In Good Faith

The last verse (110) of Chapter 18 (The Cave) of the Quran forces us to think about the true nature of our relationship with God. Do we yearn to encounter the divine, or do we shy away from the inevitable meeting?In this highlight clip, Azim Kidwai - CEO of Mercy Mission and Chairman of the Bradford District Community Foundation - reminds us that In the end, all earthly bonds will fall away, and what remains is only one relationship: the servant and the Master.You can watch or listen to my full conversation with Azim here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1S9XVonWlSun3h4yVdxQaB?si=RY2OebPUQ3WYJae_tHPCdQ

In this conversation, Dr. Wajid Akhter shares his insights on the urgent crises facing the Muslim community. As Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain, he stresses the need for immediate action in areas like mental health, housing, and political powerlessness. Wajid highlights the importance of coordination and ambition, calling for grassroots efforts to unite under a common cause. He also proposes a practical mental health strategy, urging the community to move beyond bland statements and make tangible changes.

Most people feel trapped because they let past decisions, social expectations and fear define their future, instead of first identifying their true ideal. Real alignment begins when you strip away constraints, clarify what you would pursue if success were guaranteed and time were limited, and then move towards that vision gradually and intentionally.You can watch my full conversation on this topic here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7A5NbXQ947NL8jvh0uefwl?si=EG2gGyxESqSO5aNGun7J7w

Dr. Haroon Sidat, a research associate at Cardiff University specializing in Islamic legal history, delves into the relevance of traditional madhahib in modern times. He discusses the historical significance of the four main schools of Islamic law and questions whether their rigid adherence remains necessary. Sidat emphasizes the importance of context in applying these traditional principles creatively to address today’s challenges. He advocates for tolerance and open scholarly debate, highlighting the need for adaptable rulings that resonate with contemporary issues.

The narrative for Muslims to migrate from so-called Western countries hasn't just been growing amongst bigots and haters... it's been gathering significant momentum amongst Muslims themselves.So what defines home? What's happening to people's sense of belonging? Is it really time to leave?In this highlight clip, we hear from Azim Kidwai, CEO of Mercy Mission and Chairman of the Bradford District Community Foundation.You can watch or listen to my full conversation with Azim here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1S9XVonWlSun3h4yVdxQaB?si=RY2OebPUQ3WYJae_tHPCdQ

This is Part 2 of my conversation with Professor Joel Hayward. We discussed the morality of modern warfare, including the latest indiscriminate versus precision weaponry, as well as issues of asymmetry, proportionality and diplomacy, especially in the context of Israel, Palestine and Sudan.Watch or listen to Part 1 here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4o3Nch9kc1DfsdYyqsWeMX?si=37UTgZT1QSOeMjAkgSBd7wVisit Prof Joel's website: https://joelhayward.orgFollow Prof Joel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professor-joel-hayward-2aa2248/(0:00) Indiscriminate vs precision warfare(13:09) Asymmetry and proportionality (21:46) Thoughts on Israel and Palestine(30:52) Thoughts on Sudan (39:39) Phenomenal prophetic diplomacy(50:30) Thoughts on the problem of evil (59:38) A more human, universal approach(1:04:36) Concluding thoughts

I spoke with Mohammed Faris, one of the world's leading faith-based productivity experts, about what it actually means to be productive, achieving sincerity, the tyranny of clocks and watches, the restoration of the lunar calendar, overcoming regrets, remembering death... and a little about the future of this podcast!Mohammed is founder of The Productive Muslim Company - a faith-based training and coaching company with over a million followers online - and the author of best-selling books “The Productive Muslim: Where Faith Meets Productivity” and "The Barakah Effect: More With Less".He has delivered seminars and workshops in over 15 countries, featured on international media as well as the TEDx stage, and spoken at organisations such as Google, American Airlines, Salesforce, Accenture and the Islamic Development Bank Group. Check out Productive Muslim: https://productivemuslim.comFollow Mohammed: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammedfaris/(0:00) What is productivity?(2:30) Diverse experiences of productivity (7:05) Challenges of universalising language(17:53) How to know if you're productive(23:09) How to assess & increase sincerity(28:56) Letting go of outcomes(36:12) Doing what you love(40:53) Tyranny of the mechanical clock(52:58) Intentions & resolutions(56:33) Restoring the lunar calendar (1:08:57) Rethinking business productivity(1:13:40) Helping people to write books(1:16:13) Overcoming regrets(1:19:56) Remembering death(1:25:49) What makes a podcast productive?

In this engaging discussion, Professor Joel Hayward, a leading authority on the Prophet Muhammad and warfare ethics, dives into the complexities of conflict and diplomacy. He explores why war persists and contrasts it with the Prophet's balanced approach, emphasizing diplomacy over aggression. Hayward also addresses misconceptions about early Islamic battles, highlighting ethical guidelines that protected noncombatants. Finally, he reflects on the challenges of applying prophetic principles to modern warfare, including the implications of advanced weaponry on ethical conduct.

In this enlightening discussion, Mohammed Nizami, founder of the New School for Abrahamic Restoration and a scholar in theology and politics, critiques the destructive nature of neoliberalism. He highlights how market rationality dominates ethics and relationships, urging a return to covenantal values that prioritize community and moral accountability. Nizami advocates for an education system focused on character development over consumer skills, and he emphasizes sustainable stewardship of the environment. Practical steps for societal transformation are shared, urging listeners to engage in meaningful change.

I've never been a fan of MyTenNights (MTN), the charity platform that has facilitated over $100m of donations by offering timed contributions on the Night of Decree (laylatul-qadr) in the month of Ramadan. Now it seems that the person who founded it, Ismael Dainehine, isn't too much of a fan of what he built either!We spoke about his recent and very significant turning point in how he understands the purpose and contemporary reality of charitable activities, and also how the absence of a sound monetary system undermines the possibility of the very outcomes that aid is intended to achieve. Now Ismael's focus is fully on EverGive, a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve for social impact. I challenged him on various aspects of the existing operational model and we discussed what the future might hold for this new offering.Check out EverGive: https://www.evergive.comIsmael's latest thought piece: https://www.evergive.com/blog/when-money-loses-its-soul-society-rots-from-withinFollow Ismael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ismael-dainehine-668776a7/(0:00) Headline proposition(0:27) In what way is charity broken?(15:39) More on sustainability (19:30) Addressing the root problem(34:38) Is MyTenNights shutting down?(51:09) How does EverGive work?(57:23) Why a Bitcoin-based endowment?(1:05:45) End-to-end Bitcoin aid(1:13:02) Onboarding charities (1:15:17) Spiritual & economic liberation(1:17:25) How Ismael spends his time(1:21:21) A more universal approach(1:23:29) Life lessons & reflections