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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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Currently playing episode

Is poor mental health the product of weak Iman? - with Psychiatrist Dr Imran Waheed

The Thinking MuslimMar 18, 2023

00:00
01:19:50
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

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

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.

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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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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Website Archive: thinkingmuslim.com 

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

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

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

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

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
The Ottoman Ulema 1: Osman, The Caliphate & The Mamluks - With Dr Yakoob Ahmed
Nov 26, 202101:09:11
US Liberalism & Islamic Exceptionalism with Dr Shadi Hamid

US Liberalism & Islamic Exceptionalism with Dr Shadi Hamid

As you all know, this podcast is no stranger to dissecting the narrative forwarded by liberals in general and those within our community that self-identify as Muslim liberals. And if you know me you would know that I don’t particularly find the modernist narrative appealing nor elegant in their appeals to what I and I think most Muslims see as the ideas of an incoherent worldview that has undermined human societies the world over.

With these caveats in mind, this episode we dedicate to a discussion with an American Muslim liberal, Dr Shadi Hamid. I have followed his work for some years and although we part company on a number of issues, as you will hear, I do feel Shadi is a reluctant liberal, open to criticise not only those inconsistencies he witnesses but also he attempts to make sense of American foreign policy in light of his values and I am not sure he is always successful in reaching a satisfactory answer.

We discuss American liberalism, the trends towards nativism, exemplified in the near re-election of Donald Trump last year but also how he reconciles his liberal worldview with his Islamic faith, which I know he thinks a lot about. 

Shadi has written a number of books on the Muslim world, this is where he made his name in American political and academic circles, so we spend time talking about the attitudes of Muslims in the Muslim world towards Islam as well as the often-simplistic way US policy treats the Middle East and Islamic parties.

For more links to Shadi Hamid's biography and works, please view the Insights page on the show 

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

Website: thinkingmuslim.com


Oct 11, 202101:20:39
Islamic Governance, Caliphates and Emirates - with Iyad Hilal and Kamal Hussain

Islamic Governance, Caliphates and Emirates - with Iyad Hilal and Kamal Hussain

Since the demise of the Ottoman Caliphate, the Muslim world has moved from one crisis to another. The parlous state of the ummah is now the subject of many discussions and numerous Islamic groups have attempted to find the magic formula to reverse this decline. Invariably and correctly, the subject of a return to Islamic governance has become a rallying call for many that seek to return to a place where the ummah was a leading one.

Yet recently, the rise of ISIS and the return to the Taliban government has given us two very different yet for some, very troubling models of how a shariah ruled state should run. Beyond these examples, contemporary Islamic study on the topic either negates well-known Islamic precedents found in our tradition or offers models of authoritarianism where a caliph has the control over all and is one step away from repression.

Today we have brought together two Islamic thinkers and scholars that have been working for some time on rethinking Islamic governance. Ustadh Iyad Hilal is no stranger to this show, he is an instructor at the al-Arqam Institute in California and is a regular imam and khateeb at Masajids across his state. Kamal Hussain is a lecturer and legal expert who recently delivered a paper to academics and scholars on ‘al Sultan-al Ummah’ the authority of the Ummah, he argues that this Islamic principle has been lost over time, with many theorists viewing the role of the people as no more than passive citizens in a caliphate structure.

An earlier version of this episode had some formatting errors. This has now been fixed. 

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

Website: thinkingmuslim.com 

Sep 28, 202101:31:41
The Taliban & The End of US Hegemony - with Sami Hamdi and Ibrahim Moiz
Sep 05, 202101:13:55
Does Islam need a liberal reformation? Mustafa Akyol and Dr Ovamir Anjum
Aug 18, 202101:47:07
Why Islam is Incompatible with Liberalism with Professor Joseph Kaminski
Jul 18, 202101:13:28
Ottoman Decline & Muslim Collective Amnesia with Dr Yakoob Ahmed

