Islam and the Future of Tolerance (Fixed Sound) 

"If your free exercise of your religion requires that I follow its precepts, that is not freedom of religion; that is theocracy." -Sam Harris

someone tape ben affleck's eyelids open and make him watch this

Freedom of speech is the reason why we have this conversation. We must defend freedom of speech in order to defeat any bad ideas.

If you only believe certain parts of the book then you have to admit that the book is not divinely inspired by God. If you still insist that the book is divinely inspired, but refuse some of the teachings, then you are saying that God has faults and that you disagree with the supreme deity.

Very happy to see conversations like this. This is how intelligent people who care about humanity deal with having different beliefs. Very inspiring.

"There is no tension between free speech and freedom of religion. If your free exercise of religion requires that I follow your precepts, that's not freedom of religion. That's theocracy." - Sam Harris

"It Is Useless To Attempt To Reason A Man Out Of A Thing He Was Never Reasoned Into" was swift. And it's a great quote for there.

Good discussion. Thanks to Sam and Maajid!

What an overblown intro for a moderator.

Maajid made an error when he said that his life experiences as a Muslim make it impossible for him to be Islamophobic. Your claims and arguments do not depend on who you are. It doesn't matter if they are spoken by a straight white male atheist or a homosexual black woman Muslim. If these two people made the same claims and arguments, BOTH OR NEITHER of them would be Islamophobic or sexist or racist.

We're on the right track if we begin to have more conversations of this kind.

It's completely ridiculous that this not watched a million times, very interesting!

It's not often somebody shares a stage with Sam Harris and looks like the more nuanced thinker. Maajid managed it here, especially with his longer speeches near the end.

Why do people say Islam is a race? it is a theology that promotes theocracy

This is how two descent educated men discuss the most fragile issues. Amazing...

When did this talk take place? I hate this strange "ahistoric" custom of uploading videos without this info.

Long intros. Jeez! If you know everyone it starts at around 14:00

Thanks for fixing the audio! I thought I was going deaf.

Our civilisation, whatever it is, is lucky to have Maajid and Sam.

How can Islam be reformed when it is based on the Koran?

Why it is so fucking hard for people understand that asking questions does not mean making commentary.

It's about time Muslims start having a conversation about their religion.

great talk but to say you have a Muslim child is ridiculous. it's like saying you have a republican or democratic child. Religion is the ball and chain on society. Sad but true.

I was half-disappointed at the beginning of the video at the realization that it may not be a contentious, sparks-flying type of debate. Then I was deeply more satisfied by this more congenial meeting and exploration of subjects that are only possible in such a demeanor. Deeply satisfying and engaging. Also the host is kind of a fox.

One of the best debates about this difficult subject that I have ever listen too - To Me Maajid is a heroic Character willing to challenge extremist views from the left and right and often brilliantly articulating for people of all cultures that delicate space between culture ,religion and belief . Maajid as soon as your ready to start your political career Im ready to vote !

1:12 Sam: "Oh shit, better put my glass like Maajid's and Juliette's"... I dont know why that is so funny to me xD

I love how much sweat is coming out of the students asking the questions.

Sam Harris is a pillar of modern day intellectualism, what a clear speaking man with a great mind.

Islam and tolerance are antonyms

Ahh the beauty of freedom of speech

"On this issue, time is of the essence" after a 10 minute into of the moderator.

After that into I know more about this moderator than my sister

"It's an honor to be here at Harvard" "At the center of every great disaster, there's a Harvard man" -Sowell

Not a single Muslim on the panel...while repeatedly discussing Islam.

Maajid Nawaz would not be considered a "Good" Muslim and the reality is that he is a small minority of supposed moderate Islamists.

It still makes me wonder, when push comes to shove, it must be difficult to check your beliefs at the door when Sam says mohammed was a conquering warlord and Maajid thinks he was a prophet

More people like this Muslim speaker need to speak out.

I’m a Muslim and I Love Sam. He’s so calm too ❤️

I luv absolutely luv Majid. Hats off to him for what he has been through and came so far. Am Punjabi & English mix and i have been listening to him back from UK since i was introduced to one of his video. It takes a lot of guts and bravery to be who he is today and the fact is actions. Very articulate, sharp, grown mindset. Luv him

Listening to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan doesn't prove you're not a bigot (though I do not whatsoever believe Sam Harris is a bigot)... Maajid should stop using this as a basis for disproving allegations against Sam Harris. Imagine if I said, "Hey, I'm not a racist because I like Michael Jackson." So what... liking Michael Jackson doesn't mean you believe all blacks are equal to whites. It doesn't follow.

