The Thinking Muslim

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This week on The Thinking Muslim, we are joined once again by Sami Hamdi for a timely discussion on shifting power dynamics in the Muslim world. He examines Saudi Arabia under Mohammed bin Salman, particularly MBS’s relationship with the UAE and Mohammed bin Zayed, and the implications of this alliance for Yemen, Somaliland, and wider regional politics, including Israel. We also discuss the kidnapping involving Nicolás Ma...

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This week on The Thinking Muslim, we are joined once again by Dr Andreas Krieg to unpack the developing rifts and shifting relationships between Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Yemen. We explore how changing regional priorities, proxy dynamics, and post-war manoeuvring are reshaping Yemen’s future and what this reveals about power politics in the Gulf.

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Today on The Thinking Muslim, we are joined by Professor Butch Ware for a powerful conversation on some of the most urgent issues of our time. We examine white supremacy as a global ideology that continues to shape power, violence, and resistance, while reflecting on the legacy of Malcolm X and his uncompromising commitment to justice. Professor Ware explores Malcolm’s intellectual evolution and the clarity he br...

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Today on The Thinking Muslim, we are joined by Dr Asim Qureshi. Dr Asim is a human rights advocate and the Research Director at CAGE International, where his work focuses on counterterrorism policy, state power, and the impact of the so-called “War on Terror” on Muslim communities.

In this episode, he discusses Palestine Action and examines Britain’s role in aiding Israel’s clampdown on pro-P...

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Today on The Thinking Muslim, we are joined by Abdullah Aloudh, son of Shaykh Salman Aloudh, who is currently on death row. Abdullah joins us to discuss the new Saudi Arabia, what has changed, what has not, and how authoritarianism continues to expand beneath the surface of reform.

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Introducing Hats Off! the newest show from The Thinking Muslim featuring Imam Tom. In our debut episode, we sit down with Shadi Hamid for a candid conversation on U...

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This week on The Thinking Muslim podcast, we are joined by Ibtihal Aboussad to discuss Microsoft’s complicity in the Gaza genocide. We talk about the viral action she took against the company and her decision to place the Ummah and justice above her career.

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This week, Dr. Andreas Krieg will join The Thinking Muslim to unpack the UAE’s complex involvement in Sudan’s ongoing turmoil and the ascent of the notorious Rapid Support Forces (RSF). He will explore how regional power politics, covert support networks, and geopolitical ambitions have shaped the conflict, empowering the RSF and...

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In this exclusive interview with Sami Hamdi, we explore his recent detention by ICE, the shifting political atmosphere in the United States, and the broader state of the Ummah.

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This week on The Thinking Muslim, we have Clive Stafford Smith on the podcast to discuss the case of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, including the troubling role of Pakistani authorities in her abduction, the heartbreaking seizure of her children, and the broader issues of state complicity.

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This week on The Thinking Muslim, we speak with Omar Abdulaziz, the Saudi dissident and activist whose phone was hacked using Israeli spyware technology for criticising the Saudi regime. In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030, the drive toward normalisation with Israel, and the kingdom’s tightening grip over religion and dissent. We also ask a crucial question: is the Kaaba safe in Saud...

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This week on The Thinking Muslim, we have a wonderful and gentle soul, Rabbi Beck, who speaks candidly about Judaism, Zionism, and the Palestinian cause. He debunks the Israeli narrative on both theology and politics.

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In this short clip from our recent episode with Sami Hamdi, we explore the debate between America First and Israel First policies in the United States. Sami makes his position clear: he will never tell Americans how to vote, but he points out that Zionists are deeply concerned about the American people choosing America First policies. He speaks with conviction about the inherent goodness of ordinary Americans...

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This week we interviewed Sami Hamdi to discuss Turkey’s role in the recent ceasefire, the growing UAE-Israel alliance, and shifting U.S. policy in the region. He also examined how global power politics continue to shape the struggle for Palestinian liberation.

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Can an idea be defeated? The Gazan resistance has proven to be far more resilient than Netanyahu's predictions. This week, we speak with Dr Azzam Tamimi, an academic and activist who has authored one of the most authoritative works on Hamas in English.

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Much of the support for Zionism in the United States stems from an Evangelical Christian background. Our guest today is the Reverend Robert Smith, a lecturer and religious thinker. We examine Christian Zionism and its fundamental principles in depth. He contends that Zionism is deeply connected to the story of America and indeed the story of modernity.

You can find Rev. Robert O. Smith...

