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The Thinking Muslim

The Thinking Muslim

By Muhammad Jalal

This podcast is dedicated to exploring issues in some more depth and untangling the complexities of the world around us. We engage thinkers, academics, and scholars in conversation on a number of themes to appreciate the ideas that make up Islam as a system of thought.
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Understanding India's Citizenship Law with Dr Asher Siddiqui (Delhi)

The Thinking MuslimJan 01, 2020

00:00
32:13
The War on Muslim Women with Lauren Booth - Abaya Bans and European Delusions

The War on Muslim Women with Lauren Booth - Abaya Bans and European Delusions

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It is no exaggeration to say that in their quest to malign Islam, some in the West target Muslim women. Her position within the family, her place in society and, of course, her dress are placed under the microscope – and like colonialists in the days of empire, her emancipation is seen to be a means to a greater Islamic reformation. In recent days, France’s minister of education has announced that Abayas, the loose dress many Muslims wear for modesty, will be banned from schools. Apparently, a piece of clothing is an affront to French secularism and, yet again, another sign of separatism. In the UK, the former prime minister likened burka-wearing Muslim women is a those who chose to look like letterboxes and bank robbers.


Young Muslim women are subject to a barrage of what can only be called propaganda, traducing their religious dress and promising to liberate them from their religion. To help us understand how this works and to caution against some of the extremes by which the community can handle this onslaught.


Lauren Booth is a broadcaster turned activist and author. She is known for her principled activism on Palestine and regularly comments on Muslim affairs. Her book, In Search for the Holy Land is available to purchase from all good book stores.


You can find her book here https://www.amazon.co.uk/In-Search-of-Holy-Land/dp/1739384113/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2LLEMY7MPD86N&keywords=in+search+of+a+holy+land&qid=1692958858&sprefix=in+search+of+a+holy+land%2Caps%2C129&sr=8-1


Her social media here: Lauren Booth: IG/Facebook: @laurenboothofficial. Website: www.laurenbooth.co.uk



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The Thinking Muslim Podcast Episode 109


00:00 Introduction

02:20 On Nicky Campbell's review

05:50 Onslaught against Muslim women

07:58 Obsession with women's dress

10:45 Societal Pressure

11:32 Criminalising young Muslim men

13:20 A deliberate agenda

15:38 Navigating the noise around the hijab

19:49 Modernist interpretations of scripture

22:53 Progressive gender ideologies

24:06 How secular society judges women

26:35 Women in Muslim societies

29:52 Muslims leaving the West

34:11 Making the move

36:38 Gender roles

39:17 Living feminism

44:25 Gender wars

46:50 Hyperindividualism

49:43 British politics post Iraq war

51:22 Attending a Muslim event

55:22 Why write a memoir

58:10 Palestine and Isreal

Sep 09, 202301:00:17
Israelis in Riyadh - Why the Saudis want to Normalise? with Sami Hamdi

Israelis in Riyadh - Why the Saudis want to Normalise? with Sami Hamdi

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The so-called Abraham Accords, delivered by the Trump Administration and embraced by Biden, has solidified Israel’s position in the Middle East. To date, normalisation has been enthusiastically embraced by the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco. But the United States knows that the ‘prize’ is Saudi Arabia. In recent weeks the mood music has been positive for Americans. It is suggested a deal may be concluded very soon, with the de-facto Saudi leader Muhammad Bin Salman holding out for concessions before he signs on the dotted line.


Our guest this week is Sami Hamdi, the Managing Director of the International Interest, a global risk and intelligence company. He advises governments on the geopolitical dynamics of Europe and the MENA region and has significant expertise in advising companies on commercial issues related to volatile political regions. Sami is also featured as a commentator for Al Jazeera (Arabic and English), Sky News, BBC and TRT World.


As always, you can comment your thoughts below.


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The Thinking Muslim Podcast Episode 108


00:00 Introduction

01:57 Response from last interview

04:59 Importance of political awareness

07:49 Aims of Israel

16:10 Defacto Normalised?

24:20 Commitment to Palestinians?

30:46 Anger on Muslim streets?

36:07 Saudi security aims

45:30 Saudi autonomous?

51:49 US Saudi-China relations?

58:30 US retreat?

1:03:57 Erdogan and Israel

1:11:58 Erdogan’s tactics?

1:16:55 Palestinians?

1:24:41 How important is Palestine?

