As’salamu alaikum Friends

Brother Ali is someone who I have been following for some time and it was a privilige to have interviewed him in Istanbul during Ramadhan 2024. He is a real Hip Hop star who has performed at festivals such as Glastonbury and Coachella, on TV shows with Jimmy Fallon and Conan O’Brien, and toured with Wu Tang Clan. He is a close friend of Yasiin Bey (Mos Def), Chuck D (Public Enemy), Rakim, KRS-One, and Dave Chappelle.

I had one big question I had been wondering about for weeks before the interview,

What strength of character does it take for a person with albinism and visual impairment to have the confidence to become a massive Hip Hop star who performs in front of thousands, whilst also converting to Islam and becoming a deeply spiritual person who is true to his faith?

I also wanted to get a glimpse into the life of Muslim artists in the entertainment industry (listen out for the story where Brother Ali ended up at a Hollywood party and locked himself in the bedroom, had a bath and waited until Fajr 😂 )

🎯 Be Sincere

A few times during the interview, Brother Ali spoke about not knowing how others relate to him. I was intrigued by this statement,

⛔️ Being cancelled

Brother Ali relocated from USA to Istanbul when he was broke. As an independent artist, he has been cancelled and marginalised since October 2023 due to his outspoken support for the Palestinian 🇵🇸 people. This came at a time when his new album Love and Service was being released so his livelihood has been affected because of his views.

We must support independent artists like Brother Ali and you can help him by joining his caravan.

Check out the tracks on his new album, especially the following,

The Collapse

Cadillac

Enjoy the episode !

✍️ Do take a moment to subscribe to the podcast and leave a comment on Apple Podcasts as it helps other people to find the show.

Look after yourself and your family.

Wa'alaikum Salam

Dr Aman

Host

🎧 Highlights

In this episode, we discussed:

🎤 Early Life

🎤 Finding acceptance within the black community

🎤 Conversion to Islam age 15

🎤 Albinism

🎤 Cancel Culture

🎤 The Entertainment Industry

🎤 Relocating from USA to Istanbul

🎤 Hip Hop Legends

🎤 Music and Islam

🎤 Fame and Celebrity

🎤 How therapy has helped me

🎤 Sacrifice. My Legacy

🎤 New album: Love and Service

🎙️ Full interview

🎥 Watch on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/muslimcentric?sub_confirmation=1

🎧 Listen and subscribe

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⏱️ Recent episodes

🎬 Palestine, ‘Aicha’, Fame, Faith & Fatherhood

Isam B of Outlandish | Podcast Ep.60

🎬 Are Muslim stand-up comedians funny?

Azeem Muhammad | Podcast Ep.59

🎬 Perspectives on Gaza, Israel, Islamophobia & the media

British Muslim leaders | Podcast Ep.58

🎬 Understanding suicidal thoughts & Muslim Mental Health

World expert Professor Rory | Podcast Ep.57

🎬 Are you funny or not? The Godfather of Muslim Comedy

Preacher Moss | Podcast Ep.56

🎬 It was like the Hunger Games! Islamic Scholar from Scotland

Shaykh Ruzwan Mohammed | Podcast Ep.55

🎬 My secret meeting with Nelson Mandela in prison

Ebrahim Rasool | Podcast Ep.54

🎬 From Jimi Hendrix & Rolling Stones to Mecca & Saints

Photographer Peter Sanders | Podcast Ep.53

🎬 The Problem with Muslim Charities

Islamic Relief Founder Dr Hany El-Banna | Ep.52

- Early Life & Albinism: Brother Ali shares his experiences growing up with albinism and finding acceptance within the black community.

- Conversion to Islam: Hear about Brother Ali's spiritual journey and conversion to Islam at the age of 15.

- Advocacy & Cancel Culture: Discover how his advocacy for Palestine and other causes has impacted his career, leading to his "cancellation" by some in the industry.

- Entertainment Industry: From performing on Jimmy Fallon and Conan O’Brien to appearances at Glastonbury and Coachella, Brother Ali reflects on his changing career.

- Relocation to Istanbul: Brother Ali discusses his move to Istanbul and his reflections on America.

- Relationships with Legends: Insights into his connections with Yasiin Bey, Chuck D of Public Enemy, Rakim, KRS-One, and Dave Chappelle.

