Racism is examined as a gross sin and a psycho-spiritual illness, arguing from the Quran and science that humans are one species from the same mother and father. Satan's refusal to prostrate before Adam is presented as the first racist act, linked to the superiority complex and delusions of grandeur. Racism is shown to be incompatible with submission to God alone, who alone is superior over His creation.
The word, race,
literally denotes a species or sub classification of a species. Human
beings are one single species - homo sapiens. Contrary to common
belief, humans are not composed of different races. The false notion of
‘human races’ is a psuedo-scientific concept born of the misapplication
of this term. In large measure, scientists and others who know the true
meaning of the word race are to blame for either directly perpetuating
the myth of human races, or not clarifying that humans are one
species.
The notion of any group of people constituting a ‘pure race’
is ludicrous. It is a confirmed scientific fact that all human beings
proceeded from
the same earthly mother and father. For some
time, scientists have known about the parallel relationship between
the development of human languages and the emergence of diverse ethnic
groups throughout the world. This strong relationship between language
and ethnicity gave rise to a field known as Ethno linguistics,
derived from anthropological linguistics. These truths were revealed in
the Quran 1400 years ago, long before such questions were considered important
and long before man had the means to research such questions.
O people, observe your Lord; the One who created you from
one being, and created from it its mate, then spread
from the two many men and women.
You shall regard God, by whom you swear, and regard the parents. God is
watching over you. (4:1)
Among His proofs are the creation of the heavens and the
earth, and the variations in your languages and your colors. In these,
there are signs for the knowledgeable. (30:22)
Also, the people, the animals, and the livestock come
in various colors. This is why the people who truly reverence God are
those who are knowledgeable. God is Almighty, Forgiving. (35:28)
Page 2
Racism
The First Racist
Racism is defined as “belief in the superiority of a particular
race; prejudice based on this (racism), antagonism towards other
races” (Oxford American Desk Dictionary, 1998). This definition
of racism is correct in its content but incorrect in terms of the
word being defined. As previously stated, humans are one species
or one race. An accurate definition of racism among humans would
read, “belief in the superiority of a particular group, antagonism
towards other groups.” This is an example of intra-species
prejudice wherein one group feels superior to another group within
the same species. The ‘human racist’ assumes a posture
of believing that he or she is a member of a superior “species”
of humans.
The first expression of racism did not take place on earth. Consistent
with the literal definition of the word race, the first
expression of racism was between species, not among members of the
same species. The first racist thought and act took place in the
presence of God. In the Quran, we learn that Almighty God commanded
the angels to bow down to the physical body of Adam. Satan, an angel
at that time, refused to bow down to Adam’s body. Satan ‘reasoned’
that since God created him of what he opinioned are superior qualities
and elements, he should not bow
down to a creature created from mud.
Your Lord said to the angels, “I am creating
a human being from aged mud, like the potter’s clay. Once
I perfect him, and blow into him from My spirit, you shall fall
prostrate before him. The angels fell prostrate; all of them, except
Iblis (Satan). He refused to be with the prostrators. (15:28-31)
Almighty God knew why Satan refused to prostrate, but the angels
did not know. God asked Satan why he did not obey His command.
He said, “What prevented you from prostrating when I ordered
you?” He (Satan) said, “I am better then he;
You created me from fire, and created him from mud.” (7:12)
He said, “O Iblis (Satan), why are you not with the prostrators?”
He said, “I am not to prostrate before a human being, whom
you created from aged mud, like the potter’s clay. He [God]
said, “Therefore, you must get out. You are banished. You
have incurred my condemnation until the Day of Judgement.”
(15:32-35)
Banished by God for his racist arrogant act, Satan asked for respite
until the Day of Resurrection. He declared that he will mislead
and send the entire human species astray.
He said, “My Lord, respite me until the day
they are
resurrected. He said,
You are respited. Until the specified day and time. He said, My
Lord, since you have willed that I go astray, I will surely entice
them on earth; I will send them all astray.” (15: 36-39)
In the idiom of the language of divine revelation, Satan can be
deemed “The father of all racists.”
