A Shade Less | Not Fair and Lovely

74 Comments

1. 

   Mahmud

   May 7, 2014 at 6:41 PM

   Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wabarakatuh

   I would change the title to A Shade Less-Not Fair but no Less Lovely

   Reply
   • 

     Hena Zuberi

     May 12, 2014 at 9:49 AM

     JazakAllah Khayr for your suggestion. I was playing on the hashtag #notfairandlovely and left it so someone looking to buy the product may hit on this article as well :)

     Reply
2. 

   Waheeb

   May 7, 2014 at 7:06 PM

   I’m almost happy about this – I find darker skin more attractive lol

   Reply
   • 

     Hena Zuberi

     May 12, 2014 at 9:52 AM

     JazakAllah Khayr for leaving that comment- hopefully it made someone’s day. It should come as no surprise that many people in the world do as well.

     Reply
3. 

   Balooh

   May 7, 2014 at 7:50 PM

   Thank you brother waheeb for mentioning that.
   Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder. Allah has created beauty in all of us, truly. Some of the world’s most famous supermodels have dark skin. (Naomi Campbell to name one!) What is attractive to one person will not necessarily be attractive to another and vice versa.
   May Allah give sisters the strength to love the skin we are blessed with for indeed we must be grateful for the gift Allah has bestowed upon us.

   Reply
   • 

     Hyde

     May 8, 2014 at 9:33 PM

     Wonderful message….

     Reply
     • 

       Balooh

       May 9, 2014 at 11:08 AM

       Thank you mr hyde :-)

       Reply
   • 

     Barbara

     May 12, 2014 at 10:38 AM

     I would say Alec Wek is a better example, as is Lupita Nyong’o. Naomi, while very pretty, has a pretty awful reputation for abusing people who work for her and throwing tantrums. So she’s not very pretty inside, Allahu al3am.

     Reply
4. 

   Zeba Khan

   May 7, 2014 at 8:08 PM

   As the undeserving recipient of all the unfair advantage that being half white and half Pakistani entails, I refuse to raise my daughters- who are a quarter white and most definitely not the same color as I am- feeling inferior for not being “fair and lovely.”

   In our house, we don’t talk about skin tone in terms of light or dark, we talk about icecream. One of my daughters is caramel, the other is mocha. My husband is Dulche de Leche. I make it a point to praise people with chocolate and dark chocolate skin not only for the beauty of the skin tone itself, but also for “ethnic” features that don’t deserve to be looked down on. Our Nigerian friend has cool pouffy hair that she puts pretty beads in. Our Somalian neighbor has cool hands- his palms are so pink they look like they’re shining light. Our Asian friends have such lovely black hair and dark, lovely eyes- it’s not that we’re ignoring the “boring” white people, but we’re praising everything that Allah made, because Allah made it all and He doesn’t make mistakes.

   Darkness isn’t a curse, it’s a beauty, and it stands equal to lightness the same way night’s beauty is equal to the day.

   Reply
   • 

     Shennyz

     May 25, 2014 at 8:33 AM

     I LUV this!!!!!

     Reply
5. 

   John Howard

   May 7, 2014 at 8:17 PM

   Colour it seems is still an issue with muslims as well I see The comment “boring” white is also an offensive comment Might I remind you that in my race we have hair the colour of the hues something other races haven’t They are all “boring” black. Watch Al Jazeera “In the Stream” regarding the blatant racism black American muslms experience from the lighter coloured muslims

   Reply
   • 

     Abez

     May 11, 2014 at 1:37 AM

     Hi John, quotation marks around a word usually imply sarcastic or atypical usage- I do not believe white people are not boring any more than dark people are ugly.

     Some people, in the attempt to reclaim the beauty of dark skin, wander into a reverse form of racism where lighter skin is seen as bland. Had I not used quotation marks around the word boring, I can see how my statement could be misconstrued. However, I would ask that you read my entire comment for a more holistic understanding of what was meant.

     “We’re praising everything Allah made, because Allah made it all and He doesn’t make mistakes.”

     *Note to self- the internet is not a place for subtlety.

     Reply
     • 

       Geett

       June 1, 2014 at 8:05 AM

       I agree almost wholeheartedly with you Sister Zeba. However, and I’m sorry to be pedantic, but “reverse racism” is a term with very little integrity. Racism for sure, does not go both ways. While coloured people can exercise PREJUDICE against white people – they cannot be oppressive, i.e.: racist. Racism is prejudice + power. (http://callingoutbigotry.tumblr.com/post/51288105158/why-reverse-racism-doesnt-exist)

