Islam: Prejudice & Discrimination (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B)
Revision Note
The Nature of Prejudice and Discrimination
Prejudice is to ‘pre-judge’ someone
It is when someone holds a biased opinion about someone without knowing the facts
Prejudices can be formed based on many factors including age, race, gender, ethnicity, disability, and religion
Discrimination is to act upon one’s prejudices, to ‘do something’
It means treating someone differently as a result of prejudices
This is generally negative, and people are treated unfairly or unjustly as a consequence of prejudice
Occasionally it can be positive, where people are treated more favourably than others
All forms of discrimination are illegal in the UK and there have been several laws to ensure that this is upheld, including the Equality Act of 2010
Muslim Teachings Regarding Prejudice and Discrimination
Muslims believe that prejudice and discrimination are wrong
All humans were created equal by Allah and so have equal worth in His eyes
‘If anyone kills a person … it is as if he kills all mankind.’ (Qur’an 5:32)
‘People, We created you all from a single man and a single women, and made you into races and tribes so that you should get to know one another. In God’s eyes, the most honoured of you are the ones most mindful of Him: God is all knowing, all aware.’’ (Qur’an 49:13)
This teaching shows that humans have been created differently so that they could develop a better understanding of each other.
It also shows that it is the people who are most mindful of Allah who are the most blessed - it has nothing to do with race or tribe
Allah sees all humans as equal and looks past the differences that cause inequalities between humans, such as colour or ethnicity:
‘And among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours’ (Qur’an 30:22)
Muslims have a role model in the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in thinking about how to live a peaceful life without prejudice or discrimination
The Hadith Al-Bukhari tells the story of a man who asked the Prophet what act in Islam is the best.
The Prophet replied ‘To give food, and to greet everyone with peace, whether you know them or you do not.’ (Hadith Al-Bukhari)
Muslim Teachings About Why Religious Prejudice and Discrimination Are Wrong
Muslims believe that all people are Allah’s creation and therefore should be treated with respect. This includes people of other religions
Muslims believe that the teachings and example of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) show them that everyone should be treated equally and no one should be seen as less important than others, whatever their faith
‘God will give rewards to those who believe in Him and His messengers and make no distinction between any of them. God is most forgiving and merciful.’ (Qur’an 4:152)
Even in a situation of war, Muslims are taught not to kill the leaders of other faiths
Islam is a religion of peace, and therefore Muslims should not act in a way that disrupts peace
If there are people who do not accept the teachings of Islam, a Muslim’s role is not to treat them with discrimination but instead to educate them about Allah
Worked Example
Outline three examples of prejudice
(3 marks)
One example of prejudice is racial prejudice (1 mark)
Another example of prejudice is gender prejudice (1 mark)
A third example of prejudice is prejudice based on disability (1 mark)
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Make sure you have a clear distinction in your mind about the difference between prejudice and discrimination
Prejudice = ‘pre-judge’ - to judge someone. This is an internal action. No one knows you do this until you act on it through your words and actions.
Discrimination = ‘do something’ - you act on your prejudices. This is an external action. Only your actions can be punished if you break the law and treat others negatively. Therefore laws can only address discrimination, not prejudice.
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