Sep 01, 202301:33:30
Is Islamic Banking Really Islamic? An Insider's view with Harris Irfan

Is Islamic Banking Really Islamic? An Insider's view with Harris Irfan

Please consider making a donation, however small, to The Thinking Muslim, to receive a share in the reward and to help us make a greater impact. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/Donate You can now purchase our Thinking Muslim mug here https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/merch Sign up to our newsletter https://jalalayn.substack.com

Check out our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f13mgKVjJsU

Muslims worldwide have come to the realisation that the prevailing capitalist economic system does not serve us ethically. With its interest-based banking and casino-style financial instruments, a devout believer has no choice but to attempt to escape its haram, even if that hinders the progress and prosperity of our daily lives. In recent years, Islamic finance has been touted as an ethical alternative. A way to escape the haram riba based economy. Some have even presented it as an alternative to financial capitalism. The rationale behind these products is to accommodate the detailed Shariah rulings on trade and many Islamic scholars have endorsed products that Western financial institutes and governments have embraced. Our guest today was an Islamic finance industry insider. Harris Irfan is currently the CEO of Cordoba Capital Markets https://www.ccmkts.com. He has 29 years of investment banking and consulting experience. He was the former co-founder of Deutsche Bank's world-leading Islamic finance team and CEO of Deutsche's Islamic finance subsidiary. He is the Former Global Head of Islamic Finance at Barclays, and then Head of Investment Banking for the Rasmala group. He is also the author of "Heaven's Bankers: Inside the Hidden World of Islamic Finance", the critically acclaimed best-seller about the Islamic finance industry.

Aug 26, 202301:15:43
Is a Genocide of Muslims Underway in Modi's India?

Is a Genocide of Muslims Underway in Modi's India?

India’s 200 million Muslims are at the mercy of an ultra-nationalist government that looks to create an exclusively Hindu Bharat or homeland. Since the rise of the BJP government, led by Narendra Modi, Muslims have been subject to discrimination, alienation, daily religious abuse, economic marginalisation, state-sanctioned mob violence and pogroms like in Gujarat in 2002. This Hindu nationalism is underpinned by a pernicious cultural and political ideology, Hindutva, framed by antagonism towards Islam and a rewriting of Indian history.  

 

Our guest this week, Professor Irfan Ahmed, will help us understand the precarious state of India’s Muslims and the Hindutva ideology. Born in India,  he now lives in Istanbul, where he is a professor of sociology and anthropology at Ibn Haldun University. Before Istanbul, he was a research professor in Germany at Max Plank Institute, and he has taught anthropology and politics in the Netherlands and Australia. He has written numerous books and articles on India and Islam and recently published a provocative piece on Hindu Orientalism.


You can also watch this programme on Youtube

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Aug 13, 202301:24:44
An Islamic Japan? with Dr Naoki Yamamoto

An Islamic Japan? with Dr Naoki Yamamoto

You can also watch this programme on Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zbOe1pDdHkA

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Japan is a country that is known for its deep connection with tradition. Much of its rich culture comes from its adherence to two religious beliefs, Shintoism and Buddhism but it has also been influenced by Confucianism. The Japanese value purity and cleanliness. Unlike western individualism, Japanese culture places a great deal of attention on the group and mutual respect with a strong emphasis on harmony and balance. Although globalisation has brought with it westernisation, there is still an emphasis on learning Japanese customs at an early age, such as practicing the tea ceremony, wearing kimono and studying arts and crafts. Our guest today, Dr Naoki Yamamoto converted to Islam 14 years ago. He is now an academic at Istanbul’s Marmara University and helps a growing number of Japanese converts acclimatise to their Islamic commitments. Many of whom attend classes in this city. Dr Naoki argues that for Islam to be successful in Japan, it needs to work in harmony with Japanese culture. Indeed he is known in Istanbul for demonstrating the tea ceremony. We discuss Muslim converts in Japan and the themes he raises of cultural harmony and Islam. Can Islam adopt the cultural heritage of Japan? Please consider making a donation, however small, to The Thinking Muslim, to receive a share in the reward and to help us make a greater impact. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/Donate⁠⁠

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Aug 04, 202301:24:38
10 Ottoman Myths Debunked with Dr Yakoob Ahmed
Jul 30, 202301:43:11
Unity, Waiting for Imam Mahdi & AI Mujtahids with Shaykh Shuayb Wani

