Tariq Ramadan – Terrorism

About this lecture

In this wide-ranging lecture, Professor Tariq Ramadan addresses the topic of terrorism from both a political and Islamic ethical perspective, examining the lack of an international consensus definition, the problem of labeling terrorism as "Islamic," and the crucial distinction between understanding and justifying political violence. He offers a detailed explanation of the concept of jihad as fundamentally a path toward peace rather than war, grounding his arguments in the Prophet's ethics of war and the absolute prohibition on killing innocent people. The lecture also covers the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the failures of Muslim-majority states, democratization, and the importance of contextual, nuanced thinking in responding to one of the most pressing challenges facing Muslims today.