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This week on The Thinking Muslim, we have Dr. Finkelstein to discuss Gaza two years after October 7, 2023. We explore the moral and political legitimacy of Palestinian resistance, Israel’s military response, and the role of the U.S. in enabling it. Dr. Finkelstein also examines Netanyahu’s motivations, the collapse of the two-state solution, and what a just, post-Zionist future could look like for Palestinians, Israelis, and the...

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This week on The Thinking Muslim Podcast, we speak with Sami Hamdi to analyse the latest developments in the Middle East. With Gaza at the heart of events, we ask whether the Muslim world is finally awakening to the reality of the “Greater Israel” project and consider what this could mean for its future. Tune in on our YouTube channel at 6PM UK time toda...

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Imam Tom Facchine joins us to discuss the MAGA Right’s stance on 9/11, why the Right must wake up to Israel’s propaganda, and the importance of Muslims building strong institutions.

You can find Imam Tom Facchine's work here:

Yaqeen: https://yaqeeninstitute.org/read/post/introducing-imam-tom-facchine-research-director-of-islam-and-society

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The ongoing atrocities in Gaza has made the world question US foreign policy and its toxic relationship with Israel. In this searching interview, I speak with Dr Yasir Qadhi, one of the most prominent US Imams, about how Muslims have to shape the narrative as Israel’s iron wall of propaganda collapses.

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Dr Bilal Piracha has just returned from a haunting trip to Gaza. He shares the stark reality: the extermination campaign is in its final stages, and we are running out of time. Dr Piracha is an emergency medicine doctor, also teaching at the University of Texas, and serves as a representative with the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) Council of Social Justice.

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Young people have the power to change the world, a truth reflected in the Qur’an, Sunnah, and Seerah. Dr Tareq Al-Suwaidan often highlights this potential, noting how the Prophet ﷺ empowered youth like Usama ibn Zayd and Ali ibn Abi Talib, showing that their energy and knowledge can shape future leaders and drive meaningful change in society.

This is a short segment from our recent interview with Dr Tareq Al-Suwaidan. Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK...

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Who would have thought, even two years ago, that those on the right would question US commitments to Israel and Zionism? But that is exactly what’s happening in Republican heartlands. I met James Bell, a Texas-based Catholic campaigner, Trump supporter, and until recently, someone who would reliably support America’s forever wars.

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Some of our scholars have failed Gaza. At a time of unparalleled horror, when two million people face systematic annihilation, too many religious voices remain silent, choosing proximity to power and wealth over the prophetic duty to speak truth. This silence wounds not only Palestine but the integrity of our Islamic tradition itself. Out of love for that tradition, we must call them to account.

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I’m here in Dallas with Imam Omar Suleiman, who has been relentlessly advocating for the people of Gaza over the past gruesome 23 months. We sat down to talk in depth about our own complicity, our disposition, and our behavior during what is the most harrowing period in our Ummah’s existence. I ask him: are American Muslims doing enough?

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Disclaimer:

Salam! Please note that the Sumud Flotilla Convoy and other humanitarian efforts to reach Gaza are continually evolving. All numbers, figures, and participants mentioned reflect information available at the time of recording and are subject to change. For the most current and accurate updates, please refer to trusted and verified sources.

In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, we explore the Global Sumud Flotilla. A courageous initiative to break the illegal siege on Gaza. We speak with...

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Wealth and its accumulation is an obsession for many of us. But how much is too much, and what social and ethical value should we place on our finances? We speak to Umer Suleman, the Chief Risk Officer overseeing Shariah and compliance at Wahed. For someone involved in the investment sector, what he shares may surprise many of you.

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LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/umersuleman

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What does it mean to build a Medina, and why are collective institutions so central to a strong and vibrant communal life? In this episode, we delve into the idea of a Medina and how establishing collective institutions can strengthen and sustain a thriving community. The discussion also reflects on the profound significance of the Qur’anic message, emphasising Islam’s deep concern for the world around us and its call for believers to live lives of purpose, impact, and meaningful contribution. Joining me f...

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How can we reconcile seeking quicker reform with long-term ideals? Islam, demonstrated by Prophet Muhammad's life, is revolutionary, yet the challenge is embodying this approach in a world ruled by secular, often autocratic, neo-liberal systems. Dr Uthman Badar is a lecturer at Western Sydney University – he argues there is a path between compromise and idealism.

