Could you move slightly . Good evening everybody and thank you all so much for coming out tonight. Im one of the coowners of politics and prose. We hope by the end of this event you will not be stuck in a snowstorm and we are confident that you will get out okay but we are delighted to have all of you here. Before we get started just a few housekeeping reminders if you have a noisemaking device and can silence it now we would be grateful for that. The way that this will work is that our guests will be in conversation for a bit and then they will be happy to take questions from the audience. We do have a microphone set of criteria we would love it if you make it to the microphone. There will be a signing at the table if you would be kind enough to fold up your chairs and put them at the side to expedite the signing and it will also make our staff degree happy at the end of a long day so we would appreciate that. And then i also want to say this is the first week of events and we have an incredible calendar and we urge you to look at the website and if you would like a hardcopy of our january calendar, its about the information desk and at the front of the store. Lots of good stuff coming up. One of the things we are most excited about is the art launching as some of you know, we are launching a series of teo educate and inform people about some of the challenges the country is facing and issues that will be on the forefront in the next month and potentially years and potentially if you have an interest in a particular area to get some guidance what you can do as an individual or part of the group to help make progress on those particular issues. This sunday is the kickoff at 2 30. Its going to be on Civil Liberties and civil rights. We have an incredible panel coming. The executive director of the aclu, mike waldman who was the chief speechwriter for bill clinton is now the head of the Brennan Center at New York University law school and the author of many books about Voting Rights and the constitution, and todd cox from the naacp. So we are really excited about having those guys. They are all phenomenal experts and we look forward to seeing all of you and many more people on sunday afternoon. We will also be doing one on womens rights on january 20 at 4 p. M. You can look at the website for more details and we will have more upcoming things. Last, we have a display of books recommended if youre interested it is up at the front of the store. Im done with that part and now for what you are here for i cant say what an honor and delight it is to host the ambassador of the nigh tonight t politics and prose. Some of you know hes the United Arab Emirates ambassador and at 2009 at the ripe old age of 37. Thinking about this today going through and learning more about him, to think of him as a diplomat and even one in such an important post to understate his wideranging interests and good work in addition to representing the country overseas he oversen author and that much you already know because he will be speaking about his book letters to a young muslim. But first a brief mention of his other projects. He read law at College Oxford and earned an advanced degree at the university of london and went on to found several legal and Financial Companies and open up an art gallery and educational projects focusing on the promotion of arab literature. He was the driving force that led to the creation of the campus and University Abu Dhabi and perhaps my favorite part of the resume, i hope you dont mind this, he spent five years trekking in switzerland experiencing nature to the fullest of tall peaks. All of these experiences including four languages and most important of all the role and responsibility as the father of two sons are at work and his writing of letters to a young muslim. The book is a collection that into his own children. The effort he said this to show them how to be faithful to islam and its deepest values as well as how to chart their way through a complex world. Mr. Ambassador, an do you know e book is written for your children but also with young muslims, young and old women in mind, and i might suggest if you dont mind that this book also want to be required reading for nonmuslims, too. I think anyone who reads it for gain tremendously from your view that people of all backgrounds have come again to borrow your words, the duty to engage constructively in the world. Those are wise words from a wise man and of course so very poignant at this moment in our country so thank you for that. We are also pleased to have with us i think some of you know marcus from his various roles in dc he was the editor of the Washington Post and from the company on the media technology. So thank you so much for being here. We are delighted to have you both. Thanks for coming. [applause] thank you all for being here tonight on a cold washington night. I dont know if you know they got a dusting of snow and closed the schools, so we narrowly avoided disaster. [laughter] it is a great honor to be here tonight with omar. Hehe is a deeply thoughtful man and a guy that i mean we live in a time which as you all know, politics are deeply polarized. People get arrested, jailed and words thinking the thoughts dont converge in the mainstream and in this maelstrom that stands out for the willingness for the original positions at our time. He was very much born into this in the early days of the world we were living today. He was assassinated in 1977 when he was sick and i think the experience as much as anything when you read the book it informs his awareness of the intolerance and violence of the islamic radicalism and his personal exploration following his fathers death as a muslim and eventually the two young sons i think really shapes the narrative in the buck. I thought i would start off by asking you to talk about how you came to write this book and what youre trying to accomplish. We were talking before we came out here how this is not a theological treatise. Its more than that and in some ways i think for the larger world those of us are not muslit muslim to read it its important for