Brother Ali’s openness and honesty provide a unique look into the mainstream entertainment world and the challenges faced by Muslims. His story is one of resilience, faith, and unwavering commitment to truth.

#BrotherAli #HipHop #Islam

In this episode, we discuss:

• Relocating from USA to Istanbul

• Being authentic, challenges in my career

• Albinism. Black people taught me how to live life.

• My conversion to Islam - Part 1

• HipHop legends - KRS One, Chuck D

• My conversion to Islam - Part 2

• Music and Islam

• Entertainment Industry

• Albinism

• Fame and Celebrity: Dave Chappelle.

• How therapy has helped me

• Sacrifice

• My legacy

• Love and Service – New Album

• What to listen to me if you have never heard my music

• I want to help those who want to come to Islam

USEFUL LINKS

- Watch this episode on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/muslimcentric?sub_confirmation=1

- Brother Ali

https://www.instagram.com/brotheraliisblind/

https://www.facebook.com/brotherali

https://www.youtube.com/@BrotherAli_Travelers

- NEW ALBUM: Brother Ali's new album Love and Service - available on Spotify and other streaming platforms, as well as physical copies at https://www.brotherali.com/

- MUST-WATCH VIDEOS

The Collapse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0WACI8OJSI

Cadillac: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxZHHkBSQbo

- Support Independent Artists like Brother Ali, whose voices are often silenced. By supporting independent music, we ensure that important messages and diverse voices continue to be heard.

SUPPORT US

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As’salamu alaikum Friends

If you are a similar age to me, you will remember the song Aicha. It resonated with me in such a profound way as it honoured the struggle and love of our mothers, daughters and the women in our lives. It was a global hit and a number 1 in Germany. The video has had 72 million views, while Callin U has over 147 million views!

🎵 Outlandish

Outlandish’s music was appealing for many of us when we were in our 20s and 30s because we grew up with the start of the nasheed genre and wanted something more. Outlandish’s music had a message that was so necessary for Muslims in the West after 9/11 as we were forced to reassess our place in the world. Just take a listen to Guantanemo.

The band of three friends from Denmark were signed to a major record label. Their music even featured on the video game FIFA 07. However it was the complementary backgrounds of a Moroccan Muslim (Isam), Pakistani Muslim (Waqas) and Catholic of Cuban/Honduran descent (Lenny) that made their sound so unique.

They stayed together for 20 years and then went their own ways, with Isam B releasing songs as a solo artist. He recently released a beautiful nasheed in multiple languages in Ramadan 2024 called Celebrating Ramadan and the mesmerising Walking in Medina.

🎉 MuslimFest 2023

Fast forward a few decades and I saw Isam perform at the MuslimFest in Toronto in Summer 2023 (sneak peak in picture/video below). I reached out to him and he was kind enough to agree to an interview.

🎙️ My interview with Isam

I was nervous before the interview so I did a lot of prep work. I felt I was eventually ready for it…but then the dreaded technical issues (gremlins, jinn or whatever you want to call them) kicked in on the day despite my checks. My Plan A and Plan B for the recording wasn’t working…so we went to Plan C ! That explains the slightly different video quality than usual but I don’t think it affected the amazing content in any way.

I loved the interview ❤️❤️

We spoke about the struggles and resilience of his father who was an undocumented migrant from Morocco to Denmark. There are so many parallels to the migrants to the UK, especially Scotland, and I refer to an amazing project which I have had the pleasure be involved with, Colourful Heritage. I love his recollection about road trips from Denmark to Morocco 🚗 !

There is so much to consider about our inter-generational stories and the narratives we pass on between generations. Isam has written about this in his book, Fædreland (Fatherland) which is in Danish but hopefully in English and Arabic soon. He speaks about his father and also his own role as a father.

We speak about Isam’s evolution from a shy introvert into a global superstar, and how he coped with the challenges of fame and celebrity whilst staying true to his faith ☪.

He tells me about saying no to performing on Big Brother, turning down Netflix acting roles, how Hajj 🕋 came at the right time for him, and his lifelong support for Palestine 🇵🇸🍉.

🇵🇸 Palestine

Palestine has been close to Isam’s heart since birth. In recent months he has been active on Danish mainstream media emphasising the need to work towards justice and peace in Palestine. He discusses the deafening silence of some artists with regards to recent events in Gaza.