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How can we manage life’s hardships and pain, and does our modern way of living explain why so many people find themselves in therapy today? Dr Rania Awaad is the Co-Founder and President of Maristan and a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Stanford University. She draws on both Islamic tradition and medical science to revive a legacy of holistic healing in which the psyche is understood through the ruh, qalb and nafs, offering a spiritually grounded alternative to Western approaches that often pa...

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Since the brutal ongoing genocide in Gaza, we have witnessed not only a deepening humanitarian catastrophe but also cracks appearing in Western narrative control. Stories are changing, editorial lines are shifting, and public trust in legacy media is eroding. At the same time, Palestinian voices, once pushed to the margins, are being amplified like never before through social media and alternative platforms.

What we’re...

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This is probably the most important podcast episode you'll listen to. Dr Tareq Suwaidan offers a masterclass on the seera, the biography of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) – like you've never heard before. The Messenger of Allah was a master strategist – someone who thought carefully about his aims and planned his course of action thoroughly. I promise you, you'll want to watch this episode many times.

Yo...

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Are modern cities killing our souls? Dr Heba Raouf Ezzat argues we are at risk of suffocating ourselves behind concrete jungles. Urban planning must, she argues, reflect our civilisational markers and not capitalist standards. Dr Heba teaches in the Departments of Political Science and Sociology at Ibn Haldun University and was formerly a professor at Cairo University and at the LSE.

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Dr Yasir Qadhi is one of the most notable public imams in the Western space and he never shies away from speaking his mind. He has recently authored a book on Salafism, its history and thought. I met him Dr Yasir in Kuala Lumpur and we sat down to discuss salafism, the ideas of Ibn Taymiah and Ibn Abdul Wahab and how we should negotiate the deep...

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One year after mass student protests shook Bangladesh and captured international attention, questions remain about the direction of the country’s politics and the fate of those who demanded change. In this interview, we speak with journalist and commentator Dilly Hussain to reflect on what has changed, what challenges remain, and what the future might hold for the people of Bangladesh.

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The genocide in Gaza is one that is unparalleled in Muslim history, two million people are being annihilated in the most systematic way, with no escape. On one side stands the fascistic zionist entity and on the other a wall of compliant, tepid, Muslim rulers who have expended zero political capital to help their beleaguered brethren. Instead they feed their imperial north star, the United States, wishing...

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Are we ready for a digital Caliphate? This is the intriguing question Chris Blauvelt asks in a world where technology has decentralised economic and political power. Chris is the CEO of Lanchgood, a premiere Muslim tech company – he argues we need to think more about creating an alternative ecosystem to the prevailing hegemonic order.

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Our guest this week is Wadah Khanfar, the former director general of Al Jazeera and now head of the Al Sharq Forum, who was recognized by Foreign Policy magazine in 2011 as one of the world's top 100 thinkers. He argues that, despite the bleak period we are experiencing, the world is undergoing a seismic shift in global order. What comes next will shape this new age, and Muslims...

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Israel has launched a series of strikes on Damascus, using the sectarian crisis in the south as a pretext to weaken the fledgling government. What are the plans for Syria moving forward? How does the Trump administration view Israel’s actions, and what is the future of the region? Sami Hamdi returns to the show to discuss these issues.

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Death is a subject we rarely talk about but its realities meet us every day. How should we conceptualise this inevitability and what impact will it have on our lives? We talk with Dr Kamal Abu Zahra, a scholar and teacher who explains why death matters.

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The Prophet Mohammad PBUH was the first activist in Islam. He lived a mujahid and died a shaheed, dedicating his life to spreading the message of Islam and fighting the injustices of his community of Quraysh and even the two giant powers of the time, the Byzantine and Sassanian empires. And yet today, we have lost the essence of this and strayed from the Prophet’s PBUH pr...

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Sultan Abdul Hamid II is a man vilified by some, lionized by others, yet rarely understood on his own terms. To his critics, he was the Red Sultan, a reactionary despot who clung to power as his empire unraveled. But to his defenders, he was the last bulwark against European imperialism, a caliph who dared to say no when so many bowed their heads.

But...

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Dr. Wajid Akhter joins The Thinking Youth podcast for one of our most urgent conversations yet; on why unity feels so distant in the Muslim world, what it truly means, and how young Muslims can move from echo chambers to collective action.

We’ve protested, donated, and posted; but have we really united?

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Josh Paul served as a director within the US State Department under Biden. He was the first to resign in protest against America's policy of supplying lethal arms to Israel. He now argues that what is happening in Gaza is a stain on humanity. Josh tells me Gaza represents an irreversible moment for the so-called rules-based order.

