White Muslims

Jordan

New Member
What is the general attitude among Arabic Muslims towards white Muslims? I am curious because, being an Englishman, I have not seen a white Muslim before, and am incredibly interested in the attitudes towards white converts.
Thank you.
 

Munawar

Striving for Paradise
I am not a convert but I believe all Muslims in general and Arab Muslims in particular love and respect White converts.
There are so many European, American, Canadian and Australian Revert Muslims on the internet. Many of them are even leaders (Imam) in their community.
The list is very long so I won't put it here.
 

ShyHijabi

Junior Member
I am white and also a convert to Islam. Overall I would say I didn't have any issues with my ethnicity when concerning Arabs, they treated me with respect and dignity. However some other ethnicities treated me with "guest manners" as we say in the South. While they would be polite and curteous I was still basically treated as an outsider.

What I found interesting is these same people would go on and on about "Muslim brother/sisterhood yet would not even consider allowing their sons or daughters to marry outside their group...especially not to someone who wasn't "born Muslim." The hypocrisy was astounding and really disgusting but not really new as all practicers of different religions have it among them.

Lucky for me I converted because of my own reflections and not based off the behavior of others, eh?
 

DanyalSAC

Junior Member
I am white and also a convert to Islam. Overall I would say I didn't have any issues with my ethnicity when concerning Arabs, they treated me with respect and dignity. However some other ethnicities treated me with "guest manners" as we say in the South. While they would be polite and curteous I was still basically treated as an outsider.

What I found interesting is these same people would go on and on about "Muslim brother/sisterhood yet would not even consider allowing their sons or daughters to marry outside their group...especially not to someone who wasn't "born Muslim." The hypocrisy was astounding and really disgusting but not really new as all practicers of different religions have it among them.

Lucky for me I converted because of my own reflections and not based off the behavior of others, eh?

This has been my experience too. Before my sunnah beard came in, I was mostly overlooked at the masjid; my salaams were ignored or returned only for the courtesy. I think the poorest reception I've received has been by African American Muslims. Many tend to think that Islam should be a "people of color" only religion. Some high profile African American imams here in the US discount white Muslims entirely; one publicly made the comment that "half of the Muslims in the US are converts, the other half are African Americans".

But its ok, I'm not in it for them :)
 

aisha16

Junior Member
Hmm...interesting personally im not trying to come off as offensive, but I've always thought White Muslims getting the most respect, from observation. Like, there treated better than some other Muslims by like Arabs/Pakistanis peoples. Like they always marry into them right? or wrong??

And sad to hear about the stories of people treating you white muslims different, I had no idea,
 

ShyHijabi

Junior Member
Hmm...interesting personally im not trying to come off as offensive, but I've always thought White Muslims getting the most respect, from observation. Like, there treated better than some other Muslims by like Arabs/Pakistanis peoples. Like they always marry into them right? or wrong??

And sad to hear about the stories of people treating you white muslims different, I had no idea,

That's intersting that you've seen that because some of the most offensive comments I've received have been from Muslim from the Southeast Asian continent. Every Indo/Pak I've met felt very strongly against marrying their son/daughter to someone not of their background, my husband's family is no exception.

My husband went against his parent's wishes after two years of trying to convince them that there was nothing "Wrong" with me because I am not Pakistani. And last time I went to visit his family they requested I not accompany him to the mechanic's because they didn't want him (Pakistani mechanic) to know their son married a "guri." :girl3:

I've gone into mosques that were mostly SE Asian and have been largely ignored or sometimes even openly stared/glared at, I return their looks with a smile and a salaam. I have also been to a mosque that was primarily Somali and was actually avoided at all costs...to the point where I salaamed the sisters and they turned their backs to me. I actually went home and cried that day.

I will say this, only ONE Muslim treated me literally like her sister. When I had no place to live she had me come by train and put me in her house. While there she made sure I had food to eat and checked me often to make sure I was happy. I only had to live there for a month but I always think about her kindness and generosity when I feel hurt for being treated so poorly by other Muslims. She was from Pakistan and a Pataani. (sp?) So I think that it comes down to bigotry and the fact that no matter what, it will always be out there. But this ONE sister makes up for all the meaness and clique-ish behavior I have been subjected to.
 
