In Good Faith

In this first episode of a two-part conversation with the prolific and well-renowned Hamza Tzortzis, I got to pick his brains about the Quran. How should people approach and understand it today? How can and should it be contextualised? How do we separate between the universal and the particular?Part 2 will focus entirely on his recently submitted PhD, entitled "A Theo-Philosophical Assessment of al-Iʿjāz al-ʿIlmī and the Multiplicity of Readings Approach."--Hamza is the founder and CEO of Sapience Institute. He is the author of the best-selling book: “The Divine Reality: God, Islam and The Mirage of Atheism”, which has been translated into over 10 languages. He has an MRes, MA and a PgCert in Philosophy from the University of London. He has studied Islamic Thought and Theology with a wide range of scholars.--Follow Sapience Institute: @SapienceInstitute Follow Hamza: @HamzaTzortzisOfficial Hamza's website: https://www.hamzatzortzis.com--(0:00) Trailer(1:12) About Hamza's PhD(2:41) How to introduce someone to the Quran(15:52) Should we read in order or at random?(26:41) The importance of living the Quran(32:31) How to frame guidance for people today(46:42) Paying attention to our worldview(54:28) How to contextualise the Quran(1:11:45) Case study: inheritance (1:21:11) Case study: zakat threshold (nisab)(1:35:56) Balancing realities and ideals

In this episode, Taimur Abdaal is back to quiz me about what it means to lead a truly authentic, God-centred life, especially in the context of work. For most of us, work occupies the bulk of our time, attention and energy. Unfortunately, for many of us, it also often ends up being unfulfilling and misaligned with our deepest values and our overall worldview. Can this tension be resolved in a way that is sustainable? I believe so... and this conversation will help show you how. (0:00) Do we each have an authentic self?(3:41) Seeing money and time in perspective(10:04) Deciding what you don't want (18:03) Assessing your real intentions(23:27) Start adding value (26:39) How do we know what God wants?(32:27) Various possible outcomes (38:11) My priorities vs the world's needs(44:23) Using the Ikigai framework(51:12) Case studies(55:28) Tuning your own antenna (59:17) Macro priorities today

Surkheel Sharif, aka Abu Aaliyah, founded and has been the director of the Jawziyyah Institute since 1999: a non-profit organisation dedicated to cultivating an Islam true to its time-honoured tradition, relevant to its current context, and of benefit to wider society.He has authored the following works: More Fish Please & the Earth’s Complaint (2011), Fussing Over the 15th of Sha’ban & the Golden Rule of Differing (2011) and, most recently, A Muslim’s Guide to Modernity (2025). He has also translated a few texts from Arabic to English, notably The Exquisite Pearl (2000). He gained an MA in Islamic Studies from Birkbeck College, University of London, in 2009.Find our more: https://thehumblei.comBuy A Muslim's Guide to Modernity: https://turath.co.uk/products/a-muslims-guide-to-modernityArticle referenced at 1:04:35: https://thehumblei.com/2019/10/27/women-mosques-misogyny-to-misrepresentation/(0:00) Trailer(1:12) The meaning of Surkheel(4:47) Early life and education(16:27) Evolving community concerns(29:53) How our attitude needs to change(36:34) An assessment of the status quo(48:44) The failures and future of scholarship(59:55) Integrating macro and micro factors(1:11:52) The need for imagination and conversation(1:22:01) A vision for faith in Britain(1:27:11) Future publications and final thoughts

I've long been a fan of the work of Peter Gould. Wise, humble and immensely talented, Peter shared many lessons and insights from his 20+ years of experience as a creator, entrepreneur and pioneer of heart-centred design. He also spoke about his long and wonderful journey in producing his beautiful new book - The Heart of Design - as well as the result of his latest collaboration - Tales of Khayaal.Visit Peter's website: https://www.peter-gould.comRead Peter's book: https://www.theheartofdesign.com/bookFollow Peter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petergouldart/(0:00) Trailer(0:53) Peter's weekend(2:40) Nature vs nurture(4:51) The growth of intentional design(9:31) Peter's favourite projects(12:41) Dealing with creative block (19:40) Peter's projects and planning process(28:36) Peter's creative process(36:29) The book publication journey(42:53) Who is the book for?(45:15) The burden of responsibility (55:53) Universal relevance and concern(1:05:51) Future plans and conclusion

Chris Blauvelt, co-founder and CEO of LaunchGood, dives into innovative ideas for empowering Global Urban Muslims (GUMmies). He discusses the concept of a digital nation to address injustices and foster community. They explore the balance between power and meaningful action, highlighting how emotional responses can drive social change. Reflecting on LaunchGood's nearly $1 billion impact, Chris shares insights on cultivating long-term community engagement and the potential of digital platforms to reshape societal norms.

