RawPods: Creative Thought & Expression (Poetry | Literature | Thought)

In this episode, we share poetry themed to Nur, or Light. Recorded in Feb'26 at the start of Ramadan, our diverse community gets together in a Mehfil and speaks to the theme in new and interesting ways. Spiritual poems - reflections, longing, connection; socio-political poems - lamenting the loss of humanity in the present day world, hoping for a better time, reminding each other, and sometime...

In this episode, we reflect on two central Qur’anic concepts: Salām (peace, wholeness) and Nūr (light, illumination). We reflect on these concepts not as abstractions, but as lived realities. Through divine attributes, linguistic roots, and selected scriptural references, we examine how these ideas move from theology into lived life — especially in Ramadan. What does it mean to pursue peace with i...

Poetry & the Refugee Experience We continue Season 4 of RawPods with Rivers of Resilience - a special series centering those with lived experiences of migration, displacement, and those working alongside migrant and refugee communities. In this episode, we speak with Siraj ul Islam, a Rohingya poet and activist originally from Myanmar, who has been living as a refugee since 2017. Siraj has ded...

We continue Season 4 of RawPods with Rivers of Resilience , a special series exploring migrant lived experiences and those working tirelessly for advocacy, justice, and human rights. In this episode, we speak with Camilla Reeve who is a poet, writer, and founder of Palewell Press. Her work amplifies voices shaped by justice, displacement, war, and the climate crisis. Through poetry, fiction, and n...

As conflict and war escalate in many parts of the world, the number of refugees continues to rise—and so do polarising views on migration. In response, we bring you Rivers of Resilience, a powerful new series exploring migrant lives, art, and advocacy as part of Season 4 of RawPods. In this episode, we meet Asma Rashed, who fled the war in Syria, found refuge in Jordan, and eventually resettled in...

Experience the rich tradition of Urdu Sufi poetry in this special episode as we bid goodbye to Ramadan and celebrate Eid. Featuring a journey through Urdu Sufi poetry and timeless works of renowned Urdu Sufi poets, presented by Rafey Zuberi and select verses from Rumi shared by other event guests including Sara Zamir and Talhah, hosted by Muniba. Learn about the history of Sufi poetry, its connect...

In this special Ramadan episode of community reflection, we explore the profound themes of mercy, forgiveness, and salvation - both as Divine attributes and as human experiences. The reflections are guided by an understanding of Allah’s names that speak to these traits (as based on Al Ghazali’s work) and based on other texts. Through discussion and reflection, we consider how an understanding of t...

An event to celebrate the life and message of the best of creation and praise the Creator, hosted in September 2024. Includes recitations of classic and original poems in Arabic, English, Turkish & Urdu. Attended by a diverse community with origins in and currently located in multiple locations across the world. We loved the soulful remembrance that brought us together and pray we have many mo...

Hammad Rind and Nadir Feroz Khan represent Pakistan and Rawanee as they recite their multilingual work at Poetry Night, at the Poetry Cafe in Feb 2024. The recitations include poetry in languages spoken in Pakistan. Intro Music: Sohni Dharti instrumental by Leo Twins RawPods Season 3 | Episode 5 Connect with us across our channels: Website: Rawanee.com   Instagram: @Rawanee. Creatives Facebook: @R...

“Poems from Munir Niazi, Siddiq Kalim and Adeen Taji as shared by their relatives” Spoken to & recited by Akbar Khan (Munir Niazi), Natasha Qureshi (Siddiq Kalim) & Mariam Magsi (Adeen Taji) RawPods Season 3 | Episode 4 Connect with us across our channels: Website: Rawanee.com   Instagram: @Rawanee. Creatives Facebook: @RawaneeCreatives Twitter: /RawaneeCreative Facebook group: https://www...

“Spiritual and reflective poetry to celebrate Arafah Day & Eid ul Adha” Written & recited by Laiba Khan, Muniba Mahmud, Talhah Mohammed RawPods Season 3 | Episode 3

That 14th August should be a time to reflect is possibly the least controversial stance toward it. Here, we hear thoughts that should help us challenge & re examine our perceptions of identity, our attitude toward language and ideas This episode is the first part of a recording of an event we hosted in May 2023 in partnership with SOAS, University of London. It includes conversation on the decolon...

