In Good Faith

Dr William Barylo is a sociologist and visual artist using pictures and film to explore social issues from a decolonial and restorative perspective. He looks at how grassroots initiatives in Europe and North America navigate societal challenges. We sat down to discuss his latest publication: British Muslims in the Neoliberal Empire: Resisting, Healing, and Flourishing in the Metacolonial Era.Dr William's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UC1KQMrAkTXCx0oGPWppZKVg Website: https://williambarylo.comGet hold of the book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/British-Muslims-Neoliberal-Empire-Metacolonial-ebook/dp/B0F1NCFJVH/(0:00) Trailer(0:57) What is neoliberalism?(6:09) How to survive the system(13:27) Harms vs benefits(23:44) What is metacolonialism?(34:36) Breaking the cycle(42:28) The importance of faith(1:02:36) Reimagining ummah(1:15:01) Representation... so what?(1:17:39) Remaining hopeful and active(1:25:08) Conclusion

Dr. Ali-Reza Bhojani, an Assistant Professor in Islamic Ethics at the University of Birmingham, dives deep into the intersection of AI and ethics. He emphasizes the importance of integrating Islamic values into AI discourse, while warning against the erosion of truth by large language models. Bhojani argues for responsible technological engagement and highlights how automation can impact human flourishing. He also discusses the necessity of moral rationalism and advocates for cross-faith dialogue to enrich ethical responses, urging scholars to maintain community connections.

Hamza Tzortzis, a PhD researcher and public speaker on Islamic theology, delves into his thesis on scientific miracles related to the Quran. He challenges the alignment of scripture with modern science, arguing that scientific miracles risk oversimplification. Hamza emphasizes multiple valid interpretations of Quranic verses and advocates for a modest approach to concordism. He also highlights the Quran's structural depth as its true miracle, promoting a timeless message rather than transient scientific claims.

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