Islam as an Arab Supremacist Religion: A Threat to National Identity, Ethnic Culture, and Civilization
By Bobby Darvish - darvishintelligence.blogspot.com
When I first encountered Islam, I was drawn to its promises of unity, purpose, and divine wisdom. I believed that within its doctrines, I could find the values I cherished: respect for my heritage, dedication to family, and love for my Iranian roots. But as the years passed and I became more entrenched in the realities of Islamic teachings, I realized that Islam, at its core, is an Arab supremacist system that actively erases the unique cultural identities and traditions of non-Arab nations.
Islam and the Moongod of War
The origins of Islam can be traced back to pre-Islamic Arab paganism, which revered the moon as a celestial power. This moon deity was, in essence, a god of war, invoked before raids and conquests. When Muhammad introduced his monotheistic vision, he infused it with a theology steeped in violence, promising divine rewards for those who killed, converted, or subdued non-Muslims. The Quran’s language of conquest, subjugation, and monotheistic exclusivity clearly elevates Arab identity as central to its followers’ worldview.
Non-Arab nations under Islamic influence are discouraged from valuing their own heritage. The notion of “ummah” (the global Muslim community) often masks an imperialist agenda that centralizes Arab culture and language as prerequisites to true religious observance. Persians, Turks, Berbers, Kurds, and countless others found themselves pressured to erase their ancestral languages, histories, and traditions to conform to this Arab-centric dogma.
The Loss of Language, Culture, and Identity
One of the most powerful tools of Arab supremacy within Islam is its insistence on Arabic as the “sacred” language. Islam teaches that Arabic is Allah’s chosen language and that the Quran is only authentic in its original form. Persian, once a prominent language of philosophy, science, and poetry, was relegated to a secondary status in Iran, as Arabic infiltrated courts, mosques, and educational institutions. This process of linguistic colonization weakened the transmission of pre-Islamic Persian culture and the celebration of Iran’s ancient Zoroastrian past.
Iran’s rich tapestry of history and myth, from Cyrus the Great to the epic Shahnameh, clashed with Islam’s Arab narratives, which glorify figures and events often hostile to Persian history. National celebrations like Nowruz, which celebrate the Persian New Year and were once central to Iranian identity, were frowned upon by clerics who saw them as “un-Islamic.” This tension is a clear manifestation of Arab-Islamic hegemony working to erase non-Arab traditions under the guise of religious orthodoxy.
Arab Supremacist Narratives
Islamic teachings often portray Arabs as the primary inheritors of divine wisdom. The hadiths (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) are rife with pro-Arab favoritism, presenting Arab customs as the ideal model for Muslims worldwide. This reverence for Arab customs is then reinforced by Quranic verses, hadith, and the cultural norms of Islamic countries. Non-Arabs are seen as lesser adherents unless they abandon their customs in favor of Arab norms. This is apparent in Islamic prohibitions that have obliterated cultural expressions in numerous societies, from the dress codes forced upon diverse Islamic nations to the suppression of pre-Islamic customs and religious practices.
Erasing Iranian Civilization
Before Arab imperialism, Iranians practiced Zoroastrianism, a faith that valued purity, respect for creation, and truth. Islam’s arrival led to the near-destruction of Iran’s Zoroastrian heritage, and many of Iran’s pre-Islamic structures, cultural landmarks, and traditions were demolished or redefined to align with Islamic mandates. Conforming to Arab religious standards demanded the erasure of Iranian gods, customs, and histories that once stood at the heart of Persian identity. The term majus (a derogatory Arabic term for Zoroastrians) illustrates how Islam alienated Iranians from their ancestors’ faith and forced them into a new religious identity that prioritized Arab values over their own.
Islam’s erasure of Iranian culture has persisted into the modern era. The mullahs in Iran today propagate a version of Shi’a Islam that not only stifles freedom but also enforces a monolithic, Arabized identity at the expense of Iran’s diverse ethnic communities. From the Kurds to the Baluchis, the suppression of Iranian ethnic minorities continues as an extension of this Arab-centric Islamic rule.
Islam’s Ongoing Attack on Nationalism
The Quran and the Hadith repeatedly emphasize loyalty to the ummah over any sense of national pride or ethnic allegiance. This focus discourages any strong sense of patriotism that could lead to cultural preservation. Muslims are taught to consider themselves “Muslim first,” effectively subordinating their own national and ethnic identities. This framework has devastating consequences for Iranians, Turks, Berbers, and other ethnic groups who find themselves unable to freely celebrate their heritage, instead being conditioned to idolize an Arab identity that often conflicts with their own.
Islam’s resistance to national pride is evident in its hostility toward any form of Iranian nationalism that celebrates pre-Islamic heritage. Many Iranians who seek to reconnect with their Zoroastrian roots or Persian history find themselves stigmatized, their loyalty questioned by those who view nationalism as a betrayal of Islam.
Conclusion: The Path to Reclamation
My journey from Islam to Christianity was a step toward reclaiming my Persian identity and honoring my ancestors’ rich history. As an ex-Muslim and proud Iranian-American, I urge others to recognize the insidious nature of Arab supremacy within Islam. It is time for Iranians, and other non-Arab Muslims, to reject the erasure of their cultures, languages, and identities. Islam, as it stands, is not a mere religion but an ideological vehicle that has propagated Arab hegemony across the globe, stripping countless cultures of their unique heritage. Only by embracing our diverse histories and reclaiming our national pride can we break free from the shackles of an Arab-centric doctrine and rediscover the richness of our own civilizations.
Citations
- Bernard Lewis, The Arabs in History, Oxford University Press, 1993.
- Parviz Soroushian, “Iranian Identity in the Shadow of Islam,” Iranian Studies Journal, 2021.
- Richard C. Foltz, Religions of Iran: From Prehistory to the Present, Oneworld Publications, 2013.
- Hourani, Albert. A History of the Arab Peoples. Harvard University Press, 1991.
- Yarshater, Ehsan. “Islam and Nationalism in Iran,” International Journal of Middle East Studies, 1981.
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