In this episode, we’re joined by Shaykh Zoheeb Iqbal – co-founder of the Al Falaah Academy in Scotland.

Al-Falaah Academy is an institute of advanced Islamic education, in the central south side of Glasgow.

While almost all of us feel the “buzz” and spiritual enlightenment that Ramadan brings, we often forget to stop and ponder over the immense rewards and virtues associated with the blessed month. Understanding the purpose of fasting and how beloved it is to Allah SWT will not only motivate us to try harder during Ramadan, but also aim to fast voluntarily throughout the year.

 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• How can we get in the correct Ramadan mindset?
• What can we do if we weren’t fully prepared for Ramadan and now feel slightly overwhelmed?
• The importance of having a schedule during Ramadan.
• 5 amazing gifts that Allah SWT gives to the fasting person.
• What if you’re in despair and feel that your sins are far too much. and that Allah SWT won’t forgive you this month?
• An incredible story of forgiveness from the time of Prophet Musa (as).
• How just one small consistent act of worship could completely transform your Ramadan.
• What if you don’t have time to do lots of extra worship during Ramadan?
• How transforming your intentions can turn every day activities into an act of worship.
• What’s more important, reciting the Qur’an in Arabic or reading a translation?
• And a fun rapid fire round with Shaykh Zoheeb!

Learn How to Manage, Focus, Energy, Sleep and Good Health During Ramadan (and Even Promote Weight Loss!)

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Sahira Dar and Adeel Ibrahim from the Pure Remedy Hijama and Wellbeing Clinic in Glasgow, Scotland.

Pure Remedy is the first and longest standing Hijama clinic in Scotland, providing a safe and relaxing environment for hijama (wet cupping) treatments and consultations related to nutrition, fitness and wellbeing

Combined, both Dr. Sahira and brother Adeel Ibrahim have a wealth of knowledge and experience in the medical, sports science, well-being and alternative medicine fields (e.g. hijama) which are utilised to provide a range of services to their clients.

During the episode we discuss a range of practical tips for keeping fit, healthy and super-energised during Ramadan in order to survive those long days of fasting without feeling the crash.

 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• Who are Dr. Sahira Dar and Adeel Ibrahim?
• What happens to your body when you’re fasting?
• Why is it important to pay attention to one’s nutrition during Ramadan?
• The best foods to eat for suhoor and iftar
• The type of foods to avoid during Ramadan
• The ideal way to eat in order to lose weight during Ramadan
• The recommended number of calories to consume between iftar and suhoor
• Macro-nutrient timing and scientific studies related to fasting
• The attitude we should have towards food during Ramadan
• The mistake most Muslims make at the time of ftar
• Should we maintain our fitness regimes during Ramadan?
• What are the best times to workout?
• The importance of movement and exercise while fasting
• How the Prophet (pbuh) used to break his fast
• Tips on how to manage sleep during Ramadan
• The REAL priority and mindset we should establish during Ramadan
• The importance of understanding your own body and needs
• Plus a fun rapid fire round at the end of the show!

In this episode we’re joined by teacher, speaker, author and recently the founder of the Muslimah’s Renaissance, Ustadha Alima Ashfaq and her husband, Hafiz Zahid Minhas.

With a passion for reviving a balanced narrative on the role of Muslim women, Ustadha Alima launched the Muslimah’s Renaissance – a movement to rediscover the spirit of the prophetic and Qur’anic narrative in respect to gender.

Its ethos believes that if we cultivate communities where men and women are allies, we can decrease the rates of domestic violence, youth related crimes and gender based violence.

This is based on the verse:

“The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those – Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.†Sūrah At-Tawbah, 9:71

The project also aims to empower men to appreciate their roles and play a role in nurturing a healthy society with women as their allies in the truest sense; as an empowered, educated and spiritually aware woman can have a positive impact in society.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

In this episode, we cover the following:

• Who is Alima Ashfaq and what does she do?
• Who is Zahid Minhas and what does he do?
• Why is the conversation around Muslim women such a hot topic these days?
• How does Zahid support his wife Alima as she carries out her work, and why?
• Do we really need more education on the topic of gender roles in Islam and our society?
• How are women treated in today’s society, and how does this differ to the time of the Prophet (pbuh)?
• How have some cultural beliefs and practices belittled the rights of women?
• Some people believe Islamic is a misogynistic religion. Is this true, and why do they believe this?
• Why are Islamic events so male dominated. Shouldn’t women be allowed to speak publicly?
• What do the Qur’an and Sunnah really say about gender roles in Islam and society?
• What about the idea of feminism?
• Is there a lack of female scholarship among our communities today?
• Who are some examples of powerful women in our history?
• And some random facts about Alima & Zahid during our rapid fire round!