Ottoman Decline & Muslim Collective Amnesia with Dr Yakoob Ahmed

The Ottoman state was the last Islamic Caliphate, that at its height brought diverse Muslims together under one banner. Yet, for a state that dominated world politics and created a unique order in the world, very little of its details are studied and understood by Muslims. According to Dr Yakoob Ahmed, my guest this week, this ‘collective amnesia’ was deliberately devised as a means to consolidate the modern nation state. I initially asked Dr Ahmed to discuss Ottoman decline, why this vast empire fell in 1924, but as you will hear – his rich understanding of Ottoman history takes the conversation to many fascinating places.
Dr Ahmed has become an authority on Ottoman history, and we talk about his research on Ottoman decline, his move from London to Istanbul, his quest to reorient a Muslim thinking of history, the phenomenon that is Ertrugul and how he believes any Caliphate project has to be profoundly wedded to an accurate reading of our history.
I found my discussion with him enlightening and in many ways he challenged my previously held assumptions about the Ottomans during the latter period. I would suggest you take your time to listen to this interview to the very end.
As always, we value your feedback, you can leave a comment on our website. We also request that if you like the show, please alert others to it and please leave a review on Apple podcasts, this helps us in the podcast rankings.
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Jul 03, 202101:38:55
The significance of Jerusalem (al-Quds) and Al Aqsa Mosque - with Ustadh Iyad Hilal
Jun 20, 202148:18
France - Unveiling the Muslim Woman in Colonial Algeria with Zara Choudhary
May 25, 202124:60
Al-Aqsa attacks, Sheikh Jarrah & Gaza with Dr Azzam Tamimi
May 15, 202152:42
In Conversation with Mohamedou Slahi - the most tortured man in Guantanamo Bay

In Conversation with Mohamedou Slahi - the most tortured man in Guantanamo Bay

Mohamedou Slahi’s period of unlawful detention in Guantanamo Bey has recently been portrayed in the film ‘The Mauritanian’. His resilience and sense of human dignity comes through in the movie. In this episode, we reached out to Mohamedou to find out about his fortitude, what gave him the ability to remain strong throughout his ordeal? I asked him about his childhood, the context of his arrest and his ability to contextualise his incarceration and not descend into bitterness. I start with some of our pre-formal discussion where he talks about the restrictions that remain upon him, which prevents him from travelling to the UK. Follow us on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/jalalayn & https://twitter.com/thinking_muslim  To sign up to Muhammad Jalal's international politics briefing, click here: https://jalalayn.substack.com/ 
Apr 27, 202146:59
Building an Intimate Relationship with the Qur'an - Ustadh Nuh Saunders

Building an Intimate Relationship with the Qur'an - Ustadh Nuh Saunders

In the month of Ramadan we commonly hear that this is the month of the Qur’an. Usually, we associate this with its increased recitation in say taraweeh prayers. But how do we gain an intimate relationship with the book of Allah? This week we speak to Nuh Saunders who has given a lifetime of service to inculcating a love for the book of Allah. His passion for the Qur’an can be seen through his social media interactions, in a recent post he talked of his desire to build a Qur’an school in every black inner-city neighbourhood in America. Nuh Saunders can be found on Twitter https://twitter.com/NuhSaunders Follow us on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/jalalayn & https://twitter.com/thinking_muslim 
Apr 17, 202155:53
Understanding Ramadan Moonsighting with Ustadh Iyad Hilal
Apr 10, 202101:01:45
The Mauritanian with Moazzam Begg
Apr 03, 202144:25
Demystifying social science and the religion of liberal economics with Dr Asad Zaman (Pakistan)
Mar 20, 202101:04:58
Understanding the Objectives of the Shari'ah (Maqasid al Shari'ah)
Feb 27, 202101:04:58
Freedom of Speech and Muslims with Hamza Tzortzis

