I'm going to start downloading these, just in case for safe keeping. Can't afford to lose them.

May God increase you in faith and knowledge. You are some of the few who challenge the status quo. Carry on, brother!

These videos of Khutbahs are the best videos of this channel. I truly appreciate it. Really interesting! Masha'Allah. May God bless and guide us all, all of humanity! Amin. Assalam-o-Alaikum!

Without brothers like you my Islam would have perished long time already.

What a amazing teacher thank you for sharing your knowledge

The legal maximalism vs simple faith led lives focussed on growth and 'good deeds and ethical conduct' is the most important topic we need to be discussing at every level in the Muslim world Hats off to you for talking about it I urge you to do a lot more videos on this I have experienced that when we non scholars talk about it, it is quickly classified as aetheistic attitude of 'religion humanity' which is far from Islam We need scholars to make this a main topic, articulated & substantiated well

Moves the heart and satisfies the mind 👌Bellissimo!

nice work. I found the Zuckerberg paralel very proper and true! And: I agree, religion and faith is important but the emphasis should be on what we have in common and that is universal values. If people would cooperate like the Quran says in 5:2 "And cooperate in virtue and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression." Then there would be no wars. But instead people cooperate in sin and aggression for religious views and standpoints, for even very minor details. Just imagine people who become the best version of themselves humble, as far as possible from sin and aggression... I think Quran is more favourable towards people who are not religious but are super good person, than people who commit themselves to the religious ceremonial duties but forget these human universal values of the fitra. Islam, is unfortunately, being to much deduced to ceremonial duties, while these are very important but also for a big part means to a bigger end. When one's prayer and religion is pushing him into this direction of developing a heart of stone then this is wrong.. That is why prayer and thinking of God is so important to become a humble and good person.

Amazing! Masha'Allah Dr Javad. I am so grateful for the wisdom that Allah has given you, allowing you to do the important work that is imperative in our time. As a Muslim woman, I don't trust myself or anyone when it comes to Islam, but you and Dr Khaled Abou El Fadl. I'm grateful to you both.

May allah always keep you in the best place 🥰

May God continue to inspire you, and help you & your family in every endeavor, inshallah. Such thinking is strongly needed in our Muslim community.

I really enjoy your lectures. They are well articulated and appeal to reason. Keep it up!

Another great khutbah. I also appreciate the semantic distinction you (via Wilfred Smith) make between "faith" and "belief". Even though they can be synonyms, I think it's useful to distinguish them in Islam, especially considering their use in the Quran, which is necessarily distinct as the Most-High is not redundant. And despite the fact that "faith" so often comes to mean "blind faith" in Anglo-American culture, faith is also connected to "reason" (faith v reason is not a proper adage) via belief which technically requires reason. I definitely feel like performative religion is a major issue in the Muslim community. I've been studying the concept of "al Salat" in the Quran recently and finding more in the concept than simply "ritual prayer", and a ritual without the understanding of the purpose inScribed in it seems vain. Islam is not simply faith or belief, but the things we do as a result of them as well! In verse 2:177, we see these composite notions united. AlhamduliLlah, there is no equivalent.

This is the first time I've ever heard a Muslim address this subject, even though its core in other Abrahamic traditions. Perhaps thats simply because I don't speak Arabic, but this is an aspect of Islamic theology that doesn't make it West.

Thanks for the wonderful lecture (or sermon?). This is something I've been thinking about for a while. What Arabic word/words would you say correspond to the English words 'faith' and 'belief' in the Quran? Does imān capture both, or would you say it primarily is referring to faith in the Quran? Also, in light of Q49:13 that you mention, do you think those who have not been exposed to any kind of monotheism (e.g. many tribal peoples in the past) could attain to some kind of faith?

