The Thinking Muslim

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How private is your smartphone? What does WhatsApp encryption protect, and how much can the apps we use reveal about our lives?

Omar Al Zabir, who spent five years as an engineering manager...

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This episode is sponsored by Musletter, a free, five-minute newsletter sharing news and insights from Muslims around the world. Subscribe at: https://musletter.com

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What would a Muslim world of fantasy look like? Tolkien gave us Middle-earth. C.S. Lewis gave us Narnia. Could Islamic storytelling create fictional...

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This episode is sponsored by Seed Education Trust, which funds education and community projects in the UK, with a particular focus on young people. Find out more: https://www.seed.org.uk

Three years after the beginning of the genocide in Gaza in October 2023, the ummah is still...

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Dr. Assal Rad is a Middle East historian known as the “headline fixer” for her viral media corrections. Her new book, Don’t Say Palestine: How the Media Manufactured Consent for Genocide, examines how outlets including The New York Times and the BBC helped manufacture consent for Israel’s genocide in Gaza thr...

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Norman Finkelstein returns to The Thinking Muslim to examine how Israel’s war on Gaza has reshaped American and British politics.

From Tucker Carlson and the rise of “America First” opposition to Israel, to Zohran Mamdani, democratic socialism and growing anger among young Americans, Finkelstein asks whether this politi...

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In this wide-ranging conversation, Sami Hamdi joins Muhammad Jalal to examine the rapidly shifting politics of the Muslim world, from the emerging Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan defence pact to the war with Iran, changing US influence and the future of r...

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What does Syria look like after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, and has the country truly secured its independence?

Muhammad Jalal speaks with Qutaiba Idlibi about the political realities facing the new Syria, from relations with the United States, Turkey and the Gulf to the challenge of rebuilding state institutions after years of war and dictatorship.

They discuss Syria’s economic re...

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What if our obsession with productivity, efficiency and “making the most of every minute” is actually taking us further away from a truly Islamic way of living?

In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, Muhammad Jalal is joined by Mohammed Faris, author of The Barakah Effect and founder of Productive Muslim, to explore how modern hustle culture and the capitalist understanding of time have shap...

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Dr Nazir Khan joins The Thinking Muslim to discuss **Islamic worldview, secularism, liberalism, colonialism and the modern Muslim mind**. In this episode, we explore how modern ideologies can shape the way Muslims understand Islam, freedom, morality and society, and why political colonialism may have ended while intellectual colonialism remains.

Dr Nazir explains what it means for Muslims to “self-secularise”, how liberal ideas of freedom diff...

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Murtaza Hussain joins The Thinking Muslim to examine the deepening relationship between the UAE and Israel and what it means for the wider Muslim world.

From leaked documents revealing military cooperation and the role of Jeffrey Epstein in cultivating ties between Emirati and Israeli elites, to the UAE’s influence in Sudan, Yemen, Syria and Somaliland, we explore how this alliance is reshaping power ac...

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World-renowned architect Abdel Wahed El-Wakil joins The Thinking Muslim to discuss Islamic architecture, modern architecture and what traditional Muslim cities understood about the way we live.

We explore sacred spaces, mosque design, urban planning, the loss of traditional Islamic architecture and whether modern cities have made us more anxious, isolated and disconnected from beauty and spirituality.

What can Islamic architecture teach...

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Investigative journalist Matt Kennard joins us to discuss Irregular Army, his investigation into how white supremacists, neo-Nazis and other extremists found their way into the US military during the War on Terror. From Iraq and Afghanistan to Donald Trump, MAGA and Pete Hegseth, Kennard argues that the consequences of those years are now playing out at the highest levels of American politics. We explore the rise of...

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Can the Muslim world recover from political decline? What resources does the Islamic tradition offer in times of crisis, and what does genuine regeneration look like?

In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, we are joined by Dr. Sohaira Siddiqui to explore how Muslims have historically...

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The Middle East is changing rapidly, but are we witnessing the end of conflict or simply the beginning of a new phase?

In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, Muhammad Jalal sits down with geopolitical analyst Sami Hamdi to examine the shifting balance of power across the Middle East. From Donald Trump's claim that the war is over, to Iran's...

