What happens when Muslim men and women are separated from their fitrah, their roles, their families — and each other?

In this OnGuard podcast, Shaykh Shaqur Rehman joins us for a deep discussion on the Power of a Muslim Woman, the role of motherhood and wifehood in Islamic civilisation, the crisis facing Muslim families, and how modern society has reshaped the way men and women see themselves.

This is not just a discussion about feminism, university, marriage, or gender roles. It is about the heart of the Muslim home, the future of the Ummah, and the urgent need to rebuild men, women, families, and communities upon submission to Allāh.

We discuss how colonialism, liberal modernity, materialism, online discourse, broken family structures, and schooling from a young age have shaped Muslim men and women — and what it takes to undo that damage through tarbiyah, leadership, sisterhood, brotherhood, haya, family, and community.

Chapters:
00:00 Reclaiming the Power of a Muslim Woman
12:06 How the Muslim family was hijacked
20:38 Real Islamic masculinity and male leadership
34:04 How society reprogrammed men and women
49:11 Muslim women, media and da’wah
01:00:10 Motherhood, wifehood and the path to Jannah
01:06:17 University, apostasy and protecting the dīn
01:22:38 Rebuilding families, tribes and communities

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What happens when you know Islam is true… but still feel empty inside?

In this powerful episode of OnGuard, Hamza Tzortzis speaks to Imran Hussein about anxiety, intrusive thoughts, depression, nihilism, and the search for meaning in a world full of distractions.

Imran shares his deeply personal journey through an existential crisis, describing the moment life seemed to lose its meaning — and how turning back to Allah transformed darkness into clarity. But this is not just a story about “mental health”. It is a conversation about iman, purpose, knowledge, the heart, and why intellectual certainty alone is not always enough to keep a person grounded.

Why do so many Muslims feel spiritually disconnected despite believing in Islam?
How should we understand anxiety, OCD, intrusive thoughts and depression through an Islamic lens?
What does it mean to seek help without shame?
And how can we hold on to hope when everything feels dark?

This episode is for anyone who has ever felt lost, numb, anxious, overwhelmed, or distant from Allah — and for anyone trying to support someone who is.

This podcast is part of our broader anti-suicide campaign, Hold On.
Hold on to life. Hold on to hope. Hold on to the mercy of Allāh.

Subscribe to Islam21c for more conversations on Islam, society, belief, family, mental health, and the challenges facing Muslims today.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:08 Introducing Imran Hussein and the Hold On campaign
02:36 Losing meaning: the questions that would not go away
06:37 Anxiety, derealisation, and the search for answers
11:53 The desperate du’a and the Qur’an moment
16:07 From relief to da’wah
18:15 When anxiety returned: why knowledge alone is not enough
25:47 Understanding anxiety, doubts, and obsessive cycles
30:23 Practical and spiritual tools for anxiety
37:42 Getting help, letting thoughts pass, and prophetic guidance
48:17 Reframing anxiety as a test from Allāh
52:12 Grief, hope, and never despairing of Allah’s mercy
55:49 How family, friends, and brotherhood can help
01:03:27 Hold on to hope and Allah’s mercy
01:05:16 Final reflections

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The world is changing — fast.

From escalating global conflicts to shifting political powers, it feels like history is unfolding in front of us. But here’s the real question:

Are we actually understanding what’s happening?

In this episode of OnGuard, Hamza Tzortzis sits down with Shaykh Dr Haitham al-Haddad to unpack a perspective many Muslims are missing. Because if we misunderstand the nature of this world — its purpose, its struggles, its conflicts — then everything else starts to feel confusing.

This isn’t just about geopolitics.
It’s about how a Muslim should see the world.

And if we get that wrong… the consequences are bigger than we think.

🧠 What you’ll learn in this episode:
Why confusion about world events is increasing
The Islamic framework for understanding conflict and change
What most people misunderstand about the nature of this life
Why clarity starts with the right foundations
How Muslims should respond in times of global uncertainty

📌 Watch till the end:

Because the final insight reframes everything — and gives you a completely different way of looking at what’s happening right now.