Unity, Waiting for Imam Mahdi & AI Mujtahids with Shaykh Shuayb Wani

We often hear from Muslims that our ummah suffers from disunity on a local, national, and international level. Slight differences of opinion can cause major divisions. Our countries remain deeply divided between themselves and there is an impression that has consolidated that we will not be able to recover our position. This situation has led to despondency. Helplessness and in the extreme an acceptance of the status quo. But is this written? Is there anything we can do about this parlous situation? Have we come to the end of Muslim civilisation and are we now merely managing decline? Are we waiting for the Mahdi, a leader who will change our situation? Or is there anything we can do about our predicament? To help us understand the issues of unity and division from an Islamic perspective we have invited Shaykh Dr. Shuayb Wani. Dr. Shuayb Wani is the Director and Co-Founder of the Dār Al ‘Ilm Institute. He grew up in Indian-occupied Kashmir and started his quest to learn Islamic ‘Ulūm during his schooling years. He completed his foundational Islāmic Studies in India, and Al-Azhar University, Egypt. He devoted 10 years studying advanced Islāmic Studies specializing in Usūl al-Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) at the International Islamic University, Malaysia. He holds a Ph.D in : “The Legal Thought of Imam al-Shafi‘i” which was published in 2021. He has 20 years experience of teaching Islamic ulum. He lives in Istanbul with his family. Please consider making a donation, however small, to The Thinking Muslim, to receive a share in the reward and to help us make a greater impact. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/Donate⁠⁠

Jul 21, 202301:17:51
Dr Aafia Siddiqui - Why the US Don't Want Her Released with Clive Stafford Smith

Dr Aafia Siddiqui - Why the US Don't Want Her Released with Clive Stafford Smith

You can write to Dr Aafia via her lawyer on email clive@3dc.org.uk

The deadline for the first round of letters is 1/8/23 - you can still send letters after this date for future visits.

Please place in the subject of the email: Thinking Muslim letter for Aafia. Clive has set up a crowdfunding page for a monthly standing order/debit for Aafia; this is to pay for a young Pakistani researcher to help on the case and to fund the trips to the US etc. Use -  https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/freeaafia/backers#start Although the war on terror is now a distant memory to many Americans, it’s horrible residue remains. The incarceration of Aafia Siddiqui, a brilliant academic and mother of three, has become a symbol of its excesses, of which there were many. She languishes in prison, serving an 86-year sentence for an offence that looks barely credible, the attempted murder of two US officials in Afghanistan in 2008. Her whereabouts before that date remain murky, and so does the welfare of her youngest son Suleman – who has not been seen since her detention in 2003. To help us unpick the facts, we have invited Aafias lawyer Clive Stafford Smith to shed light on what happened to Aafia and her children. Clive has helped secure the release of 86 prisoners from Guantánamo Bay and still acts for the remaining numbers. Since the early days of the War on Terror, he has worked tirelessly to force the Americans and other Western powers to adhere to the rule of law. He has sought to uncover the secret prisons and ghost prisoners that stain the reputation of powerful states – who presented their wars in benevolent terms. Please consider making a donation, however small, to The Thinking Muslim, to receive a share in the reward and to help us make a greater impact. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/Donate⁠⁠
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Jul 14, 202354:52
Why Does France Hate Muslims? The Death of Nahel with Rayan Freschi

Why Does France Hate Muslims? The Death of Nahel with Rayan Freschi

Jul 07, 202301:17:14
Why Are Western Muslims Moving to Turkey? with Thomas Abdul Qadir

Why Are Western Muslims Moving to Turkey? with Thomas Abdul Qadir

Theres a growing movement in Europe and North America to reconsider where the future of Muslim communities lie. In recent years, a host of security and social concerns have brought to question just how much Muslims can maintain their commitments to Islam and leave peacefully in a society that constantly looks for opportunities to marginalise Islamic practice. The Liberal state is intent on secularising and liberalising Muslims. This has led to a call for Hijra, or migration away from the west and back to the Muslim world. Thomas Abdul Qadir is the former president of the Majlis of Istanbul Muslims, an organisation that caters for foreign Muslims living in istanbul. They organise talks and activities to foster a community. He has a masters in civilisational studies from Ibn Haldun University – and is currently pursuing traditional Islamic education. As always, you can comment your thoughts below. Find us on: Twitter: https://twitter.com/thinking_muslim Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Thinking-Muslim-Podcast-105790781361490 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkingmuslimpodcast/ Telegram: https://t.me/thinkingmuslim Host: https://twitter.com/jalalayn Website Archive: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com#TheThinkingMuslimPodcast The Thinking Muslim Podcast Episode 100

