"Combatting Injustice and Prejudice: An Islamic Perspective on Michael Jackson's 'They Don't Really Care About Us'"
The lyrics of the song "They Don't Care About Us" by Michael Jackson portray a feeling of frustration and despair towards the injustices and inequalities in society. The lyrics address issues such as police brutality, hate crimes, and discrimination against marginalized groups. These issues are prevalent in many societies, including Muslim communities, where Muslims are often subjected to discrimination and prejudice due to their religion. Islam teaches that all human beings are equal in the sight of Allah regardless of their race, ethnicity, or color. The Quran states,
یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرࣲ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلۡنَـٰكُمۡ شُعُوبࣰا وَقَبَاۤىِٕلَ لِتَعَارَفُوۤا۟ۚ إِنَّ أَكۡرَمَكُمۡ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتۡقَىٰكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِیمٌ خَبِیرࣱ
O mankind! We have indeed created you from one man and one woman, and have made you into various nations and tribes so that you may know one another; indeed the more honourable among you, in the sight of Allah, is one who is more pious among you; indeed Allah is All Knowing, All Aware. (Piety is the basis of honour in Allah’s sight.)
Therefore, racism and discrimination of any form are not acceptable in Islam.
Islam also promotes justice and peace in society. The Quran states,
یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُونُوا۟ قَوَّ ٰمِینَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ شُهَدَاۤءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوۡ عَلَىٰۤ أَنفُسِكُمۡ أَوِ ٱلۡوَ ٰلِدَیۡنِ وَٱلۡأَقۡرَبِینَۚ إِن یَكُنۡ غَنِیًّا أَوۡ فَقِیرࣰا فَٱللَّهُ أَوۡلَىٰ بِهِمَاۖ فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ ٱلۡهَوَىٰۤ أَن تَعۡدِلُوا۟ۚ وَإِن تَلۡوُۥۤا۟ أَوۡ تُعۡرِضُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِیرࣰا
O People who Believe! Be firm in establishing justice, giving witness for Allah, even if it is harmful to yourselves or parents or relatives; whether the one you testify against is wealthy or poor, for in any case Allah has the greater right over it; then do not follow your wishes for you may stray from the truth; and if you distort testimony or turn away, then Allah is Well Aware of your deeds.
Muslims are required to uphold justice and fairness, and to speak out against injustice and oppression.
The lyrics of the song also address the issue of segregation, which goes against the teachings of Islam. In the words of Michael Jackson, "All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us." These lyrics hold true even today. We see discrimination happening all around us, whether it is in the form of police brutality, segregation, or hate crimes.
One story from the life of the Prophet Muhammad pbuh that is similar to the themes expressed in this song is his experience during the early years of his prophethood, when he and his small community of followers were persecuted and ostracized by the larger Meccan society. The lyrics of this song express a sense of frustration and anger towards a society that doesn't care about the plight of its marginalized members, and the early Muslim community in Mecca faced a similar situation.
Muslims in Mecca during that time were subjected to physical and verbal abuse, economic boycotts, and social exclusion. Muhammad himself faced assassination attempts and was forced to flee to Medina to escape persecution. Despite the hardship, Muhammad and his followers remained steadfast in their faith and continued to spread the message of Islam. Prophet Muhammad(pbuh)'s example of perseverance and steadfastness in the face of adversity serves as an inspiration for Muslims to this day, reminding them that even in the most difficult of circumstances, they should never give up their commitment to justice and righteousness.
The story of Bilal ibn Rabah, one of the companions of Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him, is similar to the theme of this song. Bilal was an Ethiopian slave who was bought and owned by one of the wealthiest and most influential figures of Makkah, Umayyah ibn Khalaf. Bilal was known for his strong and melodious voice, and when he converted to Islam, he was subjected to extreme torture and persecution by his master.
Despite the physical torture and abuse, Bilal remained steadfast in his faith and proclaimed the oneness of Allah, saying "Ahad, Ahad" (meaning "He is One, He is One"). This led to his torture becoming more severe, as he was dragged through the streets of Makkah while being whipped and beaten. Bilal's story is one of resilience in the face of adversity and oppression, and it is a testament to the strength and endurance of the human spirit.
In Islam, all believers are considered equal in the eyes of Allah, and there is no superiority of one race or ethnicity over another. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us to treat all people with respect and kindness, regardless of their race or religion. He said,
"All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action."
It is also important to consider the historical and political circumstances surrounding any form of injustice or discrimination. Injustice and oppression often stem from systemic and structural factors that have deep roots in history and society. Muslims are encouraged to work towards identifying and addressing these underlying causes, and to promote positive change and equality in society.
However, some of the lyrics in the song may be controversial and potentially offensive. For instance, the references to "kike me" and "black male, black mail" may be interpreted as derogatory and perpetuating negative stereotypes. Additionally, the lyrics may be seen as promoting a confrontational approach to addressing social issues, which may not align with the more moderate and peaceful approaches.