assalamualaykum
I have come across some opinions from scholars that I find troubling. The topic has to do with Arab supremacy. Although I cannot find verses from the Quran that support Arab fascism, I believe there is an authentic hadith that support the concept of Arab Supremacy(and many non-authentic ones) and there are many scholars who believe that Arabs are, for lack of a better term, the master race and even go as far as to say if you do not believe this you are committing a sin. Now before I begin, I know there are also many hadith that support the case for equality among the races, but thats why im troubled. Why so contradictory? If I only take the ones that support equality and ignore the ones that support supremacy is that not hypocrisy? I am very confused about this matter, can somebody with significant knowledge help me out?
I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Verily Allah granted eminence to Kinana from amongst the descendants of Isma'il, and he granted eminence to the Quraish amongst Kinana, and he granted eminence to Banu Hashim amonsgst the Quraish, and he granted me eminence from the tribe of Banu Hashim.
https://sunnah.com/muslim/43/1
Sheikh Albani said
However, that does not negate the Arab race being better than the race of the rest of the nations
https://abdurrahman.org/2011/04/19/the-arab-race-shaykh-al-albaani-rahimahullaah/
In the answer to question no. 115934, we noted that Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa‘ah are unanimously agreed that the Arabs are superior to others in terms of descent and lineage, and that regarding the Arabs as superior is in general terms, and does not apply at the individual level. So a non-Arab who is pious and righteous is better than an Arab who falls short in his duties to Allah, may He be exalted.
https://islamqa.info/en/answers/182686/is-the-arab-muslim-better-than-the-non-arab-muslim
Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa‘ah are unanimously agreed on the superiority of the Arabs over other races and peoples.
The superiority of the Arabs is the superiority of a race, not superiority of individuals.
The superiority of the Arabs is but a choice from Allah, may He be exalted, the wisdom of which may or may not be clear to us. However among the Arabs there are some attributes and characteristics that point to this superiority.
Perhaps the best explanation of this issue was given by Shaykh al-Islam in al-Bayaan ash-Shaafi; we will quote his words here, in sha Allah. He (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The way of Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa‘ah is to believe that the Arab race is superior to other non-Arab races, Hebrew, Syriac, Byzantine, Persian and others; and that Quraysh are the best of the Arabs, Banu Haashim are the best of Quraysh, and the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) is the best of Banu Haashim. Thus he is the best of Allah’s creation in and of himself and is the best of them in lineage.
The superiority of the Arabs, then of Quraysh, then of Banu Haashim, is not only because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was one of them – although that is part of the reason for this superiority; rather they are superior in and of themselves. Thus it is proven that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was the best of them in and of himself and in lineage.
The reason for this superiority – and Allah knows best – is the unique characteristics that they had in terms of their wisdom, language, attitude and deeds. That is because superiority may be achieved either by acquiring beneficial knowledge or doing righteous deeds, and knowledge is the basis of superiority. This refers to reasoning which is connected to memorisation and understanding, coupled with the ability to express oneself clearly. The Arabs have better understanding than others, and stronger memories, and they are more able to express themselves clearly and speak eloquently.
The natural instinct of the Arabs is more inclined towards good than other peoples’, and they are closer to characteristics of generosity, forbearance, courage, sincerity and other praiseworthy characteristics.
https://web.archive.org/web/20140428161010/https://islamqa.info/en/115934
(The Prophet(S) said): ‘I am Muhammad bin ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdul-Muttalib. Indeed, Allah created the creation and made me from the best of them, and He then made them two groups (Arabs and non-Arabs) and made me from the best of them (the Arabs), then He made the tribes and made me from the best tribe, then He made the houses and made me from the best house. So I am the best house among them, and I am the best person among them.'” This narration has been recorded and authenticated by Shaykh Albani in his Saheeh Jami` al-Sagheer, hadith number 1472
This narration has also been authenticated in the following texts: Shaykh Albani also authenticated it (as narrated by Abbas bin Abd al-Muttalib) in his Takhreej Mishkat al-Masabeeh, hadith number 5689 Imam Ahmad bin Muhammad Shakir authenticated it in his Umdah at-Tafseer, volume 1, page 819 Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalaani said it is sound (Hasan) in his Al-Amaali al-Mutlaqah, page 70 Imam Ibn Hajar al-Haythami authenticated it in his Mujmaal-Zawa’id, vol 8, pg 218 Imam Ibn Katheer said it has a good (jayyid) chain in his Jami al-Masaneed wal-Sunan, hadith #5933
Shaykh Amjad Rasheed of SunniPath.com has also clarified this matter for us: It is obligatory on a Muslim to believe that Arabs are preferred over other nations because there is a proof for it. However, this is not one of the pillars of our religion such that if someone rejected this, they would be considered outside of Islam. But if one does reject this, one has sinned for not believing in it because it is an affirmed matter according to a clear rigorously authenticated hadith.