       Reply
       • 

         Geett

         June 1, 2014 at 8:07 AM

         Another good one: http://feminspire.com/why-reverse-racism-isnt-real/

         Reply
       • 

         John Howard

         June 1, 2014 at 8:59 AM

         I totally disagree that racism is a one way street. and that whites are the only racists . Talk about victim mentality! Ask whites born and living in African states for more generations than coloured or muslims have lived in western countries what many there are now experiencing. Yes they experienced racism by whites there but the fact that whites have stayed because they believe they are as much a part of the country as the other races certainly deserve that same rights as the majority now have. You complain of racism towards you as non whites and I agree it occurs but tell me what of the reverse in your countries of origin? How would whites be treated by the majority there? Racism against white is often called cultural difference but it is still racism. The fact is that most western countries made laws to protect minorities and there is more than a strong feeling here in the west that those laws are enforced often far more leniently against minorities than the white miscreants. We don’t see the same justice towards minorities in the 3rd word as they are in the west. The huge invasion of different cultures and races in the west in the last 30-40 years has asked much of the indigenous peoples There has been a pushback against this something I am sure would occur in any country. You demand tolerance on their part well it also is expected on the immigrants parts. It is their country after all and immigrants have come to partake of the benefits that the west has to offer which is far more than their homelands. Many locals have seen their neighborhoods change dramatically and their livelihoods under threat or lost as well as their services used or abused and little benefit to their own lives. They want to see a respect for them and their society If this does not happen then expect to see the rise of the far right get even stronger and it may get very unpleasant indeed

         Reply
         • 

           Geett

           June 6, 2014 at 8:19 AM

           “Victim mentality” sir? POC have the power to be racist to white people?*Sighs* Well. You obviously didn’t read what was in those links then, right? I don’t suppose you are familiar with the terms “white privilege” and “white supremacy”?
           In any case: no, whites are not the only racists. POC can be racist to other POC. But racism against whites does not happen. Racism is a system of oppression. There are no such systems in existence that actively aim to oppress white people.
           However, I don’t feel particularly compelled to argue with you since it seems you will reject whatever I say despite the integrity of my argument. You will derail and delegitimise my experiences and exclaim that white people are oppressed for the colour of their skin too. Whilst hypothetically, this is possible, in the realm of reality it is far less practical.
           (Maybe read this? http://www.gradientlair.com/post/49463235196/why-whites-call-people-of-colour-racist)
       • 

         John Howard

         June 8, 2014 at 7:47 AM

         I would come back to the original premise Mr Geet’s statement that racism is a white only thing which again I state i find this in itself a completely racist statement. For a start the white indigenous countries have been asked to completely accept the intensive migration onto their countries without complaint or regard to the tremendous changes incurred by these totally alien cultures. Yet where in the countries of origin that these migrants come from is the tolerance to outsiders when there is large intolerance to people of a similar culture but different sects or interpretations that reside within these lands. The fact is that the west has become a huge magnet to people who can and have been intolerant to their hosts. Do not call me or my race racist when you are the visitor in my house You have to come with open hands to be accepted not a fist

         Reply
   • 

     Fati

     June 8, 2016 at 8:54 AM

     I’ve seen your name pop up a few times regarding issues about race; are you just trolling? And to be fair NO ONE has boring features, we are all made to the Creator’s design.

     And to your comment about hair color or what have you, “black” people come in all shades just as varied if not more so than the hair colors that are found amidst “white” people.

     Reply
6. 

   Dia

   May 7, 2014 at 8:56 PM

   First of all, well done with this article. It has been well written and highlighted such a major issue and appreciate the initiative to educate our community. That said, I would like to add something to be fair in our analysis on this issue, its not just limited to the South-asian community or just muslim community, it seems like a global human phenomenon. Let me explain what i mean.
   The whole fair and lovely obsession cannot just be blamed on “raj”. It has a-lot of “class” and “religious” subconscious roots.

   Class:
   Well, pick any civilization, Persian, Egyptian or any European. Lighter skin represented the fact, whether people are labor-class or elite. Even if you study european history, their standard of “white” wasn’t even white enough. French royalty used to make their faces “chalk white” with white hair pieces (which represented wisdom)
   Queen Elizabeth, ruined her skin in an effort to “White out” her already white skin with arsenic powder which was the standard royalty fashion and make-up product.
   Persians used rice powder to make their skin white, Spanish used to combine whitening powders for skin and Belladona root(modern day atropine drug) drops for eyes, to darken the blackness of the eyes and give an enlarging effect (dilating the pupil leading to blurred vision)
   I can go on and on about it..

   Lets go back to religion:
   Yes religion! Pick any religious text. Even in Islam, whenever “hoor” are mentioned, their fairness and large eyes are traits mentioned as something humans “desire”.
   “(In beauty) they are like rubies and coral”
   [Al-Rahman 55:58]
   Ibn Zayd said concerning the words “they are like rubies and coral” it is as if they are rubies in their purity and like coral in their whiteness. So their purity is that of rubies and their whiteness is that of pearls.

   There are many other hadiths that emphasize on the “fairness” of the skin in Jannah.

   Please don’t misunderstand me, I’m not defending being prejudice but I definitely feel that this craze of having a clear light skin is not just a south-asian phenomenon, its a human thing. The desire to have “large” beautiful eyes, and light skin is something which “ALL” mankind desires thus Allah mentioned it in the Quran.

   This world is a test and everyone is tested differently. We live in a world now where we have to be politically correct all the time. There is nothing wrong with being, brown beige white black purple or whatever other shade Allah has created, but desiring something which is also part of His creation is not wrong.
   Whats wrong is the way we treat people for how they are created. It is a sin to mock Allah’s creation because He didn’t create anyone without wisdom behind it.

   Now there is an emergence of desire to look “golden” hence forth Tanning salons, spray on tan, bronzers etc. Human desire is endless…

   Reply
   • 

     Waheeb

     May 8, 2014 at 12:14 AM

     I don’t think the Hoor are like the color of coral literally; i mean are Hoors eyes supposed to be red & crystalline like rubies? I think its more metaphorical about their purity, chastity and beauty.

