The Thinking Muslim

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The HSBC Islamic fund scandal has raised urgent questions about halal investing: how can a Sharia-compliant fund hold shares in arms manufacturers and companies linked to Israel’s war on Gaza?

Riaz Hassan joins Muhammad Jalal to discuss reports of HSBC’s Islamic fund investing in companies including RTX, the parent company of Raytheon, and Palantir. Having raised concerns about Islamic investments in February, Riaz examines what these revelations mean for Muslim pensions and the wider Islamic finance industry.

How does Sharia screening work? Who takes responsibility when scholars approve a fund and banks choose its investments? And why might a company pass financial checks while its role in surveillance or weapons production goes unexamined?

In this episode, we discuss:

• How automated screening and company classifications shape Sharia-compliant investments.

• The concerns surrounding Palantir and RTX in Islamic investment portfolios.

• The role of Sharia boards, fund managers and accountability to Muslim investors.

• Why Riaz argues Islamic finance needs a political filter alongside its existing checks.

• BDS, divestment and the pressure Muslim investors can put on financial institutions.

• Alternative funds and self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs), alongside the difficulties of moving your money.

As Muslim investors question where their savings are going, this conversation asks what the halal label promises and what needs to change within Islamic finance.

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#IslamicFinance #HSBC

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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 on Meta’s High Severity Harm team, joins Muhammad Jalal on The Thinking Muslim to discuss digital surveillance, online privacy and the risks facing children on social media.

Drawing on his experience tackling severe harms on Messenger and Instagram, Omar examines how platforms collect data and design algorithms to keep us scrolling. The conversation explores what this means for Muslim communities and Palestine activists, including how awareness of surveillance can influence what we feel able to say online.

Muhammad and Omar also discuss smartphone security, WhatsApp and Signal, smart TV tracking, and the limits of VPNs. What should we understand before sharing sensitive information with AI chatbots? How are deepfakes changing what we can trust? And what can parents do to help protect their children from online grooming and harmful content?

Omar shares practical suggestions for reducing screen time and explains why he co-founded Kahf, a technology company developing tools for safer internet use.

Join the conversation

Has this discussion changed how you think about your phone or your family’s internet use? Share what stood out to you in the comments.

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Sami Hamdi joins Muhammad Jalal to examine the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, the renewed war in Yemen and what this escalation means for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Following deadly strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and disruption to flights, Saudi Arabia faces renewed questions about its air defences and its reliance on American protection. The attacks have also disrupted attendance at Riyadh’s major energy conference, putting the kingdom’s ambitions as an international investment destination under pressure.

In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, Sami explores why he believes Mohammed bin Salman has become increasingly isolated. He examines Donald Trump’s approach to the Houthis and Iran, Saudi Arabia’s rivalry with the UAE, and the limits of the Mecca defence alliance with Pakistan and Türkiye.

The conversation also examines Yemen’s fractured politics and the consequences of foreign intervention. Sami challenges the celebration of the Houthis over Palestine, arguing that Muslim solidarity must also account for their treatment of Yemenis.

What would it take for Yemen’s people to determine their own future? And how should Muslims respond to a conflict in which competing regional powers continue to shape their lives?

Share your thoughts in the comments.

#SamiHamdi #SaudiArabia #Yemen #Houthis #TheThinkingMuslim

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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 worlds that capture the imagination of a generation?

Peter Gould joins Muhammad Jalal on The Thinking Muslim to discuss **Tales of Khayal**, a fantasy universe he co-created with author Rehan Khan, inspired by Islamic spirituality and the rich heritage of Muslim civilisation. With a novel series and plans for animation and a video game, the project explores how faith can shape the stories young Muslims grow up with.

Recorded in Istanbul, this conversation examines the Islamic understanding of imagination, or *khayal*, and its relationship to the heart. Gould shares how embracing Islam changed his approach to design, and how Islamic art and architecture continue to inform his work.