Freedom of Speech and Muslims with Hamza Tzortzis

A Special Extended Interview Freedom of speech is an idea we all naturally gravitate towards. Who would want to live in a society where certain types of speech were outlawed or regulated? Or where we had to watch what we say at every turn.  To understand this subject further, we have Hamza Tzortzis to break down the idea and to give us an Islamic perspective. Hamza is the author of The Divine Reality: God, Islam & The Mirage of Atheism. He is a public speaker, instructor and essayist and a founding member of the Sapience Institute. For more information and to view our archive, visit https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/podcast Follow us on twitter: https://twitter.com/thinking_muslim/ Presenter: https://twitter.com/jalalayn 
Jan 28, 202101:52:24
Understanding Vaccines with Dr Hisham Abdallah
Jan 11, 202101:04:49
The Islamic view on vaccines, fake news and expertise with Ustadh Iyad Hilal
Dec 28, 202001:01:46
Capitalism and Socialism - Thoughts on Islamic Economics - with Almir Colan
Dec 06, 202001:10:13
The Return of Tyrants and Foiled Dreams with Iyad El-Baghdadi
Nov 23, 202001:41:11
Macron’s France and the “Muslim Problem” - with Dr Yasir Qadhi
Oct 30, 202001:25:32
The US elections and the Muslim Community - with Mohammed Hannini

The US elections and the Muslim Community - with Mohammed Hannini

To an outsider, the United States looks like it is in meltdown. In what seems like months, the farce of the US elections has dwarfed coverage of huge Coronavirus deaths, with most political pundits predicting a Biden victory. But with talk of potential challenge to the result, all signs indicate the possibility of a protracted period of uncertainty. American democracy today seems to be sinking under the contradictions, inequalities and culture wars that undermine the fabric of its political standing in the world. The ‘city on the hill’ today looks like a banana republic.  This week we speak to Mohammed Hannini from the United States, Brother Mohammed has a B.A. in Islamic History & a Masters in Islamic Studies with a focus in Fiqh. Brother Mohammed is currently a lecturer at American Open University for Usul al Fiqh, and Islamic Contracts. He conducts classes in the local masajid in Raleigh, North Carolina and lectures for the Arqam Institute, currently co-presenting an illuminating course on usul al-fiqh. I wanted to get a picture of the politics in the country and how Muslims are approaching the election. Website: http://thinkingmuslim.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/thinking_muslim/ https://twitter.com/jalalayn  Email: info@thinkingmuslim.com 
Oct 26, 202054:35
Why the Arab Spring has only just begun? - A conversation with Dr Azzam Tamimi
Oct 17, 202048:58
The Arab Spring 10 years on: What went wrong in Egypt and Syria? - Dr Osman Bakash
Sep 27, 202001:20:31
Malcolm X: the myths and reality - with Hakeem Muhammad
Sep 13, 202055:08
20 years of British Terror Laws - with Moazzam Begg
Aug 28, 202001:14:11
Islamic Economics: Public and Private Property in Islam - with Dr Abul Izz Abdul Salam

Islamic Economics: Public and Private Property in Islam - with Dr Abul Izz Abdul Salam

This week we invite back onto the show Dr Abul Izz Abdul Salam, a university professor and expert in comparative economics from Jerusalem Palestine to continue our series, today exploring property ownership. Capitalism places great emphasis on free enterprise, the orthodoxy states most property should be in the hands of private corporations, whereas radical socialism places a greater emphasis on collective ownership, looking upon property rights with scepticism. Until now, Muslims have oscillated between the two ideologies, many proudly describing themselves as Islamic capitalists or Islamic socialists. Yet Islam as the revelation from Allah (swt) came to help us reach salvation in the afterlife as well as harmony in our societies. So how do we define property in Islam?
Aug 18, 202039:24
Debates, Disagreements & Disunity with Dr Shadee Elmasry
Aug 07, 202001:38:58
The Crisis of the Modern Man - With Ameen (Seera Masters)

The Crisis of the Modern Man - With Ameen (Seera Masters)

