Tariq RamadanRezensionen

L’aspetto che mi è piaciuto di più de L’Islam in Occidente è stato il suo essere ragionevole, il suo evidenziare come le posizioni del mondo islamico e dell’Occidente l’uno nei confronti dell’altro siano costruite su pregiudizi e preconcetti. Non che entrambi non abbiano legittimamente da biasimare l’altro per qualcosa, ma continuare a urlarsi contro («Ah, i musulmani sono tutti terroristi! L’Islam è una religione di guerra!» versus «Ah, l’Occidente è contro i musulmani! Non possiamo fare altro che combatterlo!») non ci sta portando da nessuna parte.

In questo libro, Ramadan tira le orecchie a tutti e ci consiglia di tornare ad avvicinarsi l’uno all’altro, cominciando dal capire le ragioni e i punti di vista reciproci. Nel 2006, anno di pubblicazione di questo libro, non eravamo ancora alla tensione odierna, ma continuo a rimanere molto sorpresa dal modo in cui i media, soprattutto quelli italiani con i quali ho più familiarità, raccontano degli attentanti.

Innanzi tutto, la storia secondo la quale l’Occidente sarebbe la vittima designata del terrorismo: a me piacerebbe vedere, invece, gli attacchi contestualizzati in ciò che accade in tutto il mondo. Poi sono piuttosto nauseata dalla scelta di far vedere ossessivamente immagini o video del panico o – peggio – delle vittime degli attacchi senza alcuno scopo se non quello di aumentare paura e insicurezza e fare il gioco dei terroristi.

E vogliamo parlare poi del giochino perverso che ci induce a pretendere la presa di distanza dal terrorismo da parte delle comunità islamiche, per poi ignorare del tutto gli sforzi da loro compiuti per arginare il fenomeno? Assurdamente si dà più spazio alla condanna del papa e alle opinioni di sedicenti esperti che non a un serio fact checking in grado di smontare le posizioni degli integralisti e limitare le loro possibilità di reclutamento.

Infatti, non mi pare si sia consapevoli del fatto che sconfiggere sul piano militare il terrorismo non ci assicurerà anche la morte delle loro idee: la retorica del «Uccidete pure me. L’idea che è in me non l’ucciderete mai» non vale solo l’antifascismo di Matteotti, ma anche per le idee infestanti, che necessitano di un lavoro costante e tenace per essere sradicate.

Quindi, nel mio piccolo, consiglio la lettura di libri come L’Islam in Occidente, che cerca di creare cultura, non di distruggerla.

El reformismo musulmán fue una de las consecuencias de la reflexión a partir de la segunda mitad del siglo XIX sobre el marasmo en que se encontraba la umma: culpa en parte del colonialismo, pero también de causas intrí­nsecas, entre los que tení­a particular relevancia la religión. A diferencia de las modernizadores, para los reformistas era precisamente el olvido de la religión, el alejamiento del islam, lo que habí­a provocado la decadencia del mundo musulmán, su sumisión al colonialismo occidental. Esta obra analiza el pensamiento reformista musulmán, tanto árabe (al-Afghani, Abduh, Rida) como turco (Nursi) e indio. Lo más destacado de ella es sin embargo el estudio del pensamiento de Hasan al-Banna, fundador de los Hermanos Musulmanes, como epígono del reformismo; el autor, nieto de al-Banna, aborda las ideas e inciativas polí­ticas de éste a partir de sus creencias, para poner de relieve la continuidad espiritual entre los creadores reformistas y al-Banna. Frente a tantas obras que analizan el islamismo desde perspectivas políticas o sociológicas, El reformismo musulmán tiene el interés de centrarse en el sustrato de creencias que animan de forma consciente la reflexión reformista, lo cual por otra parte arroja nueva luz sobre el debate islamista, al ofrecer criterios de legitimación ideológica por lo común poco o nada presentes en los autores occidentales. Una obra, por tanto, imprescindible en los planos histórico, teórico y polí­tico para conocer la realidad arabomusulmana actual. -
Muslim reformism was one of the consequences of the reflection from the second half of the nineteenth century on the stalemate in which the umma was located: partial blame for colonialism, but also for intrinsic causes, among which religion was particularly important . Unlike the modernizers, for the reformists it was precisely the forgetting of religion, the distancing of Islam, which had caused the decline of the Muslim world, its submission to Western colonialism. This work analyzes the Muslim reformist thinking, both Arabic (al-Afghani, Abduh, Rida) and Turkish (Nursi) and Indian. The most outstanding of it, however, is the study of the thought of Hasan al-Banna, founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, as an epigone of reformism; the author, grandson of al-Banna, approaches his ideas and political initiatives based on his beliefs, to highlight the spiritual continuity between the reformist creators and al-Banna. Faced with so many works that analyze Islam from political or sociological perspectives, Muslim reformism has the interest to focus on the substratum of beliefs that consciously animate the reformist reflection, which on the other hand sheds new light on the Islamist debate, offer criteria of ideological legitimation usually little or nothing present in Western authors. A work, therefore, essential in the historical, theoretical and political levels to know the current Arab-Muslim reality.

