“Still I have been invited I don't know how many times to Turkey, where Turkey has been following very quickly in the footsteps of what is sometimes referred to as the movement of cyber-dissidents. They have been training young people and also encouraging them to come into contact with western Muslims.” PeopleKnowsHas BeensStillsSometimesYoungKnow HowMovementTrainingWesternFollowingContactInvitedTurkeysFootstepsCyberDissidents Author:Tariq Ramadan
“I don't like this vision that Turkey is successful because it is as successful as the western powers in economic terms. But I do think they are trying to find a new space in the multi-polar world, and this is what I am advocating. I don't think that Muslims have an alternative model.” ThinkingWorldTryingTermSpaceVisionSuccessfulEconomicModelsWesternAlternativesTurkeysAdvocating Author:Tariq Ramadan
“An 'Islamic economy' or 'Islamic finance' doesn't mean anything to me. But I do think that in the multi-polar world, it is time to find new partners, to find a new balance in the economic order. And this could help you to find an alternative way forward.” ThinkingWorldWayMeanHelpingOrderEconomyEconomicBalancePartnersFinanceAlternativesIslamicWay ForwardEconomic Order Author:Tariq Ramadan
“Drafting of the constitutions is interesting and the discussions around them revealing in many ways. I take it as a discussion of very important symbols revealing many different problems. My take at the beginning was to warn that Tunisia might be the only successful country, the only one to justify us in talking about the spring, while all the other countries were less successful, if not failing. Now the point is that even in Tunisia it is not going to be easy, and this is where we have a problem.” IfsWayImportantDifferentCountryProblemMightEasyInterestingTalkingSuccessfulFailingSpringConstitutionSymbolsDiscussionJustifyOther CountriesRevealingDraftingTunisia Author:Tariq Ramadan
“The problem is that the constitution should have been and was an opportunity, exactly as Moncef Marzouki tried to do, to bring together the secularists and Islamists.” ShouldHas BeensProblemTogetherOpportunityShould HaveConstitutionShould Have BeenIslamists Author:Tariq Ramadan
“Political confusion starts with terminology confusion.” PoliticalConfusionTerminology Author:Tariq Ramadan
“Islamism implies some sort of political and social plan for Muslim people. In that classification, we find different categories. Legalist ones, traditional ones and revolutionary ones. Some of them are revolutionary but are non-violent, others are extremely violent. There are also the ones we call the literalists, like the Egyptian party Hizb al-Nour that used to be against democracy and now is getting into the political game.” PeopleDifferentPoliticalUsedGamesSocialPartyDemocracyPlansViolentTraditionalUsed To BeRevolutionaryAlsCategoriesEgyptianClassificationNon ViolentPolitical Games Author:Tariq Ramadan
“There is something which is going to be one of the main challenges in the Muslim world today, in the Muslim-majority countries in the Arab world, is the religious credibility. How are you going to react to what is said about Islam? So, by touching the prophet of Islam, the reaction should be, who is going to be the guardian?” WorldShouldSaidCountryTodayChallengesReligiousMajorityIslamReactionsProphetTouchingGuardianCredibilityWorld TodayArab WorldMuslim World Author:Tariq Ramadan
“Everywhere the Salafi are pushing by saying, "We are the guardian, and we are resisting any kind of relationship to the West or provocation coming from the West." And internally, it's unsettling the whole situation. Now in Tunisian, in Libya, in Syria, in Egypt, the clash between the literalists and - the Islamists or the reformists is something which is going to be part of what we have to deal with as to the future of America.” KindWholeAmericaDealsSituationWestPushingSyriaEgyptGuardianClashResistingLibyaProvocationIslamistsFuture Of America Author:Tariq Ramadan
“Even after the whole democratization process, it's quite clear that the United States are not seen in a positive way in all the Muslim-majority countries - in Egypt, in Libya, even in Tunisia - even though we have now a kind of trying to be recognized as democrats by the Islamists who are running, you know, Tunisia and Egypt. But the popular sentiment is very, very negative.” KnowsWayTryingKindCountryStatesWholeRunningProcessUnitedUnited StatesClearNegativeMajorityDemocratSentimentsEgyptLibyaIslamistsDemocratizationTunisia Author:Tariq Ramadan