Even if we don’t subscribe to the oft quoted phrase of Jordan Peterson that there is "a crisis of masculinity", we may accept that young men live lives in an era where their roles and responsibilities remain subject to intense scrutiny.
Our guest today, Ameen from the popular Mind Heist podcast and the YouTube help channel Seera Masters is a young man trying to make sense of this world. Ameen set off on a journey to discover what Islam expects from a man and in his own words found conclusions that challenged his own preconceptions. He is currently working on writing a book on the subject.
Jul 28, 202001:12:33
Islam, Liberalism and a Muslim Benedict Option with Ismail Royer
Jul 18, 202001:29:04
The Srebrenica Massacre – a "human sacrifice” – with Professor Joseph Kaminski (Sarajevo)
Jul 13, 202047:07
Black Lives Matter & Left-Wing Activism - Imam Dawud Walid
Jul 01, 202001:12:34
The Politics of Hijab - with Farhat Amin and Ustadh Iyad Hilal
Jun 18, 202001:07:09
Hijab - Not My Body Not My Choice - A Conversation with Eeman Abbasi

Hijab - Not My Body Not My Choice - A Conversation with Eeman Abbasi

The Hijab or Khimar has been subject to ferocious scrutiny, with youtube influencers, journalists, politicians and academics all participating in what is now a regular feature in how liberal society would like Muslims to live.
To address the subject Farhat Amin from our sister podcast, A Muslim Mom spoke to Emaan Abbasi, a writer and academic that recently penned a brilliant piece titled, “not my body, not my choice” for the online magazine Traversing Tradition.
Jun 12, 202044:10
“I can’t breathe” – George Floyd & structural racism in America with Hakeem Muhammad
Jun 02, 202052:31
The Problem with 'Muslim Twitter' - a Conversation with Justin Parrott
May 27, 202001:10:58
The Appeal of Diriliş Ertuğrul with Dilly Hussain and Imran Muneer
May 17, 202001:01:02
The Remembrance of Death and the Afterlife with Kamal Abu Zahra
May 09, 202057:59
Plagues & Prophetic Medicines with Iyad Hilal

Plagues & Prophetic Medicines with Iyad Hilal

How should we understand the ahadith related to plagues and medicines? We are often deluged with cures for a host of ailments and some argue conventional pharmaceuticals have little value in the face of these solutions from sunnah.
This week on the Thinking Muslim Podcast I have invited an imam and author Iyad Hilal from California, America to explain what is the prophetic sunnah and how should we evaluate what it has to say about plagues and medicines.
Iyad Hilal has authored one of the best books I have read explaining Usul al-fiqh, in a digestible way to the non-specialist reader and runs the Al-Arqam institute. His lectures, Jumma khutbahs and discussions can be found on Youtube and I would say it’s a treasure trove of wisdom and depth.
I ask him about the sunnah and its scope, the ahadeeth related to plagues and quarantines, the prophetic medicines and other such narrations and how scholars of the past view these aspects of the sunnah. We also discuss the value of conventional medicine and the current public health advice that runs contrary to our religious instincts and ceremonies, most notably the cessation of Salaatul Jummah and regular prayers in the masjids.
Visit our website (www.thinkingmuslim.com), follow us on Twitter @thinking_muslim and join our Telegram Channel
May 04, 202056:18
Modi, India and 'Corona Jihad' - with Fadl Hejazi
Apr 24, 202045:02
The Facts, Fiction & COVID Conspiracies with Dr Naveed Syed and Dr Imran Waheed

The Facts, Fiction & COVID Conspiracies with Dr Naveed Syed and Dr Imran Waheed

What is pronounced today in a post-truth world is the increase of non-experts on social media that forward their views and gain an audience upon conspiracy theories and half-baked truths.
This week we invite Dr Naveed Syed from Public Health England and Dr Imran Waheed to unravel the truths behind the crisis and why so many people are susceptible to conspiracies. We look at the origins of Covid-19, the means of transmission, the herd immunity theory, flu statistics, verification of news, Facebook 'experts', annual death rates, government failures, the mental health implications, Jummah fatawa (and poor scholarship), Toby Young, 5G conspiracies and prophetic treatments.
For more information visit The Thinking Muslim Website to see our latest courses and projects and follow us on Twitter @thinking_muslim
Apr 18, 202001:03:20
The Post-Coronavirus World Order - a Conversation with Riaz Hasan
Apr 05, 202001:05:30
Ten Questions on the Coronavirus Pandemic and Islam with Dr Shadee Elmasry
Mar 30, 202051:49
Who wants the Caliphate? - Dr Ovamir Anjum

