Imanwire Podcast

Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui describes how the world around us is affected by what is inside of us, at both a micro and macro level, and how the worth of a civilization is by the existence of one's 'akhlaq.' CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Opening Du'a by Shaykh 1:25 - Inner World Reflection 1:48 - Tazkiyah Significance 1:54 - Civilization Value 10:55 - Truthful Poet's Wisdom 14:42 - Tazkiyah Focus on Allah 18:20 - Heart's Spiritual Progression 23:40 - Character in Islam 27:50 - Value of Good Companionship 34:08 - Salah's Spiritual Importance 37:40 - Benefits of Regular Salah 39:50 - Consequences of Neglecting Salah 43:25 - Salah's Influence on Morality

Dealing with a narcissist can be an unpleasant experience, whether it is in our family, workplace or community. How does narcissism connect with the Islamic discourse on the nafs and self-purification? Aaatifa Shareef, a professional licensed counselor and instructor at Qalam Institute, bridges the fields of modern psychology and Islamic knowledge to discuss how we can manage our relationships with narcissists who can make our lives very difficult. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Narcissist-in-Chief and the Nafs 13:03 - Diagnosis and the Balance of Psychology and Islamic Knowledge 21:34 - A Strong Sense of Self vs. Self-Admiration 32:26 - Dealing With Problematic Family Members 35:26 - Severing Ties 37:13 - Ihsaan, Birr & Boundaries 42:22 - Only Human: Not Letting It Affect Us 52:39 - Drawing Attention to Narcissism in a Loving Way 57:33 - Finding a Support System 1:01:29 - Respecting the Elderly vs. Questioning the Family 1:04:21 - Institutional Leadership 1:12:22 - Getting Cut Off 1:15:58 - Self-Care Regimen

"I must never be the defender of my nafs, or thinking that I have nothing to change and others must change. I must always begin with the premise, that I have everything to change." Shaykh Mokhtar Maghroaui continues the conversation of the addiction of the nafs and how to begin taking the steps to changing them. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 03:09 - Homecoming Journey 05:46 - Facing Bankruptcy 10:23 - Embracing Emptiness 15:30 - Achieving Ultimate Freedom 17:59 - Understanding the Cup Analogy 22:12 - Exploring Khalifa Concept 27:50 - Spiritual Cleansing Beliefs 37:40 - Anwar: Divine Illumination 40:10 - Experiencing Allah's Light 44:40 - Self-Reflection on Faults 51:39 - Angelic Intervention Story 55:43 - Divine Support for the Devout 56:48 - Embracing Rectification 57:40 - Intermission Break

As people worldwide struggle to cope today with the negative impact of man-made environmental degradation, the crucial step to a solution is understanding our place in the created world and its connection with our Creator. Dr. Amir Abdelzaher joins the podcast to discuss an Islamic vision for spiritual ecology, connecting theology with environmental ethics. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 2:34 - Challenging Definitions: What Is the Environment? 7:53 - The Creation of Allah: How We Value the Environment 17:39 - The Environment in Worship of Allah 21:08 - The Environment as a Sign: The Contingency Argument for God 29:02 - Environmental Literacy: Deducing the Attributes of Allah 32:39 - A Witness for or Against Us? 35:19 - Reverence and Glorification: Resonating With the Environment 43:24 - Environmental Sensitivity 44:56 - Where the Environment Stands Today 50:30 - Representing the Divine: The Command of Abu Bakr and Its Principles 55:29 - Man Vs Nature: Who Takes Priority? 1:01:14 - Concrete Jungles and Re

Addiction overpowers us even when knowing its harm. In this episode Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui teaches how to have the will, the desire, and the resolve to change and begin removing habits that cause addiction in the heart. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction to Addiction and Purification 1:52 - Willpower and Change Initiation 15:35 - Self-Reflection and Negative Traits Acknowledgment 18:50 - Realization of Self in Addiction Recovery 24:15 - Al-Qawi: Embracing Inner Strength 29:35 - Al-Matin: Cultivating Resilience in Sobriety 33:15 - Al-Aziz: Achieving Dignity in Addiction Battle 37:40 - Qalb's Role in Overcoming Addiction 40:50 - Ego's Influence on Addiction Journey

