ImanWire Podcast

Modern health care presents a number of dilemmas that Islamic jurisprudence must address. Can an approach rooted in the Maqasid, the objectives of Shariah, provide solutions in ways that classical fiqh cannot? If so, how are these objectives met in cases where the human interests conflict? Is the preservation of life more important than the preservation of religion? Dr. Aasim Padela, author of "Maqasid Al-Shariah and Biomedicine: Bridging Moral, Ethical and Policy Discourses", joins the ImanWire podcast to discuss the challenges in applying Islamic law to modern medicine. Dr. Aasim Padela is an emergency medicine physician and academic scholar, currently the Vice Chair for Research and Scholarship in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). He is founder of the Initiative on Islam and Medicine, and author of many articles and books, with research interests in bioethics, public health and religion. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 2:32 - The Problem Space of Modern Medicine 6:57 - The Maqasid and Classical Fiqh 15:53 - A Calibrative Mechanism to Preserve Human Interests 21:21 - The Five Essential Human Interests 26:12 - What's More Important? Religion or Life? 28:32 - Implications For a Health Care Framework 32:27 - Preserving Life Vs Preserving Health 38:00 - Caution in Expanding the Maqasid 40:48 - Case Study: The Brain-Dead Pregnant Woman 47:52 - The Potential of Maqasid 51:41 - Prioritizing Religion in Health Care 1:00:52 - Where Is the Patient's Voice in This?

In this episode, we delve into the intimate connection between the heart's sincerity and the physical form of worship. Discover the significance of spiritual guidance and how a profound Hadith reveals the intrinsic link between internal conviction and external expression in prayer. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 1:39 - Presence in Dua Significance 5:51 - Presence in Salah Significance 14:49 - Allah's Focus on Hearts 27:33 - Enhancing Divine Awareness through Salah 27:50 - Characteristics of the Depraved 36:37 - First Aspect of Faith to Fade 45:50 - Shade of Allah's Throne: First Recipient 47:05 - Shade of Allah's Throne: Second Recipient

Dr. Rania Awaad joins the ImanWire Podcast to discuss mental health and the history of the Maristans throughout the Muslim world. Ahead of their time, these institutions of healing provided an integrated system of care treating the mind, body and soul. Rooted in the foundations of the religion itself, their innovative approach provide a model for reimagining and revitalizing health care today. Rania Awaad, M.D. is the Co-Founder and President of Maristan, a nonprofit reviving the Islamic legacy of holistic healing through spiritually and culturally congruent clinical care, education, and training. She is also a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Stanford University and Director of the Stanford Muslim Mental Health & Islamic Psychology Lab. Dr. Awaad is a nationally recognized speaker, award-winning teacher, researcher, and author in both the Islamic and medical sciences. She holds traditional certifications (ijaza) in Qur’an, Islamic Law, and other Islamic sciences. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 2:09 - Human Psychology in the Qur'an and Sunnah 4:06 - Mental Health and the Objectives of the Shariah 5:02 - Majnun in the Hadith: A Treatable Condition 8:52 - Ahead of Its Time: Maristans as a Place of Healing 15:15 - A Shared Ethos Across Time and Space 17:02 - Sustainability Through Awqaf 18:27 - Holistic Healing Rooted in the Religion 19:58 - Caring for the Poor: A Central Spiritual Motivation 22:11 - The Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual Framework 24:19 - Customized Sound Therapy and Engaging the Five Senses 27:26 - Talk Therapy 29:01 - Fitrah Alignment: Healing Through Architecture 35:53 -Ihsaan in Practice: The Responsibility of the Provider 39:26 - The Caregiver is the Mirror to the Patient 41:58 - Why Did Mental Illness Become Stigmatized? 47:03 - Colonization of the Mind 50:26 - Shifting Trends: Islamic Psychology and Contemporary Psychiatry 54:34 - Implementing the Maristan Model Today

Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui describes the difference between Salah and the Christian definition of the word 'Prayer' and how we as Muslims must understand the incredible distinction. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 1:58 - Importance of Salah 9:24 - Salah as Enlightenment 18:03 - Believers' Success 20:32 - Attaining Focus in Prayer 28:03 - Distractions During Salah 33:15 - Salah Reflects Life 35:42 - Daily Impact of Prayer 39:13 - Immediate Self-Improvement 41:05 - Understanding Through Similarity 42:40 - Dua for Purpose

