Racism in the Modern Islamic world is a Problem by A.R.
Edit: Some paragraphs have been removed.
In an ideal world based on the principles encompassed by the teachings of the Holy Quran and the beloved Prophet (peace be upon him), racism would not exist at all. Mankind would deal with each other based on the contents of their character and not the color of their skin, the sound of their tongue, or their manner of dress. Islam is a truly egalitarian religion which warns against arrogance and feelings of superiority which are the poison eating at the heels of Muslim unity. This message of social, political, and religious equality in Islam is one of the most central of Islam's doctrines. Many people embrace Islam become of its drive for equality and unity.
The unfortunate reality is that in practice, Muslims do not live up to the ideals of the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Racism pervades Islamic societies like a lingering curse, and in many societies it is perpetuated in the government structures. Many Islamic scholars attempt to ignore the resurgent racism which is creeping into Muslim peoples or simply reject that it exists. The honest hard truth is that racism is present among Muslims and unless it is recognized and something is done about it, it will continue to flourish in some Muslim societies.
We have been taught from a young age the principles of the Holy Quran which state that Mankind, men and women, are equal before Allah (swt) except in the piety of their actions. Our parents have taught us to disavow racism and prejudice against other Muslims because it is something abhorrent to Islam. Many of us have been raised believing for a fact that racism doesn't exist in Muslim societies as Muslims have a loftier sense of morality and justice than others. From the innocent idealism of our childhood to the reality of adolescence, many of us realized that racism is indeed prevalent in all of society, and the Muslims are no exception.
Despite the numerous warnings against racism and prejudice in the Islamic scriptures, some Muslims continue to hold on to these feelings which may be the remnants of two centuries of colonization of the Islamic world by Europeans, the deep seated Pre-Islamic (Jahiliyya) prejudices in the now Muslim countries, a new dangerous emergence of racial intolerance in the Islamic world which victimizes fellow Muslims, or a combination of all these factors. In essence, Racism and prejudice are haram (forbidden) in Islam. Racism is very much the antithesis of Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), as related by Sahih Bukhari, stated �Beware of the cry of the oppressed, because Allah (swt) listens to the prayer of the one who is oppressed.