     I will have to do more research about this, but I think the modern craze with “white” skin came from colonialism in the 16th century, and European dominance. White Man’s burden and all of that. During the Sahaba’s time, they actually saw beauty both ways; Bilal (RA) was regarded as very handsome, Zayd (RA) married Barakah, a former Abyssinian slave, and had a son named Usama bin Zayd. Usama bin Zaid was very dark, and his father, Zayd, was very light. Usama (RA) was one of the youngest Muslim generals, and was married to Fatima bin Qays – who picked him after several men proposed to her, including Muawiyya bin Abi Sufyan (who we could assume was light in color).

     The just Abyssinian king who gave the Muslims refuge could be assumed to be dark skinned as well. People really do have different preferences.

     Reply
     • 

       Dia

       May 8, 2014 at 3:14 PM

       you completely and utterly misunderstood my entire post. I never once said that color predicts/or depicts ones character. I was solely giving my analysis as a student of history, psychology and Islam that this craze cannot be blamed on British colonialism alone. This has deeply rooted social and religious subconscious desires of humankind as a whole.
       I was not talking about character or spirituality and status of people with Allah, it has anything to do with their skin tone or status.

       Please read my reply again if you still think im “defending prejudice”. IM NOT! im just implying that the desire to look white comes from a-lot of factors and it existed before the “raj” in different civilizations. Those who have studied history in depth can vouch for this fact.

       Hope I made myself clear this time. If not…oh well, i tried :)

       Reply
       • 

         Waheeb

         May 8, 2014 at 5:57 PM

         Nope, I understood you just fine. I didn’t mention those examples because they choose each other just on the basis of character – I’m sure looks were involved!
         Even the Prophet (SAW) turned down a woman who proposed to him, because she didn’t appeal to him physically (we could assume her character was fine), but one of the Sahaba sitting right next to him found her attractive & married her! All the people I mentioned were not just married just bc of character, but also bc of a physical appeal as well.

         More research needs to be done, but here are some examples:
         Aristotle philosophized that some ethnicities are born slaves (he was referring to certain greek & other populations). In Medieval times, some Arab philosophers liked this idea, and claimed that Blacks AND Turkic peoples (fairer skinned) were meant to be slaves.
         Bernard Lewis (2003), “From Race and Slavery in the Middle East: An Historical Enquiry”, in Kevin Reilly, Stephen Kaufman, Angela Bodino, Racism: A Global Reader, M.E. Sharpe, pp. 52–8

         Arab racism, concepts of beauty in Medieval times was against people whom they had conquered and subjugated – certain African populations and the fairer Turkic, East Europeans, Persians – all who were considered a less beautiful “Swarthy” people.
         Lindsay, James E. (2005), Daily Life in the Medieval Islamic World, Greenwood Publishing Group, pp. 12–5,

         I do think occupation, physical & military prowess has a BIG part to do with concepts of beauty.

         Reply
         • 

           Waheeb

           May 8, 2014 at 6:04 PM

           Forgot to mention – Economic prowess as well
         • 

           Dia

           May 8, 2014 at 6:35 PM

           before the british invaded India, class system already existed there Brahmans, shatris, and the bottom ones shudars (in english, the untouchables, the darkest among the other casts.)
           What each ethnic group calls “white” is not a uniform description either. The Moors in yemen are considered the top-notch class because they are, in comparison to the others, lighter.
           like Razan stated below “Part of the veneration of white skin is simply the fact that throughout many places, those who worked outdoors and tilled the land were highly tanned, whilst those who were rich and sheltered enough to stay indoors, maintained a much paler skin color ”
           hence the social root cause for the love of light skin, because the lighter you are the higher in class you must be.

           What you are stating in your example has more to do with ethnic pride than skin-color. South Asians, Indo-Pak, even though they are darker in skin and “love” to be fair and lovely, yet still aren’t comfortable marrying their daughters to non-desis.

           As far as your prophetic examples are concerned, I have no problem accepting that :)

           I think blaming “fair and lovely” on colonialism is a simpleton approach but thats just my opinion based on my knowledge of History.
           Fair skin, Large eyes and Tall stature is something ALL makind “Desire” and thus the description of Jannah confirms it.

           The “desire” to have something doesn’t negate that our attitudes towards the creation of Allah has to be kind, accepting and just!
         • 

           Waheeb

           May 8, 2014 at 9:31 PM

           The British were not the first “fair” skinned people to invade India – the Arabs, Central Asians (remember Timur?), the Mughals all had conquered India centuries before. There is also good evidence that an Aryan group invaded India thousands of years before. They all subjugated the darker skinned people who were living there before (the Dravidians, who were originally blacksmiths from North Africa).

           Yemen was also conquered by the British, the lighter skinned Turkish Ottomans, and later heavily influenced by Communism (Yemen split into North & South – Both controlled & funded by lighter skinned, militarily and economically more powerful countries, namely, The British, and Egypt (which itself was getting its supplies from the lighter skinned Soviet Union).