I love how Majid sidestepped the regressive Muslims are victims narrative at 1:14:05 and diffused her agenda by discussing bigotry across the board including anti-semitism.

All you have to ask yourself is "how many islamic countries could you have this debate in"?.

I think Maajid's Voldemort analogy was spot on.

How is Sam so calm all the time.

Wow. Maajid's answer to the last question was top notch. The Voldemort effect causing a rise of right wing populism is exactly what I am observing in Germany.

as a turk from turkey, i can easily say sam harris has no idea what he is talking about. the other guy is knowledged about the problem. this could have never been a debate. sam harris enjoys sitting at the easy end of the rhetoric, where trivialization and simplistic approach will win him applauds. things dont work like that irl. nothing has ever been solved with his shallow and impressionist approach.

A really interesting and insightful talk, thank you

"The UK is a net exporter of terrorism!" Quote: Maajid Nawaz. And our Political Class consider that they have done nothing wrong in importing millions of Moslems into the United Kingdom?!?! Maajid did also appear with Douglas Murray: I think in an Oxford Union, or an international debate. Sorry, I'm so unreliable: I had a major cardiac arrest in 2008, whilst writing up a doctorate on Death!!! It left me with a modicum of brain damage.

Tolerance of intolerance is cowardice!

Sam is right, you cant criticize Islam without backlash. What about Zionism then?

This is a very interesting conversation. I was very positively surprised by Maajid's arguments, mainly because i don't think i have seen any muslim be this logical before.

"If your free exercise of your religion requires that I follow its precepts, that is not freedom of religion; that is theocracy." -Sam Harris

They make great points, and I largely agree with them. But the idea that Sam Harris isn't an anti-muslim bigot BECAUSE he listens to Sufi mystical music is ridiculous. Lots of Nazis listened to black jazz. Were they not racists? To be clear, I don't think Harris is a bigot. I largely agree with Maajid and Sam's analysis, but I disagree with their tactics regarding how best to reform Islam. For instance, their insistence that the POTUS identify and denounce Islamism rather than generic "extremist fundamentalism" is misguided. The people in the muslim community who need to be convinced are not going to respond to the apostate POTUS's calls for reforming Islam. This is true of any Western leader - they will be perceived as outsiders, and good-faith attempts to encourage reform of Islam will only be useful to violent Islamists who seek to portray the West as anti-muslim. Only people from within the Muslim community will have the requisite credibility to engage in this kind of critique of Islamist ideology.

I've had this over a year on my watch later, glad I finally gave it a watch.

‘Reverse racism’ is a silly, incorrect and frankly racist expression in itself, as it specifically means that racism is a ‘White’ thing, and anytime it comes from others it is some kind of anomaly, and supposedly opposite of what the word means.

LOL @45:22 pause it and think about the different levels of attentiveness.

Sam & Majid, You have good ideas I know, but why are you using such complicated language & high sounding concepts & confusing the audience rather than speak in plain spoken English?

It was not the topic of discussion, but both speakers repeatedly pointed out the intolerance of regressive liberals. I was especially struck by how Maajid Nawaz is branded an "islamophobe" by white liberals. The great ideology that's been hijacked is not Islam. It's Liberalism. Very interesting and necessary discussion.

Let this be the beginning for peace ✌️

So enjoyable listening to Maajid's intonation, persuasion, logic, and wit.

Regarding "tension" between free speech and freedom of religion: "If your free exercise of your religion... requires that I follow its precepts, that's not freedom of religion, that is theocracy." - Sam Harris - 47:50 Love that quote.

islam? Tolerance? A contradiction in terms, surely!

Honestly looking at Maajid, if I'm a radical Jihadist I want him dead, the guy is skilled, tough and sharp - I wouldn't want to lose a dude like that from any team I played on. He's a Navy Seal - he'd be a powerful weapon under anythings control! I'm thankful to Western Civilization that he's been rescued!

