Sana Gilani visits the tombs of her ancestors: the parents of the influential scholar and saint, Shaykh Abdul Qadir al-Gilani, in Iran.&nbsp;

My Ancestral Past: Visiting the Gilanis in Iran

Zara talks to author and Arabist  about her most recent book Stealing From The Saracens: How Islamic Architecture Shaped Europe. Diana explains how cultural exchanges between Europe and Islamic Syria shaped Gothic architecture, and why this has become a point of controversy in Europe today.

Shownotes: https://sacredfootsteps.com/2021/04/30/podcast-ep-34-how-islamic-architecture-shaped-europe/

How Islamic Architecture Shaped Europe

Zara talks to Dr Abu Bakr Sirajuddin Cook and Dr Rami Dawood about the history of Islam in Australia- beginning with the arrival of the Makassan traders, that pre-dates European settlement, to the Afghan Cameleers, who set up the first mosques in the country. They discuss the legacy of the early Muslims in the country, their interaction with Aboriginal tribes, and the discovery of a Sufi Qadiri manuscript in Broken Hill Mosque.&nbsp;

Islam in Australia: Makassan Traders, Afghan Cameleers & a Sufi Qadiri Connection

On the hills in and around Cape Town, you will find 300 year old Muslim graves belonging to notable individuals who arrived on the southern tip of the African continent in chains, as slaves or political prisoners of colonisers. They brought nothing with them, except faith in their hearts and the remembrance of God on their tongues. This is the story of the beautiful melodic tones of Cape Town dhikr and why it has such a unique sound. Spanning centuries and continents, it is a story of imprisonment and enslavement, colonialism and resistance; of sufi tariqahs, scholars and princes. It is a story of hardship, courage and perseverance, but above all, of faith in God.&nbsp; Written and hosted by

Cape Town's Circle of Saints

Islam arrived in the Malay world through “good word” and quickly established itself though various kingdoms that would later become centres of learning. Zain al-Haddad speaks to Syed Muḥiyuddīn Al-ʿAṭṭās about the major Muslim figures in the Malay world and the development of an indigenous Islamic scholarship which was nevertheless rooted in networks of authenticated scholarly chains across the centuries.

Islam in the Malay World

A discussion on the need to reintroduce metaphysics based upon the Islamic conception of reality and truth, a prominent theme found in the works of Professor Syed Naquib al-Attas. With Zain al-Haddad and Syed Muḥiyuddīn al-Attas.

The Reintroduction of Metaphysics |  Muḥiyuddīn Al-ʿAṭṭās

In episode one, host Yasmine Ahmed-Lea speaks to co-host & founder of Sacred Footsteps, Zara Choudhary, about the concept of 'spiritual travel' & the story behind the website. They also discuss the recent passing of the esteemed Mauritanian scholar Murabit al-Hajj.

Shownotes: https://www.sacredfootsteps.org/2018/07/26/001-spiritual-travel/

Sacred Footsteps - The Podcast 

Spiritual Travel: the Story Behind SF, Meeting Vietnamese Muslims & Visiting Murabit al-Hajj

Zara speaks to one half of spoken word duo Poetic Pilgrimage, poet and playwright, Sukina Pilgrim about her experience of visiting the rawdah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in Madina, and the challenges and joys that it entailed. 

They also discuss the experience of notable women in history when visiting Madina  and the difficulties women face today visiting the blessed rawdah, and why it is important they are spoken about. 

Sukina offers advice on dealing with negative emotions when expectations are not met, via her own personal experience and she tells us about her trip to Cairo straight after Madina to visit the female family members of the Prophet (pbuh) buried in the city, and how this was a healing experience for her.

Shownotes: https://www.sacredfootsteps.org/2018/08/30/podcast-ep-002-the-female-experience-of-the-rawdah-the-challanges-faced-by-women/

The Female Experience of the Rawdah & the Challanges Faced by Women

In episode three, Zara talks to Mustafa Briggs about the history of Islam in West Africa.

