“Oh, Mankind! Behold, We have created you all out of a male and a female, and have made you into nations and tribes so that you might come to know one another. Truly, the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the one who is most deeply conscious of Him. Behold, God is all-knowing, All-Aware.” (Qur’an 49:13)
﷽
Ahmad ibn Sulayman, Sahnun’s companion, said: “That whoever says that the Prophet was black is killed. The Prophet was not black.”
Source: Qadi Iyad http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/misc/alshifa/pt4ch1sec5.htm
One of our team members was in a discussion with someone named ‘Rider’ who had commented on the recent post titled “Are Arabs superior to Malays and everyone else? Imam Shafi’i and Ibn Taymiyyah think so!”
Rider seems to suggest that it is quite fine to treat African Americans differently from Caucasians in the United States as long as, ultimately, we are all treated spiritually equal (by our creator).
So those Muslim converts, rather than being converts from the Dalit in India, or our African American sisters and brothers coming to Islam expecting not to be treated in a prejudiced manner, may need to reassess the reasons for which they came into Islam.
Now coming to this statement.
Ahmad ibn Sulayman, Sahnun’s companion, said: “That whoever says that the Prophet was black is killed. The Prophet was not black.”
If we were an apologist for “classical scholarship” we would reply and say, this whole text was really aimed at those who falsely attributed something to the Blessed Messenger (saw) that is not true. Thus, the issue is not whether the Blessed Messenger (saw) was ‘black’ or not, but rather whether someone attributed a false ascription to him. That is what our defending “classical scholarship” at all costs response would be.
However, our rationale is we are no longer prepared to defend this kind of nonsense says, “That is all fine and well except that the person could have simply stated, ‘falsely ascribing anything to the Prophet (saw) is punishable by death’.”
It must have been such an issue for this particular point (ascribing blackness) to be highlighted.
Seems like it may even have some merit in it and Allah (swt) knows best.
Lastly, it still does not answer the point. Why would death be issued against anyone who made false physical descriptions of the Blessed Messenger (saw)? Like if they said he (saw) was 5 9in instead of 5–8 in? Or if they said that he (saw) had a broad forehead instead of around one?
Seems like correcting someone would be in order rather than a knee-jerk emotional reaction like this.
So this drives home the point that this statement seems embedded in some of the more racist elements in the Muslim ummah. Racism is a disease of the heart. So, ironically, even a classical text called “Al Shifa” (Healing, Purification, Cure) didn’t seem to be free of this. Wallahu ‘Alim!
However, we now understand that Muslims like Rider may understand “Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the one who is most deeply conscious of Him.” to mean that, yes, we are equal in the sight of Allah. However, the understanding of Islam that they have is that some people, even among Muslims, can be given preference and special treatment simply based upon their ethnic-racial origins.
It is now a curiosity of ours about how they would interact with the Brahman philosophical schools that give sound arguments to the caste system, or maybe they wouldn’t try to approach from that angle, seeing that Islam can, from Rider’s perspective, share some strong similarities with the Brahman caste system.
Or how appropriate these teachings may not be in a nation like Singapore that teaches meritocracy not based upon purported notions of racial superiority. Should a nation like Singapore not only be on guard against certain aspects of the Salafi movement, but equally should nations like Singapore and others engage more robustly with such concepts coming from ‘traditionalists?’.
We were wondering how this bias may cause prejudice among our local Imams, Shyookh, or even Professors when it came to their interaction with people of other races, even judging their term papers. For example: Let us say that these professors or teachers had this concept that the Arabs are superior to non-Arabs. How might this affect a situation where the Chinese student is performing better than the Arab student in a particular field? Assuming that this is true and that we have some elements in our Muslim community who hold this position on what consistent basis, they should be allowed to hold teaching positions or positions of authority over other ethnic groups.
This is a grave matter that any society that has a growing Muslim population needs to look at quite seriously and earnestly. Allah (swt) knows best and Allah’s help is sought.
Interesting times we live in.
Recently, an Ex-Qadiani convert to Sunni Islam, who embraced the Hanafi-Barelvi-aligned school of thought used this verse of the Qur’an to disparage Muslims that have more melatonin.
“On the Day when some faces will be (lit up with) white, and some faces will be (in the gloom of) black: To those whose faces will be black, (will be said): “Did ye reject Faith after accepting it? Taste then the penalty for rejecting Faith.” (Qur’an 3:106)
It really says more about what is in this individual’s heart. However, being from the Sub Continent where the caste system is still operative and being inundated with a belief in a racial and genetic hierarchy (You will find this among the Zaydi, Shi’i, and Sufi’) in particular.
“It has been narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Abdullah al-Bajali that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:
One who is killed under the banner of a man who is blind (to his just cause), who raises the slogan of family or supports his own tribe, dies the death of one belonging to the days of Jahiliyya.
Source: (https://sunnah.com/muslim:1850)
This individual and those like him are reminiscent of Iblis, who defiantly says in the Qur’an:
“He said, “Never would I prostrate to a human whom You created out of clay from an altered (hama-in)black mud.” (Qur’an 15:33)
Here clearly Allah (swt) honoured this particular pigment, the pigment black, and our All-Wise, All-Knowing Creator deemed it fit to create the progenitor of the human race out of black mud.
The way this lost individual states that: “The Salafi interpreted this Ayah as white faces referring to Sunnis and black faces referring to Kharijis.”