Jul 01, 202301:12:49
Can Muslims Survive the Liberal Inquisition? with Imam Tom Facchine

Can Muslims Survive the Liberal Inquisition? with Imam Tom Facchine

Many Muslims living in the West have become aware that the ideas of tolerance, individualism, liberal multiculturalism and freedom of religion – all liberal notions — have their limits when it comes to our community. A series of tensions, from depictions of the Messenger (saw) in offensive cartoons and the teaching of sexual practices at odds with our faith in schools, has brought into focus how there remains an incompatibility between the ever-increasing demands of the liberal state and the Muslim community. To help us understand these tensions, Imam Tom Facchine, an imam and convert to Islam helps us understand the liberal state. He finished his BA in Political Science and was granted the opportunity to study at the Islamic University of Madinah from 2015-2020, where he obtained his BA from the Faculty of Shariah. Imam Tom is the Research Director of Islam and Society at the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research. He is also a resident scholar and imam of Utica Masjid (New York state).

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Jun 23, 202301:08:44
Can Muslims Thrive without a Caliphate? with Dr Uthman Badar

Can Muslims Thrive without a Caliphate? with Dr Uthman Badar

Jun 16, 202301:21:47
Who's Afraid of the Taliban? with Ahmed-Waleed Kakar

Who's Afraid of the Taliban? with Ahmed-Waleed Kakar

Jun 09, 202301:08:28
Raising Confident Muslim Girls in the West with Farhat Amin

Raising Confident Muslim Girls in the West with Farhat Amin

This week we explore the issues Farhat Amin raises in her new book ‘Smart Teenage Muslimah, an inspirational guide for Muslim Girls’. Farhat is concerned with Muslim girls' challenges in the West and how society impacts their sense of identity and self. Farhat Amin addresses the challenges Muslim women and girls face in Western societies through her engagements. Her writings delve into the unfiltered realities, tackling pressing topics such as the shifting dynamics of the Muslim marriage scene, the objectification of hijab, and the unforeseen impact of modern feminism on women's well-being. Her meticulous research and insightful analysis offer a fresh Islamic perspective on these topics, encouraging readers to question long-held assumptions and engage in meaningful dialogue.

Find out more about Farhat Amin's work and sign up for her newsletter at https://smartmuslima.com Purchase Smart Teenage Muslimah from Amazon here: https://amzn.to/42D20SV
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Jun 02, 202301:07:07
What is Belief and Disbelief - An In-depth Discussion with Ustadh Iyad Hilal
May 27, 202301:07:13
Why are So Many Young Britons Converting to Islam in 2023? With Imam Ashraf Dabous
May 20, 202301:23:04
Moments #1 Where do you fit within this irresistible wave? Sami Hamdi
May 12, 202313:46
Pragmatism, Politics and Power with Dr Yasir Qadhi

Pragmatism, Politics and Power with Dr Yasir Qadhi

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From its first moments, Islam was linked to a state-building process, and the shari’ah explicitly addresses rules that can only be discharged by a government, such as the rules of hudud or apostasy. Imam Ghazali even linked the collection of zakat and the marriage contract contingent on having an Islamic government. For the long duration of Islamic history, Muslims in most Muslim lands have lived under Islamic caliphates and empires. However, how much of this is less to do with religion and more with the circumstances early Muslims found themselves in? Is Islam wedded to its ‘founding moment’ –politics fused with a spiritual foundation? In this episode, we comprehensively examine Islam and politics with Dr Yasir Qadhi. We explore Muslim engagement in politics in the West, its pitfalls, and the vexed issue of politicians that embrace and celebrate socially liberal positions. We also consider the issue of reviving the caliphate, its obligation and its priority.