           If lighter skinned countries did Not have the economic strength they had and have, and did not have the military strength to impose their will, and did not have the resources to have to luxury of a service-based, indoor economy with plenty of nutrition for everyone, and cosmetics to make their skin shine – and a darker skinned people did – then being Dark will suddenly come into fashion. That is my theory, but with enough research, it will be a Fact.

           Declaring “Fair skin, Large eyes and Tall stature is something ALL makind “Desire” and thus the description of Jannah confirms it” with scant evidence is a pretty lousy, if not SUPER simplistic statement to make as well – especially when people tell you otherwise, and you blatantly refuse to hear them.
         • 

           Dia

           May 8, 2014 at 10:58 PM

           well now you are just becoming too defensive and throwing random facts…i don’t get the point? so now you do agree that fair and lovely craze existed before the “raj” but now you believe it were the earlier white ethnic groups who created the craze?
           ok I respect your opinion….rest my case

           (by the way you did mention on another comment whether there was a darker skinned people who ruled over lighter skin, Yes there was. The Bani Israel were comparatively lighter skin people who were enslaved by the Egyptians, the darker skin tone)
   • 

     Maryam

     May 8, 2014 at 3:43 PM

     Yes there seems to be a likeness towards light coloured skin in many parts of the world through out history, not just South Asia. But I am not so sure about the reference to Hoors, it is possible that there was something lost in translation. We need to look this part up.

     Reply
     • 

       Razan

       May 8, 2014 at 4:05 PM

       Part of the veneration of white skin is simply the fact that throughout many places, those who worked outdoors and tilled the land were highly tanned, whilst those who were rich and sheltered enough to stay indoors, maintained a much paler skin color – and thus ‘whiteness’ was associated with wealth/position in society. This can be seen in ancient Egyptian statues, where the male is often painted a tan color whilst the female is white, due to the difference in occupation. However, today these unhealthy venerations are definitely simply due to inferiority complexes about what constitutes ‘beauty’.

       Reply
     • 

       Dia

       May 8, 2014 at 6:14 PM

       I would love to read if you find any other translation/opinion about Hoors.

       Reply
     • 

       Waheeb

       May 10, 2014 at 3:47 PM

       Coral can be black as well: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_coral
       http://daveswave.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/black-coral1.jpg

       as can pearls:
       http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tahitian_pearl

       Reply
7. 

   Emenes

   May 7, 2014 at 11:27 PM

   Wow this was awesome specially for me since this problem has been going around in my head for quite sometime now and you really hit home with this article.
   Really the TVCs in the south east are sickening, from tag lines like ” Sanwali dulhan bani gori.” (dark skinned bride becomes fair) where the bride is all cheery cause this cream made her few tomes lighter for her wedding, to one in a which a little 10 year old walks into a wedding and points at the faireat girl saying “Cachuu gorii”,(uncle! white girl), to one where everyone is pretending like they dont know a girl and hawging their seats with their bags so she doesnt sit with them but then to her good luck some person recomends “this cream” and cut to the next scene, bees are buzzing and the world is happier place and all those people who disonwed her are now in line for her attention. Not only that but a light bulb commercial where father fixes a brighter light bulb to make his daughter seem lighter for prospectivee inlaws and the list goes on.
   Honestly most of my life i thought no one ever took them seriously and they were there to be made fun off. But then I found out that not only do people fall for them but suprislingy alot of people I know do too.
   Really its disturbing to see so many girls who are so intelligent and able in everysingle imaginable thing suffer from such low self esteem due to society, tv, relatives and most sadly their mothers, from their less able but lighter skinned counterparts. I have seen first hand how damage it has done.
   Mothers in my opinion can play a huge role by rasing daughters that are confident in their own skin and by trying to look past outer beauty when looking for daughter in laws and ofcourse being nice aunties.
   As for the commercials I dont think there is much anyone can do, except to sit back get extremely agitated as one watches them relate every remotely unrelated thing to skin color.

   Reply
8. 

   The Salafi Feminist

   May 8, 2014 at 2:29 AM

   Perhaps one of the worst examples of this that I’ve experienced was when my daughter was born, and almost the first thing my in-laws had to say was “At least she won’t be as dark as her father.” (And they aren’t desi.)
   AlHamdulillah I’ve been able to protect her from being exposed to such sentiments so far, but I’ll never forget that the first thing someone had to say about her had nothing to do with her being a beautiful and innocent human being with the potential for greatness, but about something as petty as skin colour.

   Reply
9. 

   loveprophet

   May 8, 2014 at 8:00 AM

   Well written article.
   So many times I have told elders (when they’ve made remarks about skin colour) that this discrimination is unIslamic. But it doesn’t make an affect on their mindset!

   Reply
10. 

    Muna

    May 8, 2014 at 9:29 AM

    MashAllah well written article. You know one of the places where this light skin dark skin thing is an issue? Africa. Honestly it would be laughable if it wasn’t so serious. Skin lightening cream is a staple make up accessory for so many girls, its actually considered normal. Its so tragic when you hear AFRICAN people asking “what happened? you got darker” like its a tragedy.

    I simply cannot comprehend how anyone can see less of anyone because of the colour of their skin. And you know what, even if I could change my skin colour, I wouldn’t do it. Alhamdullillah my own family did not ever make this an issue but I know families for whom skin colour is the most important thing, ahead of character or anything else and that’s the most sad thing.

