How does Islam view Racism?

The following verse forbids racism:

“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).”(Surah Al-Hujuraat, 13)

In the same surah, the following is stated:

“The Believers are but a single Brotherhood: So make peace and reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers.”

As it is understood from the verses above, God regards only believers as brothers not people of other nations. According to Islam, a person who is not a believer cannot be the heir of his believing father. When there is no belief, worldly, organic and racial relations lose their importance.

The apostle of God (PBUH), who said, “No man is a true believer unless he wants for his brother that which he wants for himself”, guides us about how this verse has a reflection on our realm of deed and emotion.

What should be done when hatred and enmity occur between believers though they are supposed to love each other? The continuation of the verse orders the following: “make peace and reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers.” Let their hostility turn into friendship, love and brotherhood.

Yes, according to the decree of the Qur’an, all believers are brothers of one another. They are a family. On one line. The people who cause separation between them are considered to have worked for enemies knowingly or unknowingly. 

A divine lesson from the surah of Hud: In the event of Noah’s flood, when Noah said, “O God! My son is also from my family. (my breed)” O Noah, he is not from your family (breed).” So a person’s unbeliever and rebellious son is not considered from his breed. Then, an unbeliever from his race cannot be his friend or brother. Here is a related verse from God where there is no room for intentional misinterpretation:

“O ye who believe! Take not for protectors your fathers and your brothers if they love infidelity above faith: if any of you do so they do wrong.” (Surah at-Taubah, 23)

This verse is another explanation of the verse, “The Believers are but a single Brotherhood” in which there is a fine and deep consciousness.

Your father or brother who does not believe is not your friend.

Those who befriend them are considered to have disobeyed the truth and oppressed.

He is considered to have used his sense of love, which is given to him by God as a gift, in the wrong place and oppressed…

He/she caused himself/herself to be put into Hell with his/her wrong decision. He/she has suppressed his/her soul.

By doing so, the unbeliever has a better place than a believer in his/her heart and he/she has become an oppressor with his/her great injustice. 

Allah who is “Malik Yawm  ad-Deen” (The Owner of the Day of ad-Deen) states the following: “The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail. But only he (will prosper) that brings to Allah a sound heart..” (Surah ash-Shuara, 88-89)

Is the relation between the son and father not the first step and the most advanced level of racial closeness? This verse informs us that this closeness will have no value at all on the Day of Judgment. So what value does racism have at this point? On that day, no property or the number of sons of any person will have any value at all.

On that day, the only valid thing will be the Submitted Soul. The pure heart of a person which is submitted to and become the slave of his Creator’s orders. A soul who does not tied his affection to anything but Him. This soul is precious no matter who owns it. And Paradise is the place where the reward is given to the submitted souls. Every believer will be given a position according to his/her ihklas (sincerity), deeds, morals and ambition there. All positions exist there according to these values. There are no separate positions for races in that place.