Allah asked, “What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?” He replied, “I am better than he is: You created me from fire and him from mud.” (Qur’an 7:12)
THE VERY FIRST SIN ACCORDING TO ISLAM IS BOASTFUL PRIDE OF ONE’S ORIGIN…. (TRIBALISM)
If there is one sad and shameful take away (from the recent New Zealand Christchurch massacre) that is directed towards my own community (as Muslims) is that SOME in the Muslim community will take this opportunity to deflect the ugly and heinous way that MANY of them treat Muslims who are Black, African, Sub Sahara African, West African, South Indian etc.….
So instead of using this as an opportunity to teach, to learn, to grow and to heal…..they deflect their collective guilt upon another group, ‘The Whites’.
Let it be a reminder that according to Allah Most High that the first sin ever was the PRIDE OF ONES ORIGIN.
When Allah had ordered all the dominion to bow down before the creation of humanity only one creation stood in rebellion to this command.
Allah asked, “What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?” He replied, “I am better than he is: You created me from fire and him from dark mud.”
Iblis felt that it was unbecoming to subservient to one he deemed being of an inferior origin.
This is the attitude that SOME White people exhibit towards non White people.
This is the attitude that SOME Jews exhibit towards Arabs.
This is the attitude that SOME Chinese exhibit towards Non Chinese.
This is the attitude that SOME Pathans exhibit towards Punjabis.
This is the attitude that SOME Arabs exhibit towards Non Arabs.
This is the attitude that SOME fair skinned Mexicans exhibit towards non fair skinned Mexicans.
This is the attitude that SOME Japanese exhibit towards non Japanese.
This is the attitude that SOME North Indians exhibit towards South Indians.
This is the attitude that SOME Hutu exhibit towards Tutsi.
This is the attitude that SOME Tutsi exhibit towards Hutu.
Humans are a very interesting and curious species. We often decorate our walls with accolades and awards and many of us like to boast about our lineage and ancestry.
I think self esteem is a good thing and it is especially important to instill this in our children. Yet, we should be cautious as to not make our degrees, accomplishments, accolades or lineage as a opening for whispers to the heart that can cause us to be vainglorious.
Being proud of one’s achievements is a good thing. It can help you in landing a job or to show others that you are competent in a particular field. Yet those in our community who are constantly boasting about, ethnicity, tribal heritage or lineage it is tantamount to taking a picture of your parents privates and proudly displaying that on a wall!
I have seen even some of the most pious and erudite in the Muslim communities do just that.
When Allah (swt) PUTS ALL OF US IN OUR PLACE when He (swt) says the following:
“He (Allah) has created man from a sperm-drop; and behold this same (man) becomes an open disputer!” (Qur’an 16:4)
“His companion said to him, in the course of the argument with him: “Do you deny Him Who created you out of dust, then out of a sperm-drop, then fashioned you into a man?” (Qur’an 18:37)
Now with the exception of Adam, Eve and Jesus (upon them all be peace) every other single human being created had been created from nutfah or spermatos -semen.
Now there maybe some people who will boast that Adam and Eve were from their tribe, their lineage and their ancestors. The first man and woman on the Earth not created from sperm so that tribe or lineage must some how be better than other humans correct?
Well, consider that Adam (alayi salam) his son Cain was the first reordered murderer on Earth. What is there to be boastful in that?
Especially since in Surah 16:4 Allah (swt) has used this to show the very very low state of human beings who than rise up to become haughty, arrogant, boastful and vainglorious
SO WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?
“O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples 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.” (Qur’an 49:13)
Allah (swt) did not count nobility, ethnicity, tribal affiliation, family lineage or anything of the kind.
Allah (swt) has recognized us based upon what emanates from our hearts and souls. Our nobility is on how we treat each other, tread upon this earth, fear and love Allah (swt).
Allah (swt) made us with variance so that we may know each other. So that we may learn to live with variance.
What is interesting about this? The interesting thing about this is we will truly know who outranks who in the sight of Allah only on the day of judgement.
There is no annual award or ceremony (most righteous Muslim of the year goes to …..)
May Allah (swt) take the rancor of hate from our hearts. May Allah (swt) cause us to love and appreciate the beauty in the diversity of humanity.
Prima Quran 