Islamophobia and the Clash of Ignorance | Shafique Virani | TEDxUTSC

With shocking evidence, hilarious anecdotes, heart-wrenching personal stories, and brilliant insights into world events, Dr. Shafique Virani urges us to confront the Clash of Ignorance between the West and the Muslim World, replacing walls of misinformation with bridges of understanding. Appealing to the best in human nature, Dr. Virani presents a visionary path forward, and inspires hope for a better future.
Distinguished Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Toronto, founding Director of the Centre for South Asian Civilizations, and past Chair of the Department of Historical Studies, Dr. Shafique Virani (PhD, Harvard University) is an award-winning author and internationally recognized public speaker who has addressed people from over 50 countries and audiences of over 15,000. His book, The Ismailis in the Middle Ages: A History of Survival, A Search for Salvation, is believed to be the first academic book of any major university press to have had its own book trailer. Describing him as “a visionary,” the United Nations honored him for dedicating his efforts “to the cause of extending the frontiers of knowledge and the welfare of humankind.”
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@ryanmakhani]

This is the best talk I have seen explaining the "Clash of Ignorance" and tackling Islamophobia!

[@zaynjinah7921]

Great talk! I think this really underlines how education makes all the difference in the world. The one thing we need to have is patience.

[@Borboleta1212]

One of the best TED talks I’ve ever watched, and I’m only half way through! Greetings and peace from Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 , UK 👏👏❤️❤️

[@eileensampanes5046]

I am going to share this talk with all my family and friends who have not had the opportunity to personally know and love people of the Muslim faith. Thank you for sharing this remarkable presentation with the world. As a Seeker, I am grateful that you are willing to teach me.

[@3003300330]

Dr. Virani's talk is excellent and quite persuasive-you covered a lot of important ground and concepts with humor and intelligence.

[@786Drama]

Brilliantly put. Thank you for your service brother Shafique :)

[@TheDandelionblush]

Wow what an incredible talk and so eloquently put

[@-didyouknow8638]

A truly inspirational talk! "We are all the children of Adam, We are all one human family!". That is the value and the vision all human beings share with each other!

[@danielschaeffer1294]

Wrong. We are all children of Zinjanthropus. He lived 3 million years ago.

[@IshanBains]

Crazy how religion is given preference over human lives. A person's life comes first and religion should NEVER be a priority whether he/she is a Muslim or not.

[@karimtajdin9864]

I liked the point about Hollywood and the role that education plays! awesome talk!

[@FahimX95]

This was an OUTSTANDING speech !

[@bizhanbidar6456]

Really really amazing talk. Western countries really need to educate themselves about Islam.

[@aamirsinan]

Great talk. There will always be souls in society who will muster the courage to speak out for the truth and not be bogged down by media(read mafia). Keep it up!! Keep making moments!!!

[@rosesinvancouver]

Excellent analogy!!

[@naazjetha3091]

Excellent video Shafique!

[@KarimKarim-lh3wc]

A marvelous talk. The challenge is for radical extremists on both sides (including Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi and Donald Trump) to understand the value of being one human family. Unfortunately, they will not to listen to this message. How then does one help them understand what we all lose when we turn our backs on each other?

[@dr.canbulat]

Great Talk, thank you.

[@simexous]

Amazing talk!

[@kiomi9]

A very illuminating talk. This should be essence of our curriculum for countries having socio cultural and religious diversity and also teaching of all religious studies.

[@sanaali8685]

Very important and informative talk. I like the poem quoted in the lecture, all people are parts of each other, they are like a family. I think it is very Important to have a society where people accept the culture and belief of others that are common among them and respect the differences between them. That way we will have a peaceful, progressive and pluralistic society.

[@amirshivji9103]

Wow well said. Thank you for your amazing and inspiring talk.

[@queenofzee]

Someone send this to Trumper

[@abdulghaffarnazari8227]

Great Talk buddy!

[@zafarali4295]

Great

[@gilgit-baltistanchitral5690]

Great Talk sir

[@farooqhaiderbinaamer8170]

Love from Pakistan ✨🇵🇰💚 Rawalpindi

[@fezv5825]

Nicely put professor. It's clear your message is much needed from the hate comments on this video. Thank you again for sharing.

[@tajuddinakbari9142]

WOW! It was really informative and educational. I enjoyed it and felt it with my bones. There are some stuff we also should bear in mind. I think we shouldn't always blame others, but be also brave enough to take responsibility of our own ignorance about them too. While we are migrants and leaving our own war torn countries for the West, we expect others to embrace us, but once we have reached the West, then we net pick on them and call them names and start hijabing, while we never wore hijab back home and we create our own circle. We think those who helped us now are the children of Haram(Bastards), we do not eat their food and we do not associate with them. Those of us who point finger on others, shouldn't also close his eyes about oneself actions and thoughts too.

[@ArnoldPranks]

That 7-11 Joke was lifted directly (even the wording) from Comedian *Azhar Usman*... who has been using it since 2002. So maybe his uncle Anwar took it from there... Otherwise, a great talk.

[@SR-pw8tg]

This is one of the most sensitive issues currently faced by our world and indeed it is important for people to understand the true perception and meaning of Islam. I am glad on how you have carefully explained your perception and the perception of people living around us. Thank you for sharing such a great video, I believe this video has enough potential to educate and aware people around us.