> Babelio : https://www.babelio.com/livres/Ramadan-Muhammad-vie-du-prophete--Les-enseignemen...
> BAnQ (La presse, 21 déc. 2006) : https://collections.banq.qc.ca/ark:/52327/2204930

Definitely changed my perspective, insightful and concise. Ramadan has a point and we all need to appreciate that.

> LES MUSULMANS D'OCCIDENT ET L'AVENIR DE L'ISLAM, de Tariq Ramadan. — Cet ouvrage soulève la question de l’intégration des communautés musulmanes en occident. L’auteur note aujourd’hui que, loin des médias, prend forme une « personnalité musulmane » issue de l’engagement de « plus en plus de jeunes et d’intellectuels qui cherchent les moyens de vivre en harmonie leur foi tout en étant partie prenante des sociétés qui sont les leurs désormais ». Il cherche à définir un cadre, assimilable à l’occident, ouvrant aux musulmans un chemin vers l’autonomie intellectuelle et politique tant à l’égard du pays d’accueil avec lequel pourrait se nouer un rapport adulte (et non basé sur la victimisation) qu’à l’égard des pays d’origine. Une relecture des sources religieuses et juridiques en est la base. En effet, l’Occident manque cruellement d’écoles de pensée islamiques qui puissent participer à l’émergence d’un islam vivant en harmonie avec le mode de vie occidental. Ed. Actes Sud, 2003 - 384 p.
—3e millénaire, (67), Printemps 2003

In his introduction Tariq Ramadan writes that this is not an apologetic book, no defense of Islam against false accusations. And yet: on almost every page Ramadan corrects a wrong interpretation of Muslim practices, by the West or by Muslims themselves. So, without doubt, this is an apologetical book. But let us be clear: he writes with verve, and with - for me, as non-specialist - convincing arguments.

Ramadan clearly represents a very liberal interpretation of Islam. He constantly points to the need for weighing and interpreting both the holy texts as the traditions and practices; the historical and linguistic context must always be taken into account, and human reason must be able to do its work. Because, according to Ramadan, ultimately Islam is a project of humanization, both individually and collectively; a project that always wants to bring human dignity and freedom to a higher level. Of course, this is based on the belief in that one god, Allah, and the conviction that it is the destiny of man to be taken up in that divinity after his death. It strikes me how much Ramadan constantly puts emphasis on spiritual growth, and it has pleasantly surprised me how refined that Islamic spirituality is or can be. In this sense, this little book is a nice acquaintance, which gives a different view of a very controversial phenomenon.

For decades now, Ramadan has been under attack on all sides, and I can see why. In the first place by Western critics who blame him for speaking with a double tongue: liberal and progressive to a western audience, but rather conservative and sometimes even radical to Muslims themselves (he’s blamed especially for his defense of the Palestinian cause). I cannot judge that. What I know is that in this booklet I hear an intelligent and wise man who argues for moderation, for freedom and dignity, for diversity and critical sense, but also for a respectful interpretation of Islam that comes very close to Sufism, the spiritual-mystical movement within Islam, which mainly focuses on inner conversion and growth.

That he also has a lot of enemies on the side of radical, fundamentalist Muslims does not surprise me, because he again and again stresses how wrong they are, and also condemns the many dictatorial regimes and practices in countries with a Muslim majority, and he’s especially outspoken about the terrorist movements. Ramadan is very clear in his rejection of a literal and traditionalist interpretation of Islam and a sectarian-xenophobic orientation as a community of individual. He rightly calls on Muslims in the West not to be so fiercely focused on their own identity, but rather to participate constructively in humanizing the society of which they are a part. At the same time, he is also clear in his rejection of the growing Islamophobia of the West, which only makes matters more difficult.

One point of criticism on this book is that Ramadan almost exclusively focuses on Islam as it is known and practiced in the Middle East, especially in the Arab countries. Only in the end does he focuses on the problems of Muslims as a minority group in Western secular countries. Of course, this is only a small introduction and Ramadan makes such a clear statement about the diversity within Islam, but more attention to the completely different context in which Islam has evolved in Africa and Asia would have been appropriate.

I can certainly recommend this book, although it is sometimes difficult to read because of its density. And then, as far as the person of Tariq Ramadan is concerned, who – at the time of my review – is held in a French prison (pending his process) and is accused by several women of rape: I cannot ignore this, but let justice do its work; perhaps Ramadan – as a male – is only a weak person, and then he must undergo his proper punishment, but - based on this book - Ramadan certainly is a great and challenging intellectual.

