Shaykh Yasir Fahmy joins the podcast to discuss his journey from a Catholic prep school, to a career in venture capital, to studying sacred knowledge at Al-Azhar. In this episode, he draws from his experiences as the senior imam of the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center and speaks about reinvigorating our mosques and making them central to our community again. Please subscribe to the podcast and visit www.imanwire.com for the latest articles and podcast episodes. Send any questions or com...
Oct 22, 2017•54 min
How can we reconcile centuries-old texts and rulings of classical scholars with our current context? In this episode, Dr. Jonathan Brown, author of "Misquoting Muhammad", shares his insights on being faithful to tradition and mindful of the cultural and social realities of the present day. Please subscribe to the podcast and visit www.imanwire.com for the latest articles and podcast episodes. Send any questions or comments to @imanwired on Twitter or imanwire@almadinainstitute.org.
Oct 14, 2017•40 min
What role does our religious identity play in how we conduct ourselves and how we are perceived in modern academia? In part 2 of our series on believers in academic spaces, Dr. Elliott Bazzano, Assistant Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Le Moyne College, discusses being an insider/outsider in the classroom, the tension between descriptive and prescriptive scholarship, and epistemology in academic Islamic studies. We also talk about teaching religious studies post-Trump, the de...
Sep 16, 2017•1 hr 13 min
Despite facing the challenges of being marginalized at the crossroads of their race, gender and faith, Black women have been pioneers in the Muslim community in America. In this episode, Dr. Jamillah Karim, author of "Women of the Nation: Between Black Protest and Sunni Islam", details the rich history of Black Muslim women in their journey from the Nation of Islam to the Warith Deen Mohammed community. In focusing on their narratives, Dr. Karim discusses the importance of amplifying their voice...
Aug 23, 2017•1 hr 29 min
Pursuing higher education in academia can be a rewarding experience, but it can be challenging for some Muslims. Does being a believer in a faith tradition necessarily conflict with the culture in modern academic circles? Is there a hostility to faith in academia that restricts Muslim students from feeling free to be themselves? Ebadur Rahman and Rashid Dar join the ImanWire podcast for an impromptu conversation to discuss their experiences in academia and the changing landscape of Islamic studi...
Jul 30, 2017•45 min
In this wide-ranging conversation, acclaimed photographer, filmmaker and media consultant Mustafa Davis joins the podcast to discuss the arts, the marketing of Muslim organizations, his own cautionary tale in social media and the third space movement. Please subscribe to the podcast and visit www.imanwire.com for the latest articles and podcast episodes. Send any questions or comments to @imanwired on Twitter or imanwire@almadinainstitute.org.
Jul 16, 2017•1 hr 4 min
What exactly is Islamic finance and what are its goals? Umar Moghul, a corporate and finance lawyer and author of the book "A Socially Responsible Islamic Finance: Character and the Common Good" joins us to discuss how reimagining Islamic finance through a spiritual lens can elevate it to be an instrument for the betterment of society. Translating core concepts from the path of spiritual purification of the heart into finance, Moghul outlines a financial vision Muslims can have that is aligned w...
Jun 28, 2017•39 min
On the first night of Ramadan, we discuss its spiritual dimensions, give practical advice on how to refine ourselves in the month, and share some of our own Ramadan life hacks. We also feature a special message from Shaykh Mohsen Al'Najjar given on the eve of the blessed month. Please subscribe to the podcast and visit www.imanwire.com for the latest articles and podcast episodes. Send any questions or comments to @imanwired on Twitter or imanwire@almadinainstitute.org.
May 27, 2017•52 min
Faced with the challenges of liberalism and a changing social milieu, Muslims fear the erosion of Islamic principles and traditions. In this desire to hold on to the tradition, a reactionary hyper-masculinity has developed in some circles, to counter the perceived effeminacy and feminism in many of these outside influences. Is this a necessary response, or has it gone too far away from the tradition itself? What are its repercussions for our families and communities? Do notions of masculinity in...
Apr 22, 2017•58 min
Anti-Muslim racism can take a toll, especially among youth and others in the community who may feel the most targeted. To feel like a victim constantly under attack, however, poses significant dangers to our spiritual well-being. For some, this creates a hyper-reactivity that blames Islamophobia for all the challenges they face, even leading a small number to exaggerate or falsify claims of harassment. For the majority of others, their fears can either lead them to try to appear less Muslim or l...
Apr 02, 2017•46 min
Activists and scholars have at times struggled to be on the same wavelength, creating obstacles in communal efforts for both social justice and spiritual refinement. What are the roots of this disconnect, and how can they get on the same page? In this episode, Dawud Walid and Tariq Touré join host Mohammed Saleem to examine the scholar-activist relationship from different angles, including generational and social dynamics at play, the role of Islamic spirituality and creed, relevancy in scholars...
