Islam is a religion of submission and its message addresses the entire humanity, irrespective of their colours, languages and geographical locations. Islam frowns at any form of violence, discrimination or marginalization of a person or group of people on the basis of their affiliation to a particular race or ethnic group. On the contrary, it considers all human beings to be essentially equal, and regards consciousness of Allah (i.e. Taqwa) the sole criterion of superiority.
According to a definition, racism is defined as "the belief that different races possess distinct characteristics, abilities, or qualities, especially so as to distinguish them as inferior or superior to one another." In other words, the belief or doctrine that inherent differences among various human racial groups, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to dominate others or that a particular racial group is inferior to others is referred to as racism.
On this basis, racism could be summarized as a belief that a person is less than human simply because of his skin colour, language, customs, place of birth or any factor that supposedly reveals the basic nature of that person. Thus, the doctrine of superiority simply by virtue of the skin colour or a violent act of the white against the black or vice versa; the Arabs against non-Arabs or vice versa are all considered forms of racism.
Islam is a religion of submission to the will and dictates of God and His noble Prophet. The adherents of Islam are therefore referred to as Muslims. In the real sense, Islam is a universal religion which is meant for all times and for all people, irrespective of their colour and geographical locations. In Islam, all human beings are considered as equal and there is no superiority of a person to another based on the skin colour, language, customs, or place of birth. The sole yardstick for superiority in Islam is the level of piety and consciousness of God. The Qur'an says: “O mankind! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female, and made you nations and tribes that you may identify yourselves with one another. Indeed the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most Godwary among you. Indeed Allah is all-knowing, all-aware.” (Qur’an 49: 13)
Similarly, the Prophet is reported to have said: O people, your Lord is one and your father Adam is one. There is no virtue of an Arab over a foreigner; nor a foreigner over an Arab; and neither white skin over black skin; nor black skin over white skin, except by consciousness of Allah (Taqwa). Have I not delivered the message? (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No. 22978)
Also, he (pbuh) said: “All of you are children of Adam and Adam is from dust; Arabs cannot claim superiority over non-Arabs except on the basis of piety and good deeds.” (Ibn Shu’ba al-Harrani, Tohaf al-‘Uqul , P. 34)
In the light of this, therefore, it is obvious that Islam condemns all forms of violence, discrimination or marginalization of a person or group of people based on their belonging to a particular racial or ethnic group.