bringing the understanding to an area of the world and religion that has become so central to the political experience. This is my favorite bookstore in dc. So it is a great honor to be here tonight. I haven havent returned a thel text and im not putting forth a the theological position and in fact i was asked by key figures in the middle east whether i have checked with the religious scholars and i responded by saying im actually writing in spite of them and to take a position of the religious scholars. Im not talking directly about the doctrine or prescriptions. I am advising my sons to think about taking a positio positione world even before they begin to think about the particular text of the religion that they belong to and that is a position that i havent really heard being discussed. That came out of the realization that they are coming into islam. They know which one is the right part and for me it is how did they come to the conclusion. Being a muslim in todays world where we have so much information about competing, why would i stand up and say the real reason is because i was born into the sunni family but that is chance, thats not doctrine or persuasion. I wanted to pull back and say what are the Common Elements that are undermining everything from the peaceful spiritual side of islam all the way to what i believe is an expression of islam. But nevertheless it does come from the source documents and so the only way i can come up with how to become a muslim today is to come up with something fundamental. It is what informs our reading and if you are finding for some reason all of a sudden it permits you to rob and kill, then theres something wrong with you and its just too much of a coincidence. So thats what i was trying to say. You need a position on life in the first place. Lets me take you back to the title of the book and the approach writing it as a series of letters why did you take that approach when you are trying to help them understand more than the division between the other strains of islam . You are taking on the underpinnings of the religion. Can you talk about why you took this particular framework and what are you trying to accomplish . I was never interested in taking the personal approach and if you read the book you would see i had written what i tried to write as more of a manifesto of guidelines for young people to think about and it was more than attempting to be an academic understanding of the questions. My publisher said that it was great very few people would read it. They suggested i think in terms so i rewrote the book entirely between i think it was march, april, may. They were not included in the final version. Now im doing some public therapy sessions for myself you are also doing public therapy for your religion and. Islam is in the need of a reformation. I come away figuring there needs to be a reformation is that fair . I dont think that is fair to be honest. People ask me are you calling for the reform of islam and that suggests there is a fixed body of doctrine and then a sort of topdown instruction. I am taking a more modest position. To suggest i have some of the deep theological understanding the reality is all that im asking for is clarity from the religious scholars who traditionally have held the respect in the societies but what i am saying is i think we should be asking the clerics to actually learn about the people they are dieting and today when every one of us has access to the information and knowledge i think also they have a very specialized area of expertise and im asking them to think more broadly about the questions it is no longer the society of the tenth century. Its dangerous to continue friend or foe. Especially when you are bumping into all kinds of people all day long. I would like for this, this would be a dream situation, a set of dialogs across the Muslim Society between the clerics that have the knowledge and those that are asking the questions and for there to be not a meeting of the minds of at least an expression of interest to find out what each can contribute to the muslim world in general. What does it take to get the dialogue going . These days there is a lot of concern and i think the u. S. And americans in general think that it would be great if it was focused on a Multicultural Society and not focused so much on the view of utopia and the caliphate. What does it take to get the dialogue going and gets them to the way that you write about in this book . The positions of muslims in america have the protections and an expectation they can speak freely. There is the idea that we need to put blasphemy laws that are very interesting because these can be structured to end all debate. You have to give sure to make sure you get on the right side. I think that the muslim communities in america should really take advantage of the situation here and be Academic Freedom to take a lead on the direction of global islam to contribute to the rate that is taking place in the middle east and the arabic language. Ideas can form and can then be kind of propagated and im not saying that these are ideas that are reforming or modernizing. For example, i talk about the role of the muslim individual and i got some criticism by somebody online where they said it does not legitimate. I noted to myself the president used facebook which is a western tool. Maybe that is not the appropriate term. It is a product of western society. He was writing in english and didnt have a group behind him so i thought these are basic concepts that we need to work out and think about. I also think it is interesting that we have a focus on the group. But the idea of the individual is threatening to the group. I think they complement each other. At the moment its been this focusefocus on almost an empty y build on many people with little personalities. I want to raise the level of the quality beefing up the individual in the muslim world. Theres a couple things i would like you to talk about. One is your view of the understanding of women in islam. You write in a book about how you have an older sister and describe her in very impressive