Addiction overpowers us even when knowing its harm. In this episode Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui teaches how to have the will, the desire, and the resolve to change and begin removing habits that cause addiction in the heart. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction to Addiction and Purification 1:52 - Willpower and Change Initiation 15:35 - Self-Reflection and Negative Traits Acknowledgment 18:50 - Realization of Self in Addiction Recovery 24:15 - Al-Qawi: Embracing Inner Strength 29:35 - Al-Matin: Cultivatin...
Jun 23, 2025•44 min
Whether "toxic" or "neutered", the crisis of masculinity affecting men today has profoundly negative reverberations throughout society. Dawud Walid, author of "Futuwwah and Raising Males into Sacred Manhood" , discusses how a return to the Islamic practice of spiritual chivalry can counter the extremes of both the right-wing and left-wing discourse, and how it can be implemented today to revive Prophetic masculinity. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 2:24 - A Crisis of Manhood 6:55 - Futuwwa: A Code...
May 26, 2025•1 hr 30 min
"The one who is better than me in akhlaaq (character traits), is a better human being then me." The worth of a human being, practically speaking, is shown through his akhlaq. In this session, Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui speaks about Akhlaaq and Tawhid (Divine Unicity). CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 03:20 - Divine Unicity E 14:49 - Initial Practice of Tawḥīd 22:12 - Divine Beauty in Islam 28:20 - Islamic Stewardship and Responsibility 35:40 - Allah's Love for Beauty 40:29 - Justice in Islamic Teachi...
May 12, 2025•43 min
Shaykh Riad Saloojee returns to the ImanWire Podcast for a wide-ranging discussion on adab, an often misunderstood or minimized practice that in actuality is central to the life of a believer. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 3:38 - What is Adab? 9:04 - Moral Character vs Etiquette 15:17 - Adab, Justice & Wisdom 29:00 - Small Details & the Big Picture 37:36 - The Inheritance of Adab 52:33 - How to Acquire Adab 1:04:08 - Misconceptions About Adab
May 05, 2025•1 hr 13 min
Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui delves deeply into the Qur'an's verses of Surah Ash-Shams to unravel the intricate nature of the human psyche. Exploring themes of choice, virtue, and potential, he highlights how nurturing and understanding one's inner self can lead to either success or failure. CHAPTERS: 0:00- Introduction 1:12 - Quranic Wisdom Significance 1:55 - Solar Influence on Mind 6:34 - Lunar Effects on Emotions 10:15 - Earth's Stability and Human Psyche 19:20 - Space-time Concept in Islam 23:3...
Apr 08, 2025•46 min
Our existence is all about the divine manifestations. In this episode, Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui explains how everything has to do with 'tazkiyah'. Ultimately our hearts must be in a state of 'tawhid,' the awareness of Allah ﷻ and his attributes. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 20:13 - Salim Heart: Pure Qalb 22:21 - Purified Heart: Disease-Free Qalb 24:10 - Heart's Beauty: Inner Radiance 26:55 - Divine Reflection: Heart as Allah's Mirror 37:02 - Prophetic Guidance: Best Path 40:03 - Analogy of the ...
Mar 22, 2025•46 min
The ultimate objective is to strive for a heart that is 'saleem.' What does this mean? In this episode, Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui explores what it means and continues to speak about the du'a of asking for a heart of 'saleem.' We delve into the essence of possessing a heart that is Saleem—an ultimate marker of success, freedom, and happiness in the Dunya and beyond. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Soul Purification Quest 2:20 - Treasuring Spiritual Wealth 15:01 - Defining True Happiness 20:54 - Prayer for Divine...
Mar 09, 2025•41 min
Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui speaks about the changes of the heart that is required to make the advancements to Allah. He speaks about how the murid (the seeker) can pursue their goal to arrive at the gate of nearness to their Lord. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Invocation for Blessings 4:52 - Spiritual Journey to Allah 17:25 - Essential Dua for Spiritual Growth 24:50 - Significance of Steadfastness Prayer 27:30 - Analyzing the Initial Segment of Dua 29:50 - Understanding the Middle Segment of Dua 38:50 - Conclu...
Feb 10, 2025•50 min
Shaykh Yasir Fahmy joins hosts Sami Catovic and Naeem Saloojee to discuss the importance of developing a Prophetic lens to process the events we see in the world and respond in a Divinely-inspired way. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 2:02 - The World Needs the Prophetic Lens 7:15 - Seeing the Seen and Unseen Realm 12:11 - An Immersive Experience 18:33 - Know Him, Love Him, Follow Him 26:12 - Trauma and the Internal Reality 28:53 - Lessons From Bosnia 37:06 - Activism and the Liberating Nature of t...
