American Muslims are already within the system. We should stop isolating ourselves by thinking we are powerless. The youngest generations of Americans have a better opinion of Islam because they interact with Muslims. Half of young American citizens now are supporting the Palestinians rather than the Israelis. Things are moving.

Tariq Ramadan

I can see both trends among the youths: people who are ready for a constructive, critical and active presence, and others who are ready to become invisible Muslims and to compromise to be accepted. I put my hope in the former and pray for the latter.

Tariq Ramadan

trends youth people

This is the problem we have with many Muslim leaders: They claim to differentiate between domestic and foreign issues and they are obsessed with being accepted, at sitting at the table of power in order to talk (or rather to listen) and to be tolerated. This is the starting point of our weakness. It is in our minds because we do not realize we are part of the system.

Tariq Ramadan

issues leader order

To be kind is good. To be kind without expecting anything in return is better.

Tariq Ramadan

be-kind return kindness

You can't say 'I don't do politics,' because silence is a political statement.

Tariq Ramadan

statements political silence

I don't like what you`re doing, but I won't insult you. Why? Because who you are tomorrow may be better than who I am today

Tariq Ramadan

insults-you who-i-am may

Behind every great man is not a woman, she is beside him, she is with him, not behind him

Tariq Ramadan

behind-every-great-man great-men men

The more you look into and understand yourself, the less judgmental you become towards others.

Tariq Ramadan

intellectual-humility judgemental looks

The most dangerous prisons are those with invisible bars

Tariq Ramadan

invisible bars prison

Never forget your dialogue with God, it is your strength.

Tariq Ramadan

forget-you never-forget forget

A true teacher doesn't teach you to think like him, but to think without him.

Tariq Ramadan

teach teacher thinking

If you read the Qur'an with your head, you find repetition. If you read it with your heart, you find depth.

Tariq Ramadan

repetition depth heart

True Sufism is resistance: spiritual, intellectual, social, cultural, political and economic resistance. It cannot be, for sure, supporting dictators.

Tariq Ramadan

political intellectual spiritual

Humility is knowing that you can get an answer from anybody: be it a child, another person, or nature.

Tariq Ramadan

knowing humility children

Don't treat people the way they treat you. Treat them better.

Tariq Ramadan

treats people way

Arabic is the language of the Qur'an, but Arab culture is not the culture of Islam.

Tariq Ramadan

islam language culture

Wisdom is always connected to beauty. When you see someone acting by their principles, their wisdom makes them beautiful.

Tariq Ramadan

acting principles beautiful

Muslims must speak out and explain who they are, what they believe in, what they stand for, what is the meaning of their life. They must have the courage to denounce what is said and done by certain Muslims in the name of their religion.

Tariq Ramadan

speaks-out names believe

If you do not have boundaries, you do not have a path.

Tariq Ramadan

boundaries ifs path

I believe my religion is the truth, but I am not the truth and the truth doesn't belong to me I'm trying to belong to the truth.

Tariq Ramadan

i-believe trying believe

A good Muslim is not one who is strictest in his judgment, but who is most patient in listening.

Tariq Ramadan

patient listening patience