25 minutes in and they haven't really started yet. The moderator is just now asking the first question.

Not only saw the heads off journalist and aide workers but CHILDREN TOO!!

Mr Nawaz is suave as fuck.

My thought (30/11/19) : Mr Maajib sir, should write a new reform Islam book for Muslim to follow. My reason: Islam has been reform once, why can’t it cannot have another reform for the better. I believe if he do it. He will be remembered as one of the greatest man in history. Kindly criticise me ( for disagreements) for Freedom Of Speech

Islam will never be reformed.. because as soon as a caliphate is established.. the so called moderates no longer have a say.. it fact, moderates as this man portrays himself, would be the first to die, in order to send all the other 'moderates' the strong message that the caliphate decides the interpretation of Islam not the so called 'moderate' western loving sympathisers.. In Iran.. if a Muslims beard is shorter than 4 fingers in length, he is in big trouble.. so how do you think apostates, homosexuals, party minded infidels, and moderate feminist female Muslims will fare? Be kind to your Muslim neighbour, totally, because most Muslims from birth have been told how unclean we non nuslims are.. and if we are kind to them they may realise that we aren't all that bad after all.. ...but make no mistake.. Islam will never be a religion of peace.. because the book they revere most.. calls for complete submission from all muslims, and subjugation or death to the infidel! It's in the book.. be sure to talk to and listen to the passionate pleadings of apostate ex-muslims, who even under the threat of death are speaking out to warn the western world of the abuses that stem from Islam itself.. ...do you not realise why those ex-muslims would risk their lives to warn us all?? One of the many reasons is, because if Islam takes hold of the west, where will those apostates of Islam be safe from the edict in Islam that clearly calls for the death of all apostates?? The warning is going out throughout the western nations.. that warning is spear headed by ex-muslims themselves.. ..the biggest mistake for the west would be for us to think that the apostates from that regime have misunderstood the belief system which they grew up in, and now flee from.. Think about that!!

The magic of Islam is how it makes non-believers surrender everything for security they will never know.

I find it ironic that Majid complains of being a victim of what he percieved as "profiling" at a time in his life, when he openly admits that he was precisely the type of Muslim that the authorities were "profiling" for.

That intro was painful...

I hope that you ADD SUBTITLES (english) when you discuss something that Middle eastern should be concerned with.

Majjid and Harris are 2 of my heroes. God bless you both.

I've never heard anyone say "get rid of Muslims"... I have heard people ask why moderate Muslims don't stand up en masse and condemn those hateful and violent proponents from the same religion as theirs

"what's the problem with not being able to name a problem? well there's two problems here."

What an excellent talk. Thanks to everyone that brought this talk to the public.

Maajid has merely changed his coat, but not his cloth.

Woow this men on the right.. 👏🏼👏🏼 he gets it!.. so many people in europe think the same like him. This is what we are talking about👍

Lol... So funny This meeting is about ❤️ Islam❤️ and no one there represents Islam...

Does it really bother anyone else that people can't just ask a question during Q&A? There is almost always some crazy preamble that has more to do with the questioner trying to make themselves seem intelligent than trying to get an answer to a question.

Absolutely great. I'd like to read their book. I've criticized Maajid in the past but I really respect his commitment to free speech, to speaking with those who disagree, etc

This was great. Great speakers, great moderator, and civil and intelligent audience. We need open conversation.

They plot a plot against you O Muhammad, I plot a plot against them and I am the best planer - Quran

What if Maajid Nawaz is an atheist that is just staying officially as an muslim to optimize the reformation?

when they decide to talk about Judaism they'll bring a jewish expert, when they decide to talk about Christianity they'll bring a christian expert, when they decide to talk about Islam they'll bring anyone except a muslim.

ayaan should've been up there...

23:02 "Check their privilege" lol straight up nailed it. That whole segment was amazing to listen too.

A fascinating discussion. A little irritation though was that Juliette Kayymen made it clear for the audience to make brief and clear questions. Not one questioner did this and instead we had longwinded preambles to their questions. Having watched countless debates over the years, why is it that so few people grasp the appeal for brevity?

100-400 years from now when humanity has more less managed to phase out and solve this incredibly difficult problem, the world will owe a lot to an extremist turned thinker/intellectual named Maajid Nawaz who helped kick start one of the most important conversations in human history.

