ImanWire Podcast

"I must never be the defender of my nafs, or thinking that I have nothing to change and others must change. I must always begin with the premise, that I have everything to change." Shaykh Mokhtar Maghroaui continues the conversation of the addiction of the nafs and how to begin taking the steps to changing them. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 03:09 - Homecoming Journey 05:46 - Facing Bankruptcy 10:...

As people worldwide struggle to cope today with the negative impact of man-made environmental degradation, the crucial step to a solution is understanding our place in the created world and its connection with our Creator. Dr. Amir Abdelzaher joins the podcast to discuss an Islamic vision for spiritual ecology, connecting theology with environmental ethics. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 2:34 - Cha...

Addiction overpowers us even when knowing its harm. In this episode Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui teaches how to have the will, the desire, and the resolve to change and begin removing habits that cause addiction in the heart. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction to Addiction and Purification 1:52 - Willpower and Change Initiation 15:35 - Self-Reflection and Negative Traits Acknowledgment 18:50 - Realization...

Whether "toxic" or "neutered", the crisis of masculinity affecting men today has profoundly negative reverberations throughout society. Dawud Walid, author of "Futuwwah and Raising Males into Sacred Manhood" , discusses how a return to the Islamic practice of spiritual chivalry can counter the extremes of both the right-wing and left-wing discourse, and how it can be implemented today to revive Pr...

"The one who is better than me in akhlaaq (character traits), is a better human being then me." The worth of a human being, practically speaking, is shown through his akhlaq. In this session, Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui speaks about Akhlaaq and Tawhid (Divine Unicity). CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 03:20 - Divine Unicity E 14:49 - Initial Practice of Tawḥīd 22:12 - Divine Beauty in Islam 28:20 - Isla...

Shaykh Riad Saloojee returns to the ImanWire Podcast for a wide-ranging discussion on adab, an often misunderstood or minimized practice that in actuality is central to the life of a believer. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 3:38 - What is Adab? 9:04 - Moral Character vs Etiquette 15:17 - Adab, Justice & Wisdom 29:00 - Small Details & the Big Picture 37:36 - The Inheritance of Adab 52:33 - How to Ac...

Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui delves deeply into the Qur'an's verses of Surah Ash-Shams to unravel the intricate nature of the human psyche. Exploring themes of choice, virtue, and potential, he highlights how nurturing and understanding one's inner self can lead to either success or failure. CHAPTERS: 0:00- Introduction 1:12 - Quranic Wisdom Significance 1:55 - Solar Influence on Mind 6:34 - Lunar Eff...

Our existence is all about the divine manifestations. In this episode, Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui explains how everything has to do with 'tazkiyah'. Ultimately our hearts must be in a state of 'tawhid,' the awareness of Allah ﷻ and his attributes. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 20:13 - Salim Heart: Pure Qalb 22:21 - Purified Heart: Disease-Free Qalb 24:10 - Heart's Beauty: Inner Radiance 26:55 - Divi...

The ultimate objective is to strive for a heart that is 'saleem.' What does this mean? In this episode, Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui explores what it means and continues to speak about the du'a of asking for a heart of 'saleem.' We delve into the essence of possessing a heart that is Saleem—an ultimate marker of success, freedom, and happiness in the Dunya and beyond. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Soul Purificatio...

Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui speaks about the changes of the heart that is required to make the advancements to Allah. He speaks about how the murid (the seeker) can pursue their goal to arrive at the gate of nearness to their Lord. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Invocation for Blessings 4:52 - Spiritual Journey to Allah 17:25 - Essential Dua for Spiritual Growth 24:50 - Significance of Steadfastness Prayer 27:30 -...

Shaykh Yasir Fahmy joins hosts Sami Catovic and Naeem Saloojee to discuss the importance of developing a Prophetic lens to process the events we see in the world and respond in a Divinely-inspired way. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 2:02 - The World Needs the Prophetic Lens 7:15 - Seeing the Seen and Unseen Realm 12:11 - An Immersive Experience 18:33 - Know Him, Love Him, Follow Him 26:12 - Trauma...

Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui emphasizes the significance of breaking the attachments to worldly possessions and beings, allowing the heart to soar freely. As the heart purifies and reaches a higher level of sincerity, acts of obedience become effortless, leading to an ultimate experiential connection with Allah. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani Guidance 1:28 - Spiritual Freedom Concept 6:02...