In this episode, we’re joined by therapist and life-coach, Chereen, from the popular Dear Chereen advice column.

Dear Chereen is an online safe space, known for being a haven for healing, inspiration, and support through their written work and regular Q&A sessions.

Having observed Chereen and her team conduct regular Q&A’s on their Instagram page, we wanted to speak with her to dig deeper into the art of giving advice; the do’s and don’ts, the who’s, what’s and the why’s.

As Muslims, and as humans, we are social beings by our very nature. We seek acceptance, love, comfort and value time with others. Naturally, we also experience periods of hardship and sorrow, and can find ourselves in need to sharing our feelings with others.

While on the receiving end, how do we ensure that we’re providing the best support we can and truly remain sincere?

 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• In this episode, we cover the following:
• Chereen’s story and why she embarked on a journey of helping others
• Dear Chereen – what is it, how does it work, and how can we get involved?
• The importance of learning the art of giving advice correctly and sincerely
• What are some guidelines for providing support to those in desperate need?
• The importance of understanding everyone’s unique needs
• Do you need to be qualified in order to give advice, e.g. via online platforms?
• How the Prophet (s) used to help and support others
• Chereen’s recommended book on this topic
• A personal case by brother Usman on what happened when he applied these techniques
• How Chereen coped with the sudden death of her father
• The two most common topics / themes that Chereen notices among the questions she receives

OCD – obsessive compulsive disorder – is a common anxiety disorder which can cause unwanted, uncontrollable thoughts, doubts and behaviours.

In the context of religion and practising daily worship, struggling with OCD can become an experience much too overburdening for an individual, and create a cycle of deep frustration, guilt, doubt, and much more.

In this deeply insightful podcast episode, we’re joined by sister Meanha from Inspirited Minds – a charity dedicated to breaking the stigma surrounding Mental Health – particularly within Muslim communities – and providing an assortment of resources for those who wish to learn more, or need personal support.

Sponsoring this episode is FOSIS – the Federation of Student Islamic Societies – who during the 2018/19 academic year are running an ambitious Mental Health campaign (#MindOverChatter) to also help educate and support Muslim students on mental health issues.

What You’ll Learn

• Who is Meanha Begum and what is Inspirited Minds
• What is FOSIS and what does the #MindOverChatter campaign involve?
• What it OCD and the various ways in which it may manifest within an individual?
• Are there any tell-tale signs that one may be suffering from OCD?
• Is there a difference between being obsessively clean, and a genuine OCD disorder?
• Is there a difference between whisperings of Shaytan and irrational OCD-related thoughts?
• What are some common examples of how a Muslim might display OCD behaviour during their daily worship?
• The importance of striking a balance between external and internal solutions
• An incredibly eye-opening personal case study from a brother who suffers from extreme OCD
• Practical steps towards overcoming OCD behaviour and where to learn more

Related Episodes

• EP 17: Mental Health – An Islamic Perspective (feat. Shaykh Abdul Hameed)
• EP 18: Sadness & Anxiety in Islam (feat. Hafsa)

This Week’s Ayah of the Day

Want to understand more about this incredible Surah, and why it’s great to reflect upon during times of sadness? Check out this brilliant video by Shaykh Tawfique Chowdhury.

Useful Links and Resources

• Inspirited Minds official Website
• FOSIS official website
• FOSIS – Mind Over Chatter (Mental Health Campaign) Official Website

Social Media Links

• Inspirited Minds on Facebook
• Inspirited Minds on Twitter
• Inspirited Minds on Instagram
• Inspirited Minds on YouTube
• FOSIS on Facebook
• FOSIS #MindOverChatter Facebook Page
• FOSIS on Twitter
• FOSIS on Instagram