To close, I will leave you with this statement from Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah in his IqtiDaa’ Siraat al-Mustaqeem, volume 1, page 419: فإن الذي عليه أهل السنة والجماعة اعتقاد أن جنس العرب أفضل من جنس العجم عبرانيهم وسريانيهم رومهم وفرسهم وغيرهم وأن قريشا أفضل العرب وأن بني هاشم أفضل قريش وأن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أفضل بني هاشم فهو أفضل الخلق نفسا وافضلهم نسبا
Indeed it is the belief of the Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jama’ah that the race of Arabs is superior to the race of non-Arabs, the Hebrews (Jews), the Syrians (Arameans), the Romans (Europeans), the Persians, and others. And indeed the Quraysh [tribe of the Prophet (S)] is the most superior among the Arabs. And indeed the Banu Hashim [the clan of the Prophet (S)] is the most superior among the Quraysh. And indeed the Prophet, may the Blessings and Peace of Allaah be upon him, is the most superior of the Banu Hashim, for he is the most superior of all creation by his own self, and also the most superior among them because of his lineage (ancestry).
https://islamicvirtues.com/2013/12/12/superiority-of-the-race-of-arabs-over-non-arabs/amp/
So this hadith is a primary text about the preference of Arabs over others and the preference of some Arabs over other Arabs.
Therefore the preference of Arabs over other nations, and the preference of some Arabs over other Arabs is affirmed in the Sacred Law.
And among His rulings is that Arabs are preferred over others and that some Arabs are better than other Arabs, as the above hadith clearly explained. So it is not appropriate for anyone to disagree in this when the proof is perfectly valid.
However, the merit of the Arabs will still remain, in terms of their respect and exaltation being higher than others.
http://archive.is/bze40#selection-269.1059-269.1144
Before anyone says "but look the same source says x, y, and z" Yes I am very aware, but thats why I am troubled as they say one thing such "Arabs as an ethnic group are superior," but then theyll also say "But its ok because on the individual level thats not true." I need someone who Allah(SWT) has blessed with great knowledge to explain to me how this is not racist/fascist.
Mind you this is not even counting kafah where Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Shafi, and Imam Ahmad all believe that non-Arab men should not marry Arab women. Non-Qurayshi men should not marry Qurayshi women. Non-Banu Hashim men should not marry Banu Hashim women. Non-Sayyid men should not marry Sayyidah women.
This is not counting the Arab supremacy the Umayyads practiced and forced non-Arabs to pay extra taxes. The Umayyads saying any person who converts to Islam must also designate an Arab clan theyre a slave of.(I might be wrong on the details here, if I am please tell me) The Umayyads saying any non-Arab who converts to Islam must still pay Jizya. and Arab colonization of much of the former Byzantine Empire and parts of the former Sassanid Empire.
Ibn Taymiyyah saying that the general understanding of former slaves(non-Arabs) can never be superior to the understanding of Arabs, which is weird wasnt Ibn Taymiyyah most likely Kurdish...?
This is not counting Omar(RA) instating rule that says Persians should not be allowed in Madinah.
This is not counting the Arab supremacy that still exists and is being practiced in many parts of the World today. Where they look down and treat non-Arabs as inferior.
This is not counting the attitudes towards our black brothers and sisters historically among the Arabs and unfortunately non-Arabs, but lets be honest even today.
This is not counting hadiths such as
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Authority of ruling will remain with Quraish, even if only two of them remained." https://sunnah.com/bukhari/61/11heroes
meaning the Khilafa can only be a Qurayshi and I know that there are scholars that believe that was circumstantial, but there are also just as many that believe that its still true today.
This is not counting how no matter what non-Arab Islamic heroes do, theyll always be less than the heroes during the early times of Islam who were without a doubt overwhelmingly Arab. I have a lot of love for our brothers in South East Asia, but there are no South East Asian Sahaba. Undoubtedly there must be South East Asian Muslim heroes, but will they ever be more important than a hero from the time of the Prophet(SAW)?
All this resulting in a very Arab centric religion, naturally this is to be expected from an Arab prophet, but I was under the belief that once we all say our shahada we are all equal in the eyes of God, but according to the many scholars I quoted above, this is not the case. This is not me saying Islam is evil, this is me asking for someone to explain all this to me and explain how this is not racist/fascist.
And I am very aware of all the many hadith that speak glowingly of other ethnicities and how we are equal and verses from the Quran that support them, but thats not what Im looking for. What Im looking for is how do you reconcile all these things without basically becoming a hypocrite and saying Ill accept this hadith because I like it and I dont accept this hadith because I dont.
If anyone wants a source for the claims I made in the second half of my post, I was too lazy to do it before hand, but if anyone asks Ill find them.
[link] [comments]
from Islam http://bit.ly/2DUw2Zo
Post A Comment:
0 comments so far,add yours