    Reply
    • 

      Waheeb

      May 8, 2014 at 5:37 PM

      It would be interesting to find a case in history where the darker skinned people, subjugated a lighter skinned people, and see how views change.

      Can’t think of one off the top of my head – maybe Persians subjugating the greek? Or the Arabs conquering the Byzantium empire? Anyone else?

      Reply
      • 

        Dia

        May 8, 2014 at 6:41 PM

        well, Waheeb, it is in the Quran. Bani Israel who were enslaved by the Egyptians, were actually lighter in skin-tone. The rulers were darker skin toned. Again, i must remind you, what we are talking about is “lighter” skin tone Within an ethnicity.
        don’t confuse “ethnic prejudice” with “skin color prejudice”
        within an ethnic group, lighter skin represents elite, people who don’t work outside in the sun and hence would have lighter skin than those doing manual/heavy labor outside.

        Reply
11. 

    Claudia

    May 8, 2014 at 10:16 AM

    Asalamu Alekum, Im Canadian. Like lots of girls her, I used to go to tanning beds a lots. Even the high risks of wrinkles and skin cancer wouldn’t stop me. Darker is more sexy, makes your skin glow and your eyes pop-out! This issue have to do with the ungratefulness of humans. Cosmetic companies take advantage of this: self-tanners for the west and whitening creams for the East…made by the same corporation! SubhaAllah!

    Reply
12. 

    june

    May 8, 2014 at 11:39 AM

    Assalamu alykum,
    Thanks for the article. It helps give me more and better ways to talk about the issue. I just can’t believe how engrained it is in people that it’s “ok” to lighten their skin.
    Even my own husband has a little bit of this prejudice (he’s Central Asian) His skin type is such that he tans very easily. He kept saying he becomes “black.” I just laughed at him and said he is nowhere close to black even when he’s at his most tan. So he’s gotten into the habit of saying his skin gets “darker” instead which is at least a less stupid thing to say but I still let him know I’m baffled as to why he reacts as if it’s a negative thing. It’s just a natural side effect of being outside. (I’m burn-after-30-minutes-in-the-sun white, lol. But after the “base” burn I tend to be ok for the summer and not burn anymore and can tan slightly.)
    I’m reminded of when I was a kid (about 4 or 5) and I would always play with my neighbor. Then one day someone told me she was black. I had no idea what this was supposed to mean or why it was even supposed to be important. I just noticed that it was something different between us but I decided it didn’t matter because she was a fun friend. To the best of my ability I have tried to keep this mentality into adulthood when interacting with people. Yes, I see the difference, but what does it matter?

    Reply
13. 

    Tanveer Khan

    May 8, 2014 at 2:41 PM

    “In Urdu and Hindi, the words for light skin are saaf rang meaning clean/pure whereas dark skin to referred to as mayla which translates into dirty.”
    Dark skin is also referred to as “mayla” in bangla too. Light skin is referred to as “forishkaar” which, surprise surprise, means clean/pure just like in Urdu and Hindi.

    I’m also more darker skinned than my family (and most of my relatives now that I think about it) and when I meet new relatives, one of the first things they say is how I got to dark…. :) Fortunately, that’s the most they do and don’t repeatedly hound me over it (probably because I’m a male so good looks aren’t emphasised as much for me) and they all love and care for me lots. XD

    Reply
    • 

      Tanveer Khan

      May 8, 2014 at 6:24 PM

      I think my first sentence should either say “Dark skin is also referred to as “mayla” in bangla” or “Dark skin is referred to as “mayla” too”. I’m not sure why I felt the need to put “also” and “too” in the same sentence.

      Reply
14. 

    Safia

    May 8, 2014 at 3:07 PM

    As I was reading this well put article, I had tears on my eyes. I happen to have a beautiful, sweet and strong girl who is dark skinner then the rest of our family. My 4 boys are light skin and when ever people of our community see us they the first thing they asks me is “you made girl dark skin and the boys light skin, isn’t that suppose to be other way around?” Allah creates who ever he wants and the way he wants. Same people will always negative and judgmental, but Alhamdulillah that never ever bothered me and Alhamdulillah I taught my daughter same thing and when ever some calls her “dark skinner” she just gives that one million dollar smile and says “Alhamdulillah, Allah made me beautiful”.

    Thank you for written this wonderful article.

    Reply
    • 

      Halima

      May 8, 2014 at 8:49 PM

      Aww, you’re daughter seems like an angel mashallah. Allah bless her.

      Reply
15. 

    M

    May 8, 2014 at 3:51 PM

    Jazak Allah Khair for this article. I always found dark skinned people to be more beautiful. Human perception of beauty keeps changing, both in the east and the west. I think there should also be an article about body size since there seems to be an obsession about being skinny, even in girls as young as 8. It’s not only bad for their physical health but also their mental health. I know of young women who are not able to get married because of their body size, even though I believe they look just fine.

    Reply
16. 