Jan 27, 2025•47 min
Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui emphasizes the significance of breaking the attachments to worldly possessions and beings, allowing the heart to soar freely. As the heart purifies and reaches a higher level of sincerity, acts of obedience become effortless, leading to an ultimate experiential connection with Allah. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani Guidance 1:28 - Spiritual Freedom Concept 6:02 - Safina: The Journey's Beginning 21:05 - Sincerity in Salah Significance 27:15 - Enhancing Focus Du...
Jan 06, 2025•38 min
The ImanWire hosts convene to discuss the current events in Syria, Khaled Nabhan, and Muslims celebrating Christmas. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 1:35 - Smartphone Doomscrolling 6:48 - Syria is Free 45:00 - Soul of My Soul: Remembering Khaled Nabhan 48:59 - Conferences and the Zawiyah-Mobile 57:34 - Muslims and the Christmas Season
Dec 22, 2024•1 hr 10 min
Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui discusses the process of spiritual growth and freedom from attachments. He emphasizes the importance of detaching oneself from worldly desires and possessions using the analogy of the embryo within the egg shell. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 03:17 - Spiritual Q&A Session Importance 05:28 - Overcoming Ego Constraints 14:56 - Expanding Awareness Beyond Limits 20:24 - Severing Unhealthy Attachments 24:10 - Journey to Spiritual Liberation 26:25 - Embodying Freedom: Bird...
Dec 18, 2024•39 min
Husain Abdullah joins the podcast to discuss his previous career in professional football and his recent unique experience of walking in the footsteps of the Prophet on the Hijrah route. He is the author of "Mecca to Medina: 100 Personal Reflections on Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ Hijrah Journey". CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 3:07 - Fasting and Football: Worship 24-7 8:18 - The Sajda Heard Around the World 14:06 - Showing Off or Praising Allah? 17:18 - Elite Athletes, Spirituality and Gratitude 23:42 -...
Dec 09, 2024•1 hr 14 min
Dr. Celene Ibrahim, author of "Women and Gender in the Qur'an", joins the podcast to discuss her analysis of the rich and wide-ranging portrayals of female figures in the Qur'anic sacred history. Using the women around Prophet Musa to anchor the discussion, she offers insights on how their stories exemplify the spiritual truths of the Qur'anic message. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 1:50 - Analyzing the Female Figures in the Qur'an 8:26 - The Mother of Prophet Musa: Faith and Resilience 17:32 - T...
Nov 25, 2024•47 min
Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui emphasizes the need to focus on internal transformation and seeking closeness to Allah. He highlights the stagnancy of hearts despite outward actions, urging individuals to rectify their intentions and break free from the confinement of their own existence. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction to Tazkiyah 1:17 - Tazkiyah Essentials: Himmah & Qurb 2:34 - Al-Hakim Al-Tirmidhi Biography 6:21 - Himmah's Goal: Achieving Qurb 14:56 - Spiritual Steps: Understanding Qurb 23:20 - Ex...
Nov 18, 2024•50 min
Alex Kronemer and Michael Wolfe, co-founders of Unity Productions Foundation, join the podcast to reflect on lessons learned from over 20 years at UPF, sharing the stories of Muslims in the media, and tackling Rumi and the refugee crisis onscreen in Lamya's Poem. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 4:48 - Hajj: Bringing the Recipe of Islam Together 9:35 - Working to Create Understanding of Islam and Muslims 14:18 - Framing in the Context of Stories 19:43 - Islam Requires People 21:43 - The Prophetic L...
Nov 11, 2024•1 hr 11 min
In part 1 of this double episode, Dr. Denise Spellberg, author of "Thomas Jefferson's Qur'an: Islam and the Founders" discusses how conceptions of Muslims played a crucial role in the religious pluralism in the early republic, anxieties over a Muslim president, and the clash between principles and prejudice that continues today. In part 2, the ImanWire hosts get together for a round table discussion on Muslims and the 2024 election. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 2:50 - Conceptions of Islam at th...
Oct 28, 2024•1 hr 56 min
"Those whom your right hands possess", a Qur'anic descriptor for female slaves, can evoke a number of charged emotions and thoughts that can be difficult to reconcile with our modern sensibilities today. What does slave-concubinage mean? How was it understood in the formative years of Islam? In the final part of our series on slavery, Ustadha Zaynab Ansari, a resident scholar and instructor at Tayseer Seminary, reflects on this challenging topic. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 1:44 - A Review Cul...
Sep 09, 2024•1 hr 45 min
In part 3 of our series on slavery, Imam Dawud Walid considers the aftereffects of slavery on our current condition, its historical role in contributing to anti-blackness in the community today, and how it affects our understanding of Qur'anic language and theological concepts such as 'ubudiyyah (being a slave to God). Imam Dawud Walid is the Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) and member of the Imams Council of Michigan. He is the author of several books, i...
