

Talking With Teachers With Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali
Lamppost Education Initiative
The ‘Talking With Teachers’ Podcast will provide revealing insights into the unique contributions of famous and less-known scholars and teachers. Hosted by Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali, an Associate Professor at Zaytuna College and the Founding Director of the Lamppost Education Initiative (Lamppost).
Each episode will discuss key features of the academic journey of our guests as well as explore a particular thinker’s key intellectual/cultural contributions. Guests will primarily be Muslim scholars, Imams, and others of note from the community.
Each episode will discuss key features of the academic journey of our guests as well as explore a particular thinker’s key intellectual/cultural contributions. Guests will primarily be Muslim scholars, Imams, and others of note from the community.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 4, 2025 • 1h 3min
Talking With Teachers: Season 5 Episode 6 Yusef Andre Wiley
Don’t miss this powerful episode of Talking With Teachers with special guest Yusef Andre Wiley.Wiley spent nearly 22 years in prison, deeply involved in gang culture. But behind bars, he experienced a life-altering transformation through Islam.Today, he’s the founder of the Timelist Group, mentoring youth, guiding former inmates, and building stronger communities.🛑 From prison yards to public service—this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.🔔 Subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications for new episodes.🎧 Hosted by Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali🎙️ Talking With Teachers – Real Stories. Real Scholars. Real Change.

Jul 28, 2025 • 48min
Talking With Teachers Season 5 Episode 5-Shaykh Ali Laraki
Thsi week we are please to present Shaykh Ali Laraki, a respected Islamic scholar, seasoned translator, and spiritual guide rooted in the Islamic traditions of West Africa and North Africa. A student of some of the foremost scholars of our time, Shaykh Ali brings deep insight into the practical and spiritual challenges facing the global Muslim community today.In this episode, Shaykh Ali discusses:Economic Independence: A Path for the UmmahA Spiritual Awakening Amidst Modern ChallengesThe Greatest Challenge Muslims Face TodayThe Legacy of Sheikh Uthman Dan Fodio📺 Subscribe now and tune in for this rich, eye-opening conversation.#TalkingWithTeachers #ShaykhAliLaraki #LamppostEdu #IslamicScholarship #SpiritualAwakening #UthmanDanFodio #EconomicEmpowerment

Jul 21, 2025 • 51min
Talking With Teachers: Season 5-Episode 4: Shaykh Kifani Ibrahim Cisse
Shaykh Kifani Ibrahim Cisse, a public speaker, teacher, mentor, and poet with a rich background in both Christianity and Islam, shares his transformative journey from a Lutheran church to embracing Islam. He reflects on the spiritual legacy of Sheikh Hassan Cisse and discusses the interplay between faith, hip-hop, and social media. Cisse also delves into the importance of resilience in race and culture, the challenges Muslims face in America, and profound insights on suffering and personal growth within the context of spirituality.

Jul 14, 2025 • 1h 19min
Talking With Teachers: Season 5-Episode 3-Shaykh Ahmed Al-Azhary
In this episode, among the topics discussed by Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali and Shaykh Ahmed Al-Azhary is the recent article, “Why Hamza Yusuf’s Voice Doesn’t Speak for the Bilaliyyun." Shaykh Ahmed addresses the following points: The misreading of hadith about Sayyiduna Bilāl (RA)The limits of racial essentialism in IslamThe universal message of the Prophet ﷺHow ideology can distort sacred tradition.Don't miss this critical conversation on faith, race, theology, and more from this episode of Talking With Teachers. Please support the Lamppost Education Inititiave. Your donations help Lamppost provide high quality content for English speaking Muslims all over the world. Visit us at: https://lamppostedu.org/donate to contribute and aid Islamic education from qualified Muslim scholars. Please follow us here on Spotify and other platforms.

Jun 30, 2025 • 41min
Talking With Teachers: Season 5 Episode 2-Shaykh Amin Kholwadia
📢 Is Riba Ever Permissible in America? | Shaykh Amin Kholwadia on Islamic Education, Darul Qasim, and Controversial Hanafi OpinionsIn this powerful episode of Talking With Teachers, host Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali speaks with Shaykh Amin Kholwadia—one of the foremost Islamic scholars in the West and founder of Darul Qasim—about the urgent need for serious Islamic education in America and the controversial Hanafi view on Riba (interest) in the U.S. context.🔥 Highlights include:Why Darul Qasim is different from most Islamic institutionsHow American Muslims are misunderstanding Islamic scholarshipThe real story behind the Hanafi position on Riba in non-Muslim landsWhat it means to preserve Islamic intellectual tradition in the modern worldShaykh Amin draws from decades of classical training and deep spiritual insight to challenge assumptions and inspire a return to grounded, principled learning.🔔 Don’t miss this rare and candid conversation with a true teacher of teachers. Whether you’re a student of knowledge, a concerned parent, or just trying to understand how to live Islam authentically in the West—this episode is for you.👉 Watch now and subscribe to stay connected with Muslim scholars who shape the future.#ShaykhAminKholwadia #IslamicEducation #Riba #DarulQasim #TalkingWithTeachers #HanafiFiqh #MuslimPodcast #IslamInAmerica #HalalFinance