:salam2: I am surprised you all are saying this cause in my family 2 girls have married white muslim reverts. And the girls are very happy and family is very happy. Also have 3 male cousins who have married white muslim reverts. And there also no problem. I think it all depends on the family. And sister shyhijabi you are saying about gori issue loll. I was born muslim but my husband is an arab. It was such a big thing in my husband family that he had married an american lolll. They would have preferred an arab and from the same city lolllllllllllllll. Now my MIL loves me alhamdulillah.
 

Zaynab123

Subhana Allah!
Asalamu alaykum

I will not speak for the soceity rather i'll talk about how i feel about converts. I really have a good respect for all converts, whether they are white/black/hispanic etc. And i'm really shocked to hear about what sister shyhijabi and brother DanyalSAC have said about how some Muslims treated them differently and or treat them now. :shymuslima1: It's sad that they represent me and you.:girl3:
Maybe they treat people like that because they are ...jelouselol. Respect is what i have for all converts.

Brother DanyalSAC, you should check on Imam Siraj Wahaj. He is an African American convert. Very good and very knowledgable. Very wise.

To all converts, keep your heads up high and know that Islam is a religion of Allah not religion of Muslims. May Allah bless you all and everyone else. And may Allah almighty guide us all amiin.

:SMILY139::wasalam:
 

rightpath_357

Junior Member
That's intersting that you've seen that because some of the most offensive comments I've received have been from Muslim from the Southeast Asian continent. Every Indo/Pak I've met felt very strongly against marrying their son/daughter to someone not of their background, my husband's family is no exception.

My husband went against his parent's wishes after two years of trying to convince them that there was nothing "Wrong" with me because I am not Pakistani. And last time I went to visit his family they requested I not accompany him to the mechanic's because they didn't want him (Pakistani mechanic) to know their son married a "guri." :girl3:

I've gone into mosques that were mostly SE Asian and have been largely ignored or sometimes even openly stared/glared at, I return their looks with a smile and a salaam. I have also been to a mosque that was primarily Somali and was actually avoided at all costs...to the point where I salaamed the sisters and they turned their backs to me. I actually went home and cried that day.

I will say this, only ONE Muslim treated me literally like her sister. When I had no place to live she had me come by train and put me in her house. While there she made sure I had food to eat and checked me often to make sure I was happy. I only had to live there for a month but I always think about her kindness and generosity when I feel hurt for being treated so poorly by other Muslims. She was from Pakistan and a Pataani. (sp?) So I think that it comes down to bigotry and the fact that no matter what, it will always be out there. But this ONE sister makes up for all the meaness and clique-ish behavior I have been subjected to.

That's so horrible! :angryred:

Why would people do that? :(
meanies!


No- I love all my Muslims sisters and brothers- it doesn't matter what race they are. :)

(P.S I'm Pakistani, but I'd never do that, I can't believe people did! :eek:)


:hearts:
 

rightpath_357

Junior Member
Oh yes- to answer that question. :D

Purely good Muslims will know to respect EVERYONE, not just Muslims, or people of the same race as they are. Islam is open for all people, and we should welcome them to it. ;)


Hope that helps. :)

Salam!!!:D
 

bari

Junior Member
I really wonder

:salam2:

I wonder why you all have gone thru this. My familiy and I sometimes wonder about the courage of others who come back to Islam. I wish sometimes I can kiss your hand out of respect. Born muslim do not mean anything, only matters-who has Taqwa, does not matter who is white or who is balck. I make dua for all who converted/reverted, you have attained something while I will nerver get a chance. You have wiped out all your sins when you accepted Islam. May Allah give us understanding to respect you. If soembody mistrears you, it is out of ignorance.
 

Aapa

Mirajmom
Assalaam walaikum,

The issue is not about color. The issue at heart is about the residue of colonialism. There were class issues. As people we subtly take on the stereotypes of class which dwindles down to color. The whole separate but equal issues creeps in.

It saddens me that we are discussing elements that divide us. It boils down to what Allah subhana talla has told us. He made us vary for His Purpose. There are different types of trees, flowers, animals, winds for that matter. However, we are united by Belief. That which unites us is our action upon knowing that there is No God but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger. Action is the Belief.