A very powerful track from Outlandish’s collection is Look Into My Eyes which is based on a poem by Palestinian teenager Gihad Ali called Eye to Eye. Although the poem was released over 20 years ago, it is just as relevant today. Isam reveals how he had to edit/remove some of the poem verses for the song.

🇵🇸 Highlights

In this episode, we discussed:

🎤 Parent’s journey from Morocco to Denmark

🎤 The significance of preserving and celebrating our heritage

🎤 Early childhood influences

🎤 The formation of Outlandish

🎤 9/11, Hajj and the timing of the song Aicha’s success

🎤 Palestine and silence of some artists

🎤 Entertainment industry and pressure to sacrifice your morals

🎤 The end of Outlandish after 20 years. Advice on collaborating with friends

🎤 Sacrifice

🎤 Mental health. Navigating tough times

🎤 Legacy and future projects

Enjoy the episode !

✍️ Do take a moment to subscribe to the podcast and leave a comment on Apple Podcasts as it helps other people to find the show.

Look after yourself and your family.

Wa'alaikum Salam

Dr Aman

Host

YouTube

🎥 Watch on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/muslimcentric?sub_confirmation=1

🎧 Listen and subscribe

Apple https://apple.co/2R1oWbG

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Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3tD3FWS

TuneIn http://tun.in/pjMCA

Stitcher https://bit.ly/2ymnD0x

Other platforms https://linktr.ee/muslimcentric

We explore his Moroccan roots and his relationship with his father, who moved to Denmark in 1967 as an undocumented migrant We speak about Isam’s evolution from a shy introvert into a global superstar, and how he coped with the challenges of fame and celebrity whilst staying true to his faith.

He tells me about saying no to performing on Big Brother, turning down Netflix acting roles, how Hajj came at the right time for him, and his lifelong support for Palestine.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Parent’s journey from Morocco to Denmark

• The significance of preserving and celebrating our heritage

• Early childhood influences

• The formation of Outlandish

• 9/11, Hajj and the timing of the song Aicha’s success

• Palestine and silence of some artists

• Entertainment industry and pressure to sacrifice your morals

• The end of Outlandish after 20 years. Advice on collaborating with friends

• Sacrifice

• Mental health. Navigating tough times

• Legacy and future projects

#outlandish #aicha #isamb

USEFUL LINKS

- Watch this episode on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/muslimcentric?sub_confirmation=1 

Aicha (Video) https://youtu.be/f0nFTdKlKLw

Look Into My Eyes - Palestine (Video) https://youtu.be/DkwxMYiyd_M

Celebrating Ramadan (Video) https://youtu.be/ubiNIqIxmJM

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/isamb_official/

Book: Fædreland / Fatherland by Isam B and Tarek Omar

SUPPORT US

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As’salamu alaikum Friends

I have decided to upload some of the early Desert Island Gems interviews to our YouTube channel - please do subscribe if you have not done so already ! The first one I ever released was with Babar Ahmad and the story behind it is intriguing.

Who is Babar ?

Babar is a British Muslim from London who was arrested by the Met Police in 2003. During the ordeal, described in this article, they forced him on the floor and cuffed him.

He later spent 11 years in prison in the UK and US, detained without charge during the War on Terror after 9/11, and released in 2015. He tells his story in this Guardian article.

Interviewing Babar

I did not know Babar but we had a mutual friend. Babar was kind enough to do the interview so I flew to London to meet him. I did not know what to expect, having never met someone who had been imprisoned for so long. He said he had somewhere where we could record so we agreed to meet outside a Tube station. I stood there in anticipation and was quite nervous. He then appeared from round the corner and we exchanged salam before getting in his car. We drove a short distance and headed towards an industrial unit. My anxiety rose and the thought popped in my mind briefly, ‘What if he really is a dangerous person?’. We pulled up to a storage unit and he asked me to follow him in. There were some dark corridors and he led me to a door with a padlock. He opened it up and all I saw was….boxes and boxes of honey !

Much to my relief, Babar had taken me to his business (Latin Honey Shop) that he set up after leaving prison - selling honey from South America. He had met Latino inmates who told him about this amazing honey so he decided to research it and sell it upon his release.

