Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl delves into the depth of the modern day re-colonization, re-subjugation and re-domination of Muslims fueled by racism, Islamophobia, and the desire to appease the culture of the elite in the world-- and its dark consequences. He reminds us that in our tradition, God in the Quran has made it abundantly clear that among the greatest gifts of creation is the intellect and the use of reason ('aql). Referencing once common but long forgotten traditions of the Prophet (hadith), Dr. Abou El Fadl reminds us that God holds in highest esteem those who reflect and reason; and that a single word of wisdom is more worthy than the entire earth and its contents. He presents four points of guidance: 1) Knowing what to be cautious and suspect towards; 2) Glorifying one's ability to reason; 3) Pursuing knowledge vigorously; and 4) The weighty responsibility of knowledge and its requirements. Delivered 22 Feb. 2019.
