As people worldwide struggle to cope today with the negative impact of man-made environmental degradation, the crucial step to a solution is understanding our place in the created world and its connection with our Creator. Dr. Amir Abdelzaher joins the podcast to discuss an Islamic vision for spiritual ecology, connecting theology with environmental ethics. 

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Introduction
2:34 - Challenging Definitions: What Is the Environment?
7:53 - The Creation of Allah: How We Value the Environment
17:39 - The Environment in Worship of Allah
21:08 -  The Environment as a Sign: The Contingency Argument for God
29:02 - Environmental Literacy: Deducing the Attributes of Allah
32:39 -  A Witness for or Against Us?
35:19 -  Reverence and Glorification: Resonating With the Environment
43:24 - Environmental Sensitivity
44:56 - Where the Environment Stands Today
50:30 - Representing the Divine: The Command of Abu Bakr and Its Principles
55:29 - Man Vs Nature: Who Takes Priority?
1:01:14 - Concrete Jungles and Reconnecting With the Environment

Ep. 90: Towards a Spiritual Environmentalism -Amir Abdelzaher

"I must never be the defender of my nafs, or thinking that I have nothing to change and others must change. I must always begin with the premise, that I have everything to change." Shaykh Mokhtar Maghroaui continues the conversation of the addiction of the nafs and how to begin taking the steps to changing them.

CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Introduction
03:09 - Homecoming Journey
05:46 - Facing Bankruptcy
10:23 - Embracing Emptiness
15:30 - Achieving Ultimate Freedom
17:59 - Understanding the Cup Analogy
22:12 - Exploring Khalifa Concept
27:50 - Spiritual Cleansing Beliefs
37:40 - Anwar: Divine Illumination
40:10 - Experiencing Allah's Light
44:40 - Self-Reflection on Faults
51:39 - Angelic Intervention Story
55:43 - Divine Support for the Devout
56:48 - Embracing Rectification
57:40 - Intermission Break


Purification Of The Soul Ep. 15: Beginning with Change - Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui

Dealing with a narcissist can be an unpleasant experience, whether it is in our family, workplace or community. How does narcissism connect with the Islamic discourse on the nafs and self-purification?  Aaatifa Shareef, a professional licensed counselor and instructor at Qalam Institute, bridges the fields of modern psychology and Islamic knowledge to discuss how we can manage our relationships with narcissists who can make our lives very difficult. 

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Narcissist-in-Chief and the Nafs
13:03 - Diagnosis and the Balance of Psychology and Islamic Knowledge
21:34 - A Strong Sense of Self vs. Self-Admiration
32:26 - Dealing With Problematic Family Members
35:26 - Severing Ties
37:13 -  Ihsaan, Birr & Boundaries
42:22 - Only Human: Not Letting It Affect Us
52:39 - Drawing Attention to Narcissism in a Loving Way
57:33 -  Finding a Support System 
1:01:29 - Respecting the Elderly vs. Questioning the Family
1:04:21 - Institutional Leadership
1:12:22 - Getting Cut Off
1:15:58 - Self-Care Regimen


Ep. 91: On Nafs and Narcissism: Managing Our Reactions - Aaatifa Shareef

Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui describes how the world around us is affected by what is inside of us, at both a micro and macro level, and how the worth of a civilization is by the existence of one's 'akhlaq.'  

CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Opening Du'a by Shaykh
1:25 - Inner World Reflection
1:48 - Tazkiyah Significance
1:54 - Civilization Value
10:55 - Truthful Poet's Wisdom
14:42 - Tazkiyah Focus on Allah
18:20 - Heart's Spiritual Progression
23:40 - Character in Islam
27:50 - Value of Good Companionship
34:08 - Salah's Spiritual Importance
37:40 - Benefits of Regular Salah
39:50 - Consequences of Neglecting Salah
43:25 - Salah's Influence on Morality


Purification Of The Soul Ep. 16: Khuluq & Khalq - My Inside Image  and My Outside Image - Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui

The relationship between God and the Messenger of God ﷺ was rooted in love, and the experience of knowing Allah through the door of love caused our Prophet ﷺ to be the beloved of God.  How can we connect with the Beloved of God ﷺ? Ustadha Zaynab Ansari from Tayseer Seminary returns to the Imanwire podcast to discuss how to find Prophetic love amidst the challenges of the modern age. 

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Introduction
2:19 - How Can We Embody Love of the Prophet?
4:59 - Physical Distance, Spiritual Proximity
12:33 - Finding Love Through Books and People
18:40 - The Roadblock of Reductionism
22:15 - Problematizing the Age of Aisha
26:09 - The Prophet ﷺ and Male Authority
32:09 - Finding the Feminine in the Prophetic Story
39:15 - Connecting to the Prophet ﷺ as a Woman
40:57 - Role of Aesthetics in Cultivating Prophetic Love


Ep. 92:  Embodying Love of the Prophet  - Zaynab Ansari

Shaykh Mokhtar defines the root of the word 'Salah' and what it means to connect our hearts to Allah ﷻ through the act of prayer. 

CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Introduction
9:43 - Significance of Salah in Daily Life
19:15 - Salah's Role in Islamic Faith
27:00 - Spiritual Impact of Neglecting Salah
45:40 - Prophet Muhammad's Final Teachings: Salah and Compassion
50:33 - Divine Support for the Patient Believers


Purification Of The Soul Ep. 17: Salah - The Connection - Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui

Dr. Shadee Elmasry from NBIC and Safina Society joins the ImanWire Podcast for a trip down memory lane with Moutasem and Ghuydar and a roundtable discussion on building spiritual communities. 

CHAPTERS: 

0:00 - Introduction 
2:26 - New York Vs New Jersey
5:38 - Building Intentional Community
10:13 - Fear of Communal Dhikr
14:22 - No More Secret Invites
18:31 - Spiritual Transformations in the Circles of Dhikr
22:54 - Qasidahs Are the Lessons for the Layman
24:56 - Drivers of Muslim Culture
31:00 - The Decline of Salafi Dawah
34:46 - Teenage Souls
40:38 - Spiritual Guides
45:35 - Right and Left Extremes and Influencers
52:16 - Waves of New Muslims
54:05 - Ibadah Over 'Ilm
55:23 - Spiritual Diets and Dinner Invitations
59:21 - Remembering Muhammad Shareef
1:01:14 -Differing Positions and Character
1:04:01 - The Saintly Worker


Ep. 93: Dhikr, Da'wah & Dinner Invitations - Shadee Elmasry

Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui describes the difference between Salah and the Christian definition of the word 'Prayer' and how we as Muslims must understand the incredible distinction. 

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Introduction 
1:58 - Importance of Salah 
9:24 - Salah as Enlightenment 
18:03 - Believers' Success
20:32 - Attaining Focus in Prayer 
28:03 - Distractions During Salah
33:15 - Salah Reflects Life 
35:42 - Daily Impact of Prayer
39:13 - Immediate Self-Improvement
41:05 - Understanding Through Similarity
42:40 - Dua for Purpose

Purification Of The Soul Ep. 18: The Difference between Salah and Prayer - Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui

Dr. Rania Awaad joins the ImanWire Podcast to discuss mental health and the history of the Maristans throughout the Muslim world. Ahead of their time, these institutions of healing provided an integrated system of care treating the mind, body and soul. Rooted in the foundations of the religion itself, their innovative approach provide a model for reimagining and revitalizing health care today. 

Rania Awaad, M.D. is the Co-Founder and President of Maristan, a nonprofit reviving the Islamic legacy of holistic healing through spiritually and culturally congruent clinical care, education, and training. She is also a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Stanford University and Director of the Stanford Muslim Mental Health & Islamic Psychology Lab. Dr. Awaad is a nationally recognized speaker, award-winning teacher, researcher, and author in both the Islamic and medical sciences. She holds traditional certifications (ijaza) in Qur’an, Islamic Law, and other Islamic sciences.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Introduction
2:09 - Human Psychology in the Qur'an and Sunnah
4:06 - Mental Health and the Objectives of the Shariah
5:02 - Majnun in the Hadith: A Treatable Condition 
8:52 - Ahead of Its Time: Maristans as a Place of Healing
15:15 - A Shared Ethos Across Time and Space
17:02 - Sustainability Through Awqaf
18:27 - Holistic Healing Rooted in the Religion
19:58 - Caring for the Poor: A Central Spiritual Motivation
22:11 - The Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual Framework
24:19 - Customized Sound Therapy and Engaging the Five Senses
27:26 - Talk Therapy
29:01 - Fitrah Alignment: Healing Through Architecture
35:53 -Ihsaan in Practice: The Responsibility of the Provider
39:26 - The Caregiver is the Mirror to the Patient
41:58 - Why Did Mental Illness Become Stigmatized?
47:03 - Colonization of the Mind
50:26 - Shifting Trends: Islamic Psychology and Contemporary Psychiatry
54:34 - Implementing the Maristan Model Today



Ep. 94: Maristans and Islamic Psychology: Reviving A Groundbreaking Legacy - Rania Awaad

In this episode, we delve into the intimate connection between the heart's sincerity and the physical form of worship. Discover the significance of spiritual guidance and how a profound Hadith reveals the intrinsic link between internal conviction and external expression in prayer.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Introduction
1:39 - Presence in Dua Significance
5:51 - Presence in Salah Significance
14:49 - Allah's Focus on Hearts
27:33 - Enhancing Divine Awareness through Salah
27:50 - Characteristics of the Depraved
36:37 - First Aspect of Faith to Fade
45:50 - Shade of Allah's Throne: First Recipient
47:05 - Shade of Allah's Throne: Second Recipient


Purification Of The Soul Ep. 19: The Hearts and Limbs in Salah - Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui

ImanWire is an online publication and multimedia platform focusing on articulating spirituality in a modern context, highlighting a diverse group of American Muslim voices. Visit https://www.almadina.org/studio/podcasts for the latest articles and podcast episodes.