Rising Above Racism (Ahadith 3095 – 3100)

Bismillah.

Book of Virtues and Merits [Kitaab-ul-Manaaqib] starts here.

(1) Chapter: The Statement of Allah Ta’ala: “O mankind! We have created you from a male and female.”

﴿يأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنْثَى وَجَعَلْنَـكُمْ شُعُوباً وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَـرَفُواْ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عَندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَـكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ ﴾

“O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” [49:13]

Everyone belongs to a nation or a tribe or a family that makes his or her identity. Allah has made us this way so we can recognize one another, not to feel superiority over others, or vice versa. This verse nips racism right in the bud. Humans have (and still do) created divisions and ranks based on things that they don’t have any control over. For example, which family a person is born into, which class do they belong to, the color of their skin, the status of their tribe etc. It’s really unfair and we all know it. The good news is that Allah does not discriminate based on these things. What really matters in His Eyes is how much taqwa we have, the quality of our faith and actions. And luckily, these are things that no one except Allah can measure and judge.

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 695 :
Narrated by Ibn Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu)
Regarding the Verse: ‘And (We) made you into Shu’ub and Qabail (49.13) that Shu’uib means the big Qabail (i.e. nations) while the Qabail (i.e. tribes) means the branch tribes.

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 696 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Once Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) was asked, “Who is the most honorable amongst the people?” He said, “The most righteous (i.e. Allah-fearing) amongst you.” They said, “We do not ask you about this.” He said, “Then Joseph, the prophet of Allah.”

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 697 :
Narrated by Kulaib bin Wail
I asked Zainab bint Abi Salama (i.e. daughter of the wife of the Prophet), “Tell me about the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam). Did he belong to the tribe of Mudar?” She replied, “Yes, he belonged to the tribe of Mudar and was from the offspring of An-Nadr bin Kinana.”

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 698 :
Narrated by Kulaib
I was told by the Rabiba (i.e. daughter of the wife of the Prophet) who, I think, was Zainab, that the Prophet (forbade the utensils (of wine called) Ad-Dubba, Al-Hantam, Al-Muqaiyar and Al-Muzaffat. I said to her, ‘Tell me as to which tribe the Prophet belonged; was he from the tribe of Mudar?” She replied, “He belonged to the tribe of Mudar and was from the offspring of An-Nadr bin Kinana. ”

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 699 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “You see that the people are of different natures. Those who were the best in the pre-lslamic period, are also the best in Islam if they comprehend religious knowledge. You see that the best amongst the people in this respect (i.e. ambition of ruling) are those who hate it most. And you see that the worst among people is the double faced (person) who appears to these with one face and to the others with another face (i.e a hypocrite).”

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 700 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “The tribe of Quraish has precedence over the people in this connection (i.e the right of ruling). The Muslims follow the Muslims amongst them, and the infidels follow the infidels amongst them. People are of different natures: The best amongst them in the pre-lslamic period are the best in Islam provided they comprehend the religious knowledge. You will find that the best amongst the people in this respect (i.e. of ruling) is he who hates it (i.e. the idea of ruling) most, till he is given the pledge of allegiance.”