Muslims vs. Arabs

Muslims vs. Arabs

Like many parts of the world throughout history, 7th-century Arabia was afflicted by the social ills of tribalism, genealogy, and racism. Within two decades of Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh&hp) mission, nearly all the tribes of the Arabian Peninsula had been united as one nation. Within a century, this unity had spread across vast regions including India, Africa, Central Asia, China, and parts of Europe.

In his final address, known as the “Farewell Sermon,” the Prophet (pbuh&hp) reaffirmed Islam’s stance on equality, declaring:

“O’ people, indeed, your Lord is One. You all come from Adam (p) and Adam is from clay. The best among you in the sight of God is the most righteous. There is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab and vice-versa. Neither is the white superior over the black nor is the black superior over the white–except by piety.” [i]

It is natural to recognize the connection between Islam and the Arabian context: the Quran was revealed in Arabic, the Prophet (pbuh&hp) was born in Mecca, and the religion first emerged in Arabia. Yet Islam makes clear that human worth is not tied to race, ethnicity, or background. All of humanity descends from Adam (p) and Eve (p), and superiority is based solely on piety and righteous action. Islam as a faith is distinct from Arab identity, and indeed the vast majority of the world’s Muslims are not Arab. Conversely, many Arabs today identify as Christians, Jews, or belong to other traditions. The global Muslim community is richly diverse, with major populations in East and Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, China, Latin America, and the nations of Central Asia such as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan—most of whom are non-Arab.

[i] Page 34 of Tuhaf al-Uqool by Ibn Shu’bah al-Harrani and Page 3629 of Mizan al-Hikma by al-Mohammadi.