Aug 26, 2024•1 hr 27 min
Our series on slavery continues as Dr. Bilal Ware joins the podcast to explore the Islamic tradition and the abolition of slavery, debunk the myths of the "Arab-Islamic" slave trade and reflect on how these histories impact our lives today. Dr. Bilal Ware is a historian of Africa and Islam and is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at UC-Santa Barbara. He is the author of several books including, "The Walking Qur'an: Islamic Education, Embodied Knowledge & History in West Afr...
Aug 12, 2024•1 hr 45 min
Slavery might be considered a thing of the past, but the position of slavery in Islam continues to be an issue that many Muslims grapple with today. In this special four-part series of the ImanWire podcast, we approach this complex topic from several perspectives, beginning with a discussion with Dr. Jonathan Brown on the moral question of slavery, its place in Islamic law, and the diverse practices of it in Muslim history. Dr. Jonathan Brown is the Alwaleed bin Talal Chair of Islamic Civilizati...
Jul 29, 2024•2 hr 4 min
Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui discusses the importance of freeing oneself from attachments and dedicating the heart to worshiping Allah. This episode delves into the art of cleansing one's soul in pursuit of divine love. CHAPTERS: 23:28 - Divine Connection: Ultimate Relationship 25:20 - Divine Edicts: Understanding The Command 29:40 - Spiritual Conditions: The Conditional Clause 32:40 - Inner Freedom: Liberated Heart vs Life's Challenges
Jul 14, 2024•34 min
Shaykh Hatem El Haj and Imam Dawud Walid join the ImanWire podcast to offer words of encouragement and advice in staying true to Prophetic etiquettes for Muslims engaged in protests and activism for the Palestinian cause. Link to article discussed in the podcast: https://muslimmatters.org/2024/05/30/holding-onto-prophetic-etiquettes-when-protesting-encouragement-and-advice-for-muslim-human-rights-advocates/
Jul 02, 2024•1 hr 9 min
Embark on a profound journey through Ibrahim's ultimate test, a tale of unwavering faith and the epitome of a father's sacrifice. This episode delves into the heart-wrenching story of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his son—a narrative that continues to inspire spiritual guidance and reverence towards Allah. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Invocation 3:50 - Forbearing Son Tidings 11:00 - Ibrahim Ismael Vision 21:45 - Ibrahim Ultimate Test 25:50 - Shaytan Temptations 29:50 - Sacrifice Act 36:15 - Dua Prophet Ibrahim 4...
Jun 05, 2024•47 min
“Whoever imitates a people becomes one of them." This well-known hadith on tashabbuh (imitation), debated by scholars over centuries, continues to play a role in how Muslims see both themselves and others. Dr. Youshaa Patel, author of the book, “The Muslim Difference: Defining the Line between Believers and Unbelievers from Early Islam to the Present”, joins the podcast to explore the many different layers of tashabbuh, weaving through scholarly commentaries, psychology, history, style and cultu...
May 21, 2024•1 hr 55 min
Dr. Bara Zuhaili shares stories from his time in Gaza, highlighting the humanity, resilience, and heroism of its people.
May 08, 2024•1 hr 30 min
Shaykh Hassan Lachheb joins Moutasem Atiya to discuss topics close to their hearts and delve into global events.
May 03, 2024•1 hr 18 min
Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui talks about the internal struggles and choices faced by individuals. He emphasizes the importance of aligning one's drives and inclinations with the divine, attaining serenity and freedom from worldly attachments. He draws inspiration from the story of Prophet Ibrahim and highlights the significance of steadfastness and faith in delivering the divine message. This enlightening discourse encourages Muslims to strive for spiritual growth and live a life dedicated to pleasi...
Apr 20, 2024•46 min
In this dialogue, Moutasem Atiya and Firas Zahabi discuss the situation in Palestine and Muslims worldwide and explore a range of topics in arriving to genuine faith in God. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Intro 1:48 - Palestine Issue Discussion 5:36 - Proof Importance Analysis 11:56 - Psychology of Oppression Insights 14:35 - Radicalization Process Explained 19:15 - Historical Irony Explored 26:44 - Rabbi Shmuley 27:50 - Humanity 28:44 - Black Slave Rebellion Justification 30:00 - Gaza Cultural Impact 34:44 -...
Apr 09, 2024•1 hr 37 min
Who is the Islamic Mary? Was she a Prophet? Dr. Younus Mirza reflects on what her Qur'anic story means for us today, and how it connects us to deeper spiritual realities in Ramadan. CHAPTERS: 0:05 - Introduction 3:04 - The Origin Story [Aal-Imran 3:35-37] 7:52 - The Male Is Not Like the Female 14:47 - Learning From Female Saints 19:15 - The Name of Maryam 20:42 - Unique Features of Surah Maryam 24:17 - The Womb and Ar-Rahmaan 25:24 - Prophet Zakariya, Najashi and Interfaith Dialogue 30:57 - Secl...
Mar 24, 2024•1 hr 7 min
