In Surat al-Hujurat verse 18, Allah (SWT) says: “Surely Allah knows the Unseen of the heavens and earth. And Allah is All-Seeing of what you do.” Al-Ghaib, or the Unseen, refers to knowledge that is only known to Allah, such as knowledge about the angels and jinn, heaven and hell, and fate and predestination.  Why do we struggle to connect with and be motivated by the Unseen? Can we prove the existence of the Unseen? How can connecting with the Unseen world help us come closer to God?  Join...

The Prophet (S) once critically said, “O people! Some of you scare people away [from faith].” He was addressing the best generation of Muslims when he said this, so it certainly still applies today. Are Muslim communities pushing women away today? What do we lose when women are disengaged from Islamic institutions? How can we improve access and connection to the tradition for Muslim women? Earlier this season we talked about The State of Masculinity. This week, join host Mohamad Zaoud in...

On February 6th, a devastating earthquake hit Türkiye and Syria. Over 12,000 lives have been lost, and thousands more have been injured and displaced. When tragedies and disasters occur, it’s understandable to wonder, “Why did God let this happen?” Are natural disasters a form of punishment from God? Are they a warning to turn back to Him? If Allah is Merciful, why does He allow suffering to exist? Join host Mohamad Zaoud as he discusses these questions and more with Sh. Mohammad Elshinawy,...

Love our content? Sign up for the DoubleTake companion email featuring bonus supplemental content and a SNEAK PEEK of next week's episode! Sign up here: https://yqn.io/doubletake-email-signup In the 51st chapter of the Qur’an, verse 22, Allah (SWT) says, “In heaven is your rizq and whatever you are promised.” Rizq, meaning provision or sustenance, comes in different forms, but Allah is clear that He is the One who provides it.  Can we control our rizq to get the things we want? If our...

Love our content? Sign up for the DoubleTake companion email featuring bonus supplemental content and a SNEAK PEEK of next week's episode! Sign up here: https://yqn.io/doubletake-email-signup Some of the most popular influencers today are being hailed as guides and teachers for boys and men. They claim to understand the challenges that men are facing, and they say they have the solutions.  Why are people talking so much about masculinity, and are these conversations productive? What does...

Love our content? Sign up for the DoubleTake companion email featuring bonus supplemental content and a SNEAK PEEK of next week's episode! Sign up here: https://yqn.io/doubletake-email-signup The most authentic and verified texts for Muslims, after the Qur’an, are the books of Hadith. They’re foundational to how we understand and practice our religion.  But if the Qur’an is complete and perfect, why do we even need the Hadith? What is the method that scholars use to determine if the Prophet...

Love our content? Sign up for the DoubleTake companion email featuring bonus supplemental content and a SNEAK PEEK of next week's episode! Sign up here: https://yqn.io/doubletake-email-signup In Surat Faatir, Chapter 35 verse 6, Allah (SWT) says, “Indeed, Shaytan (Satan) is an enemy to you; so take him as an enemy.” One of the weapons at Satan’s disposal is his whispering.  What does it mean for Satan to whisper to us? How do we draw the line between his whisperings and our own thoughts?...

Love our content? Sign up for the DoubleTake companion email featuring bonus supplemental content and a SNEAK PEEK of next week's episode! Sign up here: https://yqn.io/doubletake-email-signup When Facebook changed its company name to Meta, it doubled down on its commitment to the future of the internet: the so-called “metaverse.” But with tech companies laying off thousands of employees and billions of dollars being wiped out in the cryptocurrency bubble collapse, the future is still...

Love our content? Sign up for the DoubleTake companion email featuring bonus supplemental content and a SNEAK PEEK of next week's episode! Sign up here: https://yqn.io/doubletake-email-signup When people choose to follow a religion, they are often looking for feelings of peace, contentment, and connection to a higher power. This feeling of spirituality is central to the life of a Muslim, but some may feel like it’s not necessary to follow a religion in order to experience it. They might...

Three-in-ten American adults describe themselves as atheists, agnostics or “nothing in particular” when they are asked about their religious identity, according to a Pew Research report from December 2021. Proving God’s existence is important, but it’s not the end of the conversation. What distinguishes the Islamic perspective on God from other religious traditions? How certain can we be that Islam is correct? What are people missing when they choose to follow other religions? Join host...

No matter which religion a person is born into, we all eventually face the same question: “Do I really believe in God?” The Qur’an tells us that the signs of His existence are spread all over the world around us, yet today, more than ever before, people are saying it’s not enough. Is it possible to prove God’s existence? What is the strongest argument for His existence, and do we have evidence for it in our tradition? Beyond proving God’s existence, how do we know that He is worthy of...