They discuss the concerns parents have about gaming and screen time, alongside the possibilities for immersive storytelling that encourages remembrance of Allah. Gould explains how Tales of Khayal draws on sacred knowledge and the history of colonialism, weaving questions about power and technological change into an adventure story.

The episode also explores why some Muslim professionals put aside their artistic ambitions, how they can return to creative work, and what artificial intelligence could mean for the future of design. Gould offers practical advice for anyone hoping to begin writing or rediscover their creativity.

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#PeterGould #TalesOfKhayal #TheThinkingMuslim #IslamicStorytelling #MuslimCreatives

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Three years after the beginning of the genocide in Gaza in October 2023, the ummah is still reckoning with what it has witnessed. Ustadha Dalya Ayoub joins Muhammad Jalal on The Thinking Muslim to examine the illusion of claiming to be people of the Qur’an while growing numb to Palestinian suffering and moving on.

As reports of Israeli attacks in Gaza continue despite the ceasefire, this conversation asks how Muslims can sustain their commitment to Palestine when exhaustion takes hold. Ustadha Dalya explains what the people of Gaza have taught her about the Qur’an, and how their steadfastness has changed the way she reads its verses.

Drawing on Surah Ali ‘Imran and Surah Al-‘Asr, she explores sabr as the resolve to take action and endure its consequences. She discusses the responsibility to uphold justice, the Qur’anic understanding of victory, and the accountability each of us will face before Allah for our own choices.

Recorded at the Prophetic Strategy Summit in Istanbul, the discussion also offers practical guidance for rebuilding our relationship with the Qur’an. Ustadha Dalya explains tadabbur, the careful study of its verses and examination of our lives through them, and what it means to make the Qur’an our minhaj: the guidance that shapes our daily decisions and our work for the ummah.

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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 through language, framing and omission.

In this conversation, Assal joins Muhammad Jalal to examine how Western media has reported on Palestine, Israel and Gaza, and what that reporting reveals about the relationship between journalism, political power and public consent.

From passive language around Palestinian deaths to the treatment of Israeli military claims, the discussion looks at how headlines and editorial choices can shape the way audiences understand war.

As tensions involving the United States, Iran and the wider Middle East remain at the centre of global politics, we also ask whether Western media can still manufacture support for war in the way it did before the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

The conversation explores Gaza, the killing of Palestinian journalists, declining trust in mainstream media, the rise of social media and citizen journalism, and the different ways the Biden and Trump administrations have approached Israel and the Middle East.

Has Gaza permanently changed the way people consume the news? And what happens when audiences can compare what they see on their phones with what appears in the headlines?

Dr. Assal Rad is the author of The State of Resistance: Politics, Culture, and Identity in Modern Iran and Don’t Say Palestine: How the Media Manufactured Consent for Genocide.

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:15 - Meet Assal Rad

02:09 - Media Manufactured Consent

06:08 - Thinking Muslim Conference

06:52 - Headlines Hide Israel

12:02 - Western Media Complicity

14:10 - Liberal Media Bias

18:36 - Fox News vs Liberals

20:56 - Donate to Baitulmaal

21:31 - Palestinian Journalists Silenced

27:36 - Why Journalists Stayed

34:53 Who Controls Gaza History

38:20 Social Media Censorship

39:28 The Headline Fixer

44:02 Right Turns on Israel

47:54 Gaza’s Media Future

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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 political realignment is driven by principle or opportunity. He explains why Gaza has resonated so deeply with a generation facing economic insecurity and argues that changing public opinion means little without an organised movement capable of challenging political power.

Muhammad Jalal and Norman Finkelstein also discuss Israel’s loss of support among younger Americans, the dehumanisation of Palestinians, Britain’s changing position on Israel, the role of international law and the pressure created by the pro-Palestine movement. Finally, they consider the response of cultural figures including Ed Sheeran and Macklemore, and whether artists can claim neutrality in the face of genocide.

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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 regional power.

