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Is “Abeed” an Islamic Derogatory Term for Black People?
Understanding Language, Culture, and Identity in Islam
In Judaism, “Kushi” is a derogatory term for Black people. For more information, please refer to our article here.
One piece of feedback I received pertained to the Arabic word “abeed.”
“Abeed” or “Ibad” is the Arabic term for slaves, with the singular form being “abd.”
The counter-argument presented is as follows:
Just as “Kushi” is a derogatory term for Black people in Judaism, “abeed” is considered a derogatory term for Black people in Islam, and some argue that its implications are even more severe within the Islamic context.
Cool story bro. Now write an article on the use of عبيد (abeed) in Palestine and the greater Arabic world. That’s a term used far more often in daily use than the Talmudic reference you just highlighted.
That’s not true!
