Abu Hurayra (RA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, "Remember often the severer of pleasures [i.e. death]." There are myriad ways to reflect on death, both on our own death and that of others. How do we engage in periodic remembrance of our final abode? Why does death feel far away, and why do we shy away from discussing it? On Episode 25, the team explores the physical and spiritual realities of dying, and how we can benefit from its remembrance. — The Qarawiyyin Project aims to revive the...

The strength of one's connection to Islam can waver. Attacks on our spiritual strength can come from within or without, but there are common strategies for withstanding challenges to our iman from all sides.  In Episode 24, the team sits down to discuss how we can attain spiritual resilience, especially in light of how countless women see their status in the Muslim community as undervalued and dispensable. How can we correct our mindset regarding our relationship with Allah, our own...

Which comes first: nation or ummah? On Ep. 23, Butheina Hamdah joins us to discuss her research on American Muslim exceptionalism. We examine the impact of American exceptionalism on the Muslim psyche, as well as how American Muslims perceive the broader ummah. As calls for an indigenous Islam in America gain traction, questions of nationalism’s compatibility with an ummatic worldview come to the fore. Butheina Hamdah is a project assistant with the Ummatics Colloquium (soon to be the...

The ummah of Islam is growing, as are efforts to spread its message. Though da'wah is often seen as an outward-facing effort, the way it is conducted has serious implications for the faith of Muslims themselves. In this episode, new TQP staff members join the podcast to share their experiences with local da'wah culture, the online scene, da'wah training, and interfaith in non-Muslim majority societies. We discuss common pitfalls and inspiring successes in the world of calling people to...

This Ramadan, the team shares reflections on the passing and usage of time, the rows of tarawīḥ, and the nature of communal worship. What does it mean to exit our private sphere of spirituality and see Ramadan as a time for ummah-wide transformation? How can we take heed of Allah's ﷻ reminders about the passing of time? _ The Qarawiyyin Project aims to revive the tradition of Muslim women being at the forefront of discussing the most critical issues of our time from an Islamic perspective....

Published at the beginning of this year, Usaama Al-Azami's Islam and the Arab Revolutions: The Ulama Between Democracy and Autocracy analyzes the rhetoric of religious scholars throughout the Arab Spring. Focusing on the Egyptian revolution, Al-Azami explains what defines the factions standing for or against the revolution and assesses their key figures, including Ali Gomaa, Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, and Abdullah Bin Bayyah. On Episode 20, we discuss the content of the book, the role of ulama in...

Facing conflicting standards and blurred lines, Muslim women often struggle to understand femininity and what Islam has to say about it. Is there an ideal we should strive or fulfill, or an archetype by which to measure ourselves? What role does culture play in defining gender? Can we be ourselves while pleasing Allah, or are our personalities up for consideration? On Episode 19, the team sits down to discuss gender norms, what fiqh rulings (don’t) say about the nature of women, feminine...

Following the 20-year memorial of September 11, 2001, we sit down to reflect on how this day has shaped the last two decades. Our Ummah has faced the physical, spiritual, and intellectual consequences of American imperial violence, which inspires and goads police states around the globe in their persecution of Muslims. How do we reckon with these effects, and where do we go from here? _ The Qarawiyyin Project aims to revive the tradition of Muslim women being at the forefront of discussing...

It was a dark and stormy night, and the TQP team had gathered to discuss all things storytelling: books, film, drama, romance, wizardry, tropes, representation (and whether we need it). It began on a good-humored note, with the sisters cordially chatting about their favorite genres — but it soon took a turn. The commentary got dicier and the opinions less popular. Casualties included Ertugrul and The Kite Runner. Several staunch defenses were launched in favor of anime. Contemporary Muslim...

Iman Masmoudi joins the Qarawiyyin Podcast for a conversation on ethical fashion, production, and consumption. We discuss our role in the global capitalist economy, addressing the gruesome realities of exploitative labor and environmental degradation. As the havoc wreaked by capitalism becomes more plain to see, we grapple with where to place Islam on the spectrum of economic ideologies, as well as practical steps to disengage from unethical chains of production. Iman Masmoudi is the...

Shaykha Maryam Amir joins the Qarawiyyin Podcast for a conversation on women seeking religious knowledge: access, barriers, missteps, and successes. We discuss the challenges women commonly face when attempting to access even basic information about their deen. Shaykha Maryam dispels misconceptions regarding women reciting the Qur'an, and illustrates the power of reciting and memorizing the Word of Allah ﷻ. Shaykha Maryam Amir received her master’s in Education from UCLA and a second...

