latest lectures and public talks


PUBLIC LECTURE: "On Moderation and Extremism in Islam and The Great Theft"

Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl discusses the fallacy of the perception that there are only two versions of Islam that are authentic to the faith--that which took place in the time of the Prophet, and--fast forward to the present day--that which conforms to the narrow interpretation of the Puritanical Wahhabi view. What is the devastating cost of believing that there is only one "true" Islam, as articulated by the puritans, instead of recognizing that the beauty of God's creation is captured in its full diversity and whole of human experience? Why is it that Islam thrived and was an early example of toleration in the centuries preceding Wahhabism? Although The 

Great Theft was written over a decade ago, the book's relevance and importance has only proven to increase over time. A powerful and impassioned lecture. Delivered at the Islamic Center of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA on April 1, 2018.



PUBLIC LECTURE: "The Sunni-Shi'i Divide: History and Theology"

Powerful and eye-opening! Full lecture including Q&A: The divide between Sunni's and Shi'i's continues to plague modern Muslims and has caused a considerable amount of tension and conflict. This lecture reflects on the reason that this divide came about and reviews some of the major differences between Sunni and Shi'i Islam. The lecture particularly focuses on the implications on the Sunni and Shi'i divide for Muslims in America and the ways that it impacts American Muslim identity and politics. Delivered at the Islamic  

 

Center of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA on February 25, 2018.



PUBLIC TALK: "On the Soul in Islamic Theology"

Insightful and beautiful. Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl explains the theory of the soul in Islamic theology. Dr. Abou El Fadl and Imam Mustafa Qazwini speak in a conference on Muslim Mental Health and Islamic Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, February 10, 2018.

 

First video is Dr. Abou El Fadl's main presentation. Second video is selections from the Q&A.



KEYNOTE LECTURE via SKYPE: "Islamic Ethics, Human Rights and Migration"

Khaled Abou El Fadl on the Islamic Ethics that could guide issues of migration. A powerful talk in which Dr. Abou El Fadl explores what the Islamic message reveals about modern day issues of migration, refugees and the realities of oppression, and the potential to go beyond international law norms to elevate current standards of humanitarian practice.

 

Dr. Abou El Fadl delivers the keynote lecture via Skype entitled, "Islamic Ethics, Human Rights and Migration" for the conference on "Migration and Islamic Ethics: Issues of Residence, Naturalization and Citizenship" sponsored by the Research Center for Islamic Legislation and Ethics (CILE) in Doha, Qatar. In his keynote, Dr. Abou El Fadl speaks first about the Muslim perspective, then discusses the international law that governs issues of migration, and finally, his own view of the Islamic moral impulses that could guide issues of migration; a tradition that could be developed as a matter of Islamic normativity, but that as of yet, has not. Delivered January 28, 2018.



PUBLIC LECTURE: "On Jesus, Prophet of Islam--What They Don't Talk About"

Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl presents the Islamic, Christian and historical record of Jesus, Prophet of God, contrasting early reports of the message of Jesus from later reports, which present a "Romanized Christianity," which has carried to the present day. This "Romanized Christianity" characterized a pacifist Jesus, in stark contrast to the earlier reports where the message of Jesus was extremely critical of wealth, privilege, power and classicism, and indifference to the poor and underprivileged, much like the condition of our times today. A frank and eye-opening talk, and powerful Q&A afterwards. Delivered at the Islamic Center of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA on December 31, 2017.



KEYNOTE: "Shari'ah and Epistemology for a Humanitarian Ethics"

 

Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl delivers the keynote lecture by Skype for the International Institute for Islamic Thought (IIIT) 2017 Summer Institute for Scholars on the theme, "Theologies and Ethics of Justice: New Directions in 21st Century Islamic Thought." Powerful lecture and Q&A.