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May 06, 202301:35:26
Raving in Riyadh – The New Saudi Arabia with Sami Hamdi

Raving in Riyadh – The New Saudi Arabia with Sami Hamdi

From the war in Yemen to raves in Riyadh, political analyst Sami Hamdi analyses the ‘modern’ Saudi Arabia as a regional power. Many see the country to be a staunch ally, even stooge of the United States, yet others hail its recent strategic turn under Muhammad Bin Salman as a sign that at last the country is looking to forge an independent path. From moon sighting to Hajj, the country remains at the centre of Muslim religious life, yet we can’t but observe with horror the activities of its crown prince and de facto leader and his vanity infrastructure projects such as NEOM. So how do we analyse the country and its future.

Sami Hamdi is the Managing Director of the International Interest, a global risk and intelligence company. He advises governments on the geopolitical dynamics of Europe and the MENA region and has significant expertise in advising companies on commercial issues related to volatile political environments and their implications on market entry, market expansion, and managing of stakeholders. Sami is also featured as a commentator for Aljazeera (Arabic and English), Sky News, BBC, TRT World, and other outlets.

Please consider making a donation, however small, to The Thinking Muslim, to receive a share in the reward and to help us make a greater impact. ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/Donate⁠⁠


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Apr 29, 202301:35:30
10 Books PAUL WILLIAMS Thinks Everyone Should Read
Apr 15, 202301:04:36
Palestine, Al Aqsa and Liberation with Dr Azzam Tamimi
Apr 05, 202301:01:29
How to become a Seeker of the Divine? Lessons from the Spiritual Master Ibn Qayyim with Ovamir Anjum

How to become a Seeker of the Divine? Lessons from the Spiritual Master Ibn Qayyim with Ovamir Anjum

Please help us this Ramadan by making a donation to the show - more information here: ⁠⁠https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/Donate

The great Damascene scholar Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya (d. 751/1350) authored the masterpiece of Islamic psychology Madarij al-Salikin, (Ranks of the Divine Seekers). It sets out the great Hanbalite's advice on how to journey to Allah and reach the ranks of a loving believer of our Lord. Professor Ovamir Anjum, the translator into English of this great work, talks to The Thinking Muslim about Ibn Qayyim’s spiritual perspectives, including the wisdom of sin, what attributes a believer should shun and acquire, the multiple stations on the route to this journey and the role of obedience to Allah for spiritual felicity. Dr. Ovamir Anjum is the Imam Khattab Endowed Chair of Islamic Studies at the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of Toledo. He obtained his Ph.D. in Islamic Intellectual history in the Department of History, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Masters in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago, and Masters in Computer Science and Bachelors in Nuclear Engineering and Physics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before higher education, his Islamic training began at home while growing up in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United States with a broad range of scholars, including his remarkable grandmother, and continued as he studied fiqh with South Asian Ḥanafī and Ahl-e-hadīs scholars and usūl al-fiqh and qirā’āt of the Quran with scholars from Egypt’s Al-Azhar and Syria. He currently leads the Ummatics Institute and is the Editor in-Chief of Yaqeen Institute.


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Mar 31, 202301:02:52
A Thinking Muslim’s Guide to Ramadan with Dr Sohail Hanif

A Thinking Muslim’s Guide to Ramadan with Dr Sohail Hanif

Please help us this Ramadan by making a donation to the show - more information here: ⁠https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/Donate

This fascinating interview with Dr Sohail Hanif looks to uncover the secrets of Ramadan. What should the month indeed mean to believers? And what should we be striving to achieve this month? How should we treat its minutes and hours? And how do we know whether, as the hadith suggests, we have lost its blessings or gained success out of it? Dr Sohail is the Chief Executive of the National Zakat Foundation. He previously held the position of BA Manager and Lecturer at Cambridge Muslim College and has also held the position of Head of Sciences at Qasid Arabic Institute in Amman. He studied extensively with traditional scholars and holds a PhD from Oxford University. His PhD thesis, which explores Islamic legal epistemology, won the 2019 prize of the British Association for Islamic Studies. He has lectured widely on Islamic law and Qur’anic studies in academic, public and traditional settings.



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Mar 24, 202301:21:37
Is poor mental health the product of weak Iman? - with Psychiatrist Dr Imran Waheed
Mar 18, 202301:19:50
Hadith: What orientalists and modernists get wrong - with Dr Jonathan Brown
Mar 11, 202302:03:57
Why did the Ottoman Caliphate fall 99 years ago? - with Dr Yakoob Ahmed
Mar 03, 202301:17:15
Is the British government looking to outlaw Islam? – Dr Layla Aitlhadj on the Shawcross Review

Is the British government looking to outlaw Islam? – Dr Layla Aitlhadj on the Shawcross Review

The British Conservative government has for some time embarked upon a project to make life difficult for ordinary Muslims. We have spoken previously about its policy of Prevent, an extraordinary state plan to compel all public servants to monitor Muslims in their midst and report on them if they showed signs of extremism. This project has enveloped the community within a cloud of suspicion, spread fear and self censorship and led to a series of malicious or ignorant allegations that has scarred thousands.   