Who wants the Caliphate? - Dr Ovamir Anjum

Feb 21, 202001:08:35
Toxic Masculinity, an Islamic Response with Dr Shadee Elmasry
Jan 26, 202001:06:05
Understanding India's Citizenship Law with Dr Asher Siddiqui (Delhi)
Jan 01, 202032:13
Coping with Grief and Loss with Dr Yousif Haj Yousif
Dec 25, 201953:12
Islam and Mental Health with Psychiatrist Dr Imran Waheed

Islam and Mental Health with Psychiatrist Dr Imran Waheed

My guest this week has been working in the field for over twenty years, Dr Imran Waheed is a consultant psychiatrist and looks at what is mental illness and why is it on the increase? How does Islam help us to deal with our mental health and build resilience to deal with the travails of life? And why has the liberal west failed to enhance the human mind?  Follow the programme on Twitter @thinking_muslim https://twitter.com/thinking_muslim Donate to help us promote the podcast using PayPal here https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6WZTV3E6LUYN&source=url Last few places left on our Thinking Muslim Course - visit thinkingmuslim.eventbrite.co.uk You can also email the programme using the email thinkingmuslim@pm.me
Dec 03, 201951:14
Islamic Economics: Wealth distribution, the rich and investment with Dr Abul Izz Abdul Salam

Islamic Economics: Wealth distribution, the rich and investment with Dr Abul Izz Abdul Salam

This week I ask Dr Abul Izz Abdul Salam, a professor and expert in comparative economics from Jerusalem Palestine, to take a look at how Islam deals with the creation of wealth and at the same time address the problem of stagnant money that remains the prize of the rich 1%. It is common in the west to find multi-billionaires hoard vast amounts of wealth or invest their capital in financial markets that have little impact upon the real productive economy. It was the meltdown of these markets in 2008 that contributed to the biggest economic crash since the 1930’s leading to a global slowdown. What is the guiding philosophy that underpins an Islamic economy when it comes to economic growth, the wealthy and the circulation of money in that economy and what role, if any, does the government play in regulating this activity? Follow the programme on Twitter @thinking_muslim https://twitter.com/thinking_muslim Donate to help us promote the podcast using PayPal herehttps://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6WZTV3E6LUYN&source=url You can also email the programme thinkingmuslim@pm.me
Nov 11, 201939:19
Islamic Economics: Poverty, Inequality and Zakah with Dr Abul Izz Abdul Salam

Islamic Economics: Poverty, Inequality and Zakah with Dr Abul Izz Abdul Salam

This week I talk to Dr Abul Izz Abdul Salam, an academic and thinker of Islamic and comparative economics and a university professor from Jerusalem Palestine. We take a look at how Islamic Economics differs from the dominant liberal economic order that creates enormous wealth inequalities and perpetuates poverty.  Follow the programme on Twitter @thinking_muslim https://twitter.com/thinking_muslim Donate to help us promote the podcast using PayPal here https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6WZTV3E6LUYN&source=url You can also email the programme thinkingmuslim@pm.me
Nov 03, 201901:01:34
Understanding Secularism – with Uthman Badr

Understanding Secularism – with Uthman Badr

This week I talk to Uthman Badr, academic, speaker and activist from Sydney Australia, on secularism, its origins, meaning and its impact upon the Muslim World. Follow the programme on Twitter@thinking_muslim https://twitter.com/thinking_muslim Donate to help us promote the podcast using PayPal here https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6WZTV3E6LUYN&source=url And read my write-up for this programme, including my thoughts on the interview on my Medium page 
Oct 22, 201901:06:38
A 'Suspect Community' - Britain's Muslims and the spectre of fear with Dr Asim Qureshi

A 'Suspect Community' - Britain's Muslims and the spectre of fear with Dr Asim Qureshi

