ImanWire Podcast

Faced with the challenges of liberalism and a changing social milieu, Muslims fear the erosion of Islamic principles and traditions. In this desire to hold on to the tradition, a reactionary hyper-masculinity has developed in some circles, to counter the perceived effeminacy and feminism in many of these outside influences. Is this a necessary response, or has it gone too far away from the traditi...

Anti-Muslim racism can take a toll, especially among youth and others in the community who may feel the most targeted. To feel like a victim constantly under attack, however, poses significant dangers to our spiritual well-being. For some, this creates a hyper-reactivity that blames Islamophobia for all the challenges they face, even leading a small number to exaggerate or falsify claims of harass...

Activists and scholars have at times struggled to be on the same wavelength, creating obstacles in communal efforts for both social justice and spiritual refinement. What are the roots of this disconnect, and how can they get on the same page? In this episode, Dawud Walid and Tariq Touré join host Mohammed Saleem to examine the scholar-activist relationship from different angles, including generat...

Women have always played important roles in Islamic learning, but their path to scholarship is not without its unique challenges. In part 1 of their conversation, Shaykha Tamara Gray of Rabata and Ustadha Zaynab Ansari of Tayseer Seminary discuss the future of female scholarship, facing misogyny in the community, and how to facilitate more open platforms for feminine voices in the teaching of sacr...

History shapes the present and influences the future, but what if that history was turned on its head? What if we were to learn that African Muslims in the 18th century were pioneers in abolishing slavery and monarchy? Or that the intellectual tradition in West Africa has a chain of authenticity actually more faithful to the practice of early Islam than some of its Middle Eastern counterparts ofte...

For the past three years, Zaki Hasan and Parvez Ahmed have hosted Diffused Congruence: The American Muslim Experience, interviewing a wide variety of Muslims, ranging from well-known scholars to artists and activists. Casting light on the life stories of these individuals, the show has become a resource for both Muslims and those of other faiths and backgrounds to learn about both the diversity of...

As Muslim leaders and activists engage both the government and their own organizations, a number of ethical questions arise. Does partnering with government entities lend itself to conflicts of interest and inauthenticity? Do programs like CVE impose a frame on the Muslim community that takes away its own agency and agenda? Are activist-driven circles and initiatives any less immune to these risks...

We might appreciate the benefits of physical fitness, but are there spiritual benefits to exercise as well? In this episode, we discuss not only how to find time and implement a successful exercise program but how exercise can teach us invaluable lessons critical to being spiritually healthy. Exploring the strong connections between physical and spiritual fitness, Moutasem Atiya, Mohammed Saleem &...

In the wake of the recent controversy at the RIS convention, Dr. Su'ad Abdul Khabeer, a professor of anthropology and African American studies and author of "Muslim Cool: Race, Religion and Hip Hop in the United States", and Moutasem Atiya from Al-Madina Institute discuss the issues at hand, anti-Blackness in the community, and how we can move forward positively. In the second part of the episode,...

How can we connect with the Prophet? Our Islamic education on the Prophet's life often lacks the spiritual, introspective, and personal component that effects change in our own life. In this episode, Dr. Meraj Mohiuddin, author of the book, Revelation: The Story of Muhammad, and Shad Imam, co-director of the Qurtuba Institute at ADAMS, join host Mohammed Saleem to discuss their own challenges in f...

CVE (Countering Violent Extremism) programs have been a source of controversy in the Muslim American community, yet there is a lack of clarity in the discussion as to what CVE is. Is it a black and white issue as both its proponents and critics make it seem? In this episode, Alejandro Beutel, a researcher in CVE, and Mohamed Ghilan, a critic of CVE, discuss both government and community-led initia...

Opioid addiction is a far-reaching problem in our society and the Muslim community is not immune. In this episode, Moutasem Atiya, Dr. Mohamed Ghilan, Dr. Hasan Awan & Mohammed Saleem address the growing problem of prescription drug abuse, its social and spiritual ramifications, the path to recovery and how our attitudes towards addicts should be grounded in love. Check out www.imanwire.com for th...

In this new series of conversations on issues facing the Muslim community, Moutasem Atiya & Mohammed Saleem discuss the 2016 presidential elections and how to stay upbeat, what to tell our children, and how we can move forward socially and spiritually. Check out www.imanwire.com for the latest articles and podcast episodes and send any questions or comments to @imanwired on Twitter or imanwire@alm...