Not one can be

happy until all are happy. When you hurt anyone

In Islam, it is important to understand the attributes of

you hurt yourself, for you and your brother are

One and only One God: All Knowing, All Aware, The

one. 

120

Merciful, The Forgiver, The Truth, etc. With regard to

racism, God is All Responsive the Provider for all

 If there is inequality in nature, still there must be

humanity showing no discrimination of race, religion,

equal chance for all or if greater for some and for

caste, creed or national origin.

some less the weaker should be given more chance

than the strong. 

121

I waste not the labor of any that labors amongst

you, be they male or female each one of you are

 May I be born again and again, and suffer

equal to me.

127

thousands of miseries, so that I may worship the

only God that exists, the only God I believe in, the

Quran also compares the diversity within the human race.

sum total of all souls and above all, my God the

wicked, my God the miserable, my God the poor of

To each among you (various groups/races) we have

all races, of all species, is the special object of my

prescribed the Law or an Open Way. If God had

worship. 

122

willed all humanity would have been of one single

community; this is not a part of God's plan. God's

plan is to test you in what each one has received (in

form of Holy Scriptures or Conscience). So strive, as

24

DENOUNCING RACISM