Dr. Shadee Elmasry from NBIC and Safina Society joins the ImanWire Podcast for a trip down memory lane with Moutasem and Ghuydar and a roundtable discussion on building spiritual communities. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 2:26 - New York Vs New Jersey 5:38 - Building Intentional Community 10:13 - Fear of Communal Dhikr 14:22 - No More Secret Invites 18:31 - Spiritual Transformations in the Circles of Dhikr 22:54 - Qasidahs Are the Lessons for the Layman 24:56 - Drivers of Muslim Culture 31:00 - The Decline of Salafi Dawah 34:46 - Teenage Souls 40:38 - Spiritual Guides 45:35 - Right and Left Extremes and Influencers 52:16 - Waves of New Muslims 54:05 - Ibadah Over 'Ilm 55:23 - Spiritual Diets and Dinner Invitations 59:21 - Remembering Muhammad Shareef 1:01:14 -Differing Positions and Character 1:04:01 - The Saintly Worker

Shaykh Mokhtar defines the root of the word 'Salah' and what it means to connect our hearts to Allah ﷻ through the act of prayer. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 9:43 - Significance of Salah in Daily Life 19:15 - Salah's Role in Islamic Faith 27:00 - Spiritual Impact of Neglecting Salah 45:40 - Prophet Muhammad's Final Teachings: Salah and Compassion 50:33 - Divine Support for the Patient Believers

The relationship between God and the Messenger of God ﷺ was rooted in love, and the experience of knowing Allah through the door of love caused our Prophet ﷺ to be the beloved of God. How can we connect with the Beloved of God ﷺ? Ustadha Zaynab Ansari from Tayseer Seminary returns to the Imanwire podcast to discuss how to find Prophetic love amidst the challenges of the modern age. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 2:19 - How Can We Embody Love of the Prophet? 4:59 - Physical Distance, Spiritual Proximity 12:33 - Finding Love Through Books and People 18:40 - The Roadblock of Reductionism 22:15 - Problematizing the Age of Aisha 26:09 - The Prophet ﷺ and Male Authority 32:09 - Finding the Feminine in the Prophetic Story 39:15 - Connecting to the Prophet ﷺ as a Woman 40:57 - Role of Aesthetics in Cultivating Prophetic Love

Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui describes how the world around us is affected by what is inside of us, at both a micro and macro level, and how the worth of a civilization is by the existence of one's 'akhlaq.' CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Opening Du'a by Shaykh 1:25 - Inner World Reflection 1:48 - Tazkiyah Significance 1:54 - Civilization Value 10:55 - Truthful Poet's Wisdom 14:42 - Tazkiyah Focus on Allah 18:20 - Heart's Spiritual Progression 23:40 - Character in Islam 27:50 - Value of Good Companionship 34:08 - Salah's Spiritual Importance 37:40 - Benefits of Regular Salah 39:50 - Consequences of Neglecting Salah 43:25 - Salah's Influence on Morality

Dealing with a narcissist can be an unpleasant experience, whether it is in our family, workplace or community. How does narcissism connect with the Islamic discourse on the nafs and self-purification? Aaatifa Shareef, a professional licensed counselor and instructor at Qalam Institute, bridges the fields of modern psychology and Islamic knowledge to discuss how we can manage our relationships with narcissists who can make our lives very difficult. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Narcissist-in-Chief and the Nafs 13:03 - Diagnosis and the Balance of Psychology and Islamic Knowledge 21:34 - A Strong Sense of Self vs. Self-Admiration 32:26 - Dealing With Problematic Family Members 35:26 - Severing Ties 37:13 - Ihsaan, Birr & Boundaries 42:22 - Only Human: Not Letting It Affect Us 52:39 - Drawing Attention to Narcissism in a Loving Way 57:33 - Finding a Support System 1:01:29 - Respecting the Elderly vs. Questioning the Family 1:04:21 - Institutional Leadership 1:12:22 - Getting Cut Off 1:15:58 - Self-Care Regimen

"I must never be the defender of my nafs, or thinking that I have nothing to change and others must change. I must always begin with the premise, that I have everything to change." Shaykh Mokhtar Maghroaui continues the conversation of the addiction of the nafs and how to begin taking the steps to changing them. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 03:09 - Homecoming Journey 05:46 - Facing Bankruptcy 10:23 - Embracing Emptiness 15:30 - Achieving Ultimate Freedom 17:59 - Understanding the Cup Analogy 22:12 - Exploring Khalifa Concept 27:50 - Spiritual Cleansing Beliefs 37:40 - Anwar: Divine Illumination 40:10 - Experiencing Allah's Light 44:40 - Self-Reflection on Faults 51:39 - Angelic Intervention Story 55:43 - Divine Support for the Devout 56:48 - Embracing Rectification 57:40 - Intermission Break