Jahiliyyah and Racism: An Islamic and a Psychological Hermeneutic

Abstract

Jahiliyyah refers to the condition of ignorance, the ignorance of Allah’s commands, and racism is the manifestation of jahiliyyah. Racism is one of the most troubling social phenomena, rooted in religious, socio-cultural, educational, and power dynamics, while producing consequences that are physical, social, personal, and psychological. A considerable portion of the global population experiences racism daily in various forms, be it xenophobia, sexism, racial profiling, and religiophobia, each contributing to trauma, alienation, and a diminished sense of belonging. This paper examines racism through an Islamic lens, drawing on scriptural sources and relating their insights to contemporary manifestations of racism, with particular emphasis on its socio-psychological effects. It argues that racism has persisted because it derives nourishment from distorted religious interpretations, entrenched socialisation processes, and parochial conservatism. Using Islamic scripture as its epistemic framework, the study advances a hermeneutic understanding of jāhiliyyah and racism and establishes its nexus toward kufr, shirk, fitna, fisq, and zhulum.