PS. For those of you that would object to my appreciation of this book: in the coming months I'm going to read other, rather more critical books on Islam, always keeping an open mind, a critical judgement, and respect for all things, human, including religion.

The most eloquent book that addresses the big questions in life.

First of all you should know I’m an Irish Catholic so I was very grateful for the opportunity to read this to learn more about Islam from a pre-eminent source.

I was raised by a father who was insistent we learn and respect other faiths because our own family had suffered severe losses for the crime of being Catholic in Ireland. He taught us about the Tanakh, Quran, and other sacred scriptures to find balance with the Catholic Bible used in our own culture.

In the States I often see and hear about those in the Muslim faith being treated very similarly to the way my own family was and do not want to be counted among the ignorant. I feel those who are of a similar mind in wanting to enrich their understanding would do well to pick this up.

This text was written so that you could have absolutely no familiarity or a media educated familiarity to Islam and be able to easily grasp the tenets of the faith. There is no reason a person who thoroughly reads this work and takes time to understand what the author is teaching can walk away still feigning ignorance of this beautiful faith.

His writing style is so easy to follow that this is less like those boring texts you feel forced to read for class and more like a journey to something deeper and more meaningful. You can’t help but get caught up in the passion whispering through his words and become enthralled with the truth of what Muslims seek.

Even a Non-Muslim, such as myself, can appreciate and enjoy what is being taught on these pages. I ended feeling like not only had I learned about something far greater than myself but felt like I finally understood why my father pushed us to explore beyond the mass and rosaries we use in our culture. I have come away with believing not only is it possible to believe in different things but to understand and accept another’s position without feeling like my own is threatened.

I hope others take the time to study this book and find a mesmerizing experience as well.

This is an important book. Tariq Ramadan has done us all a favour by writing this book.

The structure is superb, and takes the uninitiated through the entire history. Then, he introduces you to the principles, and then the practises,

He ends with some of the challenges, and debunks many myths and distortions. Unfortunately, we live in the world of the distortions.

The book is well written, lucid, well researched and balances.

Kudos to him for a masterpiece

The current developments in the Middle East develop at such a rapid pace that The Arab awakening, first published in 2012 was already outdated by 2015. For instance, the book does not at all discuss the rise of ISIS, which would cast a very black cloud over the relatively optimistic outlook of the book.

The Arab awakening seems to be a book that was thrown together in a hurry. The book 's length is no more than 162 pages, followed by 26 appendices covering another circa 100 pages. These 26 appendices consist of a compilation of mostly short blog postings and news paper articles and columns.

The Arab awakening seems to be a book for the specialist reader rather than the general reading public. It gives a good idea of the function of the Internet in the spread and development of the liberatory movement, known as the Arab Spring.

This was honest and included some historical details that others might not include from pre-islam years. It was excellent and I learned a lot even though I read other biographies of his before.

This was our second book for the Ill Fated Muslim Book Club.

This is a scholarly approach to Muslims living in Europe and the challenges they face in living as a religious minority. Challenges include coping with the majority population as well as dealing with extremist "live in the Muslim ghetto" mentality conservative Muslims.

Tariq Ramadan is the current point man for the Muslim intelligensia in Europe, and he gained a great deal of fame when Bush et al refused to give him an entry VISA into the USA. Obama and company have let him come through the USA, and he has been making a lot of book tours since.

Word of our book club had spread, and we now had slated to join some very high flying local celebrities. We were excited. However, celebrity life is very busy, and the said celebrities really don't have time to read. Sometimes they get their wives to read, but wives get busy with small chidren. We actually had one celebrity READING THE BOOK DURING DINNER, who in the end sniffed, "American Muslims are far ahead of the Europeans. I have heard all this stuff before.".

Unfortunately, this was the attitude of most of the American Muslims, "We are ahead of the European Muslims politically. They ought to be learning from us, we have nothing to learn from them. They are backward." That is the sound of my teeth grinding.

In retrospect, we ought to have chosen Ramadan's "What I Believe" because it is shorter and more to the point. Excellent for Muslim attention spans.

Then three months later, Tariq Ramadan started his USA book tour, and everyone was touting how "brilliant' he was. Grr..

The best advice Tariq Ramadan gave American Muslims? "Read more. Sit down and read a book."

How can you not love this man?

As nice and simple as the man himself (pbuh)½

Tariq Ramadan has been called a "progressive voice within Islam". This book presents a view of Islam that is rarely seen in the West. The "Lessons from the Life of Muhammed" presented by Ramadan provide a face to Islam completely different than what we are bombarded with each evening on the news. Worth reading.½