The AMI Podcast

Al-Mahdi Institute
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Jul 31, 2025 • 1h 16min

Is the Qur'an Biased Towards Men? Divine Justice & Patriarchy with Dr Asma Barlas | Thinking Islam Ep.6

With verses like qiwamah and the so-called “wife beating” verse, does the Qur’an truly promote equality and egalitarian ideals, or does it embed a vision of hierarchy and male-dominance? In this episode of Thinking Islam, Dr. Asma Barlas joins us to rigorously interrogate whether God, described as supremely just in the Qur’an, could be seen as biased towards men. We explore how anti-patriarchal readings of the Qur’an challenge dominant interpretations, reexamine controversial passages, and ask what it means to practice critical scholarship while navigating the realities of the Muslim community.This wide-ranging conversation delves into the heart of Dr. Barlas’s influential book, "Believing Women in Islam," unpacking her approach to Qur'anic exegesis, her critiques of both traditionalist and secular-feminist readings, and her arguments for divine justice and mutual guardianship in Qur’anic gender discourse. Together, we reflect on the historical legacy of patriarchy in Islamic interpretation, the distinct difference between biblical and Qur’anic accounts of Abraham, and rethinking family structures and gender roles in light of the Qur’an’s holistic teachings. Our discussion journeys through scholarly debates, personal experiences of dissent within the Muslim community, and the challenges of staying faithful to both faith and reason.Dr. Asma Barlas is a renowned scholar of Islamic intellectual history, Qur’anic hermeneutics, and gender politics. She is the author of the landmark work "Believing Women in Islam: Unreading Patriarchal Interpretations of the Qur’an," which argues for the anti-patriarchal essence of the Qur’an and continues to shape contemporary conversations about gender, faith, and justice.
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Jul 29, 2025 • 20min

Negotiating Biblical Narratives in Muʿtazilite Exegesis by Dr Doaa M. Baumi

In this podcast, Dr Doaa M. Baumi explores how the Muʿtazilite scholar al-Zamakhshari dealt with biblical narratives (Israʾiliyyāt) in his tafsīr. She shows how his rational framework allowed for careful inclusion and critical filtering of these sources.
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Jul 29, 2025 • 26min

The Aʾthari Tafsīr in Imami Thought by Dr Haidar Hobbollah

In this podcast, Dr Haidar Hobbollah analyses the Atharī tradition in Shīʿī tafsīr, tracing its roots in the Akhbārī movement and contrasting it with the Uṣūlī approach. He unpacks the epistemological and theological tensions between the two.
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Jul 29, 2025 • 21min

Exploring the Farahi School’s Exegetical Methodology by Dr Farhad Shafti

In this podcast, Dr Farhad Shafti provides a critical overview of the Farahi school, highlighting its focus on Qurʾānic coherence and its call to prioritise the Qurʾān over ḥadīth in legal reasoning—an area he believes warrants further attention.
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Jul 29, 2025 • 23min

The Qurʾānic Revelation and The Imaginal World by Professor Mohammad Saeedimehr

In this podcast, Professor Mohammad Saeedimehr delves into Shah Wali Allah Dihlawi’s use of the imaginal world (ʿālam al-mithāl) as a tool for symbolic exegesis, offering a visionary yet controversial approach to understanding prophetic narratives.
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Jul 29, 2025 • 22min

From Qurʾānic Polyvalence to Meaningful Ambiguity by Dr Sohaib Saeed

In this podcast, Dr Sohaib Saeed introduces the idea of meaningful ambiguity in the Qurʾān. Drawing on Ibn ʿĀshūr, he suggests that ambiguity in certain verses may itself be intentional and meaningful, offering layered or simultaneous truths.
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Jul 29, 2025 • 25min

An Existential Interpretation of the Qurʾān: Meaning of Life by Dr Vahid Sohrabifar

In this podcast, Dr Vahid Sohrabifar explores how the Qurʾān addresses today’s crisis of meaning, focusing on ḥayāt ṭayyiba—a meaningful, God-centred life. He reflects on the Qurʾān’s concern with existential themes like freedom, death, and human purpose.
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Jul 29, 2025 • 21min

Rational Methodology in Modern Qurʾānic Exegeses: A Critical Evaluation by Dr Imranali Panjwani

In this podcast, Dr Imranali Panjwani critiques the rationalist paradigm in modern tafsīr, noting inconsistencies between inclusive interpretations and limited applications. He calls for a coherent framework that bridges modern values and Qurʾānic integrity.
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Jul 29, 2025 • 20min

Al-Wazīr al-Maghribī and his al-Masābīḥ fī tafsīr al-Qurʾān by Dr Morteza Karimi-Nia

In this podcast, Dr Morteza Karimi-Nia uncovers the contributions of al-Wazīr al-Maghribī, a 10th-century Shīʿī exegete whose work bridged tradition and rational critique, paving the way for the more systematic approaches of al-Ṭūsī and al-Ṭabrisī.
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Jul 29, 2025 • 23min

The Qurʾān, Method, and Meaning: Interpreting Men’s Authority Over Women by Prof. Asma Barlas

In this podcast, Professor Asma Barlas critiques patriarchal interpretations of the Qurʾān, especially those that assert male authority over women. She argues that such readings distort the text’s message and project a masculinised image of God.

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