The AI bot joke :-) As always, great lecture We need a lot more young devoted thought leaders like you! Prayers for you brother

imagine we had madrasas/religious institution build on such view and knowledge instead of blindly trying to replicate thousand years old activities

Thus, have We made of you an Ummat justly balanced, that ye might be witnesses over the nations, and the Messenger a witness over yourselves; and We appointed the Qibla to which thou wast used, only to test those who followed the Messenger from those who would turn on their heels (From the Faith). Indeed it was (A change) momentous, except to those guided by Allah. And never would Allah Make your faith of no effect. For Allah is to all people Most surely full of kindness, Most Merciful. (2:143) O you who have believed, believe in Allah and His Messenger and the Book that He sent down upon His Messenger and the Scripture which He sent down before. And whoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day has certainly gone far astray. (4:136) You raise some important points. Faith is not just an issue of belief. There is the technical faith, which has legislative, social and intellectual ramifications. There is also deeper faith which has deeper personal/spiritual implications. I would argue that a great deal of muslims (the ones that I have met) make this distinction somewhat intuitively. The problem is that sometimes it's just easier to focus on aspects of technical belief, because they are easily determined, and lack the ambiguity, subtleties and difficulties of deep faith. It's sometimes easier to avoid acknowledging this, because of the responsibility and personal implications. This is why it's known as the greater Jihad in our tradition. Imam Ghazali also makes this distinction. He was someone who struggled with both forms of faith for periods of time. I would argue that his solution was not to focus primarily on social justice and ethical behaviour, but, rather, a combination of social service, ethical behaviour, and refined servitude and ritual. He focused on ritual in such a a manner that he refined and practised them to the point where they took on an enhanced depth and meaning. He refers to prophets (P) as physicians of the heart, and places a great deal of importance of the superrogatory acts of worship, supplications, and other rituals as a means of deepening and enriching faith. ‎”I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” - Bruce Lee It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on Al-Ghazali (R), as I believe that Montgomery Watt has translated some of his works.

Salam alaikom brother. I'd like to invite you to my live streams on Saturdays 7pm CET to discuss with you different topics in Islam. The only people who don't like my Islamic views are Muslim extremists and Islamophobs. For example one of the topics I'd like to discuss with you is Q 4:34. I saw you said the third option is to beat her. I'd like to say why it not to beat but to leave her. I wish you accept my invitation inshallah.

There is no such thing as "faith" and "belief" in the Quran... unless by way of devilish translation and interpretation. They say, _"The proof is in the pudding!"_ Forget everything you think you know and please go study the Quran Alone and you will come across such verses: _28:2 these are the verses of the Book that make everything clear._ Does faith or blind belief make everything clear? Don't be silly. No... of course not! _45:20__ This (is) enlightenment for mankind and guidance and mercy for a people who are certain._ Can you ever be CERTAIN with faith or blind belief? No... of course not! You know that the Arabic word for a miracle is _"muhjizat"_ right? Why is such a word not used in the Quran? In any language a miracle "works" in the same way as magic, right? All man-made religions of this world, Sunniism & Shiitism included, teaches you about "miracles" in their religion... but Islam, according to the Quran, does NOT! There is no "sixth sense." You can only be CERTAIN of everything when you are able to confirm it with your 5 senses! Anyway... don't take my word for it... but go study the Quran. salam.

This is also my understanding, also the word "Emunah" in Hebrew (Arabic: iman) is an action oriented word which means something more like "support" for example in the Hebrew Bible, Aaron and Hur hold up Moses' hands, the word emunah is used for support. However, today "faith" (emunah) becomes more of a doctrine oriented concept instead of an action oriented trust. When I say to you "I trust you" it means I support you and will do whatever is in my power to help your cause. see Jeff Benner's Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible And its "faith" in the sense of trust and support and not "belief" in the sense of holding a doctrine "'Emunah' (אמונה) is also a Hebrew word with the meaning 'faith'; however, in Western culture, the concept of faith generally places the action upon the subject rather than its object, as in 'faith in God'. This is passive by nature. In Jewish culture, it is action oriented involving active support, and places the action upon the object, as in 'support God'." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emunah#:~:text=%22Emunah%22%20(אמונה)%20is,This%20is%20passive%20by%20nature. firmisrael.org/learn/meaning-of-amen-and-hebrew-word-faith/ And yes, taqwa (prudence) is for everyone, and it does not mean only "Muslims" have it, taqwa is good, and the best of taqwa is the taqwa of God Most Gracious.