United Muslims We Stand

Race vs Islam

by Sr.Jennah Heydar

Assalaamu alaykum brothers and sisters,

Have you ever been a party to a relationship that was interracial or two different cultures, two different villages, one sayid one not, she is rich he is poor, she's older he's younger? 

An Arab Muslim man marries a Muslim white western reverted sister.

A Pakistani woman wishes to marry a black born Muslim man.

A white Muslim Reverted man engaged to marry an Arab Muslim woman.

A Shi’a Muslim brother set to ask for permanent marriage with a Sunni Muslim sister

I could go on with a thousand different variations, but I won’t.

In the cases above do you think any of them managed to get together with the pressures put on them by their born Muslim families?  Sadly, very few. However the ones that do manage to get through struggle so hard to be with each other that they last a lifetime together because they are very strong in their union and love.

You’ve heard the stories haven’t you? The tears, the terrifying threats, the breakdown of families, placing culture over Islam, regardless of the fact that they knowingly do it even when it’s wrong and against Islam. The lines are: "What would people think?"... " How can you lower yourself?"... " You are forbidden to marry him or her because he/she does not know our culture." and some lines that are more colourful...but I'm sure you know that. 

Why does this happen?….

Because the majority of our population does not accept anyone different then themselves.  Those of you who know this feel saturated by the ignorance of these blinded Muslims, as if a dark cloud hovers over our ummah.

Are you aware that this kind of behaviour is not a part of Islam? That we have even had interracial marriages within our own Ahlulbayt (as)?

Race vs Islam, a very abrasive topic but a topic that needs to be brought to the very surface of our ummah today.

Imagine this. A foundation of Muslims is built; they are of the same beliefs but diverse in their culture and skin colours. They are a strong force because the numbers are continuously  building and they are a tolerant and understanding group of Muslims. They invite all in who see what they see but do not judge. They find support amongst each other and they are super-charged with the passion of propagating the true message of Islam.  They are lights of inspiration to many due to their hardships but strong willed in nature to continue on their paths.  They are united. .. 

Who is this group?

They are Reverted Muslims.

Are reverted Muslims only white or black western Muslims who convert to Islam?

No.

Our community also consists of born Muslims who were disconnected from their deen but later in life reconnected and in fact, reverted.  Our group also consists of born Muslims who understand our position and our goals and so they support us. We also have amongst us a mixture of other Muslims with varying cultures, reaching out from around the globe to find support. 

Let us not forget we are all considered born Muslim in the sense that we all have imprinted on our souls the knowing of the oneness of Allah(swt), fitrah. It is not our choice to which family we are born into. The soul has no colour or cultural baggage. Allah(swt) knows best where we all belong.

To struggle for your beliefs only brings you closer to Allah(swt). Reverted Muslims are struggling constantly. We deal with not being accepted by many in our own community of Muslims and our born families have often abandoned us. Alone we once stood.

But.. that no longer is the case. Our numbers are growing and moving towards one another at an extremely fast pace.

The truth is.. how can we build the foundation for the coming of the Mahdi (as) if we are not a united force? …We can’t.

We must be tolerant of one another and we MUST look past the flesh in order to see the souls of one another, the part which truly matters.

On the day of judgement are we standing there in our flesh? Would you be able to distinguish between a soul that was once black to a soul that was once white, one who was Arab or one who was Chinese? NO you will not.

Allah(swt) has given us this great test. We are of different cultures, skin colours, languages so that we must force ourselves to look past this and find our common goals.

For those who do not know me, do you know if I am indigenous of Africa, America, Europe by my hand writing? Does it matter? Do you really care what colour my skin is or how my holidays are spent? Look at my words and find out who I am.  Look at my beliefs, my actions and my piety and my love for my family and my community.  These are the areas one should concentrate on when considering another for a spouse or even looking for a friend.

One of the reasons we wear hijab is so that we can be accepted for who we are inside and not for what we can adorn on our bodies and skin to attract a male by their animal desires.

Allah(swt) has given us the means to try to overlook these differences and to focus on the piety and goodness and wholesomeness of the individuals you are considering in your life. We are not to judge them by any other source then these good qualities you observe and that they may offer you.

To abandon a potential mate, who is pious, responsible, honest, hard-working, mature and ready to help care for his or her family but is rejected on the grounds of his skin or culture is WRONG.

Allah(swt) has made mates for us so that we may love them, find comfort and support with them and by their side we should find ourselves closer to Allah(Swt). This husband/wife may be from a different country, colour of skin and or culture.

Don’t limit your choices because someone is different. This is not what Islam teaches us.

WE will not be ready, we will not bring on the coming if we do not stop RACISM within our ummah.

Culture VS Islam === ISLAM WINS HANDS DOWN.

Support those who are in a wholesome, Islamically permissible relationship even if they are different from one another.

UNITE WITH US SO THAT WE CAN PREPARE.

Thank you.

Sr.Jennah Heydar