Honoring the Dignity of Indigenous Peoples – August 9

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

On this International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, we join the global community in honoring the deep history, cultural richness, spiritual wisdom, and enduring resilience of Indigenous peoples around the world.

Established by the United Nations and observed annually on August 9, this day draws attention to the historical injustices faced by Indigenous communities, including colonization, displacement, environmental destruction, and cultural erasure, and emphasizes the urgent need for both material and moral redress.

Among the gravest of these injustices are forced displacement, ethnic cleansing, and even genocide, which not only devastate Indigenous populations but also leave lasting scars on humanity as a whole.

Such acts tear apart the fabric of civilization, uprooting communities, weakening security, and inflicting profound financial, cultural, and social strain on neighboring societies and host countries.

They diminish the diversity, uniqueness, and creativity that give vitality and strength to our shared human experience.

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007) affirms key rights such as land ownership, language preservation, cultural expression, and the right to self-determination. These principles align closely with Islamic teachings, which uphold inherent human dignity, social justice, and respect for ethnic and cultural diversity.

The Quran affirms this universal principle of equality and diversity in a powerful verse, “O humankind! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another. Verily, the most noble of you in the sight of God is the most God-conscious of you” (49:13).

This verse makes clear that diversity among peoples is by divine design, and that the true measure of a person is their piety, not lineage, ethnicity, or power.

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh&hp), in his sermon on the Day of ʿArafah (during the Farewell Pilgrimage), proclaimed, “O people! Surely your Lord is One, and your father is one. All of you are from Adam, and Adam was created from dust. The most honored of you in the sight of God is the most pious among you. There is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab except by piety. Have I delivered the message?” (al-Amini, al-Ghadir, vol. 6, pp. 187–188).

And in another narration, the Prophet (pbuh&hp) said, “You are all from Adam, and Adam was created from dust. The most honored among you before God is the most pious” (al-Majlisi, Biḥar al-Anwar, vol. 70, p. 287).

These timeless teachings call us to honor the innate dignity of every human being and to take meaningful action toward justice — not only through words of sympathy, but by restoring rights, preventing the repetition of harm, and affirming the distinct identities and autonomy of Indigenous nations.

At the I.M.A.M. Organization, guided by the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (pbut), we affirm that true justice requires structural transformation, sincere acknowledgment, and lasting solidarity with Indigenous peoples.

To stand with them in the face of displacement and erasure is not only a moral obligation — it is a divine responsibility. This duty includes not just remembrance, but a proactive effort to support cultural survival, protect communal rights, and resist systemic violence and forced assimilation.

May we observe this day with sincere intention for collective repentance, institutional reform, and the advancement of a more just and compassionate world for all.