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Modern day autocrats turn to Sufi movements to justify their tyranny. With an emphasis on the personal and the spiritual, there is a tendency towards political quietism –dismissing the cries of Gaza – condoning normalisation and delegitimising struggles for liberation. Dr Shadee El-Masry, argues that historically, sufi movements have been at the fore of fighting for justice. Sufism produced illustrious anti-colonialism struggles and courageous warriors.

Dr S...

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The return of Donald Trump to office raises the question of how far Americans have moved away from the ideas that underpinned its rise to globalism after 1945. What is Make America Great Again, and how important is this moment.

I am here in New York with Imam Tom Facchine, one of the most astute commentators of America politics in our community. We look at...

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Why has the West obsessed about Islam for centuries? European thinkers and philosophers have for long caricatured Islam and its key figures, painting a picture of the faith that persists today. Dr. Francesca Bocca-Aldaqre offers a thoughtful reflection of the place of Islam in European imagination over the past few centuries.

Dr. Francesca Bocca-Aldaqre holds a MSc in Neuro-Cognitive Psychology & a PhD in Systemic...

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The Nakba Never Ended.

The Nakba, the “Catastrophe”. It wasn’t just a moment in 1948 — it is a reality that has lived on for 77 years. It’s in the bulldozed homes of Gaza. It’s the children laying underneath the rubble. It’s in the olive trees ripped from the West Bank. It’s in the silence of classrooms where students are told not to speak the word “...

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So much of the anti-Palestine prejudice that dominates political and media framing comes from a well-calibrated campaign waged by opaque pro-zionist lobby groups. Dr Asim Qureishi is a human rights lawyer and research director for Cage International. Together with his team, he has diligently uncovered how these organisations operate and how they manage to influence the corridors of power.

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The horrific murder of Abu Baker Cisse shocked the Muslim community in France. But his murderer was radicalised by an approach to Muslims that starts with politicians in grey suits, who have charged up the French population on a diet of islamophobic hate, competing with the pernicious right wing. For the French Muslim, it's relentless.

As elections come closer, Rayan Fresachi from Cage International...

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This is the first episode of our new youth show — The Thinking Youth Podcast. A show by the youth, for the youth. Led by a passionate team of young thinkers, researchers, and hosts, this platform was created to amplify the voices and stories of Muslim youth.

Rooted in our experiences, driven by our questions — this is an endeavour that aims to lead our youth towa...

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Iran has been attacked. This emergency episode with Sami Hamdi looks at the motives of Netanyahu and how Trump's involvement. We also look at the insidious role of the Muslim leaders, who serve Israel in the region.

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Francesca Bocca-Aldaqre holds a MSc in Neuro-Cognitive Psychology & a PhD in Systemic Neuroscience (both from Ludwig-Maximilians Universität Munich, Germany) and a Diploma in Islamic Psychology (Cambridge Muslim College). She works as a counsellor in Islamic Psychology worldwide. She authored several books in poetry as well as essays on the relationship between Western th...

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Is the tide turning? The sentiment in Europe suggests that criticism of Israel is increasing, even from those who have previously been staunch allies. Is this a genuine attempt to correct a past miscalculation, or is it a cynical effort to salvage a failing international system and protect tarnished reputations? At the same...

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Meeting someone who has experienced the trauma of Gaza is really humbling. Journalist Abu Bakr Abed did not start out as a war journalist. In relatively calmer days before the genocide, his reporting mainly was on football. But like so many Gazans, the slaughter changed lives and in so many cases ended them. 

The new Syrian government has had to deal with a bewildering array of internal and external challenges. How it deals with these will determine the future integrity and progress of the country. Today we welcome back onto the show historian Dr Diana Darke who told us previously that she will return back to the country and her house in the old city of Damascus after a period of being barred from entering. She tells us about the new Syria, its hopes and challenges. 

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The recent escalation of military hostilities between Pakistan and India resulted in some decisive tactical victories for Pakistan, despite the sheer weight of misinformation coming out of India. The downing of five Indian aircraft with the confident use of Chinese hardware would have sent a signal to India that its war readiness is i...

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The UAE has curated a string of anti-revolutionary non-state actors across the Middle East to serve the state’s deeply secular interests. Abu Dhabi has waged a war against Islamic civil society and non-state actors under the pretext of fighting “terrorism” and today acts as the primary means by which the small...

