What I Believe [Hardcover]

Ramadan, the Oxford University theology professor and radical reformist, points to a growing negativity in perceptions of ordinary Muslims since the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America. Other "crises" causing resentment have ranged from the Danish cartoons affair - when artists were threatened with death for insulting the prophet - to the headscarf controversy still raging in France as part of a divisive "national identity" debate. Ramadan singles out remarks by Pope Benedict XVI who, in his Regensburg address of 2006 about the founding of European civilisation, all but excluded the Islamic contribution. "The list is getting longer and longer," writes Ramadan, pointing to Muslims feeling "stigmatisation and constant pressure".

The key to coping with such problems (ones which Ramadan, predictably but fairly, blames the media for magnifying into "juicy" scare stories) is "to resist the temptation to reduce one's identity to a single dimension". This means that western Muslims should not emphasise their religion as their unique defining characteristic. Instead, he writes, "our identities are multiple and constantly on the move". He urges members of marginalised communities to be "creative" in every field of life, to "fully participate in citizenship" and to escape the "minority reflex".

Ramadan - whose academic background extends to a distinctly non-Islamic PhD on Nietzsche - sees societies achieving, as in his own studies, "a true philosophy of pluralism". This would mix a loyalty to classical religious texts with the imperatives of life in modern, multicultural, western societies. Such confident advice is particularly clear as it relates to Muslim women, with Ramadan attacking "literalists" who propagate horrors including female circumcision, forced marriages, honour killings and domestic violence. He says "Women must be present in the religious community's decision circles, in organisations, in mosque managing bodies, and other places."1

"Things should be shaken up so that women can recover their proper place, but women themselves must also get organised." Such an emphasis on rights and responsibilities runs throughout "What I Believe", with Ramadan arguing that religious and cultural ghettoes benefit nobody. That said, he dislikes the word "integration" because, by definition, it "highlights differences, it defines caricatured entities, and maintains the idea that after several generations certain citizens remain guests, who are too different, who perpetually need to 'adapt'."

Ramadan says that, on the contrary, being a Muslim should be about striving to feel "comfortable and at home" in whichever society one finds oneself. Filling in the gaps left by the pope at Regensburg, he mentions the Islamic thinkers "who deeply contributed to both Europe and the west at large, nurturing and enriching them with their critical reflections."

Ramadan wants to resume this tradition, emphasising this shared past in everything from school curricula to official histories. He is only too well aware of the discrimination faced by western Muslims in their day-to-day lives, calling for a "genuine jihad" battling for mutual understanding and trust between communities.

It is a high ideal, but the book is not a naive one. Ramadan understands the modern world, and his religion's place within it: this book makes this abundantly clear.

1 i have paraphrased from nabila ramdan

Ramadan gives a great introduction to his work. He has become controversial because he seeks to critique both the Muslim world and the Western world. Of course, this prophetic voice offends people on both sides - but Ramadan makes his critiques in the spirit and hope of reconciliation. Western Muslims must not take on a victim mentality, but take ownership in the West as citizens of the West by respecting the laws of the country where they live. The West must refuse to define Muslims as a negative "other." Both need to move forward with programs that seek to include rather than exclude. Ramadan's project is demanding and will require discipline, because it is tempting for all people to take on a victim mentality and define the "other" in a negative light. But he is right: The Muslim presence in the West will not go away. The West needs to live up to it's ideals of Democracy and Muslims have, and should continue to be faithful Muslims in a Democratic context.

"What I believe" has 17 chapters, each ranging about 3-5 pages. Of course, no one can go into much depth in 3-5 pages, but this book is meant to be an introduction for people who want to learn something about Ramadan's work but don't have much time to read his larger books. For more, I recommend "Western Muslims and the Future of Islam."

For more, check out the Raven Foundation.

A great read,.. for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Want to know what Tariq Ramadan thinks about a range of topics? Then this is the book for you.

Only negative (why I didn't give it five stars) of the book, besides having to read each sentence two or three times - lol, is that since it's a synopsis of all of Ramadan's ideas it is sort of incoherent at times... Just felt like he covered so many topics in so few pages. But there is an underlying thread tying it all together so it wasn't too bad

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 11 reviews  3.7 out of 5 stars