This week I talk to Asim Qureshi, Research Director at the advocacy group CAGE, on the securitisation of the Muslim community and the making of an ‘enemy within’. Follow the programme on Twitter @thinking_muslim [https://twitter.com/thinking_muslim] Donate to help us promote the podcast using PayPal here [https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B6WZTV3E6LUYN&source=url] And read my write-up for this programme, including my thoughts on the interview on my Medium page  https://medium.com/@thinkingmuslim/a-suspect-community-britain-s-muslims-and-the-spectre-of-fear-cb5160588c6?sk=16534a59c08a054c089d6f52292c0fba
Oct 04, 201956:10
Enslaved African Muslims to America: the untold story - with Hakeem Muhammad
Sep 22, 201901:08:45
Islamophobia and the challenge of liberalism with Daniel Haqiqatjou
Sep 17, 201951:58
Brexit Explored: A Conversation with Dr Imran Waheed

Brexit Explored: A Conversation with Dr Imran Waheed

@thinking_muslim
For over three years, Britain’s political establishment and much of the country has been in, what can only described as political meltdown. The 2016 referendum called by David Cameron resulted in the extraordinary outcome to leave the EU, despite all political predictions to the contrary. Since then Britain has been battling with the issue, triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, negotiating a deal that was rejected on three separate occasions by Parliament, the resignation of Theresa May and now what seems like a flailing Boris Johnson administration. Is Britain on a course to make the worst political decision since the Suez Crisis in 1956, that may potentially tip it into a recession and in the words of former PM John Major, reduce its influence in the world.
Dr Imran Waheed joins me in conversation to explore Britain’s uneasy relationship with Europe, its current predicament and to speculate about what comes next. As always, please subscribe to The Thinking Muslim on your favourite Podcast app and follow me on @thinking_muslim for regular updates.
Sep 08, 201901:00:56
What Does Islam Teach us about Wealth? - Hasan al-Hasan
Sep 02, 201942:47
Modi's Hindutva - A living nightmare for Muslims - with Fadl Hejazi
Aug 25, 201953:08
The Kashmir Crisis Explained with Dr Omar Khan
Aug 19, 201901:05:25
The plight of the Uyghur Muslims of Xinjiang - with Arslan Hidayat

The plight of the Uyghur Muslims of Xinjiang - with Arslan Hidayat

This week we shall be looking at the situation of the Muslim’s in China. Welcome to the first podcast of The Thinking Muslim, follow the show on @thinking_muslim and do remember to subscribe.
For the past few years news about the plight of the Uyghurs in the restive north-western region of Xinjiang, known as East Turkestan, has gradually worsened. The destruction of Mosques; the use of technology to monitor every movement of the population, the banning of fasting in Ramadan, the introduction of Han Chinese visitors to each home to observe the family unit, the closing of Islamic seminaries have all been documented as the Chinese state attempts to disassociate Islam from the daily practice of ordinary believers. But it is the introduction of camps, what the Chinese government euphuistically calls ‘re-education centres that have focussed minds around the world that nothing less than the annihilation of an entire religious and cultural identity is taking place in full view of the international community.
The Uyghurs have always resisted Chinese rule and their heroism in the face of Chinese imperialism predates 1949 when Chairman Mao brought the Communists to power. The Uyghurs suffered under the repression of the Cultural Revolution, where religion was suppressed. But in recent years, China’s rapid development has allowed it to acquire sophisticated forms of state control, never seen in the history of authoritarian rule. The state regulates every inch of the lives of its Muslim population, on a scale and ambition that informs us about the type of world China is trying to create.
To try and understand more about the Uyghurs and their struggle, this week I am pleased to have as our guest on the Thinking Muslim Podcast, Arslan Hidayat an Uyghur activist and campaigner currently based in Turkey to talk to us about the extent to which Muslim Uyghurs have been subject to China’s programme of repression. Arslan has been active for many years, bringing to the world’s attention the situation in East Turkestan, long before it was adopted by the mainstream press. He remains in contact with members of the community and has become a source of information for many. He can be found on Twitter, @arslan_hidayat and I would encourage you all to follow him.
You can also access my medium page here
medium.com/@thinkingmuslim/the-thinking-muslim-podcast-a-conversation-with-uyghur-activist-arslan-hidayet-20fe43015154
Aug 12, 201946:59