Question

In your answer here, you discuss the complexion of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Why is it necessary to specify whether he was brown, tan or black? What bearing does his complexion have on his role as Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)? Racism will always be the weapon used to mislead the ummah.

Answer

The Sahabah (radiyallahu ‘anhum) reported the appearance of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) in minute detail. They described his height, hair, eyes, face, build, complexion and many other features. These details were all preserved out of their immense love for him. A true lover of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would naturally want to know exactly what he looked like.

Mentioning his complexion has nothing to do with racism. We are simply conveying what the Sahabah (radiyallahu ‘anhum) themselves reported regarding Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). It is therefore incorrect to suggest that merely reporting these descriptions is racist or that it is intended to create racial division within the Ummah. Flawed modern Western racial thinking has unfortunately caused many to view even simple physical descriptions through a racial lens.

Islam does not attach virtue to skin colour. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said in a sermon he delivered during the days of Hajj:

“O People! Certainly your Rabb is one, your father is one. An Arab has no virtue over a Non Arab, nor does a Non Arab have virtue over an Arab, a red skinned person is not more virtuous than a dark skinned person nor is a dark skinned person more virtuous than a red skinned person except through Taqwa.”

(Musnad Ahmad, vol. 5, pg. 411, Hadith: 23489. See here)

The Sahabah (radiyallahu ‘anhum) who transmitted these Hadiths against racism are the very same people who described the complexion of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). If mentioning someone’s complexion was inherently racist, why would they have reported these descriptions in the first place?

See here for Hadiths regarding racism.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

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التخريج من المصادر العربية:

مسند أحمد: (٤١١/٥)
(٢٣٤٨٩) – حدثنا إسماعيل، حدثنا سعيد الجريري، عن أبي نضرة، حدثني من سمع خطبة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في وسط أيام التشريق فقال: «يا أيها الناس، ألا إن ربكم واحد، وإن أباكم واحد، ألا لا فضل لعربي على عجمي، ولا لعجمي على عربي، ولا أحمر على أسود، ولا أسود على أحمر، إلا بالتقوى أبلغت؟»، قالوا: بلغ رسول الله، ثم قال: «أي يوم هذا؟»، قالوا: يوم حرام، ثم قال: «أي شهر هذا؟»، قالوا: شهر حرام، قال: ثم قال: «أي بلد هذا؟»، قالوا بلد حرام، قال: «فإن الله قد حرم بينكم دماءكم وأموالكم» ـ قال: ولا أدري قال: أو «أعراضكم»، أم لا ـ «كحرمة يومكم هذا، في شهركم هذا، في بلدكم هذا أبلغت»، قالوا: بلغ رسول الله، قال: «ليبلغ الشاهد الغائب».