They ask whether the so-called “Muslim NATO” could become a serious political force, why traditional US allies are searching for new security arrangements, and what this could mean for Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Pakistan, Egypt and the wider Muslim world.

The discussion also turns to American politics, the growing backlash against Israel and AIPAC within the Democratic Party, Israel’s tensions with Türkiye over Syria, and whether Muslims have more political agency than they often assume.

In the final part of the episode, Sami reflects on his recent visit to Bangladesh and the Rohingya refugee camps. He discusses the failure to resolve the Rohingya crisis, the role Bangladesh, Malaysia and other Muslim countries could play, and why the plight of the Rohingya must remain a concern for the wider Ummah.

An extensive conversation on Muslim geopolitics, Gaza, Iran, Syria, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, US politics and the Rohingya crisis.

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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 recovery, foreign influence, Israel, transitional justice, the Kurdish question, minority communities and the danger of replacing one form of authoritarianism with another.

Can Syria rebuild on its own terms, or will the pressures of regional and global powers shape what comes next?

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Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

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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 shaped the way Muslims work, worship and live.

They discuss the “tyranny of the clock”, why salah should anchor our day rather than simply fit into our schedules, and how the Islamic concept of barakah offers a radically different understanding of productivity. Mohammed Faris explains why being constantly busy does not necessarily mean being productive, how modern work culture contributes to burnout and time anxiety, and what the Prophetic model can teach us about work, rest, family, worship and purpose.

Can Muslims build a healthier relationship with time without becoming unambitious? What would productivity look like if our primary goal was not economic output, but worshipping Allah and serving His creation? And could recovering barakah transform not only our personal lives, but the way Muslim communities, businesses and institutions operate?

You can find out more about Mohammed Faris here:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/mohammed.a.faris

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The Productive Muslim Company: https://productivemuslim.com/author/mohammed-faris/

Find His Book Here: https://shop.productivemuslim.com/products/the-barakah-effect-book

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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 differ from an Islamic understanding of freedom, and why desire, consumerism and individualism can become powerful forces shaping our worldview. We also discuss how the Qur’an, particularly **Surah Al-Fatiha**, can provide Muslims with a framework for understanding truth, ethics and the world around them.

This is a wide-ranging conversation on **Islam and secularism, Islam and liberalism, decolonising the Muslim mind, Islamic philosophy, Muslim identity, Qur’anic worldview and modern ideology**.

You can find out more about Dr Nazir Khan here:

Centre of Islamic Knowledge: https://www.cikedu.org/nazirkhan.html

Yaqeen Institute: https://yaqeeninstitute.org/team/nazir-khan

Find His Book Here: https://www.kubepublishing.com/blogs/news/the-straight-path-nazir-khan

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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 across the Middle East and beyond.

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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 us about building better cities today?

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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 the far right, Islamophobia, US military power and foreign policy, and ask whether the War on Terror helped create the political forces reshaping America today.

Get Matt Kennard’s book Irregular Army here: https://amzn.eu/d/09zq5TXF

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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 responded to periods of political collapse, colonialism, and institutional decline. Drawing on the thought of Imam Juḥany and the broader Islamic intellectual tradition, the conversation examines how the Ummah can rebuild from the ground up through scholarship, institutions, and community.

The discussion explores the relationship between political authority and religious authority, the enduring independence of Islamic scholarship, the legacy of colonialism, and why the mosque remains central to Muslim life. We also discuss the role of women in institution-building, the emergence of Al Mujadilah Mosque in Qatar, and whether the post-Gaza moment represents the beginning of a new phase of regeneration for the Muslim Ummah.

Rather than asking whether decline is inevitable, this conversation asks a more important question: what does Islam teach us about renewal?

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with others. Your support helps us continue producing conversations that matter.

About Dr. Sohaira Siddiqui:

Dr. Sohaira Siddiqui is a Professor of Islamic Studies and Theology at Georgetown University in Qatar and Executive Director of Al-Mujadilah Center & Mosque for Women. Her research focuses on classical Islamic legal theory and political thought, Islamic law under colonialism, contemporary Islamic family law, and questions of gender, authority, and participation in Muslim societies.

