‘Justice before god’: critical Islamic education based on the work of Tariq Ramadan

The field of Islamic education has traditionally focused on devotional practices that emphasise rote memorisation and adherence to established doctrines. However, increasing demands for educational frameworks that prepare students for life in multicultural and secular societies, prompt interest in critical Islamic religious education (CIRE). The work of controversial Swiss-born scholar Tariq Ramadan offers significant contributions to this discourse, providing theoretical foundations and practical insights to support CIRE. This paper examines Ramadan’s use of concepts like jihad, umma, ijtihad, maslaha and maqasid to develop an approach which balances faith with criticality and social context, focusing on the potential contributions of Ramadan’s work to curriculum development, pedagogical practices and the theoretical underpinnings of Critical Islamic Religious Education.