terms. The way you write about women and the role they should play is not i would say the conventional understanding probably of an han american audience up with women in islam would expect. Can you talk about how you think women should be treated in islam . [laughter] yo you know what i mean. We have a whole bunch of patriarchal communities and i wonder sometimes that means spread of islam we are exporting some of the local cultures and practices in the middle east. I dont think its particularly appropriate. In practice what that means is women have the chance to prove themselves and. We are now more worried about what they are doing with their time. They seem to have a certain kind of expectation that is completely unreasonable. So in that sense, certain societies are pushing forward on the womens rights and womens empowerment. We have a whole bunch of cabinet ministers that are doing an amazing job much more interesting than the male members if i can say. In certain clerics they make the decisions, so i enjoyed mountain climbing. My mountain climbing guide is a swedish woman that is about 5foot 3 inches. I trust her and entirely and i falling from my position. We need concerns of not just this is also something ive spoken about. I want to introduce the idea or a discussion on what it means to be excellent as a muslim in the 21st century. And i have difficulty understanding how we can do that if we are using a set of concepts are we not allowed to develop the concepts that is the question i put to the clerics the way that we describe the world in the seventh century line it makes me wonder whether we are on the right track. I was interested where he was asked about black life better and he was kind of disparaging. The analysis was ca canned can l down to my understanding about the way that African Americans raised their families and commitments to responsibilities and family life and their inability to do that. He made it kind of a moral personal issue. He wasnt taking into account the structural matters and i thought to myself this is a great opportunity. He didnt say those are unacceptable categories. He said im sorry i didnt think of those things. So those are concepts that come from outside of the concepts in islam and it is a fantastic opportunity to look at our own reactions and realized that we recognize the structural injustice even though it was never a part of the islamic kind of theology. I have no idea if i answered the question. There was an answer in their. [laughter] the other thing i will ask one more. The religious dogma imposes a kind of religious violence and not thinking among people. The people. You talk about your own youth when yo you are weighing out whh direction to go and you followed the more dogmatic religion. Ken you talk about with other young men how that plays out and then how you think that gets ended . I decided i didnt have an opinion anymore because the oz so difficult to reconcile the strict dogmatic views of the world through islam at the time. So i decided to leave and i took a timeout about 20 years. [laughter] three of those years were completely silent. I have nothing to say and at about the age of 19 i had no opinion. Now i think ive solved the problem. I thought about silence a great deal particularly in the context of the freedom of speech and i wondered why the middle east is so hesitant to welcome the speech. Part of it is we seem to be stuck in a cycle where we regurgitate the same argument and think that we are making progress in the analysis of the situation but what we have done is come up with th a Conspiracy Theory about which it kind of removes any power that we might have. And so, its kind of a dead end. Part of the problem of silence you begin to lose the ability to think clearly. So i enjoyed that debate and thinking on my feet because it provokes me into being a creative and sort of committing to the dialogue. If you are silent, there is no dialogue or challenge. There is no creative thinking whatsoever so that is why i was so fearful of people in the middle east. Its one thing to think constructively but not thinking construct a flea is also. Let me open up the floor to questions. There is a microphone here if you please line up behind the microphone and starts taking questions from the floor. My name is ron thompson and i was lucky to catch you on the show with urine turkey with terry gross on the show and also with trevor nor. You made a couple points i thought were very good and replicated again. The you asked the question i think on page 22 if it was more ethical to have a islamic system and psychologically healthy in Islamic Society and i was going to ask how you answer that. The wording is very powerful. I would like your observation that i have read by a french philosopher that the right way to look at what is happening with isis is to analogize through the reformation that basically those that see religion used to benefit some people of the renaissance. Maybe the earth moves. Who knows . But the theory is the same forces are working in the islamic world and it is quite foolish to deal with that. [laughter] i think very briefly isis in is a set of ideas i am not sher globally but i think it is a state of mind it is tempting and it makes things blackandwhite. And with those religious upheavals it is interesting it is the upstart what theyre doing it is challenging the traditional ravages authority and to legislate on these issues coming forward. But what i noticed about their positions if it isnt about doctrine that the clerical authority. You are fighting over power with the Terrorists Organization you just want to tell us what to do. We need a set of clerics that are open for a the respectful dialogue with the 24 the in the era of world. And jumping into geopolitics with a unique perspective you have been in russia eight years killed how they think about things maybe syria is not over with i. C. E. Is isis in retreat what is the next age of radiological struggle in the region quick. But where the question is is llama phobia is llama phobia to voice our concern for voice our concerns and that we need