Mar 20, 2017•1 hr 32 min
Women have always played important roles in Islamic learning, but their path to scholarship is not without its unique challenges. In part 1 of their conversation, Shaykha Tamara Gray of Rabata and Ustadha Zaynab Ansari of Tayseer Seminary discuss the future of female scholarship, facing misogyny in the community, and how to facilitate more open platforms for feminine voices in the teaching of sacred knowledge. The two scholars consider the role of feminism, the need for gender-equitable spiritua...
Feb 27, 2017•1 hr 6 min
History shapes the present and influences the future, but what if that history was turned on its head? What if we were to learn that African Muslims in the 18th century were pioneers in abolishing slavery and monarchy? Or that the intellectual tradition in West Africa has a chain of authenticity actually more faithful to the practice of early Islam than some of its Middle Eastern counterparts often deemed more authoritative? Or that the flourishing of Islam throughout sub-Saharan Africa was pred...
Feb 12, 2017•1 hr 1 min
For the past three years, Zaki Hasan and Parvez Ahmed have hosted Diffused Congruence: The American Muslim Experience, interviewing a wide variety of Muslims, ranging from well-known scholars to artists and activists. Casting light on the life stories of these individuals, the show has become a resource for both Muslims and those of other faiths and backgrounds to learn about both the diversity of American Muslims' experiences as well as the common threads that bring them all together. The two s...
Jan 29, 2017•36 min
As Muslim leaders and activists engage both the government and their own organizations, a number of ethical questions arise. Does partnering with government entities lend itself to conflicts of interest and inauthenticity? Do programs like CVE impose a frame on the Muslim community that takes away its own agency and agenda? Are activist-driven circles and initiatives any less immune to these risks? Muslim leaders and activists from all sides of the spectrum are challenged to keep themselves anch...
Jan 16, 2017•57 min
We might appreciate the benefits of physical fitness, but are there spiritual benefits to exercise as well? In this episode, we discuss not only how to find time and implement a successful exercise program but how exercise can teach us invaluable lessons critical to being spiritually healthy. Exploring the strong connections between physical and spiritual fitness, Moutasem Atiya, Mohammed Saleem & special guest Dr. Saleem Farooqui, a physician and competitive cyclist, reflect on how exercise...
Jan 09, 2017•48 min
In the wake of the recent controversy at the RIS convention, Dr. Su'ad Abdul Khabeer, a professor of anthropology and African American studies and author of "Muslim Cool: Race, Religion and Hip Hop in the United States", and Moutasem Atiya from Al-Madina Institute discuss the issues at hand, anti-Blackness in the community, and how we can move forward positively. In the second part of the episode, our guests discuss the path American Muslim culture is taking and explore "Muslim Cool", a culture ...
Dec 26, 2016•55 min
How can we connect with the Prophet? Our Islamic education on the Prophet's life often lacks the spiritual, introspective, and personal component that effects change in our own life. In this episode, Dr. Meraj Mohiuddin, author of the book, Revelation: The Story of Muhammad, and Shad Imam, co-director of the Qurtuba Institute at ADAMS, join host Mohammed Saleem to discuss their own challenges in finding their path to the Prophet and give practical advice in how to develop a meaningful connection...
Dec 11, 2016•29 min
CVE (Countering Violent Extremism) programs have been a source of controversy in the Muslim American community, yet there is a lack of clarity in the discussion as to what CVE is. Is it a black and white issue as both its proponents and critics make it seem? In this episode, Alejandro Beutel, a researcher in CVE, and Mohamed Ghilan, a critic of CVE, discuss both government and community-led initiatives in countering violent extremism and consider how to address this divisive issue constructively...
Nov 29, 2016•1 hr 36 min
Opioid addiction is a far-reaching problem in our society and the Muslim community is not immune. In this episode, Moutasem Atiya, Dr. Mohamed Ghilan, Dr. Hasan Awan & Mohammed Saleem address the growing problem of prescription drug abuse, its social and spiritual ramifications, the path to recovery and how our attitudes towards addicts should be grounded in love. Check out www.imanwire.com for the latest articles and podcast episodes and send any questions or comments to @imanwired on Twitt...
Nov 13, 2016•45 min
In this new series of conversations on issues facing the Muslim community, Moutasem Atiya & Mohammed Saleem discuss the 2016 presidential elections and how to stay upbeat, what to tell our children, and how we can move forward socially and spiritually. Check out www.imanwire.com for the latest articles and podcast episodes and send any questions or comments to @imanwired on Twitter or imanwire@almadinainstitute.org..
Nov 09, 2016•29 min