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Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the world, but who is shaping artificial intelligence?

In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, we sit down with Waleed Kadous, one of the leading minds in AI, to explore how this technology is transforming education, politics, geopolitics, and even the future of religious authority. As governments, corporations, and global powers race to develop increasingly powerful AI systems, where do Muslims...

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France is home to one of the largest Muslim populations in Europe. Yet for many Muslims, practising Islam has become increasingly difficult. From restrictions on religious expression to the growing influence of the far right, many are asking a question that would have seemed unthinkable a generation ago: is there still a future for Muslims in France?

In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, Muhammad Jalal...

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One thousand days since the start of the genocide in Gaza, the humanitarian catastrophe continues to unfold. In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, Dr. Azzam Tamimi joins the podcast to examine where Gaza stands today, how the conflict has reshaped the Palestinian cause, and what the future may hold.

The conversation explores the political realities surrounding Hamas, the impact of the Iran - Israel war...

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In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, we sit inside the historic Al-Nuri Bimaristan in Damascus with Dr. Francesca Bocca-Aldaqre to explore one of the most remarkable institutions in Islamic civilisation.

The bimaristan was not simply a hospital. It was a place of healing that understood the human being in their entirety, body, mind, and soul. At a time when much of the world had yet...

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In this episode, we sit down with Ghassan Hitto, Executive Director of Syrian Forum and former Prime Minister of the Syrian Interim Government, for an in-depth conversation on Syria’s economic collapse, humanitarian crisis, and the immense challenge of rebuilding a nation devastated by more than a decade of war.

With over 90% of Syrians living below the poverty line, millions displaced, and reconstruction costs estimate...

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In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, we are joined once again by political analyst Sami Hamdi to unpack the far-reaching consequences of the Iran-Israel war and what it reveals about the changing balance of power in the Middle East.

When the conflict began, Washington and Tel Aviv spoke of regime change...

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What does it take to create compelling Muslim-led media in an industry that has often misrepresented Muslims? In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, we sit down with Gabriel Milo to discuss Timehoppers, the challenges and opportunities facing Muslim creatives, and why investing in ambitious, high-quality projects is essential for shaping our own narratives.

From the history of Orientalist depictions of Muslims in media...

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In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, I am joined by Professor Salman Sayyid to explore the roots, evolution, and contemporary manifestations of Islamophobia. Drawing on history, politics, colonialism, identity, and global power dynamics, Professor Sayyid examines how anti-Muslim prejudice is reproduced across generations and why understanding Islamophobia is essential to understanding the modern world.

We discuss the legacy of colonialism, questions of Muslim...

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Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming our world, but are Muslims prepared for what is coming?

In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, we are joined by Dr Waleed Kadous, one of the leading voices in Artificial Intelligence, to explore the opportunities, risks, and profound ethical questions surrounding AI. From the future of work and the concentration of power in Big Tech, to Islamic ethics...

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In this episode of The Thinking Muslim Podcast, Dr Muhammad al-Mukhtar al-Shinqiti joins us for a wide-ranging discussion on the shifting global order, the Iran conflict, American power, China’s rise, and the future of the Muslim world. From geopolitics and military strategy to civilisational decline and Islamic thought, this conversation explores the deeper forces shaping our world today.

We examine America’s changing stra...

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In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, we sit down with Mother Agapia Stephanopoulos, a Greek Orthodox nun who lived in Palestine, to discuss faith, identity, history, and the lived reality of Palestinians under occupation.

Mother Agapia shares her experiences living among Palestinian Christians and Muslims, reflecting on the spiritual importance of Palestine to Christians around the world, the history of Greek Orthodoxy in...

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This week on The Thinking Muslim we have Dr Hasan Spiker to talk about happiness from the Islamic lens, from the sweetness of faith and conquering the lower self, to finding purpose, beauty and goodness in a world chasing instant fulfilment. We also explore pain and suffering, raising children with an ummatic vision, and what it truly means to live a wholesome life for the sake of...

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In today’s episode of The Thinking Muslim, we are joined by Dr. Mohsin Ansari for a deep and timely conversation on the challenges facing Muslim communities in the United States, especially when it comes to youth, identity, and staying connected to the deen in a rapidly changing world.

