IHRC’s latest book ‘Islamic Metaphysics of Racism’ is now available to order.
978-1-909853-46-1 (Paperback) | 978-1-909853-47-8 (Digital) / algorithm / pub. October 2025 / £7.99 / 114 pages / author Dawud Walid foreword Imam Adeyinka Muhammad Mendes
For trade orders, please contact shop@ihrc.org or call (+44) 20 8904 4222.
For individual and small orders, buy here.
Table of Contents
Description
In Islamic Metaphysics of Racism, Dawud Walid explores the spiritual and metaphysical roots of racism through the lens of Islamic theology, Qur’anic teachings, and the science of purification of the soul (tazkiyyah al-nafs). Moving beyond political or sociological analyses, the book identifies racism as a manifestation of deep-seated spiritual maladies—arrogance, envy, ignorance, rage, fear, grief, and self-loathing—and offers remedies rooted in Islamic ethics and metaphysics.
With the murder of George Floyd and the resurgence of global anti-racism movements as a backdrop, Walid insists that no legislative or activist framework alone can eradicate racism unless it is accompanied by inner transformation. Drawing on the works of Imam al-Ghazali, Usman dan Fodio, Ahmadou Bamba, and the legacy of Malcolm X, Walid presents a spiritually anchored path of healing and redemption.
In the same vein as classical masters such as al-Ghazali, al-Muhasibi, and other luminaries of the Islamic tradition who wrote on the purification of the heart, Dawud Walid stands on their shoulders by seeking to understand contemporary social crises through the lens of intrinsic human diseases of the heart and their timeless remedies, making this spiritual wisdom urgently relevant to modern debates on racism and justice.
This book is both timely and enduring: a call to purify the soul, cleanse communities of prejudice, and reimagine human solidarity in light of divine truth.
About the Series
The Colour of Faith: Race, Creed, and Community in Islam is a pioneering series that seeks to provide diverse perspectives from Muslim scholars, academics, and activists on critical questions of race, identity, and belonging. Against the backdrop of polarised global debates, fuelled by politics and amplified by social media, the series brings forward Islam’s distinct vision of human equality, justice, and community.
Whilst the contributions may be divergent, they share a single aim: to explore Islamic perspectives on race, identity, and community, and to offer glimpses of a way forward amid the turmoil that surrounds us.
Key Features
* Unique Framework: Positions racism as a spiritual disease with metaphysical consequences, offering remedies through Islamic spirituality.
* Series Contribution: Part of The Colour of Faith series, exploring race, creed, and community in Islam from multiple perspectives.
* Timely Relevance: Speaks directly to post-2020 debates on racism, police brutality, and the inadequacy of purely secular “anti-racism” models.
* Scholarly yet Accessible: Engages Qur’anic exegesis, prophetic traditions, and classical scholarship while remaining approachable for general readers.
* For All Audiences: Written for Muslims and non-Muslims alike who seek ethical, spiritual, and practical ways of addressing racism.
Title: Islamic Metaphysics of Racism
Author: Dawud Walid
Foreword: Imam Adeyinka Muhammad Mendes
Publisher: Algorithm
Publication date: October 2025 (First edition)
Format: Paperback & Digital
ISBN: 978-1-909853-46-1 (Paperback) | 978-1-909853-47-8 (Digital)
Price: £7.99
Extent: 114 pages
Category: Religion / Islam / Race & Society / Social Justice
Series: The Colour of Faith: Race, Creed, and Community in Islam
Territory Rights: World
Trade orders from: IHRC Bookshop & Gallery, shop@ihrc.org, (+44) 20 8904 4222
Purchase here
