The Pandemic of Coronavirus and the Plague of Racism
We are thankful to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala that we are gradually re-opening our Masjid for daily prayers and for Friday prayers after almost 3 months. The pandemic of Covid-19 is still around. We should not lower our guards. The State of California and the County of Orange have allowed the places of worship to be opened under strict guidelines. We urge you to abide by them. The Islamic Society of Orange County has also prepared some rules for attending the masjid under these circumstances for everyone's health and safety. Please observe them and cooperate with the staff who are to help you. Because of the dangers and restrictions, many people will be still praying at home and shall not be able to attend Jumu'ah prayer or daily prayers in the Masjid. Under the circumstances they are excused if they are not well or find it difficult to attend due to restrictions. We are told that this problem, unfortunately, will remain with us for some time. Allah, however, has power over everything. We pray to Him for His grace and mercy. May Allah remove this pandemic soon and bring us back to our normal life. Ameen.
Beside Covid-19 we are now facing another serious problem. It is the plague of racism. In solidarity with our Black brothers and sisters, Muslim organizations in Southern California have announced this day as 'the Friday of Outrage.' This is an outrage against racism, anti-blackness, and police brutality. About ten days ago a black man George Floyd was brutally killed for a minor offense by a white policeman in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His horrible killing has stirred America with protest and anger. We have expressed our condemnation of this murder and expressed our sympathy for the family and friends of George Floyd. This murder has opened many wounds in the minds of many people, especially our Afro-American brothers and sisters. This is not the first time or only time that this kind of murder happened. It has been happening numerous times in different places all over. These killings are motivated by anti-black racism. People are demanding that this should stop and those who commit these crimes should be held accountable. Racism must stop, anti-blackness must stop, and our police should maintain its professional duties fairly according to the laws of our nation.
Racism is evil . Racism is an ideology of superiority and supremacy of some race or races over other races or races. It is based on biased beliefs and illogical and irrational ideas. It is used to justify unfair and inferior treatment of some racial groups. These biases exist among many people. People inherit them from their families, friends, schools, co-workers as well as media and public discourse. We all have to be conscious of this evil and should shun it. The Prophet Muhammad -peace be upon him- called it 'Jahiliyah' (the belief and behavior of ignorance).
Racism is a terrible disease . It affects human behavior. Racist people try to dominate, subjugate, discriminate, and segregate those whom they consider inferior using racial justifications. It existed in America for centuries. US made great progress in abolishing slavery and introducing anti-discrimination laws for over a century ago, but this evil still exists in the minds and culture of many people.
Racism leads to dehumanization and demonization . It leads to violence. Unfortunately, this problem exists in many societies today. Sometimes it is discrimination based on race, religion, or culture. Sometimes it is based on majority versus minority. Sometimes it is practiced in discrimination against the immigrants and refugees. Discrimination is bad, and the worst is the discrimination prompted by racism.
Islam is against all racism . Allah says that all human beings are one family.
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ مِنْ ذَكَرٍ وَأُنْثَى وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ
اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ (الحجرات 13)
O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other. Verily the most honored 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). (Al-Hujurat 49:13)
Every human life must be protected:
... مَنْ قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا ۚ ... (المائدة 32)
... whoever kills a person unless as (punishment) for murder or corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he killed all mankind. And whoever saves one - it is as if he saved all mankind ...
(Surah al-Ma'idah 5:32)
All human beings should be respected . Allah has honored all human beings regardless of their colors, races, languages, or gender:
وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آدَمَ وَحَمَلْنَاهُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَاهُمْ مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَفَضَّلْنَاهُمْ عَلَى يرٍ
مِمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًا (الإسراء 70)
Indeed, We have honored the children of Adam; provided them with transport on land and sea; given them for sustenance things good and pure; and conferred on them special favors, above a great part of Our Creation. (Al-Isra' 17:70)
Differences of colors, languages and races are among the signs of Allah's creative power and greatness. This diversity gives beauty and variety to the world:
وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ خَلْقُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافُ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَأَلْوَانِكُمْ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِلْعَالِمِينَ
(الروم 22)
And among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and
variations in your languages and your colors ; verily in that are signs for those
that know. ( al-Rum 30:22)
In his last sermon (khutbat al-wada') the Prophet -peace be upon him- summarized his basic religious and moral teachings. He said with great emphasis:
أيها الناس، ليس لعربي على عجمي فضل ولا لعجمي على عربي ولا لاسود على أبيض ولا لابيض على أسود فضل إلا بالتقوى.
O People, There is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab and a non-Arab over an Arab or for a black person over a white person or a white person over a black person, except through Taqwa (the fear and consciousness of Allah).
We Muslims should be the first to reject all racism in ourselves and in our communities. We should check our own selves and check the by-laws of our organizations and our practices. We should make tawbah to Allah from this evil and change our ways. We should support our Afro American brothers and sisters in their struggle for justice and equality. We should stand in solidarity with them. We should work with them and with people of all races and religions in America to seek justice for the black community.
We must do our work in positive, peaceful, and constructive ways. Our responsibility is to reform and correct. This is a teaching moment and should not let it go. We must learn at this moment and correct ourselves. We owe this to America and to our fellow African American brothers and sisters to support them. We should talk about it many times in different forums and learn how to improve our conditions so that we can become the champions of change and reform in the world. We pray to Allah to guide us and guide the humanity to the right path and save us from all viruses whether physical or moral. May Allah remove the pandemic of Corona and also the plague of racism from the world. Ameen.