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As the Israeli war machine is in full motion, the position of the West lays bare the hollowness of its claims to observe international law. With every US-manufactured bomb dropped on Gaza, the vacuousness of its liberal world order is exposed to Muslims and the world. Yet what can we do...

Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rājiʿūn

"Indeed, to Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return.”

It is with great sadness that Muhammad Jalal’s wife passed away on Wednesday. She had been courageously living with cancer for over three years. She was a soul who remained obedient to her Lord to the very end and never wavered in her iman and goodness. May Allah open the doors of mercy for her and leave her good deeds and service to the ummah as sadaqah jariah for her.

يٰۤاَيَّتُهَا النَّفۡسُ الۡمُطۡمَٮِٕنَّةُ

ارۡجِعِىۡۤ اِلٰى رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَّرۡضِيَّ...

Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rājiʿūn

"Indeed, to Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return.”

It is with great sadness that Muhammad Jalal’s wife passed away on Wednesday. She had been courageously living with cancer for over three years. She was a soul who remained obedient to her Lord to the very end and never wavered in her iman and goodness. May Allah open the doors of mercy for her and leave her good deeds and service to the ummah as sadaqah jariah for her.

يٰۤاَيَّتُهَا النَّفۡسُ الۡمُطۡمَٮِٕنَّةُ

ارۡجِعِىۡۤ اِلٰى رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَّرۡضِيَّ...

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Sami Hamdi first came on The Thinking Muslim two years ago on the 28 April 2023. To mark the two years we have brought together some of his choice moments that remind us of our need to fuse faith with thinking and activism.

We all know how difficult it has...

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The Australian government has announced a general election, including elections to its lower house. Its Labour government has grown tired in office and, particularly important for Muslims, has colluded to enable a genocide in Gaza. In both the UK and America, Muslim and conscientious voices worked together to hold the government...

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It is easy to feel a sense of gloom. The world has come together against us. Some, particularly those who are not tested like the Palestinians, may even have doubts about their Islam – impacting their basic Iman. Some call for compromise with the perpetrators or, worse still, call for normalisation. We explore the concepts and emotions that form the backbone of what it is to be a believer. 

Our guest this week is Dr Kamal Abu Zahra is a lecturer in...

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The genocide in Gaza has opened up a new world of intellectual exploration for so many of us who have been for too long ignorant of the details. Many of us have had to deconstruct our worldviews and start again, looking at the world through a more critical lens. The impunity with which Israel pursues its ends is genuinely bewildering. How is it that most Western politicians remain uncritical...

Dear Muslims, we never asked you to ease our suffering with bottles of water or food parcels. You misunderstood Islam when you chose this path. Sadly, you only act with Israel’s approval, as you’ve been unable to lift the ongoing Israeli blockade on Gaza for over 20 days.

You can find Abubaker Abed here:

https://x.com/AbubakerAbedW

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Li...

This Ramadan, support an alternative Muslim media platform rooted in faith, thought, and enlightened activism. Your donation is an investment in Sadaqah Jariyah, bringing you rewards that will last long after this life. Become a monthly member today and be part of The Thinking Muslim’s sacred mission.

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Bait ul Maqdis – the sacred precinct in Palestine - is a blessed place in Islam – but today, we have downpl...

This Ramadan, support an alternative Muslim media platform rooted in faith, thought, and enlightened activism. Your donation is an investment in Sadaqah Jariyah, bringing you rewards that will last long after this life. Become a monthly member today and be part of The Thinking Muslim’s sacred mission.

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Li...

The current crop of rulers that litter the Muslim world are amongst the most detestable of people. They sit silent, often proactive only in the degree to which they collude with the joint enterprise of genocide. Many of the Gulf rulers live in hedonistic metropolises, their empty lives and cities punctuated occasionally by inane regional summits – to bury their ineptitude in the pomp of ceremony. Never has the Muslim world's seats of power been occupied by such wretched leaders. If anyone were to seek a resolution from any of these regimes to save the lives of Palestinians, one would kn...

This Ramadan, support an alternative Muslim media platform rooted in faith, thought, and enlightened activism. Your donation is an investment in Sadaqah Jariyah, bringing you rewards that will last long after this life. Become a monthly member today and be part of The Thinking Muslim’s sacred mission.

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There has been what can only be described as an intense disinformation campaign in recent days regarding Syria. If we...

This Ramadan, support an alternative Muslim media platform rooted in faith, thought, and enlightened activism. Your donation is an investment in Sadaqah Jariyah, bringing you rewards that will last long after this life. Become a monthly member today and be part of The Thinking Muslim’s sacred mission.