Maajad makes me question my own sexuality

Sam Harris, human of the century.

I think Maajid main aims is to reform Islam to adopt it's peaceful practices from it's doctrine, first and foremost is to promote the notion to Muslims the reformist movement of Islam by the following points 1. Reject the Policing and political correctness (PC) proliferating in the political circles and mainstream media to open such sensitive topics for critique and open discussions, that's the only way to be able to reach out to believers and practitioners of their faith and challenge their beliefs. 2. Recognizing, accepting and STOP Denying the unpopular texts that promotes corporeal, capital punishment and deaths to non-believers or believers that breaks the laws and teachings from the Qu'ran, and admit that they do exist and originate from the Holy Book of Qu'ran itself; 3. and that offensive Jihad are subjected to use by Islamic groups and Authorities in an attempt to re-establish and revive the Caliphate, and the Glories of the Ottoman empire (In History), often romanticize of it's power, influence and dominance in the world. However dogmatism of it's followers are also quite plainly prevalent and let's see from the verses below why: quran.com/ Surah 9:29 ﭽ ﭾ ﭿ ﮀ ﮁ ﮂ ﮃ ﮄ ﮅ ﮆ ﮇ ﮈ ﮉ ﮊ ﮋ ﮌ ﮍ ﮎ ﮏ ﮐ ﮑ ﮒ ﮓ ﮔ ﮕ ﮖ ﮗ ﮘ ﮙ ﮚ SAHIH INTERNATIONAL Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled. Qur'an 9:73 ﭑ ﭒ ﭓ ﭔ ﭕ ﭖ ﭗ ﭘﭙ ﭚ ﭛﭜ ﭝ ﭞ SAHIH INTERNATIONAL O Prophet, fight against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and be harsh upon them. And their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the destination. Qur'an 9:111 ﯖﯗ ﯘ ﯙ ﯚ ﯛ ﯜ ﯝ ﯞ ﯟ ﯠ ﯡﯢ ﯣ ﯤ ﯥ ﯦ ﯧ ﯨﯩ ﯪ ﯫ ﯬ ﯭ ﯮ ﯯ ﯰﯱ ﯲ ﯳ ﯴ ﯵ ﯶﯷ ﯸ ﯹ ﯺ ﯻ ﯼﯽ ﯾ ﯿ ﰀ ﰁ SAHIH INTERNATIONAL Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah, so they kill and are killed. [It is] a true promise [binding] upon Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur'an. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah ? So rejoice in your transaction which you have contracted. And it is that which is the great attainment. Qur'an 9:123 ﭑ ﭒ ﭓ ﭔ ﭕ ﭖ ﭗ ﭘ ﭙ ﭚ ﭛ ﭜﭝ ﭞ ﭟ ﭠ ﭡ ﭢ SAHIH INTERNATIONAL O you who have believed, fight those adjacent to you of the disbelievers and let them find in you harshness. And know that Allah is with the righteous. ﷽ Qur'an 47:35 ﮛ ﮜ ﮝ ﮞ ﮟ ﮠ ﮡ ﮢ ﮣ ﮤ ﮥ ﮦ ﮧ SAHIH INTERNATIONAL So do not weaken and call for peace while you are superior; and Allah is with you and will never deprive you of [the reward of] your deeds. ﷽ Qur'an 48:29 ﭑ ﭒ ﭓ ﭔﭕ ﭖ ﭗ ﭘ ﭙ ﭚ ﭛ ﭜﭝ ﭞ ﭟ ﭠ ﭡ ﭢ ﭣ ﭤ ﭥﭦ ﭧ ﭨ ﭩ ﭪ ﭫ ﭬﭭ ﭮ ﭯ ﭰ ﭱﭲ ﭳ ﭴ ﭵ ﭶ ﭷ ﭸ ﭹ ﭺ ﭻ ﭼ ﭽ ﭾ ﭿ ﮀ ﮁ ﮂﮃ ﮄ ﮅ ﮆ ﮇ ﮈ ﮉ ﮊ ﮋ ﮌ ﮍ SAHIH INTERNATIONAL Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah ; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating [in prayer], seeking bounty from Allah and [His] pleasure. Their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration. That is their description in the Torah. And their description in the Gospel is as a plant which produces its offshoots and strengthens them so they grow firm and stand upon their stalks, delighting the sowers - so that Allah may enrage by them the disbelievers. Allah has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds among them forgiveness and a great reward. sunnah.com/ كتاب الإيمان1The Book of Faith Sahih Muslim Book 1, Hadith 30 (8)باب الأَمْرِ بِقِتَالِ النَّاسِ حَتَّى يَقُولُوا لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ (8)Chapter: The command to fight the people until they say "La ilaha illallah Muhammad Rasul-Allah", and establish Salat, and pay the Zakat, and believe in everything that the prophet (saws) brought. Whoever does that, his life and his wealth are protected except by its right, and his secrets are entrusted to Allah, the most high. Fighting those who withhold Zakat or other than that is one of the duties of Islam and the Iman should be concerned with the Laws of Islam وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، وَحَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ عِيسَى، قَالَ أَحْمَدُ حَدَّثَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ، أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُقَاتِلَ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَقُولُوا لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ فَمَنْ قَالَ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ عَصَمَ مِنِّي مَالَهُ وَنَفْسَهُ إِلاَّ بِحَقِّهِ وَحِسَابُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ It is reported on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah said: I have been commanded to fight against people so long as they do not declare that there is no god but Allah, and he who professed it was guaranteed the protection of his property and life on my behalf except for the right affairs rest with Allah. Regarding Apostacy, for those that belongs to the Islamic faith and wants to move out of change their religion, these are clearly written of the consequences: كتاب استتابة المرتدين والمعاندين وقتالهم88Apostates (2)Chapter: Al-Murtad and Al-Murtaddah(2)باب حُكْمِ الْمُرْتَدِّ وَالْمُرْتَدَّةِ Sahih al-Bukhari 6922, Book 88, Hadith 5 حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو النُّعْمَانِ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْفَضْلِ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، قَالَ أُتِيَ عَلِيٌّ رضى الله عنه ـ بِزَنَادِقَةٍ فَأَحْرَقَهُمْ فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَقَالَ لَوْ كُنْتُ أَنَا لَمْ أُحْرِقْهُمْ لِنَهْىِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلَقَتَلْتُهُمْ لِقَوْلِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَنْ بَدَّلَ دِينَهُ فَاقْتُلُوهُ ‏"‏‏. Narrated `Ikrima: Some Zanadiqa (atheists) were brought to `Ali and he burnt them. The news of this event, reached Ibn `Abbas who said, "If I had been in his place, I would not have burnt them, as Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade it, saying, 'Do not punish anybody with Allah's punishment (fire).' I would have killed them according to the statement of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), 'Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him.'"