The project has failed to root out violent extremism and has alienated a large number of Muslims, yet the response of the government is to tighten the screws. It’s failure is because it is not punitive enough according to the Home Secretary. This is where the new Shawcross review comes in. William Shawcross, known for his anti-Islamic opinions was cynically commissioned to lead an independent review into Prevent and suggest a way forward. The report suggests that normative Muslim positions should be viewed with suspicion, including believing that Islam should be the basis of one’s identity.   

Dr Layla Aitlhadj, my guest today, has been a tenacious campaigner to expose the extent of to which the government has violated the most basic rights of ordinary Muslim citizens. Her organisation Prevent Watch has helped countless Muslim families that have been caught up in this net of accusation. We ask her about the Shawcross review and its implications with some truly chilling revelations.

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Feb 24, 202301:03:06
Are Earthquakes a Punishment from Allah? With Imam Omar Suleiman

Are Earthquakes a Punishment from Allah? With Imam Omar Suleiman

The sadness we feel after the earthquakes in Turkiye and Syria is heightened by our Ummatic feelings of closeness to the worldwide muslim community. Many of those affected have been subject to years of civil war at the hands of a brutal dictator. Sadly, this is yet another disaster that has befallen this Umma and we pray that Allah has mercy on those that died and enter them into a place where there is eternal peace. This week we interview Dr Omar Suleiman to discuss the issue of earthquakes and whether they are a punishment from Allah, as many ascribe to these natural events or whether they are a test. Human beings can never understand the wisdom of Allah (swt) and we are without knowledge of the ultimate good and bad impacts of natural disasters. 

We ask Dr Suleiman to give us an understanding of the texts from the Quran and sunna that explain these events to us. Sadly, many especially in the West who may have not consolidated their Iman on a strong footing, question the wisdom of Allah and fail to develop the intellectual and spiritual resilience that is required to be a believer. We tackle how to build up this store of resilience. We also take the opportunity to discuss some of his political views on the broader Syrian civil war and the inconsistencies in some political activists. As always, you can comment your thoughts below. You can donate to the show here: 

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Website Archive: thinkingmuslim.com -

Feb 17, 202301:13:24
Islam without Compromise with Moazzam Begg
Feb 11, 202301:07:56
Hamza Tzortzis on Muslim Men, Misogyny & Masculinity
Feb 04, 202301:35:30
My Journey from the Far-Right to Islam with Joram van Klaveren
Nov 23, 202239:05
American Muslims, Social Liberalism & the Culture Wars with Mobeen Vaid
Nov 06, 202201:10:31
The British Conservative Government & Prevent with Dr. Layla Aitlhadj
Oct 18, 202201:01:34
Muslims and the making of 'The Enemy Within' with Peter Oborne
Sep 14, 202201:06:29
Islamic Manhood, Chivalry & Red Pill - with Imam Dawud Walid
Sep 06, 202201:14:57
Remembering Death & The Afterlife with Kamal Abu Zahra (Repeat)

Remembering Death & The Afterlife with Kamal Abu Zahra (Repeat)

This is a repeat of a show first published in early 2020

Death has become a part of our everyday lives. Covid-19 and its spread have brought home to us the undeniable reality that we are mortal beings and our accumulation of wealth, prestige and power will come to an end. How we think about death impacts on how we think about life. So how should death be conceptualised? How should we really remember death, beyond the occasional thoughts about it? How do we make death our partners and our guide in conditioning our present? To understand this idea, I have invited Kamal Abu Zahra – a lecturer in Islamic studies, currently completing his PhD in looking at the minority fiqh and its compatibility with classical notions of scholarship. I ask Kamal some searching questions about death and how we should see it, how we should confront its claims upon us, and how we should address it when death falls on someone close to us. 

