Racism is one of the greatest evils confronting humanity today, yet Islam confronted and condemned racism from the very beginning. The very first story in the Qur’an addresses the root of racial arrogance: the story of Iblīs. When Allah commanded him to bow to Adam, he refused, claiming superiority: “I am better than him. You created me from fire and him from clay.” (Qur’an 7:12). This moment marks the birth of racism—an attitude so poisonous that it transformed a once-honoured Jinn into the most hated and accursed being in existence.
Islam teaches that racism is not merely a social problem; it is a spiritual disease that corrupts the heart. It is a whisper from Shaytān, who seeks to replicate his downfall in the hearts of human beings. When a person believes they are superior because of their race, colour, ethnicity, or tribe, they fall into the same sin that sealed the fate of Iblīs. This is why racism, in Islam, is not a minor flaw—it is a rejection of divine wisdom.
Today, racism continues in new and modernised forms. Although society claims to have progressed, discrimination, prejudice, and xenophobia remain widespread. Islam warns us of the danger of allowing such attitudes to settle in our hearts. Living in a diverse world is a blessing; having friends, neighbours, and communities from many cultures enriches the soul and expands one's understanding of humanity. Those who isolate themselves behind the walls of racial arrogance deprive themselves of the beauty Allah has placed in human diversity.
To the racist heart, Islam gives a stern warning: “O racist! O xenophobe! You are walking in the footsteps of Iblīs. If you do not sincerely repent and cleanse your soul, you will lead yourself to humiliation, destruction, and regret.” Racism destroys societies, breaks relationships, and distances a person from Allah’s mercy. It blinds the heart from recognising truth and closes the door to spiritual growth.
One of the most powerful examples of Islam’s transformative power is the life of Malcolm X, also known as Al-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. Malcolm once operated within a racially divided ideology, shaped by the brutal discrimination faced by African Americans in the United States. But everything changed during his 1964 Hajj. In Mecca, he witnessed Muslims of all races—Black, White, Asian, Arab—eating together, praying together, loving one another as brothers. This experience shattered his previous views and opened his heart to the universalism of true Islam.
In his famous letter from Hajj, Malcolm X wrote: “What I have seen and experienced here in Arabia has forced me to re-arrange much of my thought-pattern… I have never before seen sincere and true brotherhood practiced by all colours together, irrespective of their colour.” His transformation is a living testimony that Islam conquers racism by uniting hearts upon Tawḥīd—the belief in one God and the equality of all human beings as His servants.
Another iconic figure who fought racism through Islamic moral courage was Muhammad Ali. The heavyweight champion used his global platform to confront anti-Black racism, colonial injustice, and discrimination with unshakeable confidence grounded in his Muslim identity. His famous words—“I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong… No Viet Cong ever called me the N-word”—exposed the hypocrisy of a society that demanded his patriotism while denying his humanity. Ali embodied the Qur’anic call to stand firmly for justice, even when it is unpopular.
Ali’s resistance, like Malcolm’s, was never just political. It was spiritual. Islam gave him dignity, discipline, self-respect, and a sense of purpose beyond the boxing ring. He showed the world that true strength is not measured by physical power alone, but by moral courage, compassion, and the ability to rise above hatred. Through both men, we see how Islam empowers individuals to challenge racism with dignity and clarity.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ laid down Islam’s final word on racism in his Farewell Sermon: “All of mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab. A white person has no superiority over a Black person, nor a Black person over a white—except in piety and good action.” This statement is one of the earliest and clearest declarations of racial equality in human history. It remains the foundational Islamic response to racism today.
Islam teaches that diversity is intentional, purposeful, and beautiful. Allah says, “We have made you nations and tribes so that you may know one another.” (49:13). Racism destroys what Allah created to enrich us. The Islamic path is clear: recognise the honour of every human being, root out prejudice, stand for justice, and embrace the brotherhood and sisterhood that Islam commands. In a world still struggling with racism, the teachings of Islam—and the examples of Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali—stand as timeless guides, calling humanity back to equality, mercy, and truth.