Muslim Money Talk

Dr. Mohammed Mustafa, a British-Australian-Palestinian doctor, recounts his harrowing experiences in Gaza, describing the humanitarian catastrophe, targeted destruction of healthcare workers, and his mission to establish a mobile, internationally staffed hospital to save children and rebuild medical infrastructure. He urges collective action, emphasising that every person can contribute to Gaza’s recovery beyond just seeking a ceasefire.This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromiseFind out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/Show Notes: 00:00 - Opening06:41 – His motivation to become a doctor and commitment to serving in crisis zones08:43 – Firsthand account of Gaza’s conditions, lack of resources, and constant danger13:10 – Going viral while in Gaza; using social media to humanise Palestinians14:20 – Family’s reaction to his mission; personal encounters with relatives in hospitals.23:37 – The humanitarian crisis for Gaza’s children and risk of losing a generation.25:54 – Proposal for mobile, solar-powered hospitals to rebuild healthcare.31:29 – Navigating politics and risk to push the hospital project forward.41:37 – Call for global grassroots action; everyone has a role to play

In this episode, the Areeb Siddiqui interviews his grandmother, Naina, about her remarkable life spanning pre-partition India, the creation of Pakistan, and her experiences living through pivotal moments in history. She reflects on her family’s legacy, her father’s resistance during partition, and shares advice on marriage, faith, and resilience.This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromiseFind out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/Show Notes:00:00 – Opening01:47 – Naina’s career as a color consultant and inventing “ash white”03:01 – Early family history: Nawabs, British titles, and their land06:57 – Grandfather’s barrister training in London and British influence10:42 – Father’s resistance during partition and move to Hyderabad14:35 – The value of jungles and the struggle over land18:55 – Hyderabad’s independence, weapons surrender, and returning to Nagpur21:22 – Bombay memories and partition violence stories25:27 – Father’s plans for Pakistan and his untimely death28:08 – Life at Bhadra House: elephants, tiger hunts, and palaces33:11 – Hunting stories: man-eating tigers and family traditions42:05 – Moving to Pakistan: Karachi in the 1960s and climate changes45:52 – Comparisons of Pakistan then vs now, 1971 war memories47:50 – Marriage and moving abroad; life in America and Europe51:29 – Living through global events: WWII, partition, 9/11 aftermath56:30 – Islamic banking, zakat, and her perspective on Kestrel59:02 – Advice on marriage, family, and resilience in life1:07:06 – Closing thoughts and reflections on her peaceful life

In this episode of Muslim Money Talk, host Areeb Siddiqui speaks with Adil Hussain from Islamic Finance Guru (IFG) about the powerful financial lessons found in the Quran and how they can guide Muslims in managing their money ethically. They explore stories from Surah Yusuf and Surah Kahf, the role of Bitcoin and Islamic finance today, and how Muslims can build generational wealth through tools like waqf, zakat, and halal investing.This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromiseFind out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/Show Notes: 00:00 – Opening02:17 – Adil’s background: From EY to Wahid to IFG04:23 – Discovering Islamic finance as a young professional08:17 – Early Islamic fintech players (Wahed, Yielders, etc.)10:19 – Adil’s switch from data science to Islamic finance content11:57 – Tips on creating viral, educational content12:49 – Personal journey of discovering Quranic financial lessons14:12 – Quran stories: The fisherman, two gardens, Musa (AS), Khidr (AS)19:39 – Surah Kahf and the spiritual danger of wealth21:53 – Arrogance and wealth: Lessons from Quranic figures24:43 – Prophets with wealth (Sulaiman AS) vs simplicity (other stories)27:49 – Story of the fishermen and divine protection of wealth33:13 – Parenting, wealth, and spiritual inheritance35:01 – Perpetual charity (waqf) and its modern impact38:58 – Evergive, Bitcoin waqf, and endowments in Islamic history42:02 – Bitcoin as an alternative monetary system45:59 – Halal status of Bitcoin and critiques of fiat money48:55 – The halal vs price debate in Islamic finance50:37 – Pricing, funding, and halal savings/mortgage products53:15 – Role of Islamic current accounts & financial conditioning56:20 – Awareness as the main barrier to adoption59:08 – Algorithms, Islamic content, and social media reach01:00:15 – Wahed’s viral Mufti Menk campaign and media reactions01:04:39 – Marketing, awareness, and IFG’s educational mission01:06:52 – Final thoughts: competition, growth, and community responsibility

