Colour of Skin

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “He who has a white mother has no advantage which makes him better than the son of a black mother.” [Ibn al-Mubarak in Al-Birr]

Some disagreement occurred between Abu Dharr and Bilal (radi Allahu anhuma). As a result, Abu Dharr (radi Allahu anhu) said to Bilal (radi Allahu anhu), “You son of a black woman.”

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) was extremely upset by Abu Dharr’s comment and rebuked him saying, “That is too much, Abu Dharr. He who has a white mother has no advantage which makes him better than the son of a black mother.”

This rebuke had a profound effect on Abu Dharr (radi Allahu anhu), who then put his head on the ground, swearing that he would not raise it until Bilal had put his foot on it.

This hadith tells us that there is no place in Islam for racism. It also shows us the lofty character of the Sahabah: When they would make a mistake they would repent immediately on realizing it and not insist on their sin.