“What we have within the Sunni tradition is this clash between the literalists and all the other trends and the Salafi movement, that are very much acting on the ground and using the popular sentiment to act against the West.” ActingMovementTraditionWestSentimentsTrendsClash Author:Tariq Ramadan
“Salafi is a very broad concept in Islam. What we have now is, like, for example, the Nour Party in Egypt or the Salafi in Tunisia are people who, in fact, we call very often Wahhabi, following the Saudi school of thought and law. And they are literalists in the way where it's black and white, there's a very narrow interpretation of the scriptural sources. For decades, we knew that they were there, but they were not involved in politics. What is completely new for all of us over the last years is that they are now within the political arena and playing the democratic game.” PeopleWayYearsFactsSchoolLastsLawPoliticalGamesBlackWhitePartyExampleSourceInvolvedConceptsDemocraticIslamFollowingDecadesInterpretationBroadsBlack And WhiteLast YearEgyptArenaSaudisTunisia Author:Tariq Ramadan
“Populism is everywhere. We have religious populism in the Muslim-majority countries as much as we have populism in the United States of America.” CountryStatesAmericaReligiousUnitedUnited StatesMajorityUnited States Of AmericaPopulism Author:Tariq Ramadan
“What is irreversible in the Arab world is this intellectual revolution, the awakening that we can get rid of dictators. That is here, and the people have this sentiment and this political power. They feel that they can do it, and it's still there. At the same time, we don't know what is going to happen. So to be very quick by saying, "Oh, revolutions and Arab Spring," and - you know, what I'm advocating is to take a cautious optimism as the starting point of our analysis and to look at what is happening.” PeopleKnowsWorldFeelsLooksStillsHappensPoliticalCan DoRevolutionIntellectualSpringHappeningsOptimismStartingAwakeningAnalysisSentimentsDictatorCautiousStarting PointPolitical PowerAdvocatingIrreversibleArab WorldArab Spring Author:Tariq Ramadan
“The perception in the Arab world now is that we are having secularists against Islamists, and that's it. So the secularists are progressive; the Islamists are reactionary, conservative. This perception is wrong.” WorldPerceptionConservativeProgressiveReactionariesArab WorldIslamists Author:Tariq Ramadan
“If Barack Obama was to say Egypt, with the Muslim Brotherhood, is an ally, he's going to be destroyed here by, you know, the opposition saying, "How come you can say that the Islamists are your ally when these people are the same who are Hamas, and Hamas is against Israel?" It's the end of it. So he's saying, "We are just wait and see; we are trying to deal."” PeopleIfsKnowsTryingEndsWaitingDealsIsraelDestroyedBarackOppositionAlliesBrotherhoodEgyptHamasIslamistsMuslim Brotherhood Author:Tariq Ramadan
“We should know that the American administration is very much involved with the Egyptian army. And when you talk about the Egyptian army, we don't only talk about, you know, political power, we talk about economic power.” KnowsShouldPoliticalEconomicInvolvedArmyAdministrationPolitical PowerEgyptianEconomic Power Author:Tariq Ramadan
“The United States of America or the Western countries, they don't have a problem with Islamists as long as they are neoliberal capitalists and promoting the economic order. And the best example is the petro-monarchies. The petro-monarchies, they don't want democracy. They say there is no democracy in Islam. But they are within the economic system.” WantLongCountryStatesProblemAmericaOrderUnitedUnited StatesDemocracyEconomicExampleIslamWesternCapitalistUnited States Of AmericaPromotingMonarchyEconomic SystemsIslamistsEconomic Order Author:Tariq Ramadan
“You can't have anything happening today within the petro-monarchies, is going to be too risky for the United States and the oil interests there.” StatesTodayInterestUnitedUnited StatesHappeningsOilMonarchy Author:Tariq Ramadan
“Unsettled Middle East, in these times where the people are trying to find their way towards democracy, could be interesting for many reasons - for weapons to be sold, for new geostrategic interests to be protected, and something that we are not talking about, which is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The people who are lost in the whole discussion here are the Palestinians. We have demonstrations in Palestine in West Bank. Nobody is covering this. It's as if they don't exist anymore. And this is, in fact, central. And Israel is silent.” PeopleIfsWayTryingReasonWholeFactsLostInterestInterestingTalkingDemocracyMiddleConflictWeaponsSilentWestIsraelEastDiscussionMiddle EastProtectedPalestinianPalestineIsraeliDemonstrationCoveringNot TalkingIsraeli Palestinian Conflict Author:Tariq Ramadan