They discuss the roots of Islam in the region, the intellectual achievements of Timbuktu and other centres of learning, sufism and the empowerment of women through scholarship that can be seen throughout West African history. Mustafa also tells us about his upcoming lecture series 'Beyond Bilal'.

Shownotes: https://www.sacredfootsteps.org/2018/09/30/podcast-ep-003-islam-in-west-africa-empires-scholarship-sufism-the-empowerment-of-women/

Sacred Footsteps - The Podcast

Islam in West Africa: Empires, Scholarship, Sufism & the Empowerment of Women

In episode five, Zara speaks to Wafa Aouchiche, founder of Burgundy Roots, about their retreats in Jamaica. We talk about the Jamaican Muslim community and the 'Ras-Mus' (Rasta-Muslims), and the connections between the Caribbean & Algerian revolutionaries.  

We discuss the negative impact of foreign-owned island resorts and some of the problems Jamaica faces; the importance of meaningful travel, and whether Muslim travellers are compromising on experience of the sake of halal food.

Show notes: https://www.sacredfootsteps.org/2018/11/09/podcast-ep-005-jamaica-rasta-muslims-the-importance-of-meaningful-travel/

Jamaica, Rasta-Muslims & the Importance of Meaningful Travel

In episode six, Zara speaks to Muazzam Mir about the history of Islam in East Africa, particularly along the Swahili Coast. They talk about the role of travellers, traders and sufi tariqahs in the spread of Islam in the region, as well as noteworthy scholars. Muazzam refutes the colonialist idea that Africa was a land of darkness before the arrival of European powers, and tells us about the lost city of Gedi, a once sophisticated civilisation, built by Muslims, that was abandoned in mysterious circumstances.

Find all the links in the show notes: https://www.sacredfootsteps.org/2018/12/31/006-islam-in-east-africa-travellers-traders-tariqahs-on-the-swahili-coast-and-the-tale-of-a-lost-city/

Islam in East Africa: Traders & Tariqahs on the Swahili Coast and the Tale of a Lost City

Zara and Yasmine talk to Zirrar Ali and Zain Haider about the legacy of Edward Said and look at modern day travel photography through the lens of Orientalism. They discuss the ways in which ‘othering’ still takes place, and how well regarded photographers, intuitions and publications are still promoting that narrative. They also examine questions of identity and consent; and ‘self-Orientalisation’ among poc photographers and communities.

Show notes: https://www.sacredfootsteps.org/2019/01/16/podcast-ep-007-orientalism-modern-travel-photography-consent-identity-othering-in-the-instagram-age/

Orientalism & Modern Travel Photography: ‘Othering’ in the Instagram Age.

During the so-called ‘Dark Ages’, the Islamic world was undergoing was period of cultural enlightenment; at the same time, another empire, further east, was also flourishing. Historian Hassam Munir tells Zara about the cultural exchange between the Muslim and Chinese worlds. He talks about the history of Islam in China, explaining how and when it first reached the region and whether or not a Companion of the Prophet (pbuh) ever visited China. He also tells us about the Uyghur people and their history, as well as the influence of prominent Chinese Muslim scholars and the scholarship they produced.

Islam in China: The Question of Sahaba Visiting China, The Uyghurs & Chinese Muslim Scholars

Zara is joined by Sacred Footsteps' writers and photographers Afaq Ali and Omar Rais, and Chirag Wakaskar, a photographer based in Mumbai, India and creator of the @everydaymumbai project on Instagram. We discuss the response to our previous episode on Orientalism in travel photography, and Ali tells us about the 'Rooftop campaign' that demands National Geographic apologise for endorsing a 'racist and dehumanising' photo. Chirag talks about the problematic nature of 'Steve McCurry's India' and the ways in which photography is a tool of privilege within an Indian context, that often results in the 'othering' of the lower classes. Omar discusses the negative impact of 'voluntourism', a growing sector that is often linked to the 'white saviour' complex. Lastly, we talk about ways in which we can be proactive by supporting 'local' photographers.

