ImanWire Podcast

As people throughout the world suffer from poverty and oppression, what approach can Muslims take in grappling these issues? Does fidelity to the tradition necessarily equate to political quietism, or does Islam have its own liberation theology? Hassan Lachheb from Tayseer Seminary returns to the ImanWire podcast to discuss formulating an Islamic liberation theology for our modern times and proble...

Shaykha Zainab Alwani joins the ImanWire podcast to discuss how to be a contemplative reader of the Qur'an, and gives practical tips on how to connect with the Qur'an. Please subscribe to the podcast and visit www.imanwire.com for the latest articles and podcast episodes. Send any questions or comments to @imanwired on Twitter or imanwire@almadinainstitute.org.

Dawud Walid, author of "Towards Sacred Activism", and Ieasha Prime return to the podcast to discuss the obligation of enjoining justice, engagement in activism from an Islamic perspective, and the role of anger in social justice work. "Towards Sacred Activism" is now available for purchase here: https://www.meccabooks.com/1528-towards-sacred-activism-9781732258815.html --- Related Episode Links: E...

Sami Catovic joins the podcast for a casual conversation on the early education of Fatih Sultan Mehmet, the conqueror of Constantinople, and Idris II of Morocco and how this history can teach us about investing in the next generation and cultivating spiritually grounded communities. Please subscribe to the podcast and visit www.imanwire.com for the latest articles and podcast episodes. Send any qu...

Even though the Qur’an itself honors them, in an age of sectarianism, Muslims who seek to mention the Prophetic Household are accused of either deviancy or discord. As the gap between polarizing opposites widens, restoring the rightful place of Ahl-ul-Bayt in our discourse is the first step to help mediate these divisions. Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui contemplates on the spiritual path they took, and...

Despite their lofty position, the Ahl-ul-Bayt, the family of the Prophet, have been often marginalized or misunderstood. Many Muslims are unaware or intentionally negligent of their spiritual virtues and even their racial heritage. Dawud Walid, author of "Centering Black Narrative: Ahl-ul-Bayt, Blackness & Africa", and Hassan Lachheb of Tayseer Seminary join the podcast to discuss the whitewashing...

Dr. Younus Mirza joins the podcast as we share Hajj stories, how to seek the blessings of Dhul Hijjah and Eid-ul-Adha, and discuss the differences between Biblical and Qur'anic narratives about the Prophets. Was the son of sacrifice Ishaq or Ismail? Does it matter? We reflect on the story of sacrifice in Surah As-Saffat and its lessons for us today. Dr. Younus Y. Mirza is a Visiting Researcher at...

Spiritual or religious? Shaykh Riad Saloojee joins Moutasem and Saleem to discuss new-age spirituality, seeking mentorship, and the importance of spiritual companionship to reach our highest potential. Riad Saloojee graduated and taught in an Islamic seminary in South Africa. He is a lawyer by training and worked in the field of civil rights advocacy. He currently is a teacher at the Suhba Fellows...

Suzy Ismail, a professional counselor and founder of Cornerstone Counseling, joins the podcast to reflect on the Divine Names and Attributes of God and how to implement these Names practically into our daily marital and family life. We also discuss her experience counseling, including her thoughts on addressing teenage suicide and the many complex issues facing teenagers today. Link: 13 Reasons Wh...

As another Ramadan approaches, we share this replay of a previous episode recorded on the first night of Ramadan, as we discuss its spiritual dimensions, give practical advice on how to refine ourselves in the month, and share some of our own Ramadan life hacks. We also feature a special message from Shaykh Mohsen Al'Najjar given on the eve of the blessed month. Please subscribe to the podcast and...

Gear up for Ramadan as Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui discusses inner dimensions of fasting to re-ignite your Ramadan and your spiritual life.

There isn't a lot of love for the suburbs these days, even though close to a majority of Americans live in suburban areas. The ethos of suburbia is closely connected to the concept of the "American Dream", with its manicured lawns, and white picket fences, but at what cost? Shaykh Hassan Lachheb from Tayseer Seminary joins the podcast to discuss the negative impact suburbia has had in shaping Musl...