“Poetry that speaks to decolonization” An extract from an event we held at SOAS, university of London in May 2023 - with poetry written and recited by Shaheryar Mirza and Qudsia Akhtar. RawPods Season 3 | Episode 2

“To myself: Conversations Through Time”, is the first episode of Season 3 of RawPods. This episode includes excerpts from a Mehfil we hosted in October 2022. The reciting poets include Laiba Khan, Muniba M, Nadir Feroz Khan (NFK), Rafey Zuberi, Shaheryar Mirza. In season 3 we will move toward more thematic creative expression, as has been our growing focus. RawPods Season 3 | Episode 1 Connect wit...

This episode is a recording of a Mehfil we hosted on 09th July 2023, which included participation of other Poetry Society stanzas (North Cumbria & Roundel) alongside that of Rawanee’s own members. Participants joined from across 4 countries & 7 cities. The prompt was “Darkness, Light or a combination of both…” RawPods Season 2 | Episode 6 Connect with us across our channels: Website: Rawanee.com  ...

First published: Mar’22, republished: Oct’23; This episode is a special edition of poetry, "Voices for Humanity" put together under the sad backdrop of war, in March’22. As the world reels from news of the past week, we have put out a call for voices to express support for humanitarianism - to promote peace, and to promote equality.  The poems that we have received from members highlight the sadne...

This episode is a response to recent events in the world - an attempt to speak to our collective kindness and humanity, to appeal for peace. Sequence: All poets are reciting their own work except in two poems: the fourth poem in the podcast has been penned by Faiz & recited by Riasath, and the final poem has been recited & penned by Daniele based on Ibn Insha’s poem. Other poets in this podcast in...

There is a wonderland far away Of legend or truth, who can say? For in this land: There’s children on streets And grown men cry Whilst teachers plead Of help from Echo, for she has her plaints But she rolls her eyes, “I ain’t no saint” And the Ladies, they strut dolled in paint For their revelry, little does taint CREDITS Podcast written, directed and conceptualized by: Muniba Mahmud Audio Editing...

Swiss-born Italian poet of Urdu, whose diversity goes around the globe, Daniele Speziale urf Raahi Itaalvi , is a polyglot with a track record of studying around 15 languages, as well as an aspiring poet, translator, and researcher. Daniele's Urdu and Hindi poems, written under the pen name of Rahi Italvi, are currently being published on Rekhta. He joins us for a beautiful conversation on wha...

In February 2022, Rawanee's members got together for another poetry recitation event as part of our "Mehfil with Rawanee" series. Our first session at the start of the year and at what we hope is the beginning of the end of the pandemic, was themed to "Beginnings"; called "Ibtida" in Urdu. Fittingly, we started the session with Iqbal's famous lines capturing his thoughts on "ibtida" and "inteha" (...

"If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same" What is resilience, and what cultivates resilience? How does poetic expression contribute to acknowledging and strengthening resilience? In December 2021, Rawanee's community got together to share poetry and some prose, alongside some heartwarming and meaningful conversation on the subject. We heard a lot of or...

PAKISTAN: ZINDA HAI This is another special edition podcast put together by Rawanee’s members in light of current events. Earlier this month, many of us were saddened and disappointed at the turn of events in Pakistan, and wrote and recited poetry for the same*. RawPods are conversations that celebrate creative ideas and expression, and are hosted by Rawanee. *Please do note that whilst Rawanee re...

For Qudsia Akhtar, the higher self is worth pursuing. Her latest sequence of poems is rooted in the journey and the search for the many truths that may appear in various experiences such as the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and the myth of the Churail. The voices guide. The image of the lote tree often found in Islamic Sufi thought comes to represent the highest form of self-knowledge, which is also ke...

On Pakistan’s 75th Independence Day, Rawanee’s community shares authentic reflections & heart felt poetry on the country's challenging and continuing journey  CREDITS: Creative Planning, Hosting & Execution: Muniba Mahmud All Songs (except Dil Dil Pakistan, including “Dil se”, “Lab Pe Aati Hai”, “Mera Inaam Pakistan”, “Itnay Baray Jeewan”): Bareena Nadeem; Produced By Surtaal Music Academy Lahore,...

Expressions of Love ❤️ - Izhar e Ishq  - اظہارِ عشق through poetry by Rawanee’s Creative Community. Contribution Credits — Poems Written & Recited by:  "Meray Udas Kamray Mein" by Osama Siddiq "Novelette" by Nadir Khan Feroz "The Lost Spark" by Rafey Zuberi “Sonnet" by Nadir Khan Feroz "Haan Shayad Wohi Ho Tum" by Munazza Ahmed "Forever Love" by Muniba Mahmud RawPods Season 2 | Episode 2 Connect w...