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Books on Kashmir

Victoria Schofield - Kashmir in Conflict

Victoria Schofield - The History of Ka...

Pakistan is an enchanting country, fertile and vast, with a talented young population and, at least on paper, all of the ingredients of a regional powerhouse. But the country is experiencing a tumultuous time. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan languishes in prison while the country’s military leaders use every greater coercion to maintain the status quo. Pakistan’s economy is faltering, and the brain drain of qualified professionals continues to leave the country, devastatingly affecting public services and businesses. To help us understand the sheer predicament many Pakistanis feel, we have Professor SherAli Tereen, who recently returned from the...

The Seerah (biography) of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) is a key reading for all Muslims. However, many view it through a lens that misses its essence. Sami Hamdi explains how we need to rethink how we view Seerah so that we can internalise it in our lives.

This Ramadan, support an alternative Muslim media platform rooted in faith, thought, and enlightened activism. Your donation is an investment in Sadaqah Jariyah, bringing you rewards that will last long after this life. Become a monthly member today and be part of The Thinking Muslim’s sacred mission.

This Ramadan, support an alternative Muslim media platform rooted in faith, thought, and enlightened activism. Your donation is an investment in Sadaqah Jariyah, bringing you rewards that will last long after this life. Become a monthly member today and be part of The Thinking Muslim’s sacred mission.

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We often associate Ramadan with seeking closeness to God, which is its aim. A believer abstains from food and drink in the daylight hours to commit themselves to Allah. We draw closer to him through worships and good deeds and this is a month of charity. Muslims give more in this month than any other time in the year, hoping that our sincerity reaches Allah and in the process he overlooks our failings.

But in many ways Ramadan stands as a denunciation of capitalism, the insatiable wants, greed, selfishness and gluttony. It teaches us to focus...

Bait ul Maqdis – the sacred precinct in Palestine - is a blessed place in Islam – but today, we have downplayed maybe its centrality to what it means to a believer. From my last conversation with Dr Khalid El-Awaisi – where he controversially said that al Aqsa and these blessed lands have to be more clearly central to our faith and worldview – we want to explore how we practically manifest this nearness to Bait ul Maqdis and Palestine.

Dr Khalid El-Awaisi is from Hebron, Al Khalil, in Palestine. He is a lecturer in the pioneering field of Islamic Jerusale...

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At the time of recording, the German election results have just been announced, revealing an extraordinary outcome for the far-right AFD party, which came second in the Bundestag (parliamentary) elections with 20% of the popular vote, primarily from the country's East but also among some younger voters in the West. The opposition CDU party, led by Friedrich Merz, is on track for victory but will need to negotiate with either its traditional adversaries, the SDP, led by former Chancellor Scholz, or the minority parties. The AFD...

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Islam is about justice and Gaza has mobilised the community to confront the settler colonial enterprise. On this journey we have met many non-Muslims who share our sense of mission and have embraced this collaboration to carve out a better world. I have experienced as a result of these past 15 months that we have a huge following amongst such principled people, trying to understand what motivates the people of Gaza and our faith.

Today I would like to put some of the...

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Africa is a resource-rich continent with immense potential. When countries within the continent demonstrate good governance and sound economic judgment, they thrive. It is, of course, overly simplistic to discuss Africa as a monolith. Yet some regions, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, continue to grapple with debt, poverty, and civil conflict. This is why the continent remains the most underdeveloped, leading to a brain drain of its most talented individuals to more prosperous nations. To what extent has the legacy of colonialism, in both its historical and...

Profound words on the liberation of Palestine. Dr. Khalid El-Awaisi is from Hebron, Al Khalil in Palestine. He is a lecturer of the pioneering field of Islamic Jerusalem Studies. His main speciality is in the historical-geography of Islamic Jerusalem. He is currently the Associate Professor of Islamic History at the Social Sciences University of Ankara and Executive Director of Islamic Jerusalem Academy .

You can find Dr Khalid Awaisi here:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/khalid_elawaisi/

X: https://x.com/ElAwaisi

Let me remind all viewers that to help...

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The struggle for Gaza is not over. For over fifteen months, Israel's Western backers told us that there was no genocide taking place. Now, President Trump confirms that the Israelis have turned it into rubble. His plan, ludicrous as it sounds, is to displace Gaza’s population to surrounding countries and colonize it for America, and presumably Israel. This plan has been roundly rejected by Palestinian voices and regional governments, including, with some gusto, the Saudis. At the time of recording, the ceasefire is in fl...