Jun 23, 2025 • 1h 30min
Talking With Teachers- Season 5-Episode-1-Shaykh Hamzah Maqbul
🎙 Talking With Teachers | Season 5, Episode 1Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali in conversation with Shaykh Hamzah MaqbulIn this inspiring first episode of Season 5, Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali sits down with Shaykh Hamzah Maqbul to explore his unique journey as a scholar and teacher of Islam in America. Shaykh Hamzah reflects on his upbringing, his formative years of study in Mauritania, and his rare position as a Pakistani scholar who follows and teaches the Maliki madhhab.The conversation offers rich insights into his life’s work, including his role as Director of Religious Affairs at the Muslim Association of Puget Sound (MAPS) in Washington, where he provided leadership in religious guidance, interfaith dialogue, and educational programming. Shaykh Hamzah shares his experiences lecturing across North America on Islamic theology, law, spirituality, and contemporary ethical challenges.Today, Shaykh Hamzah continues to teach, mentor, and support Muslim communities through online platforms, speaking engagements, and collaborations. He works closely with the Imam Ghazali Institute and serves as the resident scholar at Ribāt, a center for learning and remembrance in the Midwest U.S.🎧 Don’t miss this thoughtful discussion on scholarship, identity, and the calling of teaching Islam in the West.#TalkingWithTeachers #ShaykhHamzahMaqbul #LamppostEducation #IslamicScholarship #MalikiMadhhab #IslamInAmerica #MuslimVoices

Apr 14, 2025 • 48min
Talking With Teachers-Season 4 Episode 11: Shaykh Ahmed Bangura
Shaykh Ahmed Bangura joins Talking With Teachers to reflect on his educational journey, the founding of the Ihsan Foundation, and his key writings on Islam and West African literature. A deep, thought-provoking episode exploring faith, language, and identity.#ShaykhAhmedBangura #IslamAndTheWestAfricanNovel #TranslatingIslam #LamppostPodcast #IslamicEducation

Mar 31, 2025 • 50min
Talking With Teachers: Season Four Episode Ten: Shaykh Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari
In this episode of Talking With Teachers, Shaykh Muhammad ibn Adam Al-Kawthari—renowned jurist and founder of Darul Ifta Leicester—shares his path to Islamic learning, reflections on his written works, and the teachers who deeply influenced him. Tune in for an enlightening and inspiring conversation.Please support the Lamppost Education Inititiave. Your donations help Lamppost provide high quality content for English speaking Muslims all over the world. Visit us at: https://lamppostedu.org/donate to contribute and aid Islamic education from qualified Muslim scholars. Please subscribe to the channel and leave a comment below!

Mar 24, 2025 • 53min
Talking With Teachers: Season 4 Episode 9-Dr. Furhan Zubairi
Please join us for a special conversation with Dr. Furhan Zubairi. Dr. Zubairi completed a formal ‘Alamiyyah degree (Masters in Arabic and Islamic Studies) at the famous Jami’ah Dar Al-’Ulum in Karachi. He has obtained numerous ijazat (traditional licenses) in the six canonical books of hadith, as well as the Muwata of Imam Malik and Imam Muhammad, and has also received certification in the field of Islamic Finance.

Mar 17, 2025 • 1h 18min
Talking With Teachers: Season 4-Episode 8 Ustadh Abu Sakina Giovanni
In this episode, we are please to present Ustadh Abu Sakina Giovanni Herran. He has a diverse background in the Humanities and Social Sciences. He received his bachelors from City University of New York (Queens College) with a double major in Political Science and Hispanic Languages and Literatures. He holds a Masters in History from City University of New York (Staten Island College). His research in his Masters dissertation was on the intersection between Scientism, Empire, literary cultural production and Evolutionary theory, in 19th century Western Europe. He is currently a PhD Candidate at Temple University in the Religion Department. His Area of concentration is Islamic intellectual history, primarily late Islamic philosophy and philosophical Sufism.