Racism is never the answer to any problem
Human equality in the Qur’an
Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ
“O mankind, indeed We created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.” (Qur’an 49:13)
In this ayah Allah states that all humans are equal. There is no difference between colours or races; they do not matter in determining a person’s worth. What really matters is one’s actions and conduct. The most noble is the one with taqwa – righteousness, goodness, and best behaviour.
Allah also says:
وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ خَلْقُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافُ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَأَلْوَانِكُمْ
“And among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your languages and colours.” (Qur’an 30:22)
Diversity is a sign of Allah’s magnificence. It is something to celebrate, not a cause for criticism.
The Prophet ﷺ reinforced this truth, when he said:
“All of you are from Adam, and Adam is from the soil.” (Tirmidhī)
Prophetic teachings against racism
In his Farewell Sermon the Prophet ﷺ declared unequivocally:
“Your Lord is one and your father is one. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab; nor a white over a black, nor a black over a white — except by taqwa.” (Musnad Ahmad)
When Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) insulted Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) during an argument by mentioning his mother’s race, the Prophet ﷺ was very angry and reprimanded him, saying: “You are a man in whom there are traces of jahiliyyah.” (Sahih Muslim). Racism is directly equated with ignorance.
Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him), the Ethiopian ex-slave, was chosen as the first mu’adhdhin. His elevation symbolises Islam’s rejection of racial and social barriers.
The roots of racism: arrogance and ignorance
Racism stems from two core diseases of the heart: ignorance and arrogance.
The Qur’an records the very first crime – Iblis’s arrogance:
قَالَ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِي مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِن طِينٍ
“He (Iblis) said: I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay.” (Qur’an 7:12)
Arrogance led to Iblis’s expulsion from paradise. The Prophet ﷺ warned there is zero tolerance for arrogance:
“No one with an atom’s weight of arrogance in his heart will enter Paradise.” (Sahih Muslim)
He ﷺ also said:
“Arrogance is rejecting the truth and belittling people.” (Sahih Muslim)
He defined arrogance as: “Rejecting the truth and looking down on people.” This is exactly what we see in racist rhetoric and marches by the far-right. The arrogance and hatred are palpable.
The recent hate march
Last Saturday, a far-right march led by Tommy Robinson took place, calling for immigrants to be expelled from England. This march was both racist and Islamophobic, with a vitriolic campaign against Muslims. An American politician specifically accused Muslims of being the cause of problems, not just in England, but in Europe, with diatribes vilifying Muslims, lies and attempts to stoke division and fear.
Racism is spreading online and offline, yet the problems of this country are not immigrants, Muslims, colour or race. They stem from broken systems: economic failures, neglected communities, and political mistakes.
We were promised that leaving the EU would solve everything, yet instead Brexit has left the country worse off. In the face of these failures, scapegoating the poor and vulnerable has become easier than admitting mistakes.
Hatred under the banner of freedom of speech
Freedom of speech must never be used as a licence to spread lies, hatred, and division.
Do not destroy the unity of the United Kingdom, a nation whose history has long celebrated multiculturalism and diversity. What we need today is for people to come together in solidarity, for it is precisely this spirit of unity that the bigots despise and seek to undermine and destroy.
This hate march turned violent. Police officers were attacked; 24 were injured. It was a reminder of how close hatred is to violence. The Prophet ﷺ said:
And beware of hatred – it strips you (of your deen). (Muwatta Malik)
Islam stands against racism
Islam identifies the causes of racism:
- Arrogance (kibr) – superiority complexes.
- Ignorance (jahl / jahiliyyah) – lack of knowledge.
- Tribalism (‘asabiyah) – blind loyalty to race or nation.
- Envy and hatred – resenting others’ success.
- Worldly pride – judging by wealth or class.
- Cultural prejudice – inherited stereotypes.
The antidote to racism
The cure is humility, education, and brotherhood. Allah says:
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ
“The believers are but brothers.” (Qur’an 49:10)
Practical steps for society
The way forward requires practical measures to tackle the problems within society, rather than blaming immigrants or Muslims.
The real solution lies in creating more jobs and caring for those who are deprived, for many areas in our country suffer from neglect and hardship. It is simply not true that immigrants are taking these jobs; the problem is systemic, not the presence of others.
Education must be prioritised to challenge ignorance with knowledge, while our mosques should be open and welcoming, helping neighbours to achieve mutual understanding.
We should be more active members of society, so that people are more used to seeing us involved in maintaining the social fabric and happy to help others.
At the same time, economic fairness is vital: creating jobs, lowering taxes for the poor, and ensuring that deprived areas are properly cared for.
Islam is the religion of love, peace and a warm, welcoming heart. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“You will not attain true faith until you love for others what you love for yourself.” (Aḥmad)
Racism and Islamophobia are not only social ills but spiritual diseases. The Qur’an and Sunnah reject them completely. The recent march illustrates the danger of arrogance and ignorance, but also the urgent need for justice, education, and compassion.
At the same time, as a community we must remain vigilant against the rise in attacks on Muslims, while also promoting coexistence and recognising the United Kingdom’s long history of multiculturalism.
The solution is not to blame the vulnerable, but to fix broken systems. The solution is not hate, but fairness. The solution is not division, but unity.
May Allah make us people of taqwa who uphold truth, defend the oppressed, and live by justice and love. Ameen.
Based on the Khutbah of Shaykh Haytham Tamim on 19th September 2025