Abdul Haseeb Basit, cofounder of Madinah Angels and expert in ethical fintech, joins the conversation alongside Omar Khalil, founder of the Muslim CEOs Collective. They discuss the challenges of Islamophobia in Silicon Valley and how Muslim entrepreneurs can build supportive networks. The growth of Madinah Angels and the importance of community in fostering collaboration are key topics. They emphasize the unique advantages of Islamic fintech, tackle branding issues, and share insights from the Muslim CEOs Dinner series aimed at empowering founders.

Meet Rehan Ahmed, founder of Halal Stocks, an Australian based FinTech on a mission to give investors an unfair advantage in the markets. Ethan shares his journey from tech to the MuslimCharity sector and how a shocking revelation led him to founding Halal Stocks. We discussed the evolution of halal investing, why you really can beat the markets, practices of the early Muslims and crucially: how to align Islamic and ethical investing. Find out more about Halal Stocks and become a lifetime member here : https://t212.halalstocks.co/This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromiseFind out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/Show Notes: 00:00 - Trailer02:48 - Growing up in Australia 05:10 - Quitting IBM to join Muslim Aid10:05 - Realising how Charities pay salaries17:17 – Lack of halal investment options in Australia20:21 – Launching Halal Stocks in 201822:43 – Value investing vs. Growth investing26:08 - Can you ever beat the market? Active vs Passive debate 32:32 - Are stocks still worth investing in?34:25 – Halal Stocks’ offering: automated portfolios, not funds36:07 – Sharia compliance vs. ethical investing: the BDS challenge38:53 - Helping Muslims escape 40 hour work weeks43:03 - Muslims building the first Market in Medina46:18 - Can Muslims really make a difference in the markets?48:23 – Why don’t Islamic Investing Standards include Ethical Screening?51:16 – Dispelling the myth: most companies aren’t involved in unethical practices53:06 – Getting LifetimeMembership at Halal Stocks!54:50 – Upcoming products: intelligent crypto, gold, and US market timing58:01 – Final advice: follow the Prophet’s example through entrepreneurship01:00:20 – Audience Q&A : the risk of entrepreneurship

In this  episode of Muslim Money Talk, Areeb Siddiqui speaks with Khizar Muhammad, a Shariah scholar and Islamic finance professional, about the often-overlooked intersection of money and marriage in Muslim communities. They explore topics such as mahr (dowry), prenups, financial expectations, marital communication, and societal shifts that are reshaping how Muslim couples approach marriage today.This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromiseFind out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/Show Notes: 00:00 - Trailer 02:40 - Eid weddings & reflections on the marriage industry04:13 -  Khizar’s public speaking nerves and nikah khutbah advice05:34  - Core purpose of marriage in Islam07:21 - Decline in societal trust and rise of adversarial prenups10:47 -Khizar's Personal Journey to Islamic Studies18:34 - Communication Issues in Marital Finances29:28 - Understanding Mahar as a Gift, Not Failsafe39:25 - Prenups and Marriage Contract Conditions46:30 - Financial Rights and Responsibilities in Islam53:10 - Lessons from Afghanistan and Beyond01:07:25 - Closing Thoughts and Farewells

In this episode of Muslim Money Talk, Omar Khaliel, co-founder of the Riba Free Foundation and Muslim CEOs Collective, discusses the urgent need for ethical, long-term Muslim leadership rooted in Islamic principles. He and host Areeb Siddiqui explore wealth stewardship, the importance of servant-led leadership, and how Muslim CEOs can build generational impact by fostering a values-driven, collaborative ecosystem.This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromiseFind out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/Show Notes: 00:00 - Opening04:43 – Circular economy & wealth flow in the Muslim community07:08 – Leadership, governance & building 100-year organizations12:56 – How Muslim CEOs dinners foster real impact21:33 – What is servant-led leadership in Islam?27:16 – Qur’anic leadership lessons: Talut, Khalid ibn Walid, Abu Dhar45:10 – Vision for the next decade of Muslim leadership51:22 – The untapped potential of masjids, charities & investors54:10 – Why Muslim startups struggle with funding58:29 – Final thoughts & call to action