We discard the veils of illusion.

We must treat all creation with respect.
 

arzafar

Junior Member
That's intersting that you've seen that because some of the most offensive comments I've received have been from Muslim from the Southeast Asian continent. Every Indo/Pak I've met felt very strongly against marrying their son/daughter to someone not of their background, my husband's family is no exception.

My husband went against his parent's wishes after two years of trying to convince them that there was nothing "Wrong" with me because I am not Pakistani. And last time I went to visit his family they requested I not accompany him to the mechanic's because they didn't want him (Pakistani mechanic) to know their son married a "guri." :girl3:

I've gone into mosques that were mostly SE Asian and have been largely ignored or sometimes even openly stared/glared at, I return their looks with a smile and a salaam. I have also been to a mosque that was primarily Somali and was actually avoided at all costs...to the point where I salaamed the sisters and they turned their backs to me. I actually went home and cried that day.

I will say this, only ONE Muslim treated me literally like her sister. When I had no place to live she had me come by train and put me in her house. While there she made sure I had food to eat and checked me often to make sure I was happy. I only had to live there for a month but I always think about her kindness and generosity when I feel hurt for being treated so poorly by other Muslims. She was from Pakistan and a Pataani. (sp?) So I think that it comes down to bigotry and the fact that no matter what, it will always be out there. But this ONE sister makes up for all the meaness and clique-ish behavior I have been subjected to.

LOL!
pushtuns are famous for their hospitality. A guest is an honor and these customs are ingrained them. The pashtun tribal code is called pashtunwali. Just dont make them angry!

i agree with mirajmom that modern racism stems from nationalism resulting after colonial rule.
 

DanyalSAC

Junior Member
Brother DanyalSAC, you should check on Imam Siraj Wahaj. He is an African American convert. Very good and very knowledgable. Very wise.

Asalaamu alaikum -

I am familiar with Siraj Wahaj. He is the head of the Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA). I don't know much about him but I do know he (and his Alliance) panders heavily to African Americans, and spends a lot of his time giving khutbahs in Nation of Islam masajid.

MANA doesn't have much Caucasian (or Asian/Indonesian etc) representation; even their website http://mana-net.org/index.php banner has no white folks in it. Not that that necessarily means anything... Allahu alim.
 

al-muslimah

Junior Member
Prophet Mohammad PBUH said: "An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood"
 

Aapa

Mirajmom
Assalaam walaikum,


Dear brothers and sister bear in mind that African Americans have been Muslims in the US for Centuries. Many of the slaves were Muslims. Thus the white reversions are higher today.

Please read up on your history.

And for heavens sake how about us. I was caught up in the strange treatment. It is there. And I have seen how white revert sisters are treated very well in the begining and forgotten, shortly thereafter. I have seen Black sisters omitted from functions etc. I have seen Arabs perfer whites to Pakistani's and Pakistan's perfer Arabs to Africans..and I have seen everyone forget the Chinese and the SE Asian..I say to myself..you people must be crazy.

I simply bid my salaam to everyone. If you wish to speak to me..I glady respond. If you wish to keep a distance..I glady respect you.. that which I seek is not given to me by anyone but Allah.

I am being longwinded...but when the Prophet, may the Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him inquired about the Black woman who swept the masjid and was told of her demise..he stopped everything and performed funeral prayers. He, who was the Light and Mercy of Allah stopped everything. Let us be grateful that he gave us a direction to follow.
 
:salam2: Apa i dont know why you say that black sisters are treated badly. In my masjid so many times i say salam to the somalian or sudanese sisters and they look at you and never answer back. It is almost like they look through you. But then i say maybe they dont understand my accent or something else. I feel people are so used to marrying from there countries that the thought of marrying someone from outside makes them scared. It has nothing to do with a sister being a revert or a brother being a revert.
 

Frank_H_Smith

New Revert 2010
I have limited experience, but I didn't notice any difference toward me (I am American Indian and European decent with Caucasian features such as blue eyes and freckles). The Muslim population is very diverse. The average person in my small town doesn't know the difference between a Muslim, Sikh, or Hindu or for that matter a Christian woman who wears a head covering. I felt very welcome at the Mosque.
 
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