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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 long-term strategy, the role of Saudi Arabia, the Houthis, and America's approach to the region, this conversation explores the political calculations shaping today's headlines.

The discussion also examines whether attitudes towards Israel are beginning to change in both the United States and the United Kingdom, looking at JD Vance's comments on the Israel lobby, sanctions on violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank, and Andy Burnham's remarks on Palestine.

The episode opens with reflections on the TPSS Conference in Istanbul and concludes with a personal conversation about Sami's outlook after years of analysing one of the world's most volatile regions.

About Sami Hamdi:

Sami Hamdi is a British journalist, political commentator, and risk intelligence advisor specialising in Middle Eastern affairs and international geopolitics. Renowned for his strategic analysis of the region, he regularly provides insight into the political, military, and diplomatic developments shaping the Middle East.

In 2025, Hamdi was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while in the United States, reportedly in connection with statements he had made about the war in Gaza. Today, Sami Hamdi remains one of the leading voices analysing the rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape of the Middle East

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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 fit into this conversation?

From the rise of Anthropic and the global AI race to the philosophical assumptions embedded within today's models, this discussion examines why AI is far more than just another technological breakthrough. It is a civilisational shift that Muslims cannot afford to ignore.

About Waleed Kadous:

Waleed Kadous is Chief Scientist at Anyscale and one of the leading voices in artificial intelligence. Previously, he held senior engineering leadership roles at Google and Uber, where he served as Engineering Strategy Lead to the CTO. With expertise spanning AI, machine learning, robotics, and large-scale engineering systems, Waleed has spent his career developing cutting-edge technologies while helping shape the future of the industry. His work sits at the intersection of technical innovation, strategy, and the societal impact of AI.

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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 is joined by Marwan Muhammad, one of the most prominent voices on Islamophobia and civil rights in France. Together they examine how the French state views Islam, the reality of Muslim life under laïcité, the controversy surrounding the government's report on the Muslim Brotherhood, the targeting of Muslim women, and whether Muslims can organise politically to defend their rights.

This is an essential conversation for anyone seeking to understand the changing relationship between France and its Muslim population.

About Marwan Muhammad:

Marwan Muhammad is a French-Egyptian author, statistician and human rights advocate. He is the former director of the Collective Against Islamophobia in France (CCIF) and has worked with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) supporting Muslim communities across Europe, Central Asia and North America. He also led the first nationwide survey of Muslims in France and now works as a human rights consultant for international organisations.

You can find Marwan Muhammad here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marwan-muhammad-9049553b?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios

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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this video are those of the individual speaker(s) and do not represent the views of the host, producers, platform, or any affiliated organisation. This content is provided for lawful, informational, and analytical purposes only, and should not be taken as professional advice. Viewer discretion is advised.

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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, the role of Western media, the effectiveness of protest movements, and the broader questions of Muslim unity, nationalism, and solidarity. Dr. Azzam Tamimi also shares his recommendations for those looking to deepen their understanding of Palestine through reading.

About Dr. Azzam Tamini:

Dr. Azzam Tamimi is a Palestinian-British academic, political analyst, and author specialising in Middle Eastern politics and Islamic movements. He is widely recognised for his commentary on Palestine, political Islam, and regional affairs, and has written extensively on Hamas and the Israeli - Palestinian conflict.

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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 to develop humane approaches to mental healthcare, Islamic civilisation had already built institutions rooted in dignity, compassion, and holistic care.

Together, we explore what made the bimaristan unique, from its patient-centred design and therapeutic environment to the waqf systems that sustained it for generations. We also reflect on what Syria has lost through war, what traditional Islamic approaches to healing can still offer today, and whether these institutions can once again play a role in rebuilding a wounded society.

As Syria looks toward recovery, this conversation asks an urgent question: can true reconstruction happen without healing the people themselves?

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