MuslimMatters

Celsabil Hadj-Cherif examines Muslims and Muslimness in politics, failed models of political (dis)engagement, and what it means to bring Islamic ethics into our political vision.

Amire Hoxha, author of "Amar's Fajr Reward," talks to Zainab bint Younus about writing as a minority within a Muslim minority, trends in Muslim bookselling, and what Muslim kidlit keeps missing out on.

Zainab bint Younus, Siraaj Muhammad, and Irtiza Hasan talk all things Mamdani: what his electoral success means for the Muslim community, what Muslims can learn from his strategies, and what we need to watch out for in the future.

Omar Usman tackles the topic of sports gambling amongst Muslim men and how it has quietly become a common vice in our community.

Faizan Syed of A Continuous Charity talks to Zainab bint Younus about what ACC can do for Muslims seeking riba-free higher education in the West, and what that means for our communities at large. If you're a university student, parent of a university student, or just want to help your community, this episode is for you!

Aliyah Umm Raiyaan and Zainab bint Younus talk about Aliyah's book "The Power of Du'a," developing a personal relationship with Allah, and how du'a can literally change your life.

Irtiza Hasan and Zainab bint Younus share a (belated) Ramadan Mubarak with the MuslimMatters family, sharing their own traditions and reflections on how to spend this Ramadan.

Muhammad Saad Yacoob dismantles the concept of decoloniality, recenters Islamic revolutionary thought, & advises the everyday Muslim.

Anse Hazem Gomez and Anse Eman Manigat share their own experiences as converts, discussing some of the most common and most difficult challenges that new Muslims face, as well as providing support to those experiencing backlash from family and friends. They offer advice, compassion, and a holistic understanding of maintaining Islamic values while strengthening family ties, too. 

"Does reading about jinn make Muslim kids want to do black magic or communicate with jinn?"  "How can Muslim writers include Islamic teachings and beliefs in fiction?" Ustadha Raidah Shah Idil is back to talk about her newly published Middle Grade fiction book, "How To Free A Jinn"! Zainab bint Younus asks Ustadha Raidah about Muslim kids reading jinn stories, maintaining Islamic principles when writing fiction, and how to cover big topics like mental health and intergenerational trauma for young readers.

In this podcast, Ustadh Mobeen Vaid and MuslimMatters Executive Director Siraaj Muhammad discuss the shifting political landscape for Muslim-American voters as frustrations with the Democratic Party’s stance on Gaza lead to increased support for third-party candidates and even Donald Trump. They examine recent polling data, endorsements from Somali community leaders, and challenges facing Kamala Harris’s campaign among Muslims. Ustadh Mobeen offers insights into the moral and strategic considerations for Muslim voters navigating difficult choices this election season.

Zainab bint Younus speaks to Sa'diyyah Nesar about her experiences as a Muslim living with disability, and what the Muslim Ummah needs to know to serve Muslims with disability better.

Zainab bint Younus speaks to Chaplain Sondos Kholaki about what Islamic chaplaincy is, how chaplains fit within the da'wah world, and her experiences as a hospital chaplain.

"When Only God Can See: The Faith of Muslim Political Prisoners" by Dr. Walaa Quisay and Dr. Asim Qureshi is a powerful book that functions as both bearing witness to the oft-untold stories of Muslim political prisoners held in the horrors of Guantanamo Bay, Egypt, and other “black sites” of illegal imprisonment and torture, and as an exploration of Islamic spirituality in the “University of Yusuf” (‘alayhissalaam). In this episode, Zainab bint Younus invites both authors of the book to share what it was like researching and writing the book, the spiritual challenges and empowerment of Muslim prisoners, and the vast systems of incarceration and torture between "Muslim" and Western countries. Spanning everything from powerful experiences of faith to critical examination of geopolitics, this episode will break your heart, intensify your faith, and strengthen your resolve to stand up for justice.

Shaykha Aisha Hussain Rasheed shares her journey of studying Islam from her homeland of Maldives, to graduating from the International Islamic University of Malaysia, to becoming an alum and a teacher at Al-Salam Institute. She also talks about navigating da'wah as a career, and the struggles that women face in balancing family obligations and Islamic studies as a form of work.

Ustadha Safiyah Ravat shares her experiences in studying Islam in Malaysia, alongside her husband Imam Mahad; what it was like growing up with no role models of female scholarship to being part of a new era of traditionally trained da'iyas; and the importance of Muslim women teaching about more than just hijab.

Islamophobia and Advocacy

Why aren't there many Muslim books for boys? And why do stories matter for Muslim kids, anyway? Shifa Saltagi Safadi, author of multiple Muslim childrens' books, shares her journey in writing "Kareem Between," a middle-grade novel about a Muslim Syrian American struggling with faith, fitting in, and the fear of failure.

Ustadha Marjaan Ali, Ustadha Tuscany Bernier, and Zainab bint Younus talk (almost) all things niqab! From dealing with family pressures, finicky fabrics, & people who demand to know WHY you're wearing niqab, these three niqabis have got you covered.

Imam Mahad Qamar and Ustadha Safiyah Ravat are the ultimate Muslim power couple, mashaAllah - a married couple who formally studied Arabic & Islamic studies, graduating from the International Islamic University of Malaysia, and going on to establish Suhbah Institute in Houston, Texas. Join us on this episode to learn all about how they embarked on this epic journey of marriage and da'wah together!