On racism: we reject oppression in all its forms
To the Editor:
We reject oppression in all forms.
We call out all racism that occurs against minorities in Canada, especially the Indigenous and African communities. We call out all discrimination that occurs between marginalized communities which is often ignored. We also call out the current systemic racism and discrimination that still exists in Canada in the year 2020, such as Bill 21 in Quebec which separate people from being able to exercise government functions purely on the basis of what they look like.
I am reminded of a story from the time of Prophet Mohammad between two righteous companions of the prophet. They argued and Abu Darr called Bilal by his mother’s skin, “You son of a black woman.” Bilal was a black companion of the prophet and he was a champion and an activist who stood his ground against injustice and stood for what was right.
When the prophet heard what a respected companion had said even if he did not mean to be racist, he said, “You are a man who is still clinging to ignorance.”
In his final sermon the prophet said “Everything pertaining to the days of Ignorance is under my feet completely abolished.” “There is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab, nor for a non-Arab over an Arab. Neither is the white superior over the black nor the black is superior over the white, except by piety.” Then He recited from the Quran 49:13.
“O Mankind! We have created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with God is the one with most piety.”
We sincerely hope and pray that we all live together as brothers and sisters in humanity and work together on a common platform so we can eradicate all the ills from our hearts and form society based on justice and peace for all.
Mohamad Salman
Slave Lake
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