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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Your Questions Answered (volume 6) Q. 110: in the Ayat 102 of Sura 20 (taha), It Says: "On the day when the trumpet shall be blown, and We will gather the guilty ones, blue eyed, on that day." Can you explain the word(which is translated here as "blue eyed"), because a lot of people of African origin in U.S.A. have split into sects over this issue. They think it is talking about the people from Europe.

A: This word, zurq, has two meanings in dictionaries: (1) blue colour and (2) glaucoma (eye disease causing gradual loss of sight). Although many translators of the Qur'an have translated it as "blue eyed", a lot of exegetes (particularly Shi'as) have taken it to mean, "dim-eyed" or "blind with horror". And this explanation is more appropriate and more conforming with the general tenor of Islam and other Qur'anic teachings.

First of all: The interpretation mentioned by you is unmitigated racialism which Islam abhors. Islam does not say that black people are burdened with Noah's curse to remain white people's slaves - to serve as the hewers of wood and carriers of water - as the Genesis says. Nor does it say that whites are bad and blacks are superior to them.

Second: All human beings are created by Allah; and Allah says: "Certainly We created man in the best make." (Qur'an, 95:4) This includes all people of all races. Third: Of course, Allah has created human beings in different colours and various facial features. But as mentioned above, all are "in the best make". None is superior; none is inferior. The reason for the prevailing differences is clearly given in the verse 13 of Surah 29 (al-Hujurat): "O you people!

We have created you of a male and a female and made you clans and tribes, that you may recognise each other; surely the most honourable of you with Allah is the one among you who is most pious (i.e. guards himself most against evil); Surely Allah is Knowing, Aware." Please note that belonging to a certain race or tribe is not a criterion of superiority or inferiority; the criterion is piety only.

Fourth: Coming to the practical side, not all Kafirs are "blue eyed" nor are all blue eyed people Kafir. A lot of Europeans belong to Islam, for which they are paying the price, e.g., in Bosnia and other places. In short, colour of eyes has nothing to do with one's success or failure on the day of Judgement. The only true explanation is "dim-eyed" or "blind with horror".