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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Mixed-Race Couples |
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| Chris |
| 01/28/03 at 18:53:10 |
| I've been told that there's no racism in Islam, but I've noticed that there appear to be very few mixed-race partnerships or marrages around here. My Friend (whos muslim) tells me that her dad would be horrified if she was asked out or went out with a white guy, wither ot not he was muslim. How would you feel if you were asian and your son or daugher went out and/or married someone of a different race? curious as ever Chris |
| Re: Mixed-Race Couples |
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| siddiqui |
| 01/28/03 at 21:19:07 |
| [slm] In Islaam you dont go out on dates or otherwise in general with people of the opposite sex whether they are of the same race or a diffrent race unless they are your mahram PERIOD. Islam does not promote racisim of any form ( be it ethnicity/gender) Yes some Muslims esp parents ( mine included ) do not want their children to get married into their own culture /ethinicity are they justified ? No Where do they get that from ? Un Islamic adaptations from various Ethinic Cultures like Asian , African ,European , America n, Australian (do you want me to include antartica too ;) ) Is this the norm ? No for I have met a few and seen many couples who come from various ethinic backgrounds I refuse to call them mixed for we are all one ummah in Islam who enrich each other and sustain a beautiful relationship ( worldly as well as spiritually) [wlm] |
| 01/29/03 at 11:51:21 |
| siddiqui |
| Re: Mixed-Race Couples |
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| BrKhalid |
| 01/29/03 at 05:44:54 |
| Chris [quote]curious as ever[/quote] Planning on converting and marrying a Muslim huh? ;) Don't worry your secret is safe with me ;-) |
| Re: Mixed-Race Couples |
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| Barr |
| 01/29/03 at 05:56:06 |
| Hi, Chris :) In support to wot Bro Siddiqui mentioned, there is no rule prohibiting any form of marriages between 2 people of different cultures and languages. In the history of Islam, when Islam spreads throughout many countries, many inter-marriages occur. For example, in China, some ethnic Muslims, (eg Xin Jiang) may look like a mixture of Arab and Chinese. " A woman could be married for 4 qualities: for her wealth, for her noble descent, for her beauty and for her religious piety (deen). Therefore (those who) chose her for her religious piety will be successful" (Hadith related by Bukhari) In the above hadith, the Prophet [saw] recommended choosing a partner based on a person's deen. Wot happens to some families, is that they prefer those who are of the same langauge or culture due to the issue of compatibility. Of course, compatibility (or the Arabic word "kufu") is very subjective, and extends many areas such upbringing, values, education, level of practising Islam, way of life etc etc etc which influences who the person is. The issue of [i]kufu[/i] is also extensively discussed by the ulama'. This is because, compatibility is important in choosing a spouse for a successful marriage. This includes choosing someone that looks pleasing to us, marrying someone who will get along with our family members and marrying someone who has a shared passion/goal as well as other important factors. But wot is stressed here is that other criterias do not override the criteria of choosing someone because of the person's deen. And it's sad when some Muslims place a very heavy criteria on race or language, in the expense of a person's deen. However, if some people would want to marry someone from their home country, that doesn't make them nationalistic etc. But such choice is due to compatibility and other objectives for example, ability to understand their shared environment better, and hence able to bring about a better social change together for Allah. Bottomline, the choice must be for Allah. And the tip from the Prophet is to choose someone with deen. Its just that some would want other extra characteristics of their future spouses to help them be closer to Allah, which does not necessarily go against the recommendation of the Prophet. [quote]. How would you feel if you were asian and your son or daugher went out and/or married someone of a different race? [/quote] If the person is compatible with my child, and his/ her istikharah (prayer for guidance) is positive, I'd say go for it. My parents would say the same thing, and so would my grandparents and my great-grandparents, inshaAllah. Personally, I feel the world is becoming smaller and cosmopolitan cities etc becomes a melting pot for many people of different culture to mix and interact. In fact, there would be many common factors between them, if one is to compare, during the time, where travel and global access is not extensive. So, I think its easier to find someone who is good in deen and compatible, at the other end of the world at present time, rather than 50 years ago. Wot is important is that both of them share the same vision of forming a Muslim family that is wholesome and in accordance to the guidance set by Allah. Allah knows best. Peace :) |
| 01/29/03 at 06:18:32 |
| Barr |
| Re: Mixed-Race Couples |
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| Kathy |
| 01/29/03 at 08:44:23 |
| [slm] In my community there are alot of mixed marriages. Where you getting your info from? |
| Re: Mixed-Race Couples |
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| sofia |
| 01/29/03 at 11:24:26 |
| Peace, Chris, Besides the fact that premarital relations (which includes "dating") are not allowed within Islaam, there's an embarrassing amount of literature and teachings testifying to the fact that racism is also not allowed within Islaam. For ex: "O mankind, We have created you from a male and a female and have made you into nations and tribes for you to know one another. Truly, the noblest of you with God is the most pious/God-fearing. Truly, God is All-Knowing, All-Aware. " (Translation of the Qur'aan, 49:13) and "O people! Your God is One and your forefather (Adam) is one. An Arab is not better than a non-Arab and a non-Arab is not better than an Arab, and a red person is not better than a black person and a black person is not better than a red person, except in piety." (Prophet Muhammad, s, collected by Ahmed). What *is* unfortunately true is the racism that exists amongst Muslims, especially "cultural" Muslims (ie, those who bring a lot of pre-Islaamic or non-Islaamic baggage into their interpretation of Islaamic teachings. See the difference? Muslims are *not* Islaam. A person will never, unfortunately, be a perfect adherant to perfection. Don't ever wait for that to happen. That's one of the reasons jihaad/struggle and taubah/repentance is such an integral part of Islaam). Regarding your topic, I know of waaay more "mixed race" couples who are Muslim than not. Like, significantly more. There's actually a term that "demographic experts" call those of mixed background who are part-Punjaabi and part-Mexican in Cali (can't think of it now, but Prof. Sulayman Nyang always mentions this). It may be a product of living in the west (and 2nd generations living in the West, who don't have overbearing, racist parents that actually adhere to an anit-racist doctrine). Allahu A'lam, God knows best. |
| NS |
| 01/29/03 at 11:30:07 |
| sofia |
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