Tariq Ramadan - European Muslim Innovator
Such is the task left to Professor Tariq Ramadhan and a growing number of European muslims. His maternal grandfather was Hasan al-Banna, the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood in Eqypt. His father, Said Ramadhan fled Egypt due to the persecution of the Brotherhood and settled in Switzerland. Tariq Ramadhan studied philosophy and French literature, having doctrates in Philosophy and another in Islam. He also studied Arabic and Islam in Azhar university in Cairo. He held the position of lecturer of Religion and Philosophy at the University of Fribourg and the College de Saussure, Geneva. In February 2004, he accepted a tenure position of Luce professor of religion at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. However in late July 2004, his visa was revoked by the State Department and he was forced to return to Switzerland. No specific reason was cited for the visa revocation, just a general reference to stricter security measures. In December 2004, Ramadhan submitted his resignation to Notre Dame as the State Department refused to revise its judgement.
Started teaching at St Antony's College in October 2005 at the University of Oxford on a Visiting Fellowship
Tariq Ramadan is married and has 4 children. His wife is French and converted to Islam after their marriage.
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True Humility in Islam
By Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradawi*
July 11, 2005
Some people mistake righteousness and piety with weakness and humiliation . In their view, being a devoted person implies taking a negative position and isolating oneself from the events of life. They have a distorted vision of the morals preached by Islam; for example, they understand submission as tantamount to passivity and fatalism. Humbleness, in this context, is taken to mean accepting oppression and giving up all means and manifestations of strength.
Refuting this misconception, Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradawi states:
The true concept of Islam has nothing to do with such spiritlessness or weakness. In fact, iman (faith) has always been the source of strength and might, high morals, and strong personality.
Once `Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) saw a man who, while performing Prayer, was totally withdrawn and dispirited, as if coming from among the dead. `Umar reacted angrily to such attitude and said to the man, “Do not incorporate into our religious rites aspects of death. Submissiveness is that of the heart not of appearance.”
`Umar was famous for his saying “O Allah! I seek refuge in You from fake submissiveness.” People said, “What is fake submissiveness?” `Umar replied, “To have a humble body, but not a humble heart.” Ash-Shifa’ bint `Abdullah saw some youth walking listlessly, so she asked, “Who are those people?” “They are ascetics,” was the answer. She commented, “`Umar, though a real ascetic, used to walk quickly, speak loudly, and hit severely,” indicating that he was strong.
While being the example of modesty and humbleness, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to walk quickly as if coming down from a hill. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) described him: “I have never seen a person with a countenance more beautiful than that of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as if sun was shining in his face. I have never seen a person quicker in pace than him, as if land is folded before his feet.”.
* Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradawi is the head of the European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR), and the president of the International Association of Muslim Scholars (IAMS). He has been active in the field of da`wah and the Islamic movement for more than half a century.
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Optimism in the Muslim Psyche
There is a strand of thinking among Muslims that fosters pessimism and fatalism which unfortunately some attempt to justify by various sayings of the Prophet. Several ahadith that portray the coming of Judgement Day and various upheaval are interpreted as dark premonitions that make work for change or reform a futile endeavour.
Rather than taking these in context, perhaps it is more prudent to consider the following verses of the Qur'an:
“He it is who hath sent His messenger with the guidance and the Religion of Truth, that He may cause it to prevail over all religion, however much the idolaters may be averse.” (At-Tawbah: 33)
“Fain would they put out the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light however much the disbelievers are averse.” (As-Saff: 8)
The Sunnah of the Prophet is replete with sayings that project a bright future for the Muslim community:
“Almighty Allah has gathered the earth for me so that I could see all its corners. My nation will rule over all that which Almighty Allah has gathered for me.”
(Sahih Muslim)
“This
matter (i.e. Islam) will spread to cover all area where there is
night and day. Allah will never leave a house in a rural area or in
urban community without its people being Muslims. Honor is for
those who embrace it (i.e. Islam) while disbelievers are doomed to
disgrace and humiliation.”
(Ibn Hibban)
It
is easy to reconcile the various textual evidence but clearly it
suffices to say that Islam does not condone pessimism. Although
this tendency can be easily understood in this post 9/11
environment the text clearly aim to develop a personality that see
opportunity in every hardship, that see good in many events and
people alike, whether Muslims or non-Muslims.
The bitter reality of Muslim countries may make this optimism look
like pure romanticism especially when Muslims seem to continuously
harp on the glorious past. Indeed we would be better placed to
accept the stark reality that current Muslim thinking and the
situation on the ground are far removed from ideals and that to
always be ready to clarify the road map to revival would serve the
cause much better.