As no sources are cited, we are inclined to believe this individual received this suggestion from the one who whispered (and we seek protection with Allah from that).
Secondly, let us say that there was such a source. The Qur’an does not say this.
To draw the type of bizarre conclusion that this individual did would be akin to condemning a great many Caucasians on account of simply having blue eyes? Or anyone who has blue eyes, for that matter.
“(The) Day will be blown in the Trumpet, and We will gather the criminals, that Day, blue-eyed.” (Qur’an 20:102)
https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/20/102/
This individual states:
“It’s usually the negro that is attracted to Kharijism. Remember the prophecy about there being a black man among the Khawarij whose arm is like a woman’s breast. Why? It is a sickness of having hasad towards the Elite of our community.”
So here he is saying that usually the negro is attracted to “kharijism”.
Our response to this individual (who clearly suffers from an inferiority complex himself) is that Allah (swt) has illuminated the hearts of people who have more melatonin in their skin to the truth than surely that is a favour from Allah (swt)!
That there is a prophecy about a black man among the Khawarij.
Presumably he is talking about the following hadith in which the Ahl Sunnah attack one of the companions of the Blessed Prophet (saw).
That, ultimately, the Negro has hasad (jealousy) towards the Elite (which seemingly are those with less melanin in their skin).
It is a wonder to me those who are blinded by tribalism and racism and the idea of hereditary supremacy based upon family and clan in the face of the light of the Qur’an.
The light of the Qur’an is such that it blinds not the eyes, but illuminates the heart.
“Indeed, it is not the eyes that are blind, but it is the hearts in the chests that grow blind.” (Qur’an 22:46)
Adam (as) had two sons. One of which murdered the other. How does being a descendant of a Prophet (saw) guarantee righteousness?
As regards the proper understanding of the verse:
“On the Day when some faces will be (lit up with) white, and some faces will be (in the gloom of) black: To those whose faces will be black, (will be said): “Did ye reject Faith after accepting it? Taste then the penalty for rejecting Faith.” (Qur’an 3:106)
The verse is self-explanatory. This is the day of judgement. People are being distinguished by their piety and deeds; rather, they held fast or became among those who rejected faith.
It has nothing to do with the amount of melatonin an individual has.
You may wish to read the following:
May Allah (swt) Guide the Ummah.
May Allah (swt) Forgive the Ummah.
Prima Quran 
Salaam bro,
Before getting bent out of shape what book was this in? Is it a Hadith? What about the fact that the Prophet’s milk mom who was black? What about his last sermon….”No Arab has superiority over a non-Arab….black, white, etc.”? We all know about Bilal etc. What about the Ayat that mentions being created in different tribes and nations in order to get to know one another not despise one another? When the early Muslims made the first hijrah where did they go? Ethiopia… Before trying to trace the behavior of some Muslim professors or Muslim Professionals to that one saying that you came across, dig a little deeper. They probably have never read or heard of it themselves. Many Muslims are very ignorant of their religion and don’t study. Knowledge would change a lot of things in our ummah today. I’m referring to reverts and “born” Muslims. For instance what is a sutra? What is the most important concept in Islam? Are you allowed to combine your salaah when you’re sick? How about combining and shortening your salaah? Is it even permissible? If so what’s the distance? If there’s bad weather are we allowed to combine our salaah in a group? How about reasons to skip the mandatory jumuah prayer? Is that allowed?
The point is that just because a Muslim says or does something it doesn’t make it permissible, true, halaal, etc. I can’t count the many times that a Muslim has said something like “In my country we do this”. As if their country provides some proof of authenticity. I know Muslims that don’t make salaah but they only eat 100% Halaal while smoking cigarettes… What’s more important? The Shaytan makes small things seem big and big things seem small.
Lastly Ibn-Taymeeyah wasn’t an Arab himself…
Was salaam
Bismillah,
Walakum salaam wr wb.
If you read the article you will see the source that is quoted. I agree with your sentiments that Islam (at it’s core) does not teach this. Yet, we need to confront a reality that will creep up on sooner than expected (especially those of you following) so called “traditional Islam” which has been couched in the language of acceptance and inclusion for modern consumption. As for me I am not concerned with what Muslims are or are not doing, however; it seems that you agree that even our scholars are not infallible, and Al hamdulillah that is the right trajectory respected brother.
May Allah (swt) bless you and your family in the new year ahead!
Absaboor@aol.com
Are you wanting me to contact you?
Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh
I have heard a Wahhabi rationalize this teaching of Shafi’i and Ibn Taymiyyah by arguing that an “Arab is better than an non-Arab” in the sense that Allah (swt) chose the Arab nation (“chosen people”) to spread Islam and that the Qur’an was revealed in arabic. But an non-Arab can be better than an Arab spiritually.
Interestingly a similar racial hierarchy is also found in Judaism where the Israelites are “higher” than Gentiles but a Gentile can be better than an Israelite spiritually (if the Israelite is very lax in their observance).
This basically vindicated my point that Wahhabi Salafis are trying to judaize Islam while Shi’i are trying to christianize Islam.
walakum salam warahmutallai wabarkatuh,
Yes the Shi’i and the pro Alid sentiment among Sunni Muslims, including the position of Shafi’i is to in a sense Judaize Islam with the belief in superior families, tribes and ethnic groups.
Our school will demolish those claims absolutely in total.