A FINE evening it was: the weather perfect, trees swinging, the sun not set, and children playing in the garden nearby. The only thing odd was a stopped car in the middle of the road. When I got closer, I saw an Asian man standing next to his car in a fit with two Saudi (or Arab) lads who looked no more than 12 in age. ‘Anta Bengali! Anta Bengali!' one of them repeated to in the argument. The words sent spiral waves to my brain evoking a sense of guilt at witnessing such a farce. Pity, those young capable brains are filled with a type of garbage that will never help them in life. The Asian swelled in anger and shouted: “Ana Hindi! Ana Maafi Bengali. Ana min Hyderabad. Ta'rif Hyderabad? Hyderabad Kois! Ana Hindi!” Surprising reaction! Not that the man was wrong, he was rightly saying that he was not from Bangladesh, but from India. And that he's proud to be an Indian. But the really right response should have been: “So what if I were a Bengali? Is it wrong to be from Bangladesh? Isn't a Bangladeshi as much human and as much part of the society as an Arab, American or Indian?” Hardly any country is free from this social evil. It has to be admitted that this disease is quite rampant in Saudi Arabia. Racism is not only an ugly degradation human beings can fall into, but it is also a futility that is not based on any reality whatsoever. The idea that being born into a family, country, race or tribe gives someone superiority over the other cannot be justified at all and it is bound to fail, just as the Nazis failed in their theory of Aryan supremacy. It is all the more surprising to find this social evil existing in the birthplace of the Last Prophet, from where Islam has spread to every nook and corner of the world. The hallmark of Islam from the beginning has been that of a religion with followers from diverse ethnic groups. During the treaty of Hudaibiyah, when the Prophet (peace be upon him) signed a peace treaty with the Makkans, one of the “criticisms” he received from the Makkans was how Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had left his tribal beliefs – and people – and was instead surrounded by followers from various tribes and ethnicities. There was Suhaib Ar-Roomi (Roman), Bilal Al-Habashi (Black African), Salman Al-Farsi (Persian) among others from Makkah and Madina. This diversity united by a faith could not be comprehended by a people who had long harbored tribalism and nationalism in their hearts. Diversity has always been the strength of the Muslim Ummah. Muslims have never been a homogenous society. Last month's Gallup poll showed that only Muslims were the most ethnically diverse community in the US (see chart). Every year's Haj is a striking example of how people from every corner of the earth unite together in declaration of one testimony in one place with the sole purpose of seeking the pleasure of God. This unique composition of a community doesn't come from nowhere. God stated in the Qur'an early on: “O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa (one who is most pious).” (Qur'an, 49:13) The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “O people! Indeed, you have one Lord (Allah) and one father (Adam). No Arab is superior over a non-Arab, or a non-Arab over an Arab; and no white is superior over a non-white or a non-white over a white. Superiority is by righteousness and piety (alone).” (Ahmad and Bayhaqi) God acknowledges that He made us into different tribes and nations, but the purpose is only to identify each other or let's say that each of us has our own identity. The only way one could be considered better than the other in the sight of God is through deeds and God-consciousness, setting up the scale of meritocracy. It will be merit that will distinguish individuals from one another, and the most virtuous of all merits is without doubt acknowledging and believing in the Supreme Creator, Who created everything that exists, including the flawless universe and the sophisticated human being, and maintains everything in perfect order. Acknowledging the Creator's power, knowledge and wisdom requires us to obey Him, because what He commands is flawless and perfect for us, the creation. OK, I've digressed. The result of the birth of Islam has seen some of the finest examples of human endeavor. History has recorded the exemplary foundations early Muslims built their empire upon. Former slaves held high governmental positions, great scholars were not always Arab but were emigrants from as far as Central Asia (e.g. Imam Al-Bukhari), non-Muslims were so impressed by the justice that they invited Muslim rulers to rule their countries, and the brotherhood among different race groups was so distinguished, it cannot be justly described in 10,000 words, much less the 1,000 that make up this article. That was then, but what about today? Why are we facing such issues in the heartland of Islam? The Prophet (peace be upon him) did prophesize this phenomenon. He said four things of Jaahiliyya (pre-Islamic era) will remain in the Ummah. One of the things he mentioned was tribalism. This aspect is pretty much alive in some sections of the Saudi society, as much as it is alive in almost all Muslim communities in some form or the other. For instance, recently there have been some cases of fathers denying suitors for marriage because of tribal reasons or of families seeking to break up a happy marriage for a similar reason, none of which is of course valid in Islam. Tribal rivalry is one of the things Islam eradicated in its earliest times. The campaign against tribalism launched last month by Prince Mishaal Bin Abdul Aziz is a step in the right direction. Truly, the way forward for Saudi Arabia is to build itself on those very same values and principles early Islamic society built itself on. The society's fabric will then be composed of intellectuals, scientists, scholars and even common people, not only from Saudi Arabia, but also from around the globe, sewn together by the justice of Islam, which may form once again the most advanced civilization on earth.