“The BRIC countries - Brazil, India, China, Turkey, South Africa, Indonesia even, and Russia - are now new actors. Over the last eight years, China multiplied by seven its economic presence and penetration in the Middle East. And if this happens on economic terms and there is a shift towards the East, the relationship between these countries and Israel is completely different from the United States. And it means that the challenges are going to be different, because China is not supporting Israel the way the U.S. are supporting Israel.” IfsWayYearsMeanDifferentCountryStatesHappensLastsActorsTermChallengesUnitedUnited StatesEconomicMiddleIndiaSouthSevenIsraelChinaEightEastRussiaMiddle EastSouth AfricaTurkeysIndonesiaBrazilPenetrationBrics Author:Tariq Ramadan
“In the Muslim-majority countries you can't do without Islam, we can't do without their culture, in which way they are going to come back to this Islamic reference to find a way to deal with the true challenges and not the superficial political questions.” WayCountryPoliticalCultureChallengesDealsMajorityIslamIslamicSuperficial Author:Tariq Ramadan
“As Western Muslims and American Muslims, we need to understand that the values and principles we promote are not only Muslim values. American Muslims live in a country where justice, dignity, freedom and equality are essential values.” NeedsCountryValuesJusticePrinciplesEssentialsDignityWesternFreedom And Equality Author:Tariq Ramadan
“The Muslim contribution to the future of America is to not only speak out as Muslims, but to also speak out as citizens in the name of our common values. Our main contribution is to reconcile the American society with its own values, those that are not in contradiction to Islam. We have a duty of consistency.” AmericaValuesNamesSpeakCommonDutyCitizensIslamContributionContradictionConsistencyReconcileSpeaks OutAmerican SocietyFuture Of America Author:Tariq Ramadan
“Politics is mainly about interests. As Muslim citizens, we understand these interests but we should put principles and dignity beyond everything.” ShouldInterestPrinciplesCitizensDignity Author:Tariq Ramadan
“As Muslims, our interests are our values. In any society, be it in Western or Muslim-majority countries, our duty is that of critical loyalty: Staying loyal to our countries by always being critically engaged in the name of the principles of justice, equality and human brotherhood. We should be the ethical and moral voice wherever we are by saying that, even though we understand economic and geo-strategic interests, we cannot accept a violation of these principles by any society.” ShouldHumansCountryValuesNamesVoiceInterestJusticeAcceptingMoralPrinciplesEconomicDutyMajorityWesternCriticalLoyaltyOur CountryEngagedStayingEthicalBrotherhoodLoyalViolationStrategicJustice Equality Author:Tariq Ramadan
“In the West or anywhere else, the treatment of people in an undignified way (structural and institutionalized racism against Latinos or African American citizens) as well as a dangerous dehumanization of some people (in Palestine, Iraq, Africa or Asia) are simply unacceptable.” PeopleWayWellsDangerousCitizensRacismWestIraqAfrican AmericanTreatmentAsiaPalestineLatinoAmerican CitizensDehumanization Author:Tariq Ramadan
“As Muslims, we must have an active presence based on ethical and moral consistency. We need to be very vocal, to inform people, to demonstrate when necessary. We need to write so that the people understand that what they are getting from the media and politicians is biased and not accurate. And this is true especially when it comes to some communities within the U.S. or with respect to the Middle East and Africa. This is what I am expecting from a new generation of leaders: Meet these expectations of moral consistency.” PeopleNeedsWritingCommunityLeaderMoralGenerationsMiddleMediaPoliticianExpectationsActiveEastEthicalMiddle EastExpectingAccurateConsistencyVocalNew GenerationBiased Author:Tariq Ramadan
“American Muslims are already within the system. We should stop isolating ourselves by thinking we are powerless. The youngest generations of Americans have a better opinion of Islam because they interact with Muslims. Half of young American citizens now are supporting the Palestinians rather than the Israelis. Things are moving.” ThinkingShouldMovingYoungHalfOpinionGenerationsCitizensIslamPalestinianPowerlessAmerican Citizens Author:Tariq Ramadan
