When raising Muslim children, it is very important to raise them with a high level of social consciousness and belongingness to the Ummah. The child from a young age should be able to identify as Muslim and give little importance to his tribal, ethnic, or cultural background.

As we know, racism and tribalism has no place in Islam. However, children might be pushed to have that trait in them and consider themselves superior to other people based on the tribe or the place they come from. Parents and educators should teach children the Islamic stance on racism/tribalism, and show how senseless it is.

Allah says:
"And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your languages and your colors. Indeed in that are signs for those of knowledge."
(Ar-Room : 22)

"O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted."
(Al-Hujuraat : 13)

So, as we see from the above verses, language and colour have nothing to do with our status in front of God, but rather our piety in the sight of Allah. And children should be made to understand this.

The Prophet (SAW) said during the farewell Hajj:
“Oh people, your Lord is One! Know that there is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab or of a non-Arab over an Arab, or of a white over a black or of a black over a white, except through devotion to Allah" (Musnad Imaam Ahmad)

The above statement was said during the farewell hajj to the Sahaba that were present. This was all in order to eradicate this plague of Jahiliyyah in the form of racism.

Children can be taught how Islam accomodates every tribe and nationality by teaching them about Hajj where people from various tribes and nationalities travel to Saudi Arabia; gathering to worship Allah and performing the same rites & rituals no matter who they are or where they hail from.

Another amazing point that can be used to combat Tribalism/Nationalism in children is telling them stories about the various Sahaba that were non Arabs (such as the likes of Bilaal ibn Rabaah and Salmaan al-Faarisi). Children will want to imitate such positive figures because of their piety and story! The fact that they are of different ethnic groups will be unimportant to them.

The last and the most important is to model such behavior of embracing anyone no matter his tribe/nationality. Your children should see you relating with people from a different background as yours and saying good about them; not always shunning people because of their tribes/nationalities. They should also see you considering every Muslim as your brother/sister in Islam, as we are all part of one Ummah, the Ummah of the Prophet SAW.

May Allah allow us to be people who shun racism and tribalism in all its forms and be able to effectively teach this lesson to our kids.