How did Islam solve the problem of racism?

Question

How did Islam solve the problem of racism?
Racism is one of the severe diseases of human society in this age. Everyone remembers how black Africans were transported across the oceans, packed in specially designed ships, thought of and treated like livestock. They were made slaves, forced to change their names and religion and language, were not entitled to hope for true freedom, and were refused the least of human rights. Because among some Western people the attitude to non-Westerners has unfortunately changed little in modern times, the political and social condition of black people often remains, even where they live amid the native Westerners as theoretically equal fellow-citizens, that of despised inferiors.

When God’s Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings, was raised as a Prophet, the same kind of racism, under the name of tribalism, was prevalent in Makka. The Quraysh considered themselves in particular, and Arabs in general, superior to all the other peoples of the world. God’s Messenger came with the Divine Message and proclaimed that no Arab is superior over a non-Arab, and no white is superior over black(1) and superiority is by righteousness and God-fearing alone (sura al-Hujurat, 49.13). He also declared that even if an Abyssinian black Muslim were to rule over Muslims, he should be obeyed (2).

God’s Messenger eradicated the problem of racial or colour discrimination so successfully that, for example, ‘Umar once said of Bilal: ‘Bilal is our master, and was emancipated by our master Abu Bakr’(3). Zayd ibn Haritha was a black slave. God’s Messenger emancipated him and, before the banning of adoption by the Qur’an, adopted him. He married him to Zaynab bint Jahsh, one of the noblest women of the Muslim community. After all these honors he conferred on him, he also appointed him as a commander over the Muslim army he sent against the Byzantine Empire and which included the leading figures of the Companions such as Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and others(4). The Prophet, upon him be peace and blessings, appointed Zayd’s son, Usama, to command the army he formed just before his passing away.

During his Caliphate, ‘Umar paid a higher salary to Usama than to his own son, ‘Abd Allah, who asked why. ‘Umar answered: ‘My son, I do so, because I know well that God’s Messenger loved Usama’s father more than yours and Usama himself more than you’(5).

Zayd ibn Haritha commanded an army in which the noblest of the Quraysh, like Ja’far ibn Abu Talib, the cousin of God’s Messenger, and Khalid ibn Walid, the invincible general of the age, were present. The army commanded by Usama, Zayd’s son, included leading figures among the Companions such as Khalid, Abu ‘Ubayda, Talha, Zubayr and others. This established in the hearts and minds that superiority is not by birth or colour or blood, but by God-fearing and righteousness.

i would like to add:
-arabs have nothing against dark skin i think many of you have misleading information about arabs and muslims,im sure christians in saudi have no proplems and i have been there and i saw who they were respected.
please stop misunderstandiing islam and try to hear the truth from a true muslim once in your life.

Answer 1

It emphasises the commonality of all human beings and their brotherhood. Everyone is equal before God.

Answer 2

The short answer is no. Why? Because human brains are made of chemicals and electrically charged, both of which can be out of balance. So there will always be chemically imbalanced humans who some up with bad ideas and able to convince other humans who are starving for "an answer of some sort". Seriously, we humans are a wacky bunch. Some believe they know the answer. They don't. They believe in a fictional story at best, pass that along to their children, who continue the process (including changing things a bit) ... and then you end up with a zillion religions and chemically imbalanced people who can't stand that you don't believe in what I believe or take their land because my ancestors of 3000 years ago lived here. It's all a bit insane ... religion is a nice idea on paper. In reality, it's not that great.

Answer 3

I'm sorry, how did Islam cure racism, when so many Muslims are making the Protocols of Zion a best seller throughout the mid-east? How did Islam eliminate racism when no one with a cross can walk in Saudi Arabia? How did Islam eradicate racism when they are persecuting animists in the Sudan? How did Islam eradicate racism when they converted the heathens by the Sword throughout India? How did Islam eradicate racism when groups like the Nation of Islam in the US spew anti-white and anti-semitic bile on a daily basis?

P.S. If you want to claim that what Islam does is not racist, but instead hateful to other religions and cultures, I say what's the dang difference?

P.P.S Why doesn't the Arabic world take in the refugees or give them real support?

Your holier then thou non-sense is absurd.

Answer 4

You are quite correct in your evaluation of racism. It is plain wrong. So is slavery.
An interesting point of history: In many case the black Africans sold into slavery to Europeans and Americans were sold by Muslim Arabs.
Also, The Muslim north of Sudan has been capturing southern blacks and keeping them as slaves.
Don't get me wrong. The Muslims are no worse than the others. But no better either.

Answer 5

Muhammad wasnt a great advocate of equal rights. He had black slaves and said women are property that can be beaten if they dont obey you. Hey its written in the Quran...

Answer 6

By converting of the others

Answer 7

I could heat New York City with all the hot air in these answers..(and questioner)

Answer 8

It didn't. If you spend time in the Middle East, you will see that Arabs look down on people with darker skin, just like every other silly place in the world.

And their attitude about the Jews is absolutely appalling!

Answer 9

I agree that Islam did solve the problem of racism, but you answered your own question, and the question is tooo long!

Answer 10

The problem of racism was solved? Damn, nobody told me!