Islam and Racial Equity as explained by Dr. Ali Shariati

Islam and Racial Equity as explained by Dr. Ali Shariati

Introduction:

In todays world it's interesting to see how Islam has grow into a reliable anti colonialist force in the post colonial world especially in Africa. In the West this side of Islam is rarely talked about and most Western people remain under the impression that Islam is an Ideology strictly for those of Arab Heritage since the Last Prophet himself was Arab. To sort out the truth om this matter - one can turn to Dr. AlI Shariati a noted muslim scholar and sociologist.

Dr. Ali Shariati on Racial Equity and Islam

Dr. Shariati in his book Man and Islam goes through many subject some of the which are not as accessible to the non muslim as others. nevertheless Shariatis lecture on Ideology makes a clear account of the Universality of basic islamic principles. Reading makes it easier to understand why Islam has grown into such a broad based liberation force in Africa. This is worth nothing for Muslims and non Muslims alike:

On Page 91 of the book, and on the subject of Ideology Dr. Shariati explains the following:
"Why is Islam despite the lack of any capital investment or propaganda so popular among African blacks? Beacuse Islam is an Ideology. What Kind of Ideology? Whatever the black man's needs are. What are his needs? Freedom from discrimation and his longing for human equality. And among all the religions offered to him Islam is the only one which always emphasises (as well demonstrates) racial equality"

A Few Notes on Islam as a Popular Movement World-Wide

According to Islamic thought all Human-beings orignate from the same (divine) source.
This is made clear in the Holy Qu'ran. Islam teaches that a person can not be judged by physical appearence - only by what a person carries her heart.

The general mistake that people make about Islam being an "arabic" religion has more to do with the fact that the Qu'ran was originally written down in arabic. Yet it is important to note the Arabs make up only a small precentage (around 15 percent) of the Muslim community as a whole. Islam is the fastest rising and the also the youngest religion in our world today - This fact must not be overlooked.