Never Have I Ever Seen Mainstream MOVIES PICKING ON ISLAM ONLY CHRISTIAN HINDUISM JEWS BUT NEVER ISLAM

Listening to Christian Prince is more informative about Islam than any of those debates

‏I left Islam when I read the Qur’an and the biography of Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam ‏Now I live in Iraq and I can't talk about it even with my family I might be killed, and society will reject me, it's very difficult for me ‏and many Arabs leave Islam every day, but they cannot announce that because they may be killed and of course society rejects them.

The death rate of Islam is 2000 a day. It's as though we had corona for 1300 years. This rate HAS NOT DIMINISHED today. Do your maths.

2019 in Egypt estimated 9.6% Christian and 90.3% Muslim and One (used to be five in the beginning of the year) Jew.

Maajid Nawaz is a true hero of our times and stands head and shoulders over many other alleged ''thinkers'' on this topic.. the saddest thing is that too many are unable to follow his arguments.. due to their fears, intellectual incapacity and the fact that they've already arrived at a simplistic conclusion :( **Listen to him, people, please**, he speaks good sense.

Create new religions against the “political Islam👑🐊🏴‍☠️”. Islam is a country

At least 20 countries. most of them Islamic states, still have laws that prohibited apostasy. In these countries, it is a criminal offense for a person to abandon his faith to convert to a different religion or declare himself an atheist. In Iran, Pakistan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Qatar and Yemen, there are still laws that punish apostasy with capital punishment, although in many countries it is rarely applied. In some nations, the accused are offered a chance to repent and accept Islam rather than face death. Other punishments imposed for apostasy include imprisonment, flogging and fines.