Chapters:
0:00 The World Is Changing
0:25 Why Most People Misunderstand What’s Happening
2:10 A Rapidly Changing World & Competing Powers
5:05 Why Muslims Feel Confused Today
8:30 Different Reactions: Agreement, Doubt & Conflict
12:15 The Missing Foundation in Understanding Reality
16:40 This Life Is a Test — Not What You Think
21:10 Why Conflict Is Part of the Design of Life
26:05 The Danger of Expecting Comfort & Stability
31:20 Islamic Framework vs Modern Worldview
36:45 How Muslims Should Interpret Global Events
42:10 Where the Ummah Is Getting It Wrong
47:30 Reframing Success, Struggle & Change
53:15 Intellectual & Spiritual Confusion Explained
58:40 The Consequences of Getting This Wrong
1:04:10 What Needs to Change in the Muslim Mindset
1:09:30 Real Change Starts With This
1:14:50 Practical Takeaways for Muslims Today
1:19:30 Final Reflections — Understanding the World Properly

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What does it really mean to speak about the power of a Muslim woman in a world already saturated with assumptions about gender, autonomy, success, and value?

In this thought-provoking OnGuard conversation, Hamza Tzortzis is joined by Imam Tom Facchine (Yaqeen Institute) for a wide-ranging discussion sparked by Islam21c’s Power of a Muslim Woman campaign. But this is not the conversation many might expect.

Together, they explore:

• Why modern society subtly reshaped how we think about women and “empowerment”
• The quiet pressure many women feel to justify or even apologise for following their fitrah and divine guidance
• How homemaking, motherhood, and femininity became culturally devalued
• The liberal assumptions that influence how all of us — men and women — see the world
• Why debates around feminism often miss the deeper questions entirely
• The "crisis of Islamic scholarship" that leads to many sisters not getting the support they deserve
• And more

This episode isn’t about slogans or culture-war soundbites. It’s about stepping back and asking:

❓ Who defines value?
❓ What counts as power?
❓ And why do so many feel conflicted about answers Islam has long provided?

Whether you’re navigating these questions personally, as a parent, or simply trying to understand the world we inhabit, this discussion offers clarity, nuance, and reflection.

For more information about the Power of a Muslim Woman campaign and to sign up for updates, visit https://pomw.org

Chapters:
00:00 — Intro
03:57 — Why this conversation can’t be avoided
07:04 — How “empowerment” gets defined
10:45 — You’re swimming in liberal waters
14:21 — Why feminism feels persuasive
18:08 — Feminism vs Islam: different starting points
22:17 — Who actually defines value?
26:31 — Homemaking and cultural status
30:43 — “Pretend I’m a sister…”
34:55 — The pressure to justify choices
39:14 — When Islam is reframed in liberal terms
43:36 — Masculinity, femininity, and discomfort
48:00 — Strength vs stereotype
51:51 — The quiet belittling of homemaking
56:09 — The apology trap
1:00:13 — The crisis of Islamic scholarship
1:04:38 — Authority, trust, and confusion
1:09:01 — Internal tensions within Muslim spaces
1:13:43 — Disagreement without defensiveness
1:18:35 — Confidence without apology
1:23:47 — Noticing the water we’re swimming in
1:29:13 — Imagine I’m a sister…

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“They stole land from the Palestinians and they stole identity from Jews.”

In this remarkable conversation, Rabbi Elhanan Beck — a Palestinian-born rabbi from Stamford Hill — shares his powerful story and deep insights into the clear distinction between Judaism and Zionism.

He explains why true Judaism is rooted in faith, humility, and obedience to God, while Zionism, as he argues, transformed a spiritual religion into a political and national project divorced from its sacred origins.

Together, we explore:
🔹 What it truly means to be Jewish according to the Torah
🔹 The 13 principles of faith outlined by Maimonides
🔹 How Zionism emerged as a secular movement
🔹 The Jewish understanding of exile and the promised land
🔹 The peaceful vision of the Messiah in Jewish scripture
🔹 Centuries of coexistence between Muslims and Jews

This is a heartfelt and eye-opening discussion that challenges common narratives and offers a glimpse into an authentic Jewish perspective on faith, identity, and justice.