[@tauseefhassan7796]

The pickup truck picture reminds me of the Quran chapter 2 verse 17. The use of imagery applied to the mental state of those choosing to remain in darkness is very eloquent.

[@alialibay6639]

Un discours trop dense mais sérieux. Peut-être le sujet du choque de l'ignorance aurait pu être traité plus simplement que de couvrir plusieurs, certes reliés avec la méconnaissance de l'héritage des grandes religions mais aussi du manque de l'esprit critique. Cette lacune prévaut dans notre société nourrit des nouvelles pré-machées et une connaissance générale limitée.

[@AnilPatel-ix1lp]

Mane satpanth vise janvu chhe..

[@SuperGospelGangsta]

OK, LET US ALL JUST EMBRACE ISLAM and see how long it takes for America to become like Afghanistan !!

[@darwinistdelusions6504]

So true! Well said! What a guy you are!

[@allee3476]

A true Islamic state wouldn’t be represented by Afghanistan, nor by Saudi Arabia.

[@dizhar8888]

Why is he speaking in such a soft tone?

[@cigdemdemirez3923]

That is his personality inside and out. I was a student of professor Virani at U of T, he is like an angel. Extremely kind and soft hearted. He was an inspiration to me and living example of how true kindness and zero malevolence still can exist in a world of selfish and demoralized people that we live in

[@amethysturanus6351]

Great coverage, partially acceptable. TAJ MAHAL is the biggest symbol of Muslim Mughal ruler who cut hands of 23000 Hindu Artisans, technicians and Engineers after construction was completed so no such monument could be replicated. The site of TAJ MAHAL is robbed site from YAMUNA MAHARANI TEMPLE belonging to Hindus. TAJ MAHAL Tomb of resting Mumtaz is the biggest symbol of atrocities of Mughal Invaders in India.

[@AtamMardes]

If Saudi Arabia, which is the birthplace of Islam, forbids woman to drive & punishes apostates by death, then you can't complain why Islamophobia exists.

[@ryanhunter2987]

I think there are a lot of assumptions and preconceived issues with your comment. Why would you assume that the current government of Saudi Arabia or its ideology reflect in any shape or way truly authentic Islamic intellectual tradition or values? The ideology dominating in Saudi Arabia's government, Wahhabism, is only two centuries old. Islam as a religion operating in History is 1,400 years old. Please don't take Saudi Arabia---with a population of less than 35 million people out of almost 2 billion Muslims in the world, most of whom are non-Arab and actually live in places like Indonesia, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh---as the normative example of Islam or Muslim beliefs.

[@ryanhunter2987]

"Saudi Arabia"---as the present governing state with its ruling Saudi family and Wahhabi ideology married to petro-dollars (post-1970s)---is only a century old...

[@pk3500l]

Taquyaa....

[@allee3476]

Wow, how intelligent you are! Very unimpressive.

[@Getyurfactsstrait]

Was that a laugh track at 1:13 after the 7-11 joke? 4:20 You don't understand the press. If it bleeds it leads. You don't see good news all day about christains , jews, mormons etc. 7:00 So, if a person's actions are modeled after the islamic faith and they use violence why doesn't the whole muslim world condemn their actions? Virtually all christian groups are against the KKK. How many muslim groups expressed joy for 9-11? 8:30 I sympathize with your loss. But your statement is telling in that people in the west are probably more concerned that the islamic faith can be so easily interpreted and used for violence. Islam is in need of a reformation which christianity already had in the past. 10:00 Imaginary? Hmm. If you start pointing at polls you might be in for a bad time. Look up polls for apostasy, homosexuality, infidels and etc. concerning what muslims think "in these parts" of the world. It's very interesting. 15:00 So, using a western secular approach to learning shielded these schools? That's good to hear. 15:45 I think you mixed up a few things. Islamophobia, sectarian violence, racial strife are not the same. Lumping them together is an easy catch all. There is a huge difference between all 3. 16:40 What great contributions has the Islamic faith given to society in the last 100 years? To me secular thought has given far more than this belief system. And I feel it has stunted the growth of these countries. 17:20 Is this poem only for those who follow Islam? I feel it that may be the case. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saadi_Shirazi: These verses were inspired by a Hadith, or saying, of the Prophet Mohammed in which he says: “The example of the believers (Muslims) in their affection, mercy, and compassion for EACH OTHER is that of a body. When any limb aches, the whole body reacts with sleeplessness and fever.”[13] I hope those who follow islam will be able enact a reformation. But I'm not sure it will happen in my lifetime.

[@OneSettoFailureHITWorks-bz9bt]

4:50 "Unusual subset" This guy is not an Imam. Does he know with certainty that ISIS or Taliban Islam is not mainstream Islam? For this guy it is all about being clever. He does that whispering thing. I guess whispering portrays deep wisdom. He talks of conflating. He conflates the Islamic religion with Muslims. Not all Muslim represent true Islam. The question is what is and who represents the TRUE Islam. Can he say ISIS or Taliban do NOT represent Islam? He cannot.

[@google6730]

You want peace you want to get along? First remove every reference of violence in the koran and then we can talk.

[@darwinistdelusions6504]

Thank you! You opened my eyes and saved me!