We explore how cultural shifts, the post 9/11 landscape, and evolving ideas of “prog...

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In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, we are joined by Ismail Arafa for a wide-ranging and thought-provoking conversation on religion, power, and global politics.

Together, we explore the complex relationship between faith and statecraft, beginning with discussion of crusader undertones in modern U.S. policy and what this reveals about the role of religious language in shaping political agendas. The discussion then broadens...

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In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, we are joined by political analyst Sami Hamdi, as we confront some of the most pressing political and moral questions of our time. From the state of free speech in the West to escalating tensions in the Middle East, this conversation goes beyond headlines - challenging assumptions and asking what it truly means to stand for justice today.

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In this episode of the Thinking Muslim Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Sami Al-Arian for a wide-ranging and incisive discussion on the shifting geopolitical landscape in the Middle East and beyond. Drawing on deep insight and experience, Dr. Al-Arian unpacks internal dynamics within Iran, questions of global responsibility, and the broader ideological currents shaping today’s conflicts.

We begin with an introduction before expl...

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What are the real economic consequences of the current war - and are the “doomsday” predictions justified?

In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, we are joined by Mehreen Khan to explore the global economic shockwaves triggered by the Iran war and what they reveal about the future of power, finance, and geopolitics. From the resilience of sanctioned economies to the vulnerabilities of Gulf stat...

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In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, renowned Middle East analyst Mouin Rabbani joins us for a deep and unfiltered conversation on the escalating tensions surrounding Iran and the shifting global order.

The discussion opens by examining whether the recent ceasefire represents a genuine strategic win for Trump - or something far more fragile. It then turns to the intensifying bombing campaign in Lebanon...

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This week on The Thinking Muslim, Iranian-born academic and dissenting voice Nader Hashemi of Georgetown University joins us to examine how the logic of American empire is driving this disastrous war with Iran. We also dissect the roles of Iran, Israel, and the Arab regimes in sustaining this conflict.

You can find Nader Hashemi here:

X: https://x.com/naderalihashemi

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In this powerful conversation, we sit down with Omar Shakir, former Israel & Palestine Director at Human Rights Watch, to explore whether the global rules-based order was ever truly fair - or if it has always been selectively applied.

From the blocking of a major HRW report accusing Israel of crimes against humanity, to the broader failures of international law in places like Palestine and...

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Welcome to our very first LIVE show on The Thinking Muslim, featuring Sami Hamdi.

In this special session, we explore some of the most pressing intellectual and spiritual questions facing the Muslim Ummah today. From reflecting on why Fatih continues to hold such deep significance to the Ummah, to examining the power of words in shaping narratives, we dive into how language can uplift...

This week on The Thinking Muslim, we speak with Dr. Abdallah Marouf, Palestinian academic and former Media and Public Relations Officer at Masjid al-Aqsa, who delivers an urgent warning. He says he has never felt this concerned about the possibility of Al-Aqsa being attacked.

We discuss the growing calls from some Israeli religious figures to build a Third Temple, the activities of Temple movements, and whether the long-standing status quo at the Haram al-Sharif is already being eroded.

Dr. Marouf also explains the influence of American evangelical support, the recent attention around the...

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In this interview on The Thinking Muslim, Dr Sami Al-Arian joins us to analyse the rapidly escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel, USA and The Wider Arabic Region.

We discuss whether Iran’s recent strikes and shifting strategy reveal deeper divisions inside the Iranian leadership. Dr Al-Arian also examines the consequences of Iran targeting Gulf states such as Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait, and wh...

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In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, we’re joined by political analyst Sami Hamdi to unpack the escalating confrontation with Iran - and what it reveals about the world order shaping our lives.

We examine claims of a preemptive strike, the shifting power dynamics between Washington and Tel Aviv, and whether U.S. policy is being driven by Israel’s actions. From reports that...

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Dr Andreas Krieg joins us in discussion as events unfold rapidly following the unprovoked and illegitimate attack on Iran. We examine the assassination of senior Iranian leaders, Tehran’s retaliation against military and civilian targets in Israel and key Arab states, and the escalating strikes on sites such as the US airbase in Doha.

Are we witnessing the start of a prolonged war of at...