Thanks to the team: Musab Muhammad, Reem Walid, Adeel Alam, Yusra Zainuddin, Ahaz Atif and Umar Abdul Salam. You can donate to the show here: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/contribute Follow us on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/jalalayn and https://twitter.com/thinking_muslim Website: thinkingmuslim.com

Sep 02, 202257:41
Constructing an Ummatics Centered Caliphate – with Prof. Ovamir Anjum
Aug 16, 202201:25:16
The Problems with Islamic Finance & The Case for Bitcoin with Harris Irfan
Aug 03, 202201:09:38
Jordan Peterson, White Supremacy & the Perils of Engagement - with Yahya Birt

Jordan Peterson, White Supremacy & the Perils of Engagement - with Yahya Birt

Is there a problem with Muslim public intellectuals and scholars that engage with the political right? My guest this week, Yayha Birt, believes that white convert scholars that interact with the likes of Jordan Peterson should evaluate whether they risk confirming their anti-Islam prejudices and a distasteful pro-white ideology that today undergirds the populist white nativist backlash. In a recent piece he penned, found here: https://www.ihrc.org.uk/the-unbearable-whiteness-of-being-convert-leaders-in-the-west-and-the-new-ethno-nationalism/ Birt, a Muslim convert, is critical of those that belong to the neo-traditionalist school, an Islamic persuasion he shares, who need to ask more profound questions about their outreach activities with the right-wing and whether by doing so they undermine second and third generation Muslims who face racial and religious hatred in the mainstream.

Yahya Birt is a research director at the Ayaan Institute in London and is a community historian who has taught at the University of Leeds. He has published over a dozen peer-reviewed articles on Islam in Britain and co-edited British Secularism and Religion (2016), Islam in Victorian Liverpool (2021) and The Collected Poems of Abdullah Quilliam (2021).

His most recent book on Abdullah Quilliam can be found here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Islam-Victorian-Liverpool-Britains-Community/dp/1800119828/ 

More about Yahya Birt here https://ayaaninstitute.com/yahya-birt/ 

Thanks to the team: Riaz Hasan, Musab Muhammad, Reem Walid, Adeel Alam, Yusra Zainuddin, Ahaz Atif and Umar Abdul Salam.

You can donate to the show here: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/contribute

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Website: thinkingmuslim.com


Jul 24, 202201:07:17
Roe v. Wade, Abortion & Islam with Dr Tahseen Shareef and Ustadh Iyad Hilal
Jul 12, 202201:03:38
Islamophobia & The Trojan Horse Affair with Tahir Alam

Islamophobia & The Trojan Horse Affair with Tahir Alam

The trojan horse affair upended education policy in the UK and gave rise to one of the most problematic policies, the prevent duty. If you haven’t already, The New York Times Serial podcast on the subject is worth a listen – Tahir and his colleagues were vindicated as concerned parents caught up in a systematic programme of islamophobia.  

Riaz Hasan and Muhammad Jalal caught up with Tahir Alam - the man at the centre of the scandal - to try to understand the broader motivations of government and others hell bent on tuning back the tide of young Muslim achievement and in the process stoking Islamophobia.

Thanks to the team: Riaz Hasan, Musab Muhammad, Reem Walid, Adeel Alam, Yusra Zainuddin, Ahaz Atif and Umar Abdul Salam. 

You can donate to the show here: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/contribute

Follow us on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/jalalayn (Host) and https://twitter.com/thinking_muslim Website: thinkingmuslim.com

Jun 23, 202201:17:20
Is Modernity Destroying the Human Mind? - with Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad

Is Modernity Destroying the Human Mind? - with Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad

You can donate to the show here: www.thinkingmuslim.com/contribute
Is modernity destroying the human mind? This is the question we ask our guest this week, Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad (Dr Tim Winters of the Cambridge Muslim College). Many of us are fortunate to live in a world where every desire we have are met yet curiously our ability to process these blessings leads many to a dark place, a state of mental anguish. It seems the more we have the less happy we are. The more we live in concrete jungles the more anxious we become. This begs a larger question, is there a fundamental problem with the way we live, is there a problem with modernity?
Dr Tim Winters is Founder and Dean of the Cambridge Muslim College, Aziz Foundation Professor of Islamic Studies at both Cambridge Muslim College and Ebrahim College, Director of Studies at Wolfson College and Lecturer of Islamic Studies in the Faculty of Divinity at University of Cambridge. He has translated classical works including a translation of two volumes of the Islamic scholar al-Ghazali's Ihya Ulum al-Din.
Thanks to the team: Riaz Hasan, Musab Muhammad, Reem Walid, Adeel Alam, Yusra Zainuddin, Ahaz Atif and Umar Abdul Salam.
Follow us on Twitter here: twitter.com/jalalayn and twitter.com/thinking_muslim
Website: thinkingmuslim.com
Apr 30, 202201:00:34
French Muslims and Macron's campaign of 'Systematic Obstruction' with Rayan Freschi