KEYNOTE: "Shari'ah Law: Reasoning with God and the Challenge of the Unreasonable"

Professor Khaled Abou El Fadl delivers a powerful lecture on the notion of reasoning with God and the forgotten role and importance of reason in the Islamic tradition. He discusses his latest book, Reasoning with God: Reclaiming Shari'ah in the Modern Age, and how Muslims need to reclaim the beauty of their tradition in which reason and reasonableness are central to leading a life of Godliness as opposed to Godlessness. Enlightening, powerful and pertinent to the challenges facing Muslims in the modern world today. Delivered keynote lecture at the University of Indiana, Bloomington, Indiana, April 14, 2017.

 





PUBLIC LECTURE: "The New Laws and Persecution of American Muslim Organizations including CAIR and MPAC"

The Trump administration has evidenced an unwavering hostility towards Islam in general and also American Muslim citizenry. The proposed bill designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization by the clear terms of its explanatory memorandum is an attempt at not just initiating a persecution of Muslim civic society's organizations, but even more dangerously, empowering the executive branch beyond the pale of constitutional limitations. Dr. Abou El Fadl discusses the coming legislation, challenges and threats facing Muslims and Muslim organizations with the new Trump administration. Important to watch both the lecture and Q&A afterwards. Delivered at the Islamic Center of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, January 29, 2017.

 

Part 1: Lecture


Part 2: Q&A After Lecture



PUBLIC LECTURE: "The Future of Muslims in a Trumpian World"

Professor Khaled Abou El Fadl explains the history and rise of white-nationalism and the forces that gave rise to the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States.  He explains the various arguments that justify the vilification of Islam, including arguments around the "clash of civilizations" thesis, the so-called superiority of the "West," and the redefinition and use of the notion of "Judeo-Christian values" as a cover for racism, bigotry and white privilege. He discusses how the Trump administration and cabinet appointees have expanded the definition of "Radical Islamists" to include all Muslims and the religion of Islam, and how this redefinition will become the basis of the persecution to come. Muslims, as the "low-hanging fruit" and test cases for the new administration will pave the way for the persecution of other minority groups that will be next in line after the Muslims. Dr. Abou El Fadl discusses what Muslims can expect with a Trump administration and what Muslims must do in order to prepare for the likely battles ahead. Delivered at the Islamic Center of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, December 18, 2016.

Part 1: Lecture


Part 2: Q&A After Lecture



KEYNOTE: "The Promises and Perils of Shari'ah in the Modern Age, and The Shari'ah of Love"

Professor Khaled Abou El Fadl discusses the "Shari'ah of Love," Muslims and the state of the world after the election of Donald Trump. Hosted by the Department of Political Science and Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, November 25, 2016. 



KEYNOTE:  “The Contested Vestiges of the Islamic:  Postscript Reflections on Reasoning with God"

Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl delivers the keynote lecture for the Michigan State University 9th Annual Muslim Studies Conference on "Defining the Islamic," April 14, 2016.  Dr. Abou El Fadl's lecture is titled, "“The Contested Vestiges of the Islamic:  Postscript Reflections on Reasoning with God."  He discusses his views on what is and is not "Islamic," most notably that Islam was sent as a message for all of humanity, which demands that Islamic conceptions of mercy, compassion, justice, ethics and morality must be accessible, reasonable and compelling to all of humanity. Of note, this is the fundamental reason why ISIS, al-Qaeda and other extremist groups are not Islamic--their actions and conceptions do not reflect mercy, justice, compassion or any other Islamic virtues in a way that speaks to the hearts of all of humanity.



KEYNOTE: "Reclaiming Shari'ah in the Modern Age"

Professor Khaled Abou El Fadl discusses the arguments in his latest book, Reasoning with God: Reclaiming Shari'ah in the Modern Age. He begins with basic concepts and builds to more advanced arguments.  Presented as part of the conference entitled, "Journey through the Shari'ah," hosted by the Islamic Institute for Development and Research (IIDR) in co-operation with Center for Islamic Legislation and Ethics (CILE) in Qatar, and the Association of Muslim Lawyers (AML) in the UK. February 28, 2016.