“If you do your work, if you are committed at the grassroots level, if you have a vision for the long run (not only short-sighted interest), you can change public opinion.” IfsLongRunningInterestLevelsVisionOpinionCommittedLong RunsPublic OpinionGrassrootsShort Sighted Author:Tariq Ramadan
“If you are only concerned with international issues and/or the power of some lobbies that are influencing American policy, then you are isolating yourselves. You are powerless in your mind when you don't understand the meaning and quality of your own real power.” IfsMindRealQualityIssuesInfluencePolicyConcernedInternationalPowerlessReal Power Author:Tariq Ramadan
“This is the problem we have with many Muslim leaders: They claim to differentiate between domestic and foreign issues and they are obsessed with being accepted, at sitting at the table of power in order to talk (or rather to listen) and to be tolerated. This is the starting point of our weakness. It is in our minds because we do not realize we are part of the system.” MindProblemOrderRealizingLeaderIssuesWeaknessSittingClaimsTablesStartingAcceptedObsessedStarting PointDifferentiateBeing Accepted Author:Tariq Ramadan
“For Muslims, the source of everything we do is based in the belief that there is one God, and this one God is revealing to us there is one humanity with equal dignity for each, beyond faith, color and social status. Whatever your status, color, background or religion, you have the same dignity.” HumanityBeliefSocialColorSourceEqualDignityBackgroundsRevealingSocial Status Author:Tariq Ramadan
“As Muslims, we are all equals, we abide by the laws and we understand that we have to be active citizens wherever we are. Our goals are first to live by our principles, to remind people of these values, to reconcile our respective societies with these shared universal values and to try our best to push for a spiritual agenda with more ethics in society, in politics, in economics, and in culture.” PeopleTryingFirstsSpiritualLawValuesCultureGoalPrinciplesCitizensEthicsEconomicsUniversalActiveAgendasLive ByReconcile Author:Tariq Ramadan
“The singularity of Islam is its universality. As American citizens and as Muslims, you need to show there is something specific, namely our moral singularity. We believe there is one God and this one God is pushing us to reach universal values by liberating ourselves from our ego and by serving humanity. We must be involved in this by all means necessary, in a nonviolent way, through the legal, media, economic and cultural systems. We cannot achieve this if there is no courage, if we are not ready to sacrifice.” IfsWayNeedsBelieveMeanShowsValuesHumanityMoralSacrificeEconomicAchieveMediaReadyCitizensInvolvedEgoUniversalIslamPushingServingLiberatingNot ReadyAmerican CitizensSingularityUniversality Author:Tariq Ramadan
“What we get from all religions especially from the Prophet's life, peace be upon him, is that there is no way to reach peace if we are not ready to sacrifice, not ready to strive, not courageous enough to face the powers here and the dictators who don't care about humanity or human life.” IfsWayHumansEnoughCareFacesHumanitySacrificeReadyStriveDon't CareHuman LifeProphetCourageousDictatorNot Ready Author:Tariq Ramadan
“There must be a very clear understanding that you cannot work for peace if you are not ready to struggle. And this is the very meaning of jihad: to manage your intention to get your inner peace when it comes to the spiritual journey. In our society, that means face injustice and hypocrisy, face the dictators, the exploiters, the oppressors if you want to free the oppressed, if you want peace based on justice.” IfsWantMeanFacesSpiritualUnderstandingJusticeStruggleClearJourneyReadyIntentionInjusticeInner PeaceManageHypocrisyOur SocietyDictatorOppressedOppressorsNot ReadySpiritual JourneyJihadVery Mean Author:Tariq Ramadan
“The link between domestic policy and international affairs is essential: We cannot say we care about domestic issues and we leave international politics, and the opposite is wrong as well. Both are connected and should be addressed together.” ShouldWellsCareTogetherIssuesPolicyEssentialsOppositesAffairInternationalConnectedLinksInternational AffairsDomestic Policy Author:Tariq Ramadan
“Anyone who tries to separate or divorce domestic politics from international politics does not get it, and that might be dangerous for the future of Western Muslims.” TryingDoeMightDangerousWesternInternationalDivorce Author:Tariq Ramadan