The announcement of Donald Trump at the press conference with Netanyahu had all the shock value we expect from the rogue president. How do we understand his intention to ‘clean out’ Gaza and turn it into a riviera, and how do Palestinians view this brazen ethnic cleansing?

To help us understand the we have back on the show Dr Azzam Tamimi, who is one of the leading Palestinian commentators and author of one of the most authoritative works on Hamas.

You can find Azzam Tamimi here:

X: https://x.com/AzzamTamimi

Despite the recent incendiary declaration by Trump to occupy Gaza and clean the land of Palestinians, there remains fervent talk that normalisation with Saudi is on the cards. The de facto leader Mohammed Bin Salman has made it clear that he wants to make public what is very much the reality: his embrace of Israel and probably the most significant political prize to the genocidal state. The kingdom, in many ways, is rapidly moving towards a westernisation, at least in economic and cultural terms – with concerts and sporting events and the mass incarceration of the many scholars, including the fa...

Trump’s Gaza Riviera, in the impossible event it was realised, would be built on the corpses of hundreds of thousands of dead Palestinians, half of them children. The idea is a grotesque display of American profligacy. A hegemon that knows no bounds. It would be wrong to blame it on President Trump's excesses. Trump is no more than another vile iteration of this crumbling colossus. The Biden administration was responsible for this genocide. They armed Israel, gave it diplomatic cover, undermined international law to protect it and financed its death machine.

Trump is a benefactor of...

The Gaza genocide has come to a pause, with the hope that a ceasefire will remain in place. The details of the deal has allowed many to return to their homes, shattered by a deliberate attempt to destroy all infrastructure. The West remains accomplices and its media have shamefully misrepresented what has happened.

Last year we spoke with Amr Abdul Latif, from Gaza who told us about his life growing up under this brutal occupation. Today we have him back on the show. Amr Abdul Latif who was until recently, a resident and citizen of Gaza...

Al Aqsa is the first Qibla, prayer direction, of Islam. It is regarded by Muslims as one of the three sacred Mosques, and its surroundings Bayt al Maqdis has been blessed by Allah in the Quran. The hadith talk of the blessed one who prays in all three of the Masjids, something alhamdulillah I have managed to do. But this mosque, its precincts and the entirety of Palestine is today under threat by a foreign settler force that is hellbent on eradicating its history. My guest today argues that there is an urgency now in time to save this...

When commentators talk about the relationship, often fraught, between Islam and the west, most start with the mass migration from the Indian subcontinent, North Africa and Middle East to western countries. A few years back, the British foreign secretary announced the greatest culinary delight of the brits was the chicken tikka masala. But many do not recognise the deep, often interconnected relationships between European civilisation and Islamic civilisation and how much Islamic influence contributed to what we today call Romanesque European architecture and broader culture.

My guest today Dr Diana Darke is a historian and Middle...

Islamophobia across the Western world is on the rise. It is a pernicious prejudice that seems to have seeped into public acceptance. It is not just the prize of the ultra right, across the West, even liberal minded governments have sought to malign Muslims unjustly. Consider President Macron’s separatism Act, that maligns in effect any believer that follows the shariah. Or consider at home, the Labour government’s reluctance to recognise anti Muslim hatred as a cause of the most recent riots across northern England. Or the US administration downplaying the murder of Palestinians.

My gues...

Never in human history has the role and position of men and women been subject to so much dispute. The advent of liberalism has ushered in an era of free thought and individualism that has removed previously accepted notions of roles and obligations. Liberal feminism has explicitly sought to forward a hollow version of equality that has on the whole, harmed women and men. And sadly, the backlash has been a crude assertion of masculinity that loathes women and removes any of their rights. Social media is awash with a morass of failed gender relations and gender conflicts, to...

In a world of alternative facts, Elon Musk acts as the high priest of disinformation. The world’s richest man has exploited his platform, X, to embark on a vitriolic anti-Islam tirade with real-world consequences. It is unfathomable that he believes his incendiary messages are based on reasoned evidence and intellectual rigour. But truth and integrity are expendable commodities in this new world of democratised lies. Musk appeals to a radicalised Western population experiencing the repeated shocks of a flailing empire.

Let me remind all viewers that to help us continue to engage critical thought at th...