The ImanWire hosts convene to discuss the current events in Syria, Khaled Nabhan, and Muslims celebrating Christmas. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 1:35 - Smartphone Doomscrolling 6:48 - Syria is Free 45:00 - Soul of My Soul: Remembering Khaled Nabhan 48:59 - Conferences and the Zawiyah-Mobile 57:34 - Muslims and the Christmas Season

Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui discusses the process of spiritual growth and freedom from attachments. He emphasizes the importance of detaching oneself from worldly desires and possessions using the analogy of the embryo within the egg shell. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 03:17 - Spiritual Q&A Session Importance 05:28 - Overcoming Ego Constraints 14:56 - Expanding Awareness Beyond Limits 20:24 - Severi...

Husain Abdullah joins the podcast to discuss his previous career in professional football and his recent unique experience of walking in the footsteps of the Prophet on the Hijrah route. He is the author of "Mecca to Medina: 100 Personal Reflections on Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ Hijrah Journey". CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 3:07 - Fasting and Football: Worship 24-7 8:18 - The Sajda Heard Around the Wor...

Dr. Celene Ibrahim, author of "Women and Gender in the Qur'an", joins the podcast to discuss her analysis of the rich and wide-ranging portrayals of female figures in the Qur'anic sacred history. Using the women around Prophet Musa to anchor the discussion, she offers insights on how their stories exemplify the spiritual truths of the Qur'anic message. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 1:50 - Analyzin...

Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui emphasizes the need to focus on internal transformation and seeking closeness to Allah. He highlights the stagnancy of hearts despite outward actions, urging individuals to rectify their intentions and break free from the confinement of their own existence. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction to Tazkiyah 1:17 - Tazkiyah Essentials: Himmah & Qurb 2:34 - Al-Hakim Al-Tirmidhi Biogr...

Alex Kronemer and Michael Wolfe, co-founders of Unity Productions Foundation, join the podcast to reflect on lessons learned from over 20 years at UPF, sharing the stories of Muslims in the media, and tackling Rumi and the refugee crisis onscreen in Lamya's Poem. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 4:48 - Hajj: Bringing the Recipe of Islam Together 9:35 - Working to Create Understanding of Islam and Mus...

In part 1 of this double episode, Dr. Denise Spellberg, author of "Thomas Jefferson's Qur'an: Islam and the Founders" discusses how conceptions of Muslims played a crucial role in the religious pluralism in the early republic, anxieties over a Muslim president, and the clash between principles and prejudice that continues today. In part 2, the ImanWire hosts get together for a round table discussi...

"Those whom your right hands possess", a Qur'anic descriptor for female slaves, can evoke a number of charged emotions and thoughts that can be difficult to reconcile with our modern sensibilities today. What does slave-concubinage mean? How was it understood in the formative years of Islam? In the final part of our series on slavery, Ustadha Zaynab Ansari, a resident scholar and instructor at Tay...

In part 3 of our series on slavery, Imam Dawud Walid considers the aftereffects of slavery on our current condition, its historical role in contributing to anti-blackness in the community today, and how it affects our understanding of Qur'anic language and theological concepts such as 'ubudiyyah (being a slave to God). Imam Dawud Walid is the Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic R...

Our series on slavery continues as Dr. Bilal Ware joins the podcast to explore the Islamic tradition and the abolition of slavery, debunk the myths of the "Arab-Islamic" slave trade and reflect on how these histories impact our lives today. Dr. Bilal Ware is a historian of Africa and Islam and is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at UC-Santa Barbara. He is the author of several b...

Slavery might be considered a thing of the past, but the position of slavery in Islam continues to be an issue that many Muslims grapple with today. In this special four-part series of the ImanWire podcast, we approach this complex topic from several perspectives, beginning with a discussion with Dr. Jonathan Brown on the moral question of slavery, its place in Islamic law, and the diverse practic...

Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui discusses the importance of freeing oneself from attachments and dedicating the heart to worshiping Allah. This episode delves into the art of cleansing one's soul in pursuit of divine love. CHAPTERS: 23:28 - Divine Connection: Ultimate Relationship 25:20 - Divine Edicts: Understanding The Command 29:40 - Spiritual Conditions: The Conditional Clause 32:40 - Inner Freedom:...

Shaykh Hatem El Haj and Imam Dawud Walid join the ImanWire podcast to offer words of encouragement and advice in staying true to Prophetic etiquettes for Muslims engaged in protests and activism for the Palestinian cause. Link to article discussed in the podcast: https://muslimmatters.org/2024/05/30/holding-onto-prophetic-etiquettes-when-protesting-encouragement-and-advice-for-muslim-human-rights-...