Racism
Cont’d from page 1
The First Racist
Racism is defined as “belief in the superiority of a particular
race; prejudice based on this (racism), antagonism towards other
races” (Oxford American Desk Dictionary, 1998). This definition
of racism is correct in its content but incorrect in terms of the
word being defined. As previously stated, humans are one species
or one race. An accurate definition of racism among humans would
read, “belief in the superiority of a particular group, antagonism
towards other groups.” This is an example of intra-species
prejudice wherein one group feels superior to another group within
the same species. The ‘human racist’ assumes a posture
of believing that he or she is a member of a superior “species”
of humans.
The first expression of racism did not take place on earth. Consistent
with the literal definition of the word race, the first
expression of racism was between species, not among members of the
same species. The first racist thought and act took place in the
presence of God. In the Quran, we learn that Almighty God commanded
the angels to bow down to the physical body of Adam. Satan, an angel
at that time, refused to bow down to Adam’s body. Satan ‘reasoned’
that since God created him of what he opinioned are superior qualities
and elements, he should not bow
|
down to a creature created from mud.
Your Lord said to the angels, “I am creating
a human being from aged mud, like the potter’s clay. Once
I perfect him, and blow into him from My spirit, you shall fall
prostrate before him. The angels fell prostrate; all of them, except
Iblis (Satan). He refused to be with the prostrators. (15:28-31)
Almighty God knew why Satan refused to prostrate, but the angels
did not know. God asked Satan why he did not obey His command.
He said, “What prevented you from prostrating when I ordered
you?” He (Satan) said, “I am better then he;
You created me from fire, and created him from mud.” (7:12)
He said, “O Iblis (Satan), why are you not with the prostrators?”
He said, “I am not to prostrate before a human being, whom
you created from aged mud, like the potter’s clay. He [God]
said, “Therefore, you must get out. You are banished. You
have incurred my condemnation until the Day of Judgement.”
(15:32-35)
Banished by God for his racist arrogant act, Satan asked for respite
until the Day of Resurrection. He declared that he will mislead
and send the entire human species astray.
He said, “My Lord, respite me until the day
they are
|
resurrected. He said,
You are respited. Until the specified day and time. He said, My
Lord, since you have willed that I go astray, I will surely entice
them on earth; I will send them all astray.” (15: 36-39)
In the idiom of the language of divine revelation, Satan can be
deemed “The father of all racists.”
In other words, Satan’s arrogance and sense of superiority
over Adam (human beings) is the genesis of an individual’s
thoughts of being better than or superior to his or her fellow humans.
Satan was the first racist, and the first creature to defy
God’s commands. Thus, it stands to reason that racism
is a gross sin. Satan was wrong on all accounts. He was blinded
by his arrogance and racism into believing he was superior to Adam.
Such thoughts of superiority were blasphemous in themselves. He
refused to obey God’s command. He blamed God for his arrogance
and defiance. He then stated he would “get back” by
misleading the humans.
In contemporary psychological language, Satan is non-compliant,
externalizes or blames others for his failings, needs a scapegoat
to project his anxieties and weaknesses on to, and is in denial
of the truth. Among his other pathologies, Satan suffers from a
neurotic condition known as a superiority complex.
Cont’d on page 3
|