Muslim scholar tackles ?clash of perceptions’

City JournalHe’s soft-spoken, calm and without a hint of pride. But Tariq Ramadan, named by Timemagazine as one of the 100 greatest innovators of the 21st century, is a figure who always seems to inspire debate.

Ramadan led a lively lecture and subsequent discussion (hosted by the CBC’s Kathleen Petty) that stretched long past it’s 7 p.m. start time.

Asking deep questions like “What does the West need today?” and “Can the Muslim world engage in a reasoned and peaceful debate?”, Ramadan spoke on a range of issues to a packed house at the Ottawa Little Theatre on Dec. 21.

“For years, I’ve been asked ‘What is the main objective of Islam?’” he said to the eclectic crowd gathered at the King Edward Avenue theatre just south of Rideau. Eighteen year-old university students mingled with seniors wearing kufis and others in ski jackets, as well as males and females of all colours and backgrounds.

“I used to answer ‘justice,’ ” continued the scholar, who recently released a new book on Mohammed’s life, entitled In the Footsteps of the Prophet.

“But after writing and following the life of the prophet, peace be upon him, I’ve realized it’s not justice, but peace.”

Ramadan inspires admiration and vilification amongst both Muslims and Christians, east and west alike, most likely due to his unique blend of religious fervour mixed with undeniable secularism.

He’s been called “dangerous” by some and “courageous” by others, and spoke on a range of issues including the Danish cartoon affair, religious symbolism in the West and the goal of religion in general.

Education (not necessarily in the formal sense) is the only way to become a true human being, he said, and to rise above base instincts like violence and anger.

“The cartoon issue was very stupid,” he said, evoking hints of laughter from the audience. “(The Muslim world) should go beyond these emotional rejections. When you violently say that you’re not violent, you have to ask yourself if you’re understanding the message properly.”

Similarly, he criticized the sensitivity of Christmas trees in Canada’s public spaces. “I can’t believe what you’re doing with Christmas trees here,” he said. “What are you people doing?

“If we remove symbols of our diversity, we are becoming stupid, superficial and blind.”

Ramadan has faced his share of critics in the West, particularly from the United States, where his working visa (he was teaching at the University of Notre Dame) was revoked in 2004.

A second visa request was recently denied for “providing material support to a terrorist organization,” according to a U.S. State Department statement from September.

But it seemed almost everyone who came out for Ramadan’s lecture brought nothing but admiration for the man. Josh Parlour, a 32 year-old from Centretown, said he dropped by because he wanted to hear the man for himself.

“He’s the type of guy who inspires debate,” he said following the discussion, “and that’s really what the world needs right now, instead of more fighting. He had some really interesting things to say.”

Ramadan concluded by reminding the crowd that both Muslims and the West have identical goals and values, but continually interact in a superficial manner.

“You have two options (as a human being),” he said. “You can use your intelligence to start power struggles… or you can have intellectual empathy.

“We’re not dealing with a clash of civilizations. We’re dealing with a clash of perceptions. What we’re all trying to get out of our life is inner peace – it’s the universal message, and it’s the same for all religions.”

Tariq Ramadan, a professor, author and Muslim from Switzerland, addressed an audience at the Ottawa Little Theatre on King Edward Avenue Dec. 21.

SOURCE : City Journal