When we talk about Gaza, we often speak of it in isolation from the broader Muslim world. When the Muslim countries are mentioned, it’s normal to suggest that they have given up on the Palestinian cause. The Abraham Accords are oft-cited as an example of the Muslim world turning its back on a beleaguered member. But is that really the case? Is the future fortunes of the Palestinians linked to the Muslim rulers?

To help us untangle fact from fiction, I am happy to have Dr Azzam Tamimi back on the show. Dr Azzam is a Pa...

The Waqf, or endowments, is an age-old Islamic method of supplying public services. Throughout Islamic history, this third space enabled entrepreneurs and the monied to donate to causes that would multiply their reward. Many of the key services from health to education in history were funded by this method and it became a model of giving, emulated by many Westerners. Oxford University, it is said, built its endowment structure on the Waqf model.

But what is a Waqf, and why do many call for its reintroduction today? My guest believes in this forgotten sunnah, and has set...

In this second session of our 2024 roundup we have Sami Hamdi back on the show to discuss Syria in more detail. Syria is in many ways a ray of hope but also raises all sorts of uncertainties. What path will the revolution take? How do we assess Jolani and the rebel movement? What of the demands of regional and global actors, ideological and otherwise. And how does Syria navigate the US and Israel's anxieties about the new government and its Islamic colour.

Become a member to ger access to exclusive monthly calls: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com...

The situation in Germany is very tense for Muslims. The recent Christmas market attack has brought into focus how the political elites in the country malign muslim voices. but it goes deeper, there is a systematic campaign to make advocating for Palestine unlawful.

Hebh Jamal is a Palestinian journalist and activist based in Germany , currently working on an upcoming documentary film, The Reason of State: Germany’s War on Palestinians.

Let me remind all viewers that to help us continue to engage critical thought at this time, please consider becoming a member: https://www.th...

Syria has witnessed a remarkable victory in recent weeks, with a brutal dictator falling against all odds. What is the Islamic significance of this? How should we understand the concepts of victory and seeking Allah’s help? To delve deeper into this topic, we welcome Dr Shadee al-Masri back on the show to enlighten us about these crucial ideas of victory and seeking Allah’s assistance. How much do Allah’s help and victory rely on our actions, iman, and preparation? What are the religious implications of surrendering the struggle or feeling disheartened?

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This year we have seen two Muslim countries move away from bitter dictatorships, Bangladesh and Syria. Yet the horrific scenes in Gaza remain. Any joy that comes from Syria is always muted as we endure the horrific genocide perpetrated by the west and its colonial enterprise. Gaza exposes the hollowness of an international order.

The civil war in Sudan remains active, Pakistan’s generals have consolidated power, and the Egyptian pharaoh seems comfortable aiding Israel in its blood-shedding and the Saudis are looking forward to selling Palestine for a US security deal.

We have the pl...

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As part of Muhammad Jalal’s conversations with young Muslims from around the world, he speaks with Mosaab and Watfae about the Trump presidency and what this will mean for young Muslims.

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The Syrian revolution began in 2011 as a grassroots civil society uprising against one of the most tyrannical rulers in the Muslim World. Bashar al-Assad, like his father before him, presided over a state of terror, with mass disappearances, secret police repression and a brutal, corrupt state machinery that governed through fear. Assad had four secret service agencies (mukhabarat) that worked independently. If you got onto a list, your life would become a never-ending Kafkaesque tragedy. All four had to pardon you...

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Is the European Union a model for Muslim unity? Can the often fractious and politically weak Muslim world improve its regional strength and international standing by pooling economic and even political sovereignty and creating a zone of prosperity that harnesses talents and halts a brain drain to the West? Until 1924, the Muslim world came under a caliphate; many calling for a modern unity cite the EU as a model.

But is the EU really something to aspire to...

This live event was held on Youtube to show solidarity with the Syrian revolution. Here’s a list of speakers and their respective timestamps

Timestamps:

0:00- Introduction

9:00 - Omar Suleiman - Justice

24:10 – Tox – On ground feeling

32:44 – Dilly Hussain – Freedom

37:47 – Azzam Tamimi – The Left

46:02 – Ali Hammuda – Quranic view

59:45 – Shadee Elmasry – Propaganda

1:05:35 – Imam Tom – America

1:13:50 – Saifullah – Filmmaker experience

1:17:36 – Razzan Saffour – Syrians experience

1:28:03 – Moazzam Begg – Assad

1:36:40 – Robin Yassin – Prisons

1:47:37 – Maryam Abdulrahman – Faith

1:54:55 – Ismail Patel – Palestine

2...