Chaplain Asma Hanif, founder and director of Muslimat al-Nisaa, shares her inspiring story, the different attitudes to domestic violence and homelessness in the Muslim community, and dealing with the organizational and personal challenges that come with community work. Muslimat al-Nisaa (http://mnisaashelter.org/) is a non-profit organization providing shelter and health and educational services t...

Ustadha Zaynab Mansour Ansari from Tayseer Seminary returns to the podcast and shares her thoughts on gender relations in the wake of both the fallout from #MeToo and recent events of spiritual abuse. Please subscribe to the podcast and visit www.imanwire.com for the latest articles and podcast episodes. Send any questions or comments to @imanwired on Twitter or imanwire@almadinainstitute.org.

Ustadha Iesha Prime, executive director of Barakah, Inc., joins the podcast to discuss a wide array of topics. We talk about her perspectives on the polarizing debate over feminism engulfing the community, speaking at the Women's March a year ago, and the role of female teachers in her own path to scholarship. In the second half of the podcast we examine spiritual issues facing Muslim teenagers, f...

Racism still is neglected among Muslims, and even when it is addressed, it often fails to discuss the roots of anti-blackness or provide solutions grounded in a spiritual approach. Imam Dawud Walid joins the podcast as we talk about racism from a spiritual perspective, from the story of Adam and Iblis, to the incident between Bilal and Abu Dharr to the modern day, outlining the need to incorporate...

As recent events have shown, Islamic edutainment has failed in many respects to engender an Islamic ethos within the average Muslim. Are celebrity speakers, the culture of Muslim fandom, and sound bytes of curated content just a hollow shell of education, with more style than substance? Mohamed Ghilan, founder of Andalus Online, joins the podcast for a far-reaching conversation on the phenomenon o...

Shaykh Yasir Fahmy joins the podcast to discuss his journey from a Catholic prep school, to a career in venture capital, to studying sacred knowledge at Al-Azhar. In this episode, he draws from his experiences as the senior imam of the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center and speaks about reinvigorating our mosques and making them central to our community again. Please subscribe to the podcas...

How can we reconcile centuries-old texts and rulings of classical scholars with our current context? In this episode, Dr. Jonathan Brown, author of "Misquoting Muhammad", shares his insights on being faithful to tradition and mindful of the cultural and social realities of the present day. Please subscribe to the podcast and visit www.imanwire.com for the latest articles and podcast episodes. Send...

What role does our religious identity play in how we conduct ourselves and how we are perceived in modern academia? In part 2 of our series on believers in academic spaces, Dr. Elliott Bazzano, Assistant Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Le Moyne College, discusses being an insider/outsider in the classroom, the tension between descriptive and prescriptive scholarship, and episte...

Despite facing the challenges of being marginalized at the crossroads of their race, gender and faith, Black women have been pioneers in the Muslim community in America. In this episode, Dr. Jamillah Karim, author of "Women of the Nation: Between Black Protest and Sunni Islam", details the rich history of Black Muslim women in their journey from the Nation of Islam to the Warith Deen Mohammed comm...

Pursuing higher education in academia can be a rewarding experience, but it can be challenging for some Muslims. Does being a believer in a faith tradition necessarily conflict with the culture in modern academic circles? Is there a hostility to faith in academia that restricts Muslim students from feeling free to be themselves? Ebadur Rahman and Rashid Dar join the ImanWire podcast for an impromp...

In this wide-ranging conversation, acclaimed photographer, filmmaker and media consultant Mustafa Davis joins the podcast to discuss the arts, the marketing of Muslim organizations, his own cautionary tale in social media and the third space movement. Please subscribe to the podcast and visit www.imanwire.com for the latest articles and podcast episodes. Send any questions or comments to @imanwire...

What exactly is Islamic finance and what are its goals? Umar Moghul, a corporate and finance lawyer and author of the book "A Socially Responsible Islamic Finance: Character and the Common Good" joins us to discuss how reimagining Islamic finance through a spiritual lens can elevate it to be an instrument for the betterment of society. Translating core concepts from the path of spiritual purificat...

On the first night of Ramadan, we discuss its spiritual dimensions, give practical advice on how to refine ourselves in the month, and share some of our own Ramadan life hacks. We also feature a special message from Shaykh Mohsen Al'Najjar given on the eve of the blessed month. Please subscribe to the podcast and visit www.imanwire.com for the latest articles and podcast episodes. Send any questio...