Wijhah Initiative Podcast

Improving communication involves more than just having more conversations. We must also examine the breadth and depth of those conversations. We feel comfortable to speak on a wide range of topics in substantial detail with those whom we are comfortable with. Yet, becoming more comfortable with them requires us to move past superficial conversations. How might we do that? Recorded: Oct 2, 2024

This week, we discuss the period of life before conception. During this period, humans took a covenant (mithāq) of recognizing Allah’s Unity and Lordship. Life on earth is essentially a test of whether the human being will remain committed and loyal to the covenant they took in the realm of souls.

When engaged in a conversation, we often assume we are simply listening or speaking. But, we are doing much more than that; we are reacting to what is being said, how others are looking at us, and the expressions on their face. Our inner reactions influence our ability to understand and comprehend what is being discussed. This is sometimes referred to as noise in a conversation. How do we eliminat...

After discussing trust as a result of secure attachment, we turn our attention to exploring how all relationships will decay over time if not given attention. This is where the importance of recognizing “relational layers” comes in. With limited resources and attention span, we must ensure that we give our time and energy to those who need and deserve it most.

So often in life, we find ourselves overwhelmed by the sheer amount of tasks and demands being made of us. It seems like we just finished doing one thing that another pops us. Amidst all of the chaos of modern life, the lens we look through at life can drift out of focus. Stepping back and assessing how far we’ve come on our journey and how far ahead we still have to go can be deeply rejuvenating...

After discussing trust as a result of secure attachment, we turn our attention to exploring how all relationships will decay over time if not given attention. This is where the importance of recognizing “relational layers” comes in. With limited resources and attention span, we must ensure that we give our time and energy to those who need and deserve it most.

Surah Zumar fittingly ends with a description of the ending of every human being: either paradise or the Fire. Each group will react differently when sent to their final abodes, lamenting the punishment they will face or rejoicing in knowing they have earned Allah’s eternal pleasure.

Last session, we ended off discussing the following quote from ‘When Hearing Becomes Listening’: “There is a deeper point that makes attachment theory important to Muslims. The ultimate objective of Islam is to connect people with their Creator. Islam is about forming a bond with Allah… If a person has learned not to trust their early attachment figures, how will that affect their ability to trust...

Allah Most High keeps open the doors of repentance until the last moments of a believer’s life, while He promises to forgive all sins that one repents from. All this is so that the believer, on the Final Day, does not regret the missed opportunities in this world.

Allah Most High keeps open the doors of repentance until the last moments of a believer’s life, while He promises to forgive all sins that one repents from. All this is so that the believer, on the Final Day, does not regret the missed opportunities in this world.

Join us this week as continue our series, a study of When Hearing Becomes Listening by Sheikh Mikaeel Smith. 

Considered by some of the companions to be the most hope-inspiring verse in the Quran, the next verse we will cover and those that follow in Surah Zumar discuss Allah’s vast forgiveness and mercy. We are commanded to never lose hope in His mercy, no matter how far we feel we’ve drifted away.

The next section of ‘When Hearing Becomes Listening’ deals with the importance of raising securely attached children who can become good listeners. Those who’ve had their emotional needs taken care of can serve as excellent caretakers of others. That caretaking includes being a good listener to them.

Surah Zumar frequently contrasts between different groups of people and how they react to Allah’s message. Some are grateful to Allah, while others are not. Some will be content on the Final Day, while others will be panicking. The contrasts help us understand the various paths humans take in life.

The human brain must maintain large amounts of information regarding the social connections that one keeps. We must remember people’s names, their preferences, and how we can best interact with them. Moreover, we must “mentalize” other’s thoughts: we must be able to think about what others are thinking. We must be able to take their perspective and empathize.

In times of fear or uncertainty, we often turn to others to help us through our struggles. But there are none who can help us when we ultimately have to stand before Allah. In the next few verses, Allah reminds us that part of Tawheed is recognizing that none can save us on the Final Day.

Many of us have heard the saying, “Nobody can help you except you.” We have started to believe that doing things alone is the natural state of human beings, and the only way to advance. We have begun to think: I will look after myself, and everybody else should look after themselves, as individuals. Nobody can help you but you. Nobody can help me but me. But, what if that’s not how we’ve been crea...

In times of fear or uncertainty, we often turn to others to help us through our struggles. But there are none who can help us when we ultimately have to stand before Allah. In the next few verses, Allah reminds us that part of Tawheed is recognizing that none can save us on the Final Day.

Sometimes, we struggle to listen attentively to others because we are not interested in what they are sharing with us, or we find it to be distracting us from more important things. Despite his busy schedule and immense responsibilities, the Prophet a still found time to listen to others speak about what was important to them. One such incident is described in a famous narration known as the hadit...

A believer's most valuable possession in this life (and what they'll take to the next) is guidance (hidayah). In the next few verses of Surah Zumar, Allah Most High speaks of the importance of guidance, and the theological fact that Allah alone guides. What does this theological point mean to us in our daily lives?

While many humans chase different things in order to feel fulfilled in life, believers rejoice in knowing that Allah is sufficient for them. He is the One who created the heavens and the earth, the One who provides the solutions to our problems. The believers knows this and consequently, feels content and at peace with their Lord.

Listening takes courage. It requires one to not only come face-to-face with the sometimes uncomfortable experiences that others share, but also to face the reactions within themselves. And sometimes, it’s those reactions that are the most difficult to bear.

When one attempts to please multiple “gods,” one finds themselves confused and torn between their demands. Submission to Allah is freedom from the shackles of all other oppressive forces. The next few verses in Surah Zumar discuss how Tawhid blesses us with clarity of purpose and direction in life.

This week, we explore the importance of learning to listen in order to be heard. Our exploration will take us through various incidents of the Prophet’s ﷺ blessed life, where we will see how His ﷺ example offers us practical examples on how to become better listeners.

For certain people, Allah opens their hearts up to the beauty and Truth of Islam such that they are illuminated by its truth. What are the signs of a heart that has been illuminated by submission to Allah Most High?