    Saliha

    May 8, 2014 at 4:53 PM

    MashaAllah, I love that this topic is being discussed and in a way that is very accepting, alhamdulilah.
    But I’m also *very* dissappointed with *how* it’s being discussed. So far, it seems like every time skin color is mentioned, we seem to go back to the line “let’s value character!” Walahi, I appreciate this emphasis but the real question is *can/do we see dark skin as beautiful?* meaning when my child comes to me “is my skin ugly?,” telling her/him, “you know what matters is you’re character being beautiful,” this hypothetical parent’s reinforcing that dark skin is ugly bc her/his question is asking something specific. We all know character is key and no beauty can surpass internal beauty but the question here is external beauty. Please don’t take offense ladies and gents :-)
    *from dark sister who likes being dark :-)

    Reply
17. 

    Saliha

    May 8, 2014 at 5:02 PM

    Btw, I think Henna’s approach was amazing in how indirectly reinforces that dark skin is beautiful. The prophet (saw) was known for being handsome :-). I was just disappointed with the comments :(

    Reply

18. Pingback: Asian Heritage Month at MuslimARC: The Power of Language | MuslimARC.org

19. 

    Halima

    May 8, 2014 at 8:48 PM

    This isn’t only a sad epidemic in the Desi community either. I’m Somali, and dark skinned is attributed to being ugly and undesirable. That is if you’re a woman. In the Somali community women of all ages are rushing to use skin lightening creams, or “Diana”. It’s really sad. You’re made to believe light skin is the epitome of female beauty. Light skinned girls tend to be courted more as well. So all the dark sisters aren’t approached, and no one cares to make them their wives. Then these same Somali men will huff and puff when their sisters marry non-Somali men. It’s a sad cycle. Dark skin should be celebrated. It’s positively beautiful. There’s nothing defective or wrong about it. I wish more of us could realize that, and give people peace.

    Reply
    • 

      Dia

      May 8, 2014 at 11:09 PM

      I know so many somali sisters with such beautiful features. My dad always said, “beauty is nothing but the proportionality of limbs”. Current scientific research also confirms this. The more proportional ones features are, the more attractive they look, regardless of skin color.

      Reply
20. 

    ZAI

    May 8, 2014 at 11:09 PM

    Man, topic and especially comments at #NotFairandLovely are really depressing
    and sobering as well. I had an abstract understanding of colorism/shadism or whatever
    it’s called, but I wasn’t aware of how deep the hurt and scars from being on it’s receiving
    end can be both in the moment and over the course of a lifetime.
    Was ignorant about the emotional side of it and how lasting that
    hurt can be.

    Some of the comments were heartbreaking. Especially the one’s concerning
    children. I guess not having dealt with this personally or
    within the family is a type of luxury and privilege in this twisted world, but no excuse
    for ignorance once you’ve been made aware, so thanks for the article and opening
    my eyes to the emotional side of the discrimination so many are going through.

    Reply
21. 

    Umm ZAKAriyya

    May 8, 2014 at 11:30 PM

    Am dark skinned . I remember as a kid , I would be so hurt when some other fairer skinned kids would compare our complexion while placing our hands next to eachothers. ” O she is more dark . She is more fair …”

    When people would make me feel bad about being darker than my mom & sister , my mom would tell me – Gold sparkles more against darker skin than fairer skin. You can be dark and beautiful too. Lol

    I have seen Parents usually search for husbands for their daughters who are a few shades darker than them( daughters), so they don’t feel ” inferior”.

    We have to admit that having a clear creamier/brighter complexion enhances ones beauty . Which is why all cosmetics focus on that – even skin tone and give a creamier, brighter-than-your-own complexion.

    Pale skinned people try to look creamier by tanning . Dark skinned do the same by lightening .

    We have to remind ourselves that beauty too is a test from Allah . All the actresses and models are beautiful , but how has it benefitted them ?

    If you don’t feel beautiful, just accept it . We are on earth , not in jannah.! :)

    If muslims were more practising and feared Allah . These skin colour issues would not pop up.

    Reply
22. 

    Wael Abdelgawad

    May 9, 2014 at 1:11 AM

    Alhamdulillah, this has not been an issue in my family. We come in different shades and no one has ever commented on it. I think I’d be quite angry if someone implied that a child of mine was somehow less attractive because of skin color. I’d throw that person out of my house straightaway, relative or not.

    Reply
    • 

      Wael Abdelgawad

      May 9, 2014 at 1:13 AM

      Also, reinforcing your daughter’s self-esteem by reading about the physical description of the Prophet (sws) is brilliant.

      Reply
23. 

    Mahmud B.

    May 9, 2014 at 1:22 AM

    Such a sad article…really well written and the topic deserves attention

    Brothers and sisters….hear me:

    First things first….lets stop giving children the messages that come from fairly tales and Disney princess cartoons

    If you look at the fairy tales taught to us when we were kids (in the 1980’s), they would talk about a princess who was fair

    Look at any fairy tale and Disney cartoon such as Cindrella, Snow white, sleeping beauty, beauty and the beast and many more…..the princess is always fair skinned and good and beautiful, while the evil villain is darker and unattractive and bad.

    These type of messages lead to “black and white” thinking.

    So let us stop dropping our kids in front of the TV, where they get the most damaging of messages

    Dont let TV shows like hannah montana etc babysit your kids

    Your TV is not a good babysitter.

    Its no wonder the world thinks that fair is more beautiful….because that is the message that Hollywood and tv shows and glamour magazines try to sell us…..that beauty is a woman that is fair, skinny like a twig, long neck, long flowing hair and pouty lips.

