How to Deal With Racism: Lessons From West African Scholars’ Tafsīr of Sūrah al-Ḥujurāt

How to Deal With Racism: Lessons From West African Scholars’ Tafsīr of Sūrah al-Ḥujurāt
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
Introduction
Of the chapters in the Qur’an, Sūrat al-Ḥujurāt is the most concise and comprehensive in regards to conflict resolution and management. One of the socio-political conflicts which this chapter addresses is the proactive mitigation and prevention of racism. As racism, which is an extension of blameworthy tribalism (ʿaṣabiyya), has become more frequently discussed in the public discourse in the West, this particular ‘ism’ has also become a more frequent topic of discussion among Muslims. Any Muslim analysis of societal challenges should begin with the Qur’an, as well as those Muslim communities with the most wisdom regarding the specific challenge of racism. As such, here we will focus on two relevant verses in Sūrat al-Ḥujurāt and how they were addressed in the commentaries of two West African exegetes. They offer profound insights for how Muslims should mitigate racism within their communities.
Sūrat al-Ḥujurāt directly addressed a societal context in Medina that differed drastically from the pre-migration environment of Makkah. Makkah was a fairly homogenous society ruled by the Arabs of the Quraysh tribe, while Medina’s population included Arabs from more diverse tribal backgrounds as well as non-Arabs of Jewish, Abyssinian, and Persian ancestries.
1
It was in this community, at once quintessentially tribal yet diverse in lineage and phenotype, that this chapter was revealed.

About The Author

Ainan Ahmed

Anian Ahmed’s BIO

Meet Anian Ahmed, a rising star in the literary cosmos and a captivating historian on the brink of earning his Ph.D. in history. As the intellectual heartbeat of the JFLN Academy for Islamic Study and Quran Teaching, Anian’s brilliance radiates through the corridors of academia.

Immerse yourself in Anian’s world, where the lines between history and literature blur. His pen dances across the pages of “Thoughts of the Soul,” “The Idea Behind All,” and “Anatomy of English Language,” weaving tales that transcend time and captivate the imagination.

Picture Anian as the architect of words, constructing bridges between the past and the present. His under-process Ph.D. is a testament to his relentless pursuit of knowledge, and his association with the JFLN Academy speaks volumes about his commitment to Islamic studies.

In the realm of literature, Anian Ahmed isn’t just an author; he’s a maestro orchestrating symphonies of thought and language. Join the journey of a wordsmith who doesn’t just write history; he crafts it with every stroke of his pen.

See author's posts