French Muslims and Macron's campaign of 'Systematic Obstruction' with Rayan Freschi

At the time of this episode’s release, the outcome of the French presidential election has yet to be announced. It is likely the incumbent, Emmanuel Macron, will come back to office, once again defeating his hard-right rival Marine Le Pen. Many Muslims may breathe a sigh of relief, Le Pen stands out as a viscerally anti-Muslim candidate in a country where it’s hard to find any moderate voices. But in many ways, Macron’s return to power is meaningless for the Muslim community in France. For all the calls for greater political participation, the choice for many is between one form of Islamophobia over another.

Muslims in France find themselves wedged between a rock and a hard place. Today, our guest, Rayan Freschi, a legal expert and researcher for CageUK has recently authored a disturbing report on the French government’s policy of “systematic obstruction” of the Muslim community. He uncovers how the French state under Macron has targeted peaceful Muslims, shut down Mosques, closed charities, hounded Islamic schools and made it impossible for civil society to operate independently from the state. His report, found in the show notes, makes a chilling read. Rayan tells me that the French state is shutting down Islam in France. We talk about how this systematic obstruction has manifested and the consequence for Europe’s largest Muslim community.

Download the report here https://www.cage.ngo/we-are-beginning-to-spread-terror-report 

Thanks to the team: Riaz Hasan, Musab Muhammad, Reem Walid, Adeel Alam, Yusra Zainuddin, Ahaz Atif and Umar Abdul Salam.

You can donate to the show here: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/contribute

Follow us on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/jalalayn and https://twitter.com/thinking_muslim

Website: thinkingmuslim.com

Apr 23, 202252:38
An Intelligent Guide to Zakat with Dr Osman Umarji
Apr 16, 202201:19:16
Russia's War on Ukraine with Professor Joseph Kaminski

Russia's War on Ukraine with Professor Joseph Kaminski

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine dominates the news. This audacious attack on a neighbouring country has shocked Europe with its sheer brutality. Of course, Muslims have experience of Russia’s tactics in war, from Grozny in Chechnya to East Aleppo and beyond – the Russian military machine is neither guided by morality nor humanity. In Aleppo alone, some 30,000 civilians were slaughtered, leaving the few that remained to painfully evacuate their city.

But when all is said about the double standards, Muslims are confronted with two big questions, how should we understand the crisis and how should we respond. Sadly on both counts many have opted to either embrace the left’s anti-imperialism narrative and in turn sound like they sympathise or support Putin’s actions.

This week invite back onto The Thinking Muslim, Professor of International Relations Joseph Kaminski from the International University of Sarajevo. Joseph speaks to me about the crisis, how to view the actions of America and the impact upon Muslims in Bosnia, who are once again facing a belligerent Serbian movement, supported by Russia. He also passionately discusses some of the takes that have been circulating the Muslim twitter-sphere.

Thanks to the team: Riaz Hasan, Musab Muhammad, Reem Walid, Adeel Alam, Yusra Zainuddin, Ahmed Serag, Ahaz Atif and Umar Abdul Salam.

You can donate to the show here: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/contribute

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Website: thinkingmuslim.com

Mar 22, 202249:44
The Trojan Horse Affair – Britain’s Anti-Terror Industry with Fahad Ansari and Dr Rob Faure Walker
Mar 02, 202201:14:12
On Jihad, Empire and Solidarity - a Conversation with Dr Darryl Li and Dr Ovamir Anjum

On Jihad, Empire and Solidarity - a Conversation with Dr Darryl Li and Dr Ovamir Anjum

Jan 18, 202201:20:11
The Importance of Community in Islam - With Dr Shadee Elmasry
Dec 23, 202101:12:09
France's War in the Sahel - with Dr Alex Thurston
Dec 13, 202151:03
The Ottoman Ulema 2: The Printing Press, Coffee and Secularisation with Dr Yakoob Ahmed
Dec 04, 202152:31