Whether "toxic" or "neutered", the crisis of masculinity affecting men today has profoundly negative reverberations throughout society. Dawud Walid, author of "Futuwwah and Raising Males into Sacred Manhood" , discusses how a return to the Islamic practice of spiritual chivalry can counter the extremes of both the right-wing and left-wing discourse, and how it can be implemented today to revive Prophetic masculinity. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 2:24 - A Crisis of Manhood 6:55 - Futuwwa: A Code of Conduct 10:00 - Guilds of Chivalry 14:30 - Protecting the Interests of Women 17:25 - Upright Rijaal Vs. Red-Pill High Value Men 25:32 - Macho or Merciful? 28:54 - Balancing the Attributes Between Men and Women 33:22 - Mama's Boys and Marriage 36:38 - Male Coddling and Dysfunctional Expectations 46:08 - Reimagining Futuwwa Training for Men Today 57:45 - Mentorship Outside the Family 1:03:55 - Adab and Sacred Knowledge 1:06:12 - Prophetic Athletics 1:07:02 - Community Service 1:07:49 - Working With Your Hands: S

"The one who is better than me in akhlaaq (character traits), is a better human being then me." The worth of a human being, practically speaking, is shown through his akhlaq. In this session, Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui speaks about Akhlaaq and Tawhid (Divine Unicity). CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 03:20 - Divine Unicity E 14:49 - Initial Practice of Tawḥīd 22:12 - Divine Beauty in Islam 28:20 - Islamic Stewardship and Responsibility 35:40 - Allah's Love for Beauty 40:29 - Justice in Islamic Teachings 41:17 - Avoiding Negative Traits in Islam 42:20 - Islam on Humility vs Arrogance

Shaykh Riad Saloojee returns to the ImanWire Podcast for a wide-ranging discussion on adab, an often misunderstood or minimized practice that in actuality is central to the life of a believer. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 3:38 - What is Adab? 9:04 - Moral Character vs Etiquette 15:17 - Adab, Justice & Wisdom 29:00 - Small Details & the Big Picture 37:36 - The Inheritance of Adab 52:33 - How to Acquire Adab 1:04:08 - Misconceptions About Adab

Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui delves deeply into the Qur'an's verses of Surah Ash-Shams to unravel the intricate nature of the human psyche. Exploring themes of choice, virtue, and potential, he highlights how nurturing and understanding one's inner self can lead to either success or failure. CHAPTERS: 0:00- Introduction 1:12 - Quranic Wisdom Significance 1:55 - Solar Influence on Mind 6:34 - Lunar Effects on Emotions 10:15 - Earth's Stability and Human Psyche 19:20 - Space-time Concept in Islam 23:35 - Surah Ash-Shams: Self-Reflection 41:21 - Psychology of the Nafs

Our existence is all about the divine manifestations. In this episode, Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui explains how everything has to do with 'tazkiyah'. Ultimately our hearts must be in a state of 'tawhid,' the awareness of Allah ﷻ and his attributes. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 20:13 - Salim Heart: Pure Qalb 22:21 - Purified Heart: Disease-Free Qalb 24:10 - Heart's Beauty: Inner Radiance 26:55 - Divine Reflection: Heart as Allah's Mirror 37:02 - Prophetic Guidance: Best Path 40:03 - Analogy of the Baker: Life's Recipe 43:38 - Life's Tests: Significance & Purpose

The ultimate objective is to strive for a heart that is 'saleem.' What does this mean? In this episode, Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui explores what it means and continues to speak about the du'a of asking for a heart of 'saleem.' We delve into the essence of possessing a heart that is Saleem—an ultimate marker of success, freedom, and happiness in the Dunya and beyond. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Soul Purification Quest 2:20 - Treasuring Spiritual Wealth 15:01 - Defining True Happiness 20:54 - Prayer for Divine Certitude 25:35 - Embracing Certitude's Serenity 28:30 - Supplication for Truthfulness 34:25 - Du'a for Goodness & Protection 38:30 - Prophet's Hadith on Soul

Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui speaks about the changes of the heart that is required to make the advancements to Allah. He speaks about how the murid (the seeker) can pursue their goal to arrive at the gate of nearness to their Lord. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Invocation for Blessings 4:52 - Spiritual Journey to Allah 17:25 - Essential Dua for Spiritual Growth 24:50 - Significance of Steadfastness Prayer 27:30 - Analyzing the Initial Segment of Dua 29:50 - Understanding the Middle Segment of Dua 38:50 - Concluding Segment of the Dua Explained 44:23 - Harmonizing External and Internal Worship 48:48 - Prayer for Inner Grace in Worship

Shaykh Yasir Fahmy joins hosts Sami Catovic and Naeem Saloojee to discuss the importance of developing a Prophetic lens to process the events we see in the world and respond in a Divinely-inspired way. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 2:02 - The World Needs the Prophetic Lens 7:15 - Seeing the Seen and Unseen Realm 12:11 - An Immersive Experience 18:33 - Know Him, Love Him, Follow Him 26:12 - Trauma and the Internal Reality 28:53 - Lessons From Bosnia 37:06 - Activism and the Liberating Nature of the Prophetic Lens 42:31 - Living With Dignity and Clarity

Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui emphasizes the significance of breaking the attachments to worldly possessions and beings, allowing the heart to soar freely. As the heart purifies and reaches a higher level of sincerity, acts of obedience become effortless, leading to an ultimate experiential connection with Allah. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani Guidance 1:28 - Spiritual Freedom Concept 6:02 - Safina: The Journey's Beginning 21:05 - Sincerity in Salah Significance 27:15 - Enhancing Focus During Salah 31:15 - Du'a Sincerity Importance

The ImanWire hosts convene to discuss the current events in Syria, Khaled Nabhan, and Muslims celebrating Christmas. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 1:35 - Smartphone Doomscrolling 6:48 - Syria is Free 45:00 - Soul of My Soul: Remembering Khaled Nabhan 48:59 - Conferences and the Zawiyah-Mobile 57:34 - Muslims and the Christmas Season

Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui discusses the process of spiritual growth and freedom from attachments. He emphasizes the importance of detaching oneself from worldly desires and possessions using the analogy of the embryo within the egg shell. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 03:17 - Spiritual Q&A Session Importance 05:28 - Overcoming Ego Constraints 14:56 - Expanding Awareness Beyond Limits 20:24 - Severing Unhealthy Attachments 24:10 - Journey to Spiritual Liberation 26:25 - Embodying Freedom: Bird Metaphor 31:15 - Human Experience and Detachment 34:55 - Understanding Dunya's Cage 38:45 - Escaping Dunya's Confinement

Husain Abdullah joins the podcast to discuss his previous career in professional football and his recent unique experience of walking in the footsteps of the Prophet on the Hijrah route. He is the author of "Mecca to Medina: 100 Personal Reflections on Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ Hijrah Journey". CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 3:07 - Fasting and Football: Worship 24-7 8:18 - The Sajda Heard Around the World 14:06 - Showing Off or Praising Allah? 17:18 - Elite Athletes, Spirituality and Gratitude 23:42 - Retracing the Hijrah of the Prophet 27:30 - Recognizing When Allah Chooses You 29:41 - GPS Mapping of the Hijrah 34:52 - Changing Terrain and the Footsteps of the Prophet 50:53 - Nafs-Breaker: Submitting to the Mountain 52:29 - In the Presence of Sacred History 1:00:16 - A Trip of Love

Dr. Celene Ibrahim, author of "Women and Gender in the Qur'an", joins the podcast to discuss her analysis of the rich and wide-ranging portrayals of female figures in the Qur'anic sacred history. Using the women around Prophet Musa to anchor the discussion, she offers insights on how their stories exemplify the spiritual truths of the Qur'anic message. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 1:50 - Analyzing the Female Figures in the Qur'an 8:26 - The Mother of Prophet Musa: Faith and Resilience 17:32 - The Sister of Prophet Musa: Watchfulness & Wit 21:03 - The Sisters of Madyan: Multiculturalism, Marriage and Modesty 29:54 - The Wife of Pharoah and Tyranny at Home 40:06 - Women's Speech and Agency in the Qur'an

Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui emphasizes the need to focus on internal transformation and seeking closeness to Allah. He highlights the stagnancy of hearts despite outward actions, urging individuals to rectify their intentions and break free from the confinement of their own existence. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction to Tazkiyah 1:17 - Tazkiyah Essentials: Himmah & Qurb 2:34 - Al-Hakim Al-Tirmidhi Biography 6:21 - Himmah's Goal: Achieving Qurb 14:56 - Spiritual Steps: Understanding Qurb 23:20 - Exploring the Heart's Spiritual Path 25:25 - Analyzing the Heart in Worship 35:50 - Improving Heart's Worship: First Step 43:10 - Metaphor for the Seeker's Journey 44:30 - Heart's Liberation: Escaping the Egg 46:20 - Heart's Liberation: Breaking Barriers

Alex Kronemer and Michael Wolfe, co-founders of Unity Productions Foundation, join the podcast to reflect on lessons learned from over 20 years at UPF, sharing the stories of Muslims in the media, and tackling Rumi and the refugee crisis onscreen in Lamya's Poem. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 4:48 - Hajj: Bringing the Recipe of Islam Together 9:35 - Working to Create Understanding of Islam and Muslims 14:18 - Framing in the Context of Stories 19:43 - Islam Requires People 21:43 - The Prophetic Legacy of Communication 24:57 - Emergence of UPF 32:30 - Telling the American Muslim Story 41:11 - Adapting to Changing Times 49:07 - Rumi, Refugees and Lamya's Poem 59:24 - Muslims in the Media: The Artist and the Audience