    Switch of your TV’s as a start

    Reply
    • 

      M

      May 9, 2014 at 11:05 AM

      I don’t think it’s entirely the TV’s fault. It’s not just an issue of ‘fair is more beautiful’, I mean, Disney always had this reputation for reinforcing stereotypes specially back in those days when these shows were made. Although I grew up with watching TV a lot and I didn’t really pick up those kind of messages from TV shows because I had real life role models to look up to, Alhamdulilah.

      It’s not just Hollywood, the media in most countries favour the same type of women and people in general. of course there should be parental guidence when watching TV, but watching TV in itself is not a problem. The problem arises when your family, specially your parents, do not have a major role in your life and these TV shows are your only source of information.

      Reply
      • 

        Mahmud B.

        May 12, 2014 at 1:27 AM

        @M

        You make a really good point

        Reply
24. 

    Mahmud B.

    May 9, 2014 at 1:26 AM

    This was taken from the site http://www.muslimarc.com

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=869908356357582

    you know….in south indian communities…if you end up being fair….you can be anything you want

    You can be an actor….you can even be president…you can write your own ticket

    May Allah guide us

    Reply

25. Pingback: A Shade Less | Not Fair and Lovely | MuslimMatters.org | Follow the quran

26. Pingback: A Shade Less | Not Fair and Lovely | Share Quran and Hadees

27. 

    Farhiya

    May 10, 2014 at 5:12 PM

    But I wonder which skin colour Allah will choose for us in jannah. I know that everyone will resemble the height of Adam and Hawa. I am only asking this question out of pure curiosity.

    Reply
    • 

      ummZAKAriyya

      May 10, 2014 at 6:13 PM

      Everything is Jannah is ” what no eye has seen , no ear has heard “. Jannah has fruits , trees ,but very different to the ones in this world. Similarly there can be no comparison of skin colour to anything of this world. Whatever it is, its going to be amazing.

      Reply
      • 

        Farhiya

        May 10, 2014 at 6:18 PM

        Woow am really looking forward to the next life in jannah. May Allah grant us paradise ameen

        Reply
28. 

    fatima

    May 10, 2014 at 9:27 PM

    This attitude can probably be traced back to the Hindu caste system, and it has infiltrated the Pakistani/Asian culture. I am African-American and have realized that all races are prejudice against any person with African lineage (a tool of the shaytan). However, when I became Muslim, Allah gave me and other African American Muslims this amazing inner strength to love who we are because we are Allah’s creation. Black is oh soooo beautiful! I am not angry at these people, I just feel sorry for them. May Allah guide us and forgive our sins

    Reply
29. 

    Ali

    May 14, 2014 at 1:52 AM

    I know I am being pedantic but I think clean in Bangla is “Porishkar”. But yes, even darker skinned Bengalis can be racist to those even darker than them

    Reply
30. 

    RCHOUDH

    May 14, 2014 at 3:38 AM

    Thank you for tackling such a relevant issue not just within Muslim communities, but all communities worldwide. Colorism has a long ugly history behind it, and we would do well to find out how best to combat it. For myself and my family, I always try to make my kids understand that they are beautiful just the way they are (not just in terms of skin color but in terms of all their characteristics), that Allah created beauty in many forms, and that we should never take what we see as being “normal” through the media at face value. From a very young age, I tried to limit what my kids were exposed to through the media, and that helped keep them away from internalizing colorist values. Also, I tell my kids to pay no attention to what others value when it comes to color. If someone says something bad about someone just based on their skin color, I tell my kids to teach them about how wrong it is to do that from an Islamic POV. I also try to help them make friends with as many people from as many backgrounds as possible, so that they get used to seeing the beautiful physical diversity of the human race that Allah SWT created. And of course I always pray for them never to internalize any racist/colorist values at any point in their lives.

    Reply

31. Pingback: A Shade Less | Not Fair and Lovely by Hena Zuberi | The Joyful muslimah

32. 

    solitaybird

    June 19, 2014 at 6:32 AM

    This is a beautiful piece and I admire the way you raise your daughter.

    Now, as for everyone trying to claim reverse racism exists, let me explain what racism is and what it isn’t. Racism is a feeling of superiority, viewing others as inferior, /coupled with/ the sociopolitical power to oppress those who you see as inferior. That is why reverse racism against whites does. Not. Exist. A person of colour (someone who is “not white” ) can be prejudiced against white people, but cannot truly oppress them.

    True racism or any real -ism leads to loss of job opportunities due to preconceived notions (blacks are ignorant, hispanics are illegal and lazy, women are all too weak and emotional for this), rape (fetishization and exploitation of women and young girls of colour… see sex tourism routinely performed by white men travelling to poorer countries to sleep with underaged girls even if it’s illegal in their home country, see the way people associate wholesome and pure beauty with white skin and carnal, beastly lust with darker skin because of the dehumanizing and hypersexualized way people are conditioned to see black bodies), murder (Trayvon, Martin, and countless other youth who were murdered for doing something that would be totally ignored if done by a white boy of the same age… buying skittles, wearing hoodies, whistling at girls?), etc. all of which are common and easily recognized by anyone who reads a newspaper.