In other words, Satan’s arrogance and sense of superiority
over Adam (human beings) is the genesis of an individual’s
thoughts of being better than or superior to his or her fellow humans.
Satan was the first racist, and the first creature to defy
God’s commands. Thus, it stands to reason that racism
is a gross sin. Satan was wrong on all accounts. He was blinded
by his arrogance and racism into believing he was superior to Adam.
Such thoughts of superiority were blasphemous in themselves. He
refused to obey God’s command. He blamed God for his arrogance
and defiance. He then stated he would “get back” by
misleading the humans.
In contemporary psychological language, Satan is non-compliant,
externalizes or blames others for his failings, needs a scapegoat
to project his anxieties and weaknesses on to, and is in denial
of the truth. Among his other pathologies, Satan suffers from a
neurotic condition known as a superiority complex.
Page 3
Racism
The author and psychiatrist, Alfred Adler generally defined the
superiority complex as a compulsive drive to overcome anxiety and
feelings of inferiority by exalting one’s self (or group)
above humankind and who depreciates everyone else and puts them
in the shade (Adler, A., 1979; p. 117).
Satan also suffers from delusions of grandeur. Delusions
of grandeur are defined as false beliefs resting upon self-aggrandizement,
boastfulness, pride, and self-assertiveness; extravagant and impossible
claims are made and plans are drawn (Cameron and Rychlak, 1985).
Many humans fall prey to this ploy of Satan—racism accompanied
with the superiority complex and delusions of grandeur. Psychological
and social seeds of racism have been firmly planted in all societies,
past and present. In any community, there are individuals who have
a compulsive drive to feel innately superior to other individuals.
This compulsive drive is a means of:
1) compensating for their real or imagined limitations,
2) feeling better about themselves, and
3) coping with anxiety.
Ignorance is not the cause of racism. Arrogance is.
Like the First Racist, all racists want
to position themselves as “Superiors.” Racism is usually
spawned from: 1) distorting the significance of natural differences
in characteristics such as skin complexion, physical features, culture,
language, and place of geographic origin, or 2) accepting bogus
false “differences” concocted by individuals and groups
who distort facts to promote racist ideas.
Some individuals are “ reactive
racists.” Having been victims of racism, reactive
racists embrace racist ideas as a defense to repudiate racist beliefs
directed against them. They justify their racist beliefs by saying
that they are only “balancing the scales,” and claim
to be “revealing true facts.” (Some of their “facts”
are really shared fantasies). Reactive racists may also turn against
another group(s) they deem as inferior to them. In the dawn of the
new millennium, there are societies and communities where the social
and cultural stratification of individuals based on long-held racist
ideas is even integrated into religious practices and beliefs.
An intelligent person realizes that racism is more than a biased
attitude or prejudice towards others. Racism should be duly classified
as a mental disorder by mental health professional organizations,
national and international. Racism is also a spiritual illness
first manifested by humanity’s ardent enemy, Satan.
Racism is wholly incompatible with submission
to God alone (Islam). A person who submits to God alone does not
have a need to embrace racist ideas and beliefs to feel better about
him or her self. A Submitter (Muslim) recognizes that God alone
is the Superior One over His creation with no equal or ‘competitor.’
In contrast, a racist gives him or her self over to the First Racist.
True Submitters are protected by God from Satan and his tool of
racism.
You have no power over My servants. You only have
power over the strayers who follow you. (15:42)
O people, we created you from the same male and
female, and rendered you distinct peoples and tribes, that you may
recognize one another. The best
among you in the sight of GOD is the most righteous.
GOD is Omniscient, Cognizant. (49:13)
Dr. E. Douglass Brown
References
Adler, A. (1979). Superiority and social interest. Toronto,
Canada: W.W. Norton & Company.
Abate, F. (Ed.). (1998). The Oxford American Desk Dictionary.
New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Cameron, N. and Rychlak, J.F. (1985) Personality Development
and Psychopathology. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
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International Community of Submitters
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International Community of Submitters / Masjid Tucson