I balanced my laptop and microphone on top of some of these boxes and we perched ourselves on the other boxes. Thankfully, it was a quiet place for the recording but the lights were on a motion-sensor timer so the lights would go off every so often as we were doing the interview and we would have to move to trigger them.

Enjoy the interview

I hope you enjoy listening to the interview as you visualise Babar and I in a storage unit in the dark, sitting on boxes of honey as we discuss his experiences.

You can watch the interview on YouTube and use the timestamps to jump to the relevant section.

Below are some of the Desert Island Gems Babar would take with him on a desert island.

💎 Gem

Do you suppose that you will enter the Garden without first having suffered like those before you?

They were afflicted by misfortune and hardship, and they were so shaken that even [their] messenger and the believers with him cried,

‘When will God’s help arrive?’

Truly, God’s help is near.

Quran 2:214

💎 Gem

Everything can be taken away from a man except his choice on how he reacts to that.

Dr. Viktor Frankl. Holocaust survivor and author of 'Man’s Search for Meaning'

💎 Gem

Be happy for this moment. For this moment is your life.

Omar Khayyam. 11th century Persian poet

💎 Gem

There is neither happiness nor misery in the world;

there is only the comparison of one state with another, nothing more.

He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness.

We must have felt what it is to die that we may appreciate the enjoyments of life.

Live, then, and be happy, and never forget, that until the day God will deign to reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is contained in these two words, 'Wait and Hope'.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Feel free to leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the interview itself.

✍️ Do take a moment to subscribe to the podcast and leave a comment on Apple Podcasts as it helps other people to find the show.

Look after yourself and your family.

Wa'alaikum Salam

Dr Aman

Host

The MuslimCentric Podcast

🎥 Watch on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/muslimcentric

🎧 Listen and subscribe

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YouTube

As’salamu alaikum Friends

A few weeks after releasing my interview with American Muslim comedian Preacher Moss (episode #56) I was delighted to get a message from brother Azeem saying he was coming to Scotland from USA and would love to do an interview. Azeem is perhaps best known for being part of the Allah Made Me Funny comedy tour which travelled the world from 2003. You will love the trailer.

Allah Made Me Funny was founded by Preacher Moss and featured comedians such as Azeem, Azhar Usman (who went on to the Marvel Cinematic Universe) and Mohammed Amer (who had his own Netflix show Mo).

I think you have to be of a certain age to appreciate the significance of the Allah Made Me Funny Tour at a time when there were very few Muslims in the West involved in entertainment.

Although Azeem speaks about this period of his life in the interview, what caught me by surprise was hearing about his upbringing and background as there was very little I had found online about his formative experiences during my research. I am grateful that he was so honest and open about the adversities he faced growing up and the remarkable change when he saw Louis Farrakhan (Nation of Islam) on the Donahue show.

One of the Gems that Azeem picked was the following verse from the Quran,

💎 Gem

Each community has its own direction to which it turns: race to do good deeds and wherever you are, God will bring you together. God has power to do everything.

Quran 2:148 (Translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem)

After the interview we had the pleasure of visiting the Ottoman Coffeehouse which Azeem loved due to his passion for coffee. The owner recognised Azeem and they had a lengthy discussion about coffee beans and all sorts.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Early life and childhood.

• Struggling to fit in as a child. Feelings of loneliness and abandonment

• Racism

• Gangster rap and hip-hop

• Gang culture

• Becoming a drug dealer

• Louis Farrakhan and conversion to Nation of Islam

• Becoming a Muslim

• Global comedy tour ‘Allah Made Me Funny’

• Showing Western Muslims how to laugh

• Sacrifices

• Balancing work and home life

• Legacy

Feel free to leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the interview itself.

✍️ Do take a moment to subscribe to the podcast and leave a comment on Apple Podcasts as it helps other people to find the show.

Look after yourself and your family.

Wa'alaikum Salam

Dr Aman

Host

🎥 Watch on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/muslimcentric

🎧 Listen and subscribe

Apple https://apple.co/2R1oWbG

Spotify https://spoti.fi/2UPDM6l

Google Podcasts https://bit.ly/341wcd9

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Other platforms https://linktr.ee/muslimcentric

YouTube

Subscribe now

Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, Azeem talks candidly about growing