ImanWire Podcast

Anti-Muslim racism can take a toll, especially among youth and others in the community who may feel the most targeted. To feel like a victim constantly under attack, however, poses significant dangers to our spiritual well-being.

In this episode, Dawud Walid and Tariq Touré join host Mohammed Saleem to examine the scholar-activist relationship from different angles, including generational and social dynamics at play, the role of Islamic spirituality and creed, relevancy in scholarship, and navigating through the influence of liberalism in activist circles.

In part 1 of their conversation, Shaykha Tamara Gray of Rabata and Ustadha Zaynab Ansari of Tayseer Seminary discuss the future of female scholarship, facing misogyny in the community, and how to facilitate more open platforms for feminine voices in the teaching of sacred knowledge

In this episode, Dr. Rudolph Ware, professor at the University of Michigan and author of the book, "The Walking Qur'an", discusses a history of Islam and Africa that hasn't been taught in the history books — or our religious communities.

Zaki Hasan and Parvez Ahmed, the hosts of Diffused Congruence: The American Muslim Experience, have interviewed a wide range of Muslims, from scholars to artists, casting light on their life stories. Their work has become a recognized resource highlighting both the diversity of American Muslims' experiences and the common threads that bring them together. The two shared their own story on the ImanWire podcast, with selected excerpts provided below. The full extended conversation, covering a variety of topics, from which guest surprised them the most to how even Batman and Ben Affleck connect with the American Muslim experience, is available on the ImanWire podcast.

As Muslim leaders and activists engage both the government and their own organizations, a number of ethical questions arise. Does partnering with government entities lend itself to conflicts of interest and inauthenticity? Do programs like CVE impose a frame on the Muslim community that takes away its own agency and agenda? Are activist-driven circles and initiatives any less immune to these risks? Muslim leaders and activists from all sides of the spectrum are challenged to keep themselves anchored in Islamic principles while navigating the complex socio-political realities of our time. In this episode, Ahmed Shaikh, a community leader and lawyer, and Mohamed Ghilan discuss these and other issues and offer their suggestions on preserving our integrity as external actors and internal egos battle for influence in the Muslim community.

We might appreciate the benefits of physical fitness, but are there spiritual benefits to exercise as well? In this episode, we discuss not only how to find time and implement a successful exercise program but how exercise can teach us invaluable lessons critical to being spiritually healthy.Exploring the strong connections between physical and spiritual fitness, Moutasem Atiya, Mohammed Saleem & special guest Dr. Saleem Farooqui, a physician and competitive cyclist, reflect on how exercise can enhance our own spiritual path to God.

In the wake of the recent controversy at the RIS convention, Dr. Su'ad Abdul Khabeer, a professor of anthropology and African American studies and author of "Muslim Cool: Race, Religion and Hip Hop in the United States", and Moutasem Atiya from Al-Madina Institute discuss the issues at hand, anti-Blackness in the community, and how we can move forward positively.

In the second part of the episode, our guests discuss the path American Muslim culture is taking and explore "Muslim Cool", a culture rooted in embracing Blackness and social justice that connects both Black and non-Black Muslims to Islam in America.

How can we connect with the Prophet? Our Islamic education on the Prophet's life often lacks the spiritual, introspective component that effects change in our own life. In this episode, Dr. Meraj Mohiuddin, author of the book, Revelation: The Story of Muhammad, and Shad Imam, co-director of the Qurtuba Institute at ADAMS, join host Mohammed Saleem to discuss their own challenges in finding their path to the Prophet and give practical advice in how to develop a meaningful connection with the Messenger(peace be upon him).

CVE (Countering Violent Extremism) programs have been a source of controversy in the Muslim American community, yet there is a lack of clarity in the discussion as to what CVE is. Is it a black and white issue as both its proponents and critics make it seem? In this episode, Alejandro Beutel, a researcher in CVE, and Mohamed Ghilan, a critic of CVE, discuss both government and community-led initiatives in countering violent extremism and consider how to address this divisive issue constructively in the Muslim community.

Opioid addiction is a far-reaching problem in our society and the Muslim community is not immune. In this episode, Moutasem Atiya, Dr. Mohamed Ghilan, Dr. Hasan Awan & Mohammed Saleem address the growing problem of prescription drug abuse, its social and spiritual ramifications, the path to recovery and how our attitudes towards addicts should be grounded in love.

In this new series of conversations on issues facing the Muslim community, Moutasem Atiya & Mohammed Saleem discuss the 2016 presidential elections and how to stay upbeat, what to tell our children, and how we can move forward socially and spiritually.