Challenging Institutional Orientalism in Photography

Zara speaks to Shahroze Khan, a politics and history student and photographer, about the walled city of Lahore. Shahroze explains its history, from its somewhat contentious roots, steeped in Hindu mythology, to the heights of its splendour under the Mughals, followed by its brief period as capital of the Sikh Empire in the 19th century. He discusses the politicisation of history after Partition and the creation of Pakistan, and talks about his favourite buildings and monuments in the Old City. Lastly, we talk about whether enough is being done to preserve the Old City and its historic sites, as well as the controversy surrounding the Tourism Summit recently held by the government of Pakistan.

Lahore: Secrets of the Old City

Yaseen Kippie talks to Zara about the history of Islam in South Africa. He tells us about the early community, made up of influential people exiled to the Cape by the Dutch. A story of survival and resistance, Yaseen tells us about 'the revivers', individuals who ensured the preservation of Islam in South Africa.&nbsp;

Islam in South Africa: Survival, Preservation & Revival

Salahuddin Mazhary tells us about the history of Islam in the Caucasus, with a focus on Chechnya and Dagestan. He talks about the Sufi tariqas in the region and the role dhikr played in resisting the Russians. He also tells us about notable figures such as Imam Shamil and Kunta-haji and their legacies.

Islam in the Caucasus: Sufi Tariqahs, Imam Shamil and Resistance Through Dhikr

For our first ever crossover episode, Zara speaks to Imran Ali Malik, host of the American Submitter podcast. They discuss the concept of travel as a 'mutual unveiling' and share 'transformative' travel experiences. Imran talks about his time in Guinea Bissau, where tribes were converting to Islam after an elder dreamt of the Prophet Muhammad (saw), and tells us about the Wali Songo, the 'Nine Saints' of Indonesia.

Travel as 'Mutual Unveiling' | Visiting the 'Wali Songo' Nine Saints of Indonesia

Mustafa Briggs speaks to Professor Rudolph Ware, author of the 'Walking Quran', about models of liberation in West Africa. They talk about the West African approach towards power and religion, and consider the diverse response of the ulama to the challenges presented by the transatlantic slave trade and European colonialism.&nbsp;They also discuss how racist colonial policies had the unintended effect of preserving sufism and traditional Islam in the region.

Models of Liberation in West Africa

Omar, Yasmine and Shahroze discuss the history, evolution and spiritual significance of&nbsp;qawwali. Qawwali incorporates music, poetry and story-telling in to a celebration of Love. The singing of qawwali in Sufi shrines and mausoleums is a practice of samaa, a devotional practice that involves singing, dancing, playing musical instruments, praying, reciting poetry and participating in rituals in order to achieve a higher spiritual state. &nbsp;

Qawwali

Sacred Footsteps presents, Khayal Diaries, a series of personal accounts, narratives and critical reflections on topics like Islamic history, culture and travel. &nbsp; Zara Choudhary revisits her journey to Adam’s Peak, a mountain in Sri Lanka visited by Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and Christians for its association with several religious figures, including the Prophet Adam.&nbsp;

Adam's Peak: In Search of a Prophet

Alex Reynolds from  shares her experiences/conclusions/insights from more than four years of full time travel.&nbsp;

Lessons From Life on the Road

Abdullah Sattar explores the roots of Sufism in Punjab, which spread, in large part, through the words of poets that are still recited and resonate today.

Divine Love & Sufi Poetry of Punjab

Sacred Footsteps is dedicated to travel, history and culture from a Muslim perspective. We talk to writers, historians, artists and others, about travel as a spiritual practice, and discuss aspects of Muslim culture and history that are often overlooked.

Sacred Footsteps

Popular tracks