I Am Not Alone

On several blogs operated by Muslims in the US, there is a new and frank discussion about race-relations within the American Muslim community and abroad. This topic is not for the faint and certainly can't bode well for the Islamist Universalist, for the fundamentalist pretends that no issues of racial prejudice exist while advocating a very race and culture-based interpretation of Islam. The notion of having to admit that many Muslims harbor racial biases runs contrary to what many people in the US are routinely told at interfaith gatherings: that there is no racial inferiority within Islam. Slowly, however, Western Muslims specifically, are realizing just how deep this issue runs.



My wife and I know quite a few Muslim families around our age. Just about everyone has children within two or three years of my own children's ages if not the same age. We see many of them on a regular basis in, and outside of the mosque. My wife and the other women are always meeting for shopping trips, planning play dates, recycling the many unused toys between all the children. They also enjoy giving each other occasional heartburn and chronic flatulence with unfamiliar cooking styles and spices that could wake the dead. Presumably, because my wife always kicks me out of the house when she has second-generation or immigrant Muslim women over, they apparently have more in mind beyond the removal of a headscarf (some don't wear it all anyway). One of my sons has great affinity for a little third generation American boy of Pakistani descent. He always asks if he can go play with Omar. We hear Omar's name more than a few times in a day. He also has a good Nigerian American buddy, Abdul, whom he loves getting into trouble with. Abdul's parents haven't been in the states very long but are doing quite well and are lovely, warm, receptive, intelligent people possessing professional degrees. While we haven't known them long, assuredly we can expect no negative surprises or disappointments from them. However, though my wife has a Rolodex of immigrant(including descendants) sisters' phone numbers and addresses and regularly chats on the line with the giddiness of a teenager, we would be hard pressed assuming that one day, years down the road, any of our children might marry one of theirs'. Before marrying my wife I had my share of bad experiences, one of which included being turned down by the father of a Pakistani-American girl. I was told the girl was engaged to someone back home, (he lied) and had no interest in me even though she followed me around at all the functions and told more than a few of her interest in me. Another brother attempted to explain that he wasn't prejudice and that what I saw as racist behavior was simply 'cultural', stating, "it's not racism, it's just our culture". Well doesn't that make the culture racist?



Below is an article I found written by Muslim female in Britain. It has a bitter truth in it.



Raz Jabbin: My life as a British Muslim - 01/08/07


By Raz Jabbin
Recently I had the pleasure of meeting a very humble Muslim Moroccan man. "Which country are you from?" he asked. Now I never know how to answer that one, I usually begin with "well from here" knowing full well it won't satisfy their curiosity and I can bet money on the reply being (which it was) "no but where are your parents from?"
Oh, of course, how silly of me, "well they're from Pakistan".However, his specific response was something I couldn't have predicted."I find Pakistani people quite racist."Yes, that was actually what he said. Awkward? No, of course not, and he continued."I also find Pakistani people never give their daughter or sister's hand in marriage to anyone outside their circle."To which I agreed, even though that culture has started to change a little, it is still very strong in that respect.He went on to tell me that he knew two men who had been friends since they were five years old. One was Pakistani and one was a black man who, through their 20 years of friendship converted into a Muslim. Apparently he spoke to his Pakistani friend one day and said that you have known me all my life and I hope you understand that I have good intentions when I ask whether it would be possible to ask for your sister's hand in marriage."Do you know what he said?"I shook my head, waiting to be embarrassed by this so-called "Racist Pakistani's" reply."He said don't be silly, we would not allow our
sister to marry a black man."A little cringeworthy I must admit, but it was an attitude I have seen all my life and not just from the Pakistani community, but all communities.I was once told by a good friend, who happened to be white, that up until he became friends with me he hated all Asian people, but now he hates all Asian people but me (touching, I know).However, for those of us who are not only Pakistani but also consider ourselves as Muslim, when referring to race, just reflect on Hazrat Bilal (radi Allahu anhu). A holy man who privileged us with the first Azaan (call to prayer) and, indeed, he was a black man, who was also very dear to the beloved prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). So, if our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) saw no race or colour, but rather focused on the good intentions of a person, would it not be a sin for us as Muslims to do any different?