Ibrahim Khan, co-founder of Islamic Finance Guru and Cur8 Capital, dives deep into the evolving landscape of Islamic finance. He questions whether Islamic finance needs rebranding and discusses its ethical dimensions, advocating for inclusivity in marketing to younger generations. The talk also explores the complexities of integrating traditional Islamic principles with modern financial challenges like climate change. Additionally, Ibrahim shares insights on building teams and navigating personal growth within the industry, emphasizing the need for innovation and systemic change.

⏰ Enrol now for a condensed, live online version of Transform My Prayer starting Sunday 3rd August. Four 60-minute sessions to help you fix your mindset, fix your words, fix your movements and fix your life! Visit https://tinyurl.com/tmplite and join 300+ others who’ve already signed up.In this episode of In Good Faith, Taimur is back… and this time we’re discussing some of his burning prayer questions. Specifically we talk about how to overcome the feeling of prayer as a burden, the symbolism of ablution (wudhu) and the deep significance of the words we say in the sitting position of the prayer… all with lots of practical tips and exercises you can start implementing today.(0:00) Why is prayer obligatory?(4:20) Transcending the feeling of obligation(7:44) Noticing our initial mindset(11:50) Gratitude, cycles and repetitions(17:11) Remembering our constant need(21:32) Living in wonder(27:24) The symbolism of ablution (wudhu) (32:27) Washing ourselves in public!(36:40) Prayer as a natural activity(39:26) Mentioning Abraham when sitting(43:49) What are we asking for when we sit?(50:36) Ending powerfully and purposefully

For as long as I’ve known him, Dr Sohaib Saeed has been deeply immersed in all aspects of the study of the Qur’an. This was the first time I got to have a focused 1:1 discussion with him on challenging questions relating to the interpretation and contextualisation of revelation. I hope you enjoy and benefit from the conversation.After a BA and MSc in philosophy (Edinburgh), Dr Sohaib graduated from Al-Azhar (Faculty of Theology, Cairo) in Tafsīr and Quranic Sciences. He then completed his PhD at SOAS, University of London, under the supervision of the renowned Quran translator M.A.S. Abdel Haleem; the book based on his thesis is forthcoming from Edinburgh University Press: Explaining the Qur’an Through the Qur’an.Dr. Sohaib is well known for his translations of classical works of tafsīr. The first volume of The Great Exegesis by Imam Razi was a recipient of the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation in 2018, further volumes will follow from Ibn ‘Ashur Centre. He has also written for academic journals and collections including the Journal of Qur’anic Studies, the Encyclopaedia of the Qur’an (Brill Online) and The Handbook of Qur’anic Hermeneutics (De Gruyter).Since 2016, he has been the senior tafsīr consultant for Bayyinah Institute, which now benefits from the broader team at Ibn ‘Ashur Centre. In 2021, he took on a key responsibility at Quran.Foundation, overseeing content and quality at the major website Quran.com and its sister site QuranReflect.Follow Dr Sohaib: https://x.com/tafsirdoctorLearn more about the Ibn Ashur Centre here: https://www.ibnashur.comCheck out Qur'an in a Year here: https://quran.com/calendar(0:00) Trailer and Introduction(1:46) Barriers to understanding revelation(14:52) Is revelation the only source of truth?(21:27) Contextualisation and reflection(29:53) Five lenses to ponder the Qur'an(58:15) Qur'anic education for children (1:02:43) Is the Qur'an clear?(1:11:53) Having vision and a sense of priority(1:18:10) Is Arabic superior to other languages?(1:28:34) Is transliteration damaging?(1:44:52) Qur'an in a Year and future plans

Omar Salha, Founder of Ramadan Tent Project and PhD scholar, explores the vital roles of soft power and cultural diplomacy. He shares insights on integrating Muslims in British society, highlighting the importance of belonging and representation. Omar discusses the evolution of his organization into a structured festival fostering community understanding. He emphasizes grassroots initiatives, the celebration of Ramadan, and the challenges of fundraising, all while advocating for authentic engagement across diverse communities.

Zara Mohammed, the first woman and youngest Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, shares her journey as a prominent community leader. She discusses the burdens of leadership and the emotional toll it takes. Zara emphasizes the need for active political engagement among Muslims and reflects on the importance of building alliances. With a focus on women in leadership, she highlights challenges young leaders face and the significance of community support for effective representation. Her future plans hint at continued advocacy for Muslim voices in politics.