    Reverse racism leads to nothing more widespread than hurt feelings? Like why are all these people of colour talking about and praising their appearance, they’re making me feel ugly… congratulations, you just received a tiny, watered down 0.000000001% baby formula version of the micro aggressions that work together to keep racism alive and also, you’re being silly, people celebrating their usually ignored or hated appearances aren’t hurting you, just turn on a TV or go to the movies and you’re guaranteed to find most movie casts are overwhelmingly even when at the cost of characters who are meant to be another race! Oh, yeah, we know in the books, she’s black, but this white girl captured the /spirit/ of the character better than any real black girl and what do you mean “Why did you advertise Caucasian casting only?”
    Oh, but when it comes to generic and stereotypical sassy girl and overachieving nerd roles, heeeey, look at all these black and East Asian actors!

    So. Yeah.

    Reply
    • 

      solitaybird

      June 19, 2014 at 6:34 AM

      Martin? I knew I shouldn’t type while hungry… I meant Emmett, Emmett Till.

      Reply
33. 

    Yaseen

    August 11, 2014 at 2:52 PM

    My cousins, my friends, my family… Black, Black,Black everywhere. I’m not completely black just wood colour, I’m the only one in my family who is not fair… I hate looking at my self in the mirror. I’m a south-indian muslim. and I hate who I am.

    Reply
34. 

    Tasniya Sultana

    August 17, 2014 at 2:22 PM

    Jazak Allahu Khair for writing this article. It truly is sad that it has to be this way.. If you are anything less than a white complexion, you have to hear a lot from the community because of it.
    And to add on, it’s not just skin color but also body type. I’m a very petite woman weighing no more than 90 pounds. It’s just my genetic make up. I am not curvy. Period. But because of this, I have heard so many hurtful comments by family members and friends. This one lady asked me if my husband was feeding me properly because she couldn’t understand why I’m so “skinny” even after marriage. I was also told that my husband would come home to find a skeleton one day and leave me if I don’t fatten up.
    It’s just sad that if you don’t fit this curvy white complexion, you are deemed less by those around you.

    Reply
35. 

    Salman

    August 18, 2014 at 6:49 PM

    Being from a northern pakistani background my family places a huge emphasis on lighter skin. The problem is I have no idea how to explain to my parents that I am more attracted to darker skin as I feel they would reject anyone who was darker.

    Reply
    • 

      Salim

      January 4, 2016 at 3:58 PM

      I understand so well the stress and anxiety that being rejected by your comunity brings.I have had no problems with my color in my family of origin as we are a mixed race lot. With varying skin tones and hair types,we complement each other.I have left several masjids and cut off dealing with most Muslims due to this color sickness they insist upon spreading like contagion.Desi Muslims are maybe the worst offenders .You can deal with them honestly for years and all they see is colorism they live it sleep and breathe the air as caste mined almost Hindu like in their quest to be as near white as possible.East Africans and Arabs are also extremely cruel and prejudiced toward black skinned people.If they own shops they cheat and steal from you even if you pay cash .Too many have shown dishonesty in business practices which makes me also question their characters as Muslims.They spread fitnah by insisting on marriage to light skin only.Ihave also seen evidences of white female privilege in some Masjids ,these sisters have little knowledge yet have leverage due to marriage to some well placed Desi ,Arab and sometimes an African.Muslims all over cry and complain about discrimination from whites ,yet they do the same discrimination in their countries . North Arabs don’t marry darker blacks even if they have good character.Palestinians ,Jordanian ,Egyptians, East Africans and let us not forget the very Race conscious Saudis and Syrians,now fleeing persecution.Pls I know I did not name all offenders but based on personal association these are the worst.Comments also based on my young Muslima friends ,black,brown and white living abroad in these so called bastions of dar Islam.Allah has promised to change our condition if we change our hearts Our prophet said in his last address that Arsb is not better then black or vice versa.Also our test will be the dunya love of money power position and ethnic pride.for example Muslim family reject for marriage decent working class fellows and decent girls .Now both boys and girls are marrying non believers and their children are leaving the deen.Give up what you love best for the sake of Allah.

      Reply

36. Pingback: Top 10 MuslimARC Moments - 2014

37. 

    Aisha

    June 22, 2017 at 8:00 AM

    I know this thread is really old, but I like to read it once in a while, actually quite often, reading the article and the comments from people who might be in the same situastion than me. I am pakistani, fair skinned girl. Maybe I have had some advantages being fair, but never noticed.
    Married to a man who is wheatish, we have 3 blessing, 2 boys and a girl. All of them more tanned than both of us. Grandparents are all fair or wheatish.
    My daughter 3 years is the cutest little girl, so intelligent and so funny. But her skin color besides me is not one but several shades darker. I think of this every day, why?
    I tell myself, it is because Allah (SWT) made her this way, and has better plans for her, so my anxiety and worries are not of any good, because I should have tawakkul in him, in his plans!
    Why does color matter? It is so deeply rooted in our culture and society and I admit it is because I am brought up to like light color. I have to reset my beayty perception mode!
    may Allah help me think differently, and may all this never affect my daughters self-esteem. Amin

    Reply
38. 

    Ibra

    October 20, 2018 at 8:34 AM

    Thanks for removing my comments. Some people can’t handle the truth and criticism, but love to critique.

    Reply