"Oh you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even if against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for God can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you swerve, and if you distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily God is well-acquainted with all that you do."
— Quran 4:135
Community members: please tell us how we can better honor our commitment to anti-racism by sending us anonymous feedback. We need to hear from you!
Across this country, racially-biased policing has disproportionately affected our black brothers and sisters, leading to countless deaths, unprovoked brutality, and imprisonment at the hands of law enforcement. We as Muslims take pride in the anti-racist heritage of our deen, but we are called upon by Allah (swt) to do more. Being non-racist is not enough. It is imperative that we actively dismantle systemic racism both at the individual and community levels.
Those of us who are children of immigrants may feel that we were not a part of the racism that built this country. We must nonetheless recognize the ways in which we benefit from the system and understand that living in this country has conditioned certain beliefs that need to be unlearned. Organizations such as the Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative ("MuslimARC") are at the forefront of this social justice work and have put together a great resource we should all study and share.
EXCERPT
Some white Muslims hold mistaken ideas about race and privilege, thinking that because we are Muslim and racism is contrary to the values of Islam, that we can prevent racism by living as if the notion of race does not exist. In doing so, some white Muslims both avoid conversations about racism (and view discussions about racism as creating a divide in the community) and also choose to live as if they do not have a racial identity or that they have transcended their racial identity. While these views are intended to be well-meaning, they in fact help to keep racism alive because those acts do nothing [to] uproot racism, and shutting down conversations about racism only serves to allow it to continue.
We have linked to this rich document here to help educate our community and serve as a toolkit and motivation for further action. If we wish to change the status quo, where the innocent lives of people of color are taken unjustly, we all must be a part of the change that is needed. With accountability, education, and the support of the Almighty, we can usher in a different future for our ENTIRE community.
To that end, NWMI commits to the following:
Deepening our study and understanding of issues of anti-racism, privilege, law enforcement, and our role as a community in understanding and perpetuating white privilege. This renewed dedication to study is the first step towards accountability and commitment towards necessary systematic change.
Using our social media as a platform to uplift information and resources from those on the front lines of this social justice work, as a way to educate and empower our community towards meaningful action.
Continuing our organizational programming in a way that uplifts issues of anti-racism and activates the voices within our community towards action.
Offer programming in 2020 in collaboration with organizations that have an expertise in issues such as understanding privilege, anti-blackness, historical racial inequity, and the role our community plays in upholding white supremacy.
"Whoever kills a soul unjustly . . . it is as if he had slain mankind entirely."
— Quran 5:32
We honor the life of our brother George Floyd and deplore the injustice of his murder. Our hearts and prayers are with the countless black families whose loved ones have been taken and impacted by such violence. We recognize that our inaction is complicity and, with Allah (swt) as our witness and guide, commit ourselves towards necessary change.
In solidarity,
NWMI Board of Directors, Staff, and Team
Community members: please tell us how we can better honor our commitment to anti-racism by sending us anonymous feedback. We need to hear from you!