Originally Published in The Philadelphia Inquirer
Today marks the 31st Anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. As a Muslim American, I encourage my fellow citizens to reflect on the importance of this day.
King famously stated, “I look to the day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” This profound notion has always been a core tenet of the Islamic principles of equality, as Prophet Muhammad said: “A white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action.”
I urge my fellow Americans to acknowledge and celebrate our shared values. Let us take the advice of these two great men and strive to overcome prejudice based on race or religion. Let us compete with each other in piety and acts of goodness. By doing this, we will be honoring the legacy of racial equality that King’s and Muhammad’s missions embodied.