“Shouldn't the American leadership be addressing what is happening in America, with its domestic policies on racism, discrimination, illegal monitoring, solitary confinement, torture, Guantanamo Bay and any other social and political issues related to the American society not directly connected to Islam? American Muslims must speak out and be involved as well in international policies and, through their institutions, they should raise their voice. This is the way you serve the community.” WayShouldWellsAmericaPoliticalSpeakSocialVoiceCommunityIssuesPolicyInvolvedRacismHappeningsRaisesInstitutionsIslamInternationalConnectedDiscriminationRelatedTortureIllegalSolitarySpeaks OutAmerican SocietyConfinementMonitoringGuantanamoPolitical IssuesSolitary ConfinementGuantanamo BayAmerican LeadershipDomestic Policy Author:Tariq Ramadan
“I understand the need to serve the community by talking about marriage or halal food. But you should also lead with vision, wisdom and courage.” NeedsShouldCommunityTalkingVisionHalal Author:Tariq Ramadan
“Islam is a religion of justice and dignity, and we are taught to never keep silent when facing injustice, discrimination and double standards.” JusticeTaughtStandardsDignitySilentIslamInjusticeDiscriminationDouble Standard Author:Tariq Ramadan
“Sometimes people confuse silence as wisdom when in fact it is compromise.” PeopleSometimesFactsSilenceCompromise Author:Tariq Ramadan
“There is a Sufi trend, a madhabi Sufi trend, and I don't have any problem with this. What is not acceptable is that, first, some scholars are trying to show to the audience that they are open to other trends. However, when it comes to the retreat or the panels, they don't want to be with some of us because they are scared of being exposed.” WantTryingFirstsShowsProblemAudienceScaredTrendsExposedAcceptableScholarRetreatSufi Author:Tariq Ramadan
“Muslims, scholars or not, are on the side of the oppressed and never on the side of the oppressors. Some scholars claim they don't do politics but if you listen to their statements in the Middle East or in other conferences, they support corrupt regimes and despots, such as as-Sissi.” IfsSidesSupportMiddleClaimsEastStatementsRegimesScholarMiddle EastOppressedConferencesOppressorsDespots Author:Tariq Ramadan
“The very essence of the Sufi spiritual tradition requires you to purify your heart, to liberate yourself from your ego and to be courageous in facing any corrupt power, injustice and oppression. Unfortunately, colonial powers pushed an agenda by using Sufism against resistance, and some ulama played that game in the past and in the present.” HeartPastSpiritualGamesEgoTraditionEssenceInjusticeResistanceOppressionAgendasCourageousSufismSufiBe CourageousInjustice And OppressionCorrupt Power Author:Tariq Ramadan
“True Sufism is resistance: spiritual, intellectual, social, cultural, political and economic resistance. It cannot be, for sure, supporting dictators.” SpiritualPoliticalSocialEconomicIntellectualResistanceSufismDictator Author:Tariq Ramadan
“To those who say "Sufism is apolitical" or "no politics," I respond: "No politics is politics." Look at the very old African Sufi tradition, the Asian Sufi tradition, or the North African Sufi tradition. Then you get it and understand what Sufism is all about wisdom, courage and resistance.” LooksTraditionResistanceSufismSufiAsianApolitical Author:Tariq Ramadan
“I talk to the young generation and advise them to be both fully Muslim and fully Western citizens, to be free, to speak out, to express themselves. We have new generations of Muslims who were born in the West, coming from within, and they are well educated and they understand. Some sisters and brothers are ready, yes, even though I can see young sisters and brothers who are also obsessed with their social status, their titles, their salary and are scared to not be tolerated.” WellsI CanYoungSpeakSocialBornGenerationsReadyBrotherCitizensWestWesternScaredEducatedTitlesObsessedBrothers And SistersSalaryAdviseNew GenerationSpeaks OutWell EducatedSocial StatusYoung Generation Author:Tariq Ramadan
“I can see both trends among the youths: people who are ready for a constructive, critical and active presence, and others who are ready to become invisible Muslims and to compromise to be accepted. I put my hope in the former and pray for the latter.” PeopleI CanYouthReadyPrayingCriticalActiveAcceptedInvisibleCompromiseFormerLatterTrendsConstructive Author:Tariq Ramadan
