A few of days ago, one of my cousins posted a question on Facebook about lineage and why we should have to follow our forefathers’ example. There were opinions that since Jesus followed his mother’s lineage and Prophet’s lineage continued through his daughter because he didn’t have a son, so a child should follow his or her mother’s lineage. An argument was presented against it, saying that it was merely an exception because the lineage was to continue through vice-regency (Imamat) because the prophethood was supposed to end with the Holy Prophet’s life that’s why he never had a living son by the “will of Allah.” Somehow the conversation got to the point where it was “concluded” that children must follow father’s lineage because it was mandated by Allah.
Lineage runs through caste system in modern days although logically speaking, if anything, it should run by genetic identity if the credit is supposed to be given to a parent. Biologically speaking, a fetus is a product of both mother and father. 50% of chromosomal DNA comes from each parent for a girl, and for a boy it is slightly more than 50% from the mother because X chromosomes are much larger than Y and carries slightly more DNA. Generally speaking, a mother has a lot more contribution in her children’s life, than the father primarily because she homes the fetus for up to 40 weeks in her womb. That is why Islam rewards mothers by putting heaven underneath their feet. But it does not award the lineage to their name. Why not? I don’t get it.
Concept of caste is as old as 1613 AD, when it had its first known use, according to some lexical sources. Casta is an Iberian word (existing in Spanish, Portuguese and other Iberian languages since the Middle Ages), which means "lineage", "breed" or “race”.
It is derived from the older Latin word castus, "chaste," implying that the lineage has been kept pure. Casta gave rise to the English word caste during the Early Modern Period (roughly between 15th and 18th century).
When you try to research the subject, all you find is the caste system in India. Some may put the blame for the division of the Islamic society on the Hindu caste system as well but only a few know that the Indian constitution actually prohibits discrimination on the basis of caste along with religion, race, sex or place of birth. Whereas, in the constitution of Pakistan the word “caste” appears 6 times; non-discrimination in admissions to educational institution on the basis of caste alone (Article 22), in access to public places except religious places on the basis of caste (Article 23), in services of Pakistan on the basis of caste alone (Article 27), safe guard of public and providing basic necessities by state irrespective of their caste (Article 38 a and d), and in Article 260 while defining a non-Muslim.
Despite all that is drafted and written for the protection of the public, discrimination on the basis of caste is quite evident in both Indian and Pakistani societies. Historically in India, people were divided into castes on the basis of occupation but it turned into a strict divide that people from higher classes didn’t even want to travel in trains that transported people from the lower castes. In Pakistan, lower caste Hindus are primarily working in modern day slavery as bonded labor haris in Sindh province. After 1947 partition, people from Christian communities who assumed the work of sweepers and house cleaners are treated as untouchables in Pakistan; they are often referred to as chooras for their occupation and karanty for their skin color, derogatorily.
Generally Muslims do not acknowledge that there is caste-based discrimination in Islam, it is usually blamed on the Indian society with a complete denial of general social discrimination on the basis of caste in Muslim, specially South Asian Muslim society.
Discrimination was first created on the basis of personal hatred when two clans emerged from a single tribe, due to emergence of two prominent members who disliked eachother. For example, Prophet Muhammad from Banu Hashim and Amar bin Hishaam of Banu Mukhzam of Quraish. Amar bin Hishaam grew into a very smart and educated person at an early age, and was given a seat in the council at the age of thirty where only forty-year-olds, and above, were permitted to go. Due to his intelligence he was given the epithet of Abul Hakam (father of wisdom) and was also known as Asad ul Ahlaf. He was the lion of the opposing groups who had sworn to fight against Islam and Prophet Muhammad. Prophet gave him the famous insulting name of Abu Jahal (father of ignorance) because he rejected Islam and his Prophethood and he is known by the same title till today.
Encyclopedia Britannica records the discriminatory caste system in Islam adopted by South Asian Muslims society. Ashraf (nobleman), descendants of Muslim Arab immigrants, and the non-Ashraf, who are Hindu converts. The ashraf group has Sayads, descendants of Prophet, Shaykhs (chiefs), descendants of Arab or Persian immigrants but also including some converted Rajputs, Pashtuns, members of Pashto-speaking tribes in Afghanistan and northwestern Pakistan, Mughals, persons of Turkish origin and who came into India with the Mughal armies.
The non-ashraf Muslim castes have three levels of status; top ones are the converts from high Hindu castes, mainly Rajputs; next, the artisan groups, such as the Julahas, originally weavers; and lowest, the converted untouchables, who have continued their old occupations.
It’s quite evident that this discrimination is against human rights, yet so prevalent in our societies that no one is believed to be "eligible" to go straight to heaven unless they are from Syed caste; you cannot intermarry into another caste or your lineage will be tainted. It may not seem to be a big deal when it has been practiced from centuries but it has lasting effects on the lives of human beings treated differently for generations. An untouchable deserves no respect, the same food as higher castes, a good job, education or a seat in the bus next to a Syed, Arrain, or a Mughal.
Friedrich Nietzsche once said: “The snake which cannot cast its skin has to die. As well the minds which are prevented from changing their opinions; they cease to be mind”
We can hold 5 degrees and drive a 3 series Benz but our minds cease to be if our eyes and attitude towards other human beings keep making that distinction. The Prophet in his last sermon mentioned that no Arab has a preference over non-Arabs but for piety; he surely forgot to prohibit the clear preference his own ummah is given to his lineage over everyone else.
Race, blood, lineage, and nationality don't matter; they're just a means for small minds to keep score. All that matters about blood is that it's warm and that it beats through a loving heart, said Scott Simon.
So, to my dear cousin: as long as your blood is warm and it beats through a loving humane heart and your brain is smart enough to treat humans equally and not discriminate by castes and colors, you are the best of the bests.