In this episode of Muslim Money Talk, co-founders Areeb Siddiqui and Daeng Termizi dive deep into the journey of building Kestrl, a Muslim fintech startup, from meeting during their MBAs at Cambridge to launching a full-fledged digital Islamic bank. They also explore the philosophy behind Islamic economics, Malaysia’s unique position in Islamic finance, and reflect on the spiritual and economic motivations driving their mission.This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromiseFind out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/Show Notes:00:00 - Opening trailer02:38 - Intro04:08 - Childhood in Malaysia and education08:45 - Malaysia as a hub of Islamic Banking11:36- Doing the MBA at Cambridge14:18 - First meeting and the idea for Kestrl21:33 - Monzo for Muslims?23:45 - 1st funding round and feedback26:06 - Daeng's side hustles to survive30:36 - Finding the right co-founder/CTO35:17 - Hiring the in-house tech team40:53 - Going B2B SaaS42:28 - Launching the Kestrl digital bank43:37 - Should Muslims move to Malaysia?48:11 - Malays having different rights56:46 - What is the Ideal Islamic Economy?

Today we’re joined by Mohammed Shoaib, Head of Sales and Marketing at Muslim Kids TV, to discuss the urgent need for high-quality, values-aligned Muslim children’s media. They explore Shoaib’s personal journey through faith, fatherhood, and media, diving into how Islamic content creation can combat harmful mainstream narratives and influence the next generation positively.This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromiseFind out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/Show Notes:00:00 - Opening trailer02:38 - Intro03:40 - Early Education & Career In Charity08:08 - Joining And Rebranding Islam Channel 11:18 - Starting the Dadhood podcast 12:12 - The Truth About Working In Muslim Organisations 17:28 - Becoming A Man: Early Marriage & Fatherhood 21:50 - Marrying A Revert24:12 - Early fatherhood Baraqa & Financial Struggles 31:14 - Growing Up Without A Father 34:33 - Problems with Mainstream Children's Media39:45 - Subtle Zionist Messaging 42:05 - The Problem With Aladdin, Zootropolis and more…45:07 - Muslim Kids TV: Creating Quality Alternatives53:31 - Is There A Production Quality Gap?55:49 - Military Brainwashing in the US 00:59:18 - Pitching New Ideas01:02:18 - The Future Of Muslim Kids TV

In this episode of Muslim Money Talk, Areeb Siddiqui speaks with Sultan Choudhury OBE about the challenges and evolution of Islamic banking in the UK and beyond. They discuss misconceptions around Islamic finance, pricing challenges, the need for stakeholder alignment, and how scale and innovation can push the industry forward.This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromiseFind out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/Show Notes:00:00 - Opening trailer02:08 - Intro and becoming a shareholder in Kestrl05:39 - Early advice to Kestrl06:23 - Early education and sales experience  11:00 - Studying economics and discovering Islamic Finance15:21 - Early career and thoughts of Deloitte19:20 - Remembering parents and their influences in entrepreneurship 22:26 - Working at Charles Schwab and learning Californian Tech Culture 26:08 - Building Islamic Bank of Britain28:38 - Challenges in scaling Islamic finance in the UK  32:55 - Early Products & Launching Islamic Mortgages 35:40 - Adopting the cloud and new tech38:14 - Why do Islamic Banks have bad User Experiences?41:29 - Why are Islamic Mortgages more expensive?49:08 - Why don’t Islamic Banks want more deposits?51:10 - Why do returns track the BoE interest rate?55:36 - So is this interest by another name?56:53 - Dealing with conflicting Fatwas59:15 - Dealing with poor UX first   1:01:47 - Why Are Islamic Banks Run By Non-Muslims?1:05:55 - Do We Need A New Islamic Bank?