Is it ever OK to deceive? What would it feel like to get someone who wronged us to acknowledge their harm? What is the first priority when supporting a victim of abuse? In this episode (20) of Quran Conversations, Imam Muhammad Majid and I delve further into the story of Prophet Yusuf, focusing on the themes of deception, justice, and forgiveness. We explore Yusuf's strategic actions to keep his brother with him, the implications of the royal cup's theft, and the brothers' defensive...

How do we balance relying on God and taking the means? How do we work for the best outcome while not worrying? And what is the responsibility to maintain relations with a family member who has abused us? In this episode (19) we tackle some of the most perplexing questions we face in our families as parents, siblings and children. (12:67-69) You will learn: 📖How to take the means and rely on God 📖When severing ties with family members is in order 📖The Quranic approach to exercising...

How do we respond when our loved ones must leave our side?  Do we let them go and trust in Allah, or attempt to control them in an effort to feel secure?  In this episode (episode 18) we discuss the impossible task of striking the balance between keeping our children safe by restricting them and trusting Allah and letting them grow even if it means they leave our side.  (12:62-66) You will learn: 📖 How to let your loved ones go even when you are afraid 📖 How  reliance on God is...

It is one thing to be God-conscious in times of hardship, but what do you do when life takes a turn for the better? What happens when tragedy and trauma is transformed into triumph? Is it a chance for cruelty or clemency?  In this episode (episode 17), we discuss a major inflection point in the story of Yusuf (as) when he is put in authority in the land, in charge of the foodstores in a time of drought, and what we can learn by the way he responds when his brothers come to him asking for his...

I am sometimes asked how I have so much confidence?  The truth is right before I go out to speak in front of hundreds of people I am often terrified.  But over the years I have found ways to get myself to do things which are hard for me.  This episode (16) I discuss with Imam Magid what Surat Yusuf teaches us about building confidence.  How did Yusuf, a former enslaved person and prisoner, find the confidence to say “Put me in charge of the nation’s storehouses: I shall manage them prudently...

Popular culture sometimes romanticizes obsessions with love interests or even celebrities.  But as anyone who has either been the target of such an obsession or had an obsession with someone else knows, it feels like a prison.  This week (episode 15) we continue to discuss the liberating power of repentance and how the truth is the fastest path back to yourself and your loving Lord.  Also, stay to the end to hear the Quran’s best advice for career success.  📖 How to tell if a temptation is...

This episode (14) was especially fun to record, ending in a spirited debate regarding a often discussed verse in this exquisite surah.  We delve into the transformative power of experiencing moral awe, and the theme of redemption woven throughout the story. You will learn: How to hold to your principles, regardless of the power dynamics of a situation.  The power of redemption. Why witnessing the best character inspires moral awe. How confessions set us free.  If you’re...

What do our dreams mean? Who should hear about them? What should we do with good and bad dreams?  These are just some of the questions we discuss in this week’s episode (episode 13) where we explore the verses of Surat Yusuf describing the king’s dream. Make sure to stay until the end when I share my absolute favorite aya of the entire surah and why it blew my mind. You will learn: How to know if a dream is a true vision (ru’ya) or just your subconscious thoughts or from...

I remember a difficult time in my life when it felt like the opening to hardship would never come no matter what I did.  Many of us have experienced delays.  Delays in relief, delays in attaining the things we desire and work for.  This episode discusses the delay in Yusuf (as) delay in being let out of prison and what it meant to the trajectory of his life.  This episode will change the way you think about the delays in your life.  (Verse 39-42) You will learn: How to use emotional...

Have you ever gone through a hard time in your life and looking back you realize it was actually God protecting you, redirecting you to your destiny? In this episode we discuss Yusuf (AS) imprisonment, and the masterclass this surah provides in inviting people to Islam.  (Versus 34-38) You will learn:  How our apparent calamities can be protections How to manage our frustration with the imperfect justice of worldly courts. The preconditions of a free society The real reason...

In society today, we are often told that being “free” means indulging our every impulse to its fullest.  We hear messages like “obey your thirst”, “just do it” and “YOLO”.  But is this indulgence of our drives actual freedom? In today’s episode we explore the themes of resistance, power and what it means to be truly free as we discuss how the minister’s wife responds to the womens’ reaction to Yusuf (as) and the prophet’s choice of prison over succumbing to their pressure.  (Versus 32 to...

I think this episode will resonate with a lot of people who have struggled with unhealthy obsessions, negative body image or being judged on their looks. We discuss how both the wife of the minister and the women of the city viewed Yusuf (as) through the lens of superficial beauty and not the real beauty of his character.  (Versus 28 to 31) You will learn: The real meaning of an often abused verse of the Quran. What happens when we allow people into the part of our heart only meant...

In this episode we discuss how Yusuf (AS) responds to the advances of the minister’s wife, and how his innocence is verified by a member of his accuser’s own family.  (Verses 24 to 27).   You will learn: Why ‘willpower’ is a lie, and what it really takes to resist temptation. How we should think about ourselves when we successfully resist temptation. How should we look to others who have fallen into sin. The truly pious response to being falsely accused. -Why falsehood...

In this episode we discuss Yusuf (AS)  maturing from a child to a young man in the house of the Egyptian minister, and the minister’s wife attempting to seduce him. (Verses 22 to 23). You will learn: The true meaning of Muslim manhood. How to address  abuse of authority by both men and women. How to stand your ground even when there is a power imbalance in the other party’s favor. The meaning of “Ihsan” and how to instill it in ourselves and our children. Defining Arabic...

In this episode we explore the themes of dehumanization, self-worth and God’s Dominion over all no matter the apparent reality.  You will learn about: How to protect your sense of self-worth. The power of knowing that God is in control no matter your circumstances. Why mindless acts of exploitation can be worse than major deliberate acts of evil. The traps before the triumphs.

In this episode we discuss the events of surat Yusuf after he is put in the well and his brothers come back to their father with a heinous lie.  You will learn: The characteristics of playing victim to shield against accountability when in the wrong. The difference between the influence of Shaytan and that of our own nafs when we act outside our values. How dehumanizing others harms the oppressor. The real meaning of “beautiful patience.” How to hold space for our children...

In this conversation, we discuss what we can learn from the way Yaqoob (AS) chooses to express his objection to Yusuf’s brothers’ insistence on taking him to play and the terrifying events of the brothers' betrayal.  You will learn: How to speak our hearts instead of just our minds. What really determines success? The dangers of a hardened heart. The emotional intelligence of Qur’anic comfort How our darkest moments can be the launching pad toward our purpose.

In this episode, we discuss the dangers of groupthink and the difference between a cult and a community. You will learn:  The dangers of groupthink. What true unity should be based on. The power of a dissenting voice in the course of history. The significance of just being in the room.  How difficult times and moments of vulnerability can lead to growth and elevation.

In this episode, we discuss sharing dreams and setting boundaries.  In this episode you will learn:  The importance of being a safe place for others to entrust their dreams. How setting boundaries with family members who are harmful or jealous is important for self-protection. How struggles are a part of life, even for the prophets and their families. The importance of not blaming parents for their children's actions; each individual has their own path. The critical role of Identity in...

In this first episode, we lay out why surat Yusuf is so special, the occasion for its revelation, and the broad themes of redemption and hope that it punctuates. In this episode you will learn:  How reflecting on the Quran deeply is a healing balm How to open ourselves to the comfort God sends us through His word  How the Quran offers guidance for the individual and an ethical framework for the community The way the Quran is a challenge to the mind and a comfort to the heart. The true...