The importance of mental health is discussed everywhere today, from workplaces and schools to television shows and social media. In most cases, however, it has a distinctly secular approach. There is rarely any mention of the role that faith and spirituality can play in mental well-being. A recent study by Yaqeen makes the case that religiosity is not only relevant to mental health, but central to it. What are the biggest factors affecting the mental health of Muslims? How can religiosity...

The James Webb Space Telescope is set to be operational by July as NASA’s flagship mission in astrophysics. In the coming years, we are expected to learn more about the first stars and galaxies after the Big Bang, and we may see significant progress toward becoming a multi-planetary species.  What does Islam have to say about the importance of space exploration? How does the Big Bang fit into our understanding of creation from the Islamic perspective? Does studying space have any importance...

Abortion is dominating headlines as the United States Supreme Court considers a decision that could lead to it being outlawed in many states. While the political debate is framed as being either pro-life or pro-choice, the Islamic perspective is not so simple.  Is abortion halal or haram, and are there any exceptions? What principles do Muslim scholars use to determine their understanding? How should we be thinking about this issue on an individual and political level?  In this episode,...

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and more. Cryptocurrency has continuously made headlines in recent years, but despite the popularity of the subject, it seems like there is still no consensus about how Muslims should engage with it. ⁠ ⁠ What should Muslims know about investing in cryptocurrency? ⁠ ⁠ How can we be mindful of Islamic values while trying to keep up with the latest trends in finance? ⁠ ⁠ What can we do to take ownership of our financial futures? ⁠ ⁠ In this episode, host Mohamad...

Pørnography. It’s a word that’s taboo to say out loud in many of our communities, yet it’s responsible for psychological, spiritual, and social harms on a scale that is almost impossible to comprehend. While it is common knowledge that watching pornography is forbidden in Islam, its addictive nature makes it difficult to overcome.  What are the harms of watching this content? What are the underlying issues that cause people to turn to it, and why do they have a hard time turning away? What...

Every culture has expectations for men and women about their roles at home and in society, but the line between cultural practices and religious duty isn’t always clear. The role of men is often reduced to being the financial provider for the home, but does this fully capture their responsibilities? Are the roles of men and women in the home interchangeable, or are there distinct Islamic expectations for each? How can men balance these responsibilities to become ideal fathers and husbands?...

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis, please reach out immediately to the S∪icide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or to you local prevention centers or mental health experts .  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- S∪icide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and despite what some may believe, Muslims are not immune to it. As such, it is necessary for us to understand how...

Jealousy can be psychologically and spiritually devastating if it goes unchecked, but that doesn’t have to be the case.  How can we detect jealousy before damage is done? What role does social media play in worsening these feelings? How can we remove jealousy from our hearts and protect ourselves from feeling it again?  In the second episode of a two-part special, host Mohamad Zaoud talks to Sr. Sarah Sultan and Sr. Najwa Awad, co-authors of the Yaqeen Institute paper, “‘Why Is Everyone’s...

Jealousy is a complex emotion that causes anger, sadness, pettiness, and other negative feelings. Nobody wants to feel jealous, yet this hyper-connected age of oversharing makes it easier than ever to become consumed by it. What causes jealousy? What are the psychological and spiritual harms of letting it fester? How can our relationship with Allah help us make sense of these feelings? In the first episode of a two-part special, host Mohamad Zaoud talks to Sr. Sarah Sultan and Sr. Najwa Awad,...

For many people, our Ramadan excitement is high at the beginning, lower near the middle, and high again toward the end.  But the question is: Where does that excitement go after Ramadan? More importantly, if one of the signs of an accepted Ramadan is the continuation of our deeds after the month comes to an end, if one of the signs of an accepted Ramadan is the continuation of our deeds after the month comes to an end, does that mean there are consequences to slowing down? Is this dip...

We often hear that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, but conversions to Islam aren’t necessarily the main reason for this growth. In fact, despite the appeal of Islam to many people who seek the truth about God, joining a new faith community can be difficult, and some converts struggle to hold onto their religion. What are some of the challenges that new Muslims face? What can Muslims do, as communities and individuals, to help converts on their journeys? What role can...

Ramadan is the month Muslims wait all year for. It’s a time when devils are chained and mosques are full of worshipers. But what does it mean if we find ourselves falling into familiar sins during this blessed month? Can our fasts still be accepted if we commit sins while fasting? And what does an ideal Ramadan fast look like? How can we make the most of the moments when we aren’t able to worship directly? In this Ramadan special, host Mohamad Zaoud talks to Dr. Tamara Gray, founder of...

Note: The quote Ustadha Ieasha mentions at 8:00 (“Allah says…”) is not a verse from the Qur’an, but a quote from the Israa’eeliyyaat, a narration from the people of the Book. It means that Allah (SWT) puts love and knowledge of Himself in the heart of His slave. --- In verse 183 of Surat al-Baqara, Allah says, “O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you—so perhaps you will become mindful of Allah.”  Every Ramadan is full of reminders that the purpose of...