RACISM IN ISLAM.

If you went through the 8–4–4 system in Kenya then you are not only aware of the transatlantic trade but also the Trans Saharan trade which is popularly known as Arab trade.Just like yours truly, you were introduced to the chapter in history class that spoke of the Arab trade activities on the coast. During these trading activities, slaves were a major export.

Trans-Saharan trade, was conducted across the Sahara Desert, was a web of commercial interactions between the Arab world (North Africa and the Persian Gulf) and sub-Saharan Africa where the Arabs traded in gold and salt. Salt was predominantly found in Northern Africa whilst gold was present in West Africa. It was during the course of trading that human beings gradually became items of exchange as the need for manpower grew on the north side of the Sahara. Trans-Saharan slave trade was the trade-in “human commodity,” sourced from different places in sub-Saharan Africa, destined for locations north of the Sahara Desert, the Mediterranean shores, and the Middle East. Unlike its later trans-Atlantic variant, trans-Saharan slave trade took place within the context of a larger exchange relation between black Africa on the one hand and the Maghreb and the rest of the Arab world on the other. It has been argued that perhaps one of the most significant effects of the trans-Saharan trade was the establishment and proliferation of the trade in human beings (Brett 1969). Sub-Saharan African slaves were bartered for bars of salt and other Mediterranean goods.

The slaves were sourced through raids and conquests and exchanged by local rulers for a wide variety of Mediterranean products, especially salt and horses. The Arabs belief was that black people were shallow hence needed to be enlightened. Their belief was that Slave labour was mainly used in the service sector — domestic chores as cooks, wet nurses for masters’ children, and waiters on ladies of the house and as concubines. Male slaves served as military men, administrators, record keepers and as couriers. Unfortunately, modern-day slavery still exists with countries like Libya which have been reported to selling slaves to individuals in the UAE.

The Trana-Saharan slave trade provided a base for racism in modern-day Islam. Although the Quran does not discriminate against races, Arabs just like white people are not only seen but thought to be superior to other Muslims.