Is It True That Islam Is A Religion Only For Arabs?

This idea can easily be disapproved, as only about 15-20 percent of Muslims in the world are Arabs. There are more Indian Muslims than Arab Muslims, and more Indonesian Muslim than Indian Muslims. This assumption is possibly based on the fact that most of the first generation of Muslims was Arabs, that the Glorious Quran is in Arabic and that the Beloved Prophet Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم was an Arab.

However, history testifies that the Beloved Prophet Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم, his followers and the early Muslims made every effort to spread the message of Islam to all nations, races and peoples. From the very beginning of the mission of Prophet Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم, his followers came from a wide spectrum of countries and races. Among them was Sayyiduna Bilal, the African slave; Sayyiduna Suhaaib, the Byzantine Roman; Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Salaam, the Jewish Rabbi, and Sayyiduna Salman Farsi رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْھَا, the Persian.

Furthermore, it should be clarified that not all Muslims are Arabs and not all Arabs are Muslims. An Arab might be a Muslim, Christian, and Jew, atheist or follower of any religion or ideology. Additionally, some countries – such as Turkey and Iran (Persia), that uninformed people consider to be ‘Arab’ are in fact, not Arab at all. The people who live in those countries speak languages other than Arabic and are of a different ethnic heritage.

Since religious truth is eternal and unchanging, and humanity is considered as one universal brotherhood, Islam teaches that Almighty Allah’s عَزَّوَجَلَّ revelations to humanity through the blessed Prophets عَلَیْھِمُ الصَّلٰوۃُوَالسَّلَام have always been consistent, clear and universal. The truth of Islam is meant for all people regardless of race, nationality, cultural or linguistic background. A brief look at the Muslim world, from Nigeria to Bosnia and from Malaysia to Afghanistan is sufficient proof that Islam offers a universal appeal; a message for all of mankind – not to mention the fact that significant numbers of European and Americans of all races and ethnic backgrounds are finding and entering Islam. The Holy Quran clearly says:

وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ إِلَّا كَآفَّةً لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٢٨﴾

And O dear Prophet (صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم), We have not sent you except with a Prophethood that covers the entire mankind, heralding glad tidings and warnings, but most people do not know. [Saba 34:28]