100 hijri years have passed since the abolishment of the Ottoman Caliphate, marking a milestone in the history of Islamic governance. In Episode 14, the TQP team sits down for a conversation on the concept of Khilafa, the Islamic political model, and challenges for envisioning Islamic governance in the modern period. _ The Qarawiyyin Project aims to revive the tradition of Muslim women being at the forefront of discussing the most critical issues of our time from an Islamic perspective, and...

The Qarawiyyin Podcast welcomes Ustadha Jinan Yousef for a discusssion on her recently published book, "Reflecting on the Names of Allah". We delve into what it means to truly know God, common misconceptions about God's nature, and practical ways to improve our relationship with our Creator.  Jinan Yousef has been an author for over a decade writing about topics related to the Islamic faith. She has been a student of Sheikh Mohammad Akram Nadwi alongside others. Jinan is a course instructor...

In Episode 12, the Qarawiyyin Podcast welcomes two guests: Sara K. Shehlawi and Noha El Haddad, the founders of ACHIME, or the Association of Muslim Girls in Spain. As European populism and anti-Islamic sentiment manifest in new and uglier ways, we ask: what sparked this, and what does it mean for the global Ummah? Sara and Noha examine the challenges Muslims face in Spain, Prophetic wisdoms for dealing with them, and projections for the future of Islam in Europe. Sara K. Shehlawi is a...

Does beauty matter, physical or otherwise?  The TQP team sits down to discuss beauty standards, the concept of jamal from an Islamic standpoint, and challenges Muslim women face navigating our hypervisual world.  _ The Qarawiyyin Project aims to revive the tradition of Muslim women being at the forefront of discussing the most critical issues of our time from an Islamic perspective, and empower women to be active in their communities around the world in carrying Islam as a way of...

On Ep. 9, The Qarawiyyin Podcast welcomes a new member and dives into the archives. We discuss the importance of knowing our history, how narratives are shaped, and understanding women's role in the history of Islam. _ The Qarawiyyin Project aims to revive the tradition of Muslim women being at the forefront of discussing the most critical issues of our time from an Islamic perspective, and empower women to be active in their communities around the world in carrying Islam as a way of...

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Whoever observes fasts during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah's rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven." [Sahih Bukhari] Ramadan Mubarak! In this episode, the TQP team gets into the Ramadan spirit and discusses how to make the most of this blessed month — under quarantine, on your period, and through the pangs of hunger. _ The Qarawiyyin Project aims to revive the tradition of Muslim women being at the forefront...

The TQP team finally sits down to address the elephant in the room when it comes to discussing Muslim women's issues: feminism. Sharing our thoughts on its popularity and varied manifestations, we trace the phenomenon of adopting the feminist label among Muslims and discuss its inconsistency with the Islamic worldview. _ The Qarawiyyin Project aims to revive the tradition of Muslim women being at the forefront of discussing the most critical issues of our time from an Islamic perspective,...

Our honored guest, Heraa Hashmi, joins us to discuss secularism in science. Continuing the discussion from our previous episode, we discuss the relationship between religion and science in academia, as well as the moral implications of attempting to divorce theology from the study of the natural world. Broaching a range of topics including mental health, medical ethics, and abortion, we delve into the biases present—and denied—in the world of supposedly objective scientific research. A...

The TQP team discusses the concepts of secular and sacred knowledge, how they came to be defined as such, and the problems that come with these definitions. Does studying the "secular sciences" require us to leave deen at the door, and can one truly be a mu'min as a student at a secular university?  We also explore insights from the book recommendations on our University Reading List. _ University Reading List: https://qarawiyyinproject.co/2019/08/17/university-reading-list/ "Of Cannons...

Our first honored guest, Ilham Ibrahim, joins us to discuss her article “Individualism and the Destruction of Community”. We get a look into the founding of Ilham’s project, Qurtuba Online, and reflect on the departure of the holy month of Ramadan. Ilham Ibrahim is the founder of Qurtuba Online. A surgical nurse by profession, she’s an avid reader, martial arts enthusiast and enjoys studying history and the sacred sciences. Qurtuba Online: qurtubaonline.org Article: “Individualism and the...

Has communal discourse among Muslims become polarized? In this episode, we discuss the ways in which some are addressing liberal tremors in the Muslim community, where they may fall short, and how to begin gathering the broken pieces.  This conversation was inspired by an article recently published by Al-Madina Institute entitled "Why We Must Recapture Scholarly Discourse from Extreme Bloggers": almadinainstitute.org/blog/why-we-must-recapture-scholarly-discourse-from-extreme-bloggers TQP...