to fight that the we should think about all of the other minority groups even in the era of and muslim world and how we deal with minorities. And with that internal discussion. And we should not use that as the excuse with those the there facing globally. I am a brand builder doing marketing. In 2011 i did it talk called reprinting his long is long because that the time i am jewish with a lot of muslim friends i want to defend at because they felt like that was religious freedom but i realized i did not hear a lot of muslims in america but in my world that were speaking out against terrorism. So the wife came and then there was talk moderator with a full discussion because i am not a theologian but what is important to me is the state of understanding and how can muslims in america bridge that gap what other americans think of islam fanatics and those clerics in america to have those conversations so the question is there is not a great stride. And to have the new Television Show coming up like modern family only for his long islam in pop culture and that may be the only way. I dunno. And ive been thinking about radical islam from the age of 14 or 15 so september 11 house to be a turning point for what it is allowed to be said to the neighbors and children in our mosques. And with that preaching. But the reaction is to have to change the image. I have respect for branding weekend spend some money on the tv series but we are wondering where are we going with all of this . This is long overdue. Just one quick thing hearing you talk before there are different strains of judea some it sounds like every muslim is to the extreme but that is not true. I do agree with that is an invitation to my fellow muslims to take on more responsibility i know there are muslims were cultural you will identify with the fact but we do have people in the face of that tape that extremely radical life with that agenda but are ready to take our children. You dont understand i. C. E. This is the equal organization so i say if you want to be an american muslim going to starbucks and not worry about the direction of islam then that is your choice i dont think you are taking responsibility but that is up to you. People say that they should be afraid but there are a lot of people of different communities but to get together to establish a position in itself and dealt self indulgent as everything to do with us. With the american muslims ability to engage with internal dialogue are there plans to translate your book into arabic . And with social media having that formal exchange can you share any organizations already trying to do that dialogue quick. Yes. But they all feel their way for word. With that is more of the analysis behind extremism. Maidu have an offer from the of arab publisher and there is the turkish publisher as well. In the offer was complex chinese. [laughter] hongkong as well. Win to have a german and a spanish contract. I would like to see that reaction but this asks the people maybe they will get some straightforward answers the muslim experience in the west the way they issue the problems that our different in having trouble to relate into joining hands with that community i am wondering that your book who does it address . That in indonesia is different and pakistan so who is this targeting really . It is a subtle question. It is impossible to open up if you came to the arabs world with gayrights even though Everybody Knows very diverse enough heartland. I am not saying every single young muslim and it is relevant to every single muslim i would be happy if each one that picks up the book negative not out to preach but just discussion. So maybe they should just declare their independence a lot of people are pushing the agenda and you must call him line. You need to be aware of the other muslims. That is what i am saying. To be aware of those intentions of the others. I am an educator on islamic art and arabic studies talking map and science and religion and i did a lot of thinking of what i was asked to teach. The discover your position i have not read your book gets out my apologies so how do we teach children about religion . I know how we shouldnt teach them but there seems to be a growing trend to mix up education to create model muslims. And that the nets their options and the potential in behalf to think about that. My apologies. I am a clinical psychologist, a time do you have . [laughter] with the experience in the nation of islam. So that was my world view growing up. Of religious plurality but the question is twopronged. That often times they do up for job of counseling so i doobie go about changing that any in vice on folks like me to go about changing that . To hold accountable and seeking to address. They are the ones that ended you are not a scholar of islam but he had keep it to yourself but we need to expand the notion of the people who have the authority to include historians and economists to have a greater understanding. For those to understand of moral intricacies but to help them move forward needed great number of people coming together with those recommendations and get clerical seems to be stopped from the tenth century. Cement actually my question is part of the psychology part. [laughter] where my friends and i wondered about committing suicide was a great sin and done for of unhappiness of course, i agree with that statement but those choice of words it was a great thing if they committed suicide as a result of the unhappiness i know of it was a conscious effort on your part that when you talk about depression related suicide if you truly practice the right way . Weve must not be practicing it right. So is at unhappiness while you were writing it . Sup thinking of depression mattis it is issues committing suicide therere all kinds of reasons. I find it objectionable you cannot do it and it is nonsensical but that will idea of sacrificing your life is a great sacrifice so then stick around. Bet on that note to make more sacrifices to endorse that idea. It is eloquent and thoughtful and the off offers very concerned. [applause] [inaudible conversations]