Also watch:

Jewish Rabbi gives an Islamic History lesson
https://youtu.be/xbI2S9wG--o

Support the show

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A quiet name change on a school register. Pronouns switched without a word to the parents. Then the reveal: at home she’s one child, at school she’s another. That’s the moment most families realise they can’t outsource their children’s formation—and it’s where our conversation with Yusuf Patel begins.

We dig into how parents can confidently navigate RSE in UK schools without retreating from education altogether. Yusuf explains why emailing questions (not just chatting at the gate) creates an audit trail that compels a school to reflect: what exactly is being taught, which parts are compulsory, and how will the religious background of pupils be respected? We unpack the latest legal clarity on biological sex, what it means for toilets, uniforms, social transitioning, and safeguarding, and how to press for policy updates that protect freedom of belief in the classroom. Real case studies show how calm complaints turned into apologies, revised policies, and cancelled sessions when materials crossed the line—proof that small, strategic wins protect many children.

Then we turn the lens homeward. Values are caught, not taught, so we talk about building a lived Islam that children can see: praying on time, modelling charity, showing gratitude and tawbah, and aligning daily choices with faith. Yusuf calls fathers to emotional availability—hugs, words of affection, and presence that inoculate against online echo chambers and peer pressure. And when a child says, “I’m not a boy,” we offer a roadmap rooted in love: slow down, look beneath the label, rebalance home routines, limit digital triggers, and seek a trusted Muslim counsellor who explores underlying needs rather than fast-tracking identity claims.

If you’re a parent, teacher, or governor looking for practical steps, legal awareness, and heart-level guidance, this conversation will equip you to engage schools wisely and strengthen your home. Subscribe, share with a fellow parent, and leave a review with the one question you’ll email your school this week. Your voice—and your love—can change the outcome.

Chapters:

0:00 Chapter 1 - Intro

1:41 Chapter 2 - The Challenge of Sexualised Education

2:10 Chapter 3 - Step One: Know What’s Being Taught

3:55 Chapter 4 - The Power of Engagement

5:35 Chapter 5 - Know Your Rights: The Parental Toolkit

8:54 Chapter 6 - Case Study: A Father’s Impact

11:25 Chapter 7 - Real-Life Incident: A Child Punished for His Faith

13:59 Chapter 8 - Every Success Counts

15:08 Chapter 9 - Teach Children to Speak Out

16:47 Chapter 10 - Courage in the Classroom

19:14 Chapter 11 - Gender Ideology in Primary Education

24:17 Chapter 12 - Advice to Parents

25:31 Chapter 13 - Develop a Child's Relationship With Allah

28:07 Chapter 14 - The Absent Father Problem

30:24 Chapter 15 - The Sunnah of Showing Love

34:18 Chapter 16 - How to Raise Dysfunctional Children

40:04 Chapter 17 - If your child comes to you and says...

46:15 Chapter 18 - Conclusion

This is part of our Guarding Innocence campaign. Sign up by visiting https://guardinginnocence.org

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Shaykh Abu Aaliyah explores modernity as a philosophical worldview that trades meaning for power, examining how Muslims can navigate these challenging waters while preserving their faith and purpose.

• Modernity is not about technology but the philosophical assumptions underpinning our world for the past 300-350 years

• Most people today don't realise what they've lost as meaninglessness has become the default philosophy of our culture

• Muslims are susceptible to "ideological osmosis" – absorbing modern ideas even while practicing their faith

• Rather than building a competing "juggernaut," Muslims need an “ark of salvation”, built on Quran, Sunnah and scholarly consensus

• We need scholars who understand both traditional Islamic knowledge and modernity's philosophical underpinnings

• Consumerism is perhaps the most spiritually destructive aspect of modernity, directly feeding into "hubb al-dunya" (love of worldly things)

• Many Muslims have become fixated on outward expressions of faith while neglecting the purification of the heart

• The path forward requires "shrinking our souls" rather than expanding them – cultivating humility instead of self-promotion

• Muslims must position themselves as healers offering the balm of Tawhid to a spiritually wounded world

• True progress isn't measured by how far or fast we move, but by maintaining our direction toward Allah

Receive one of 25 free copies of "A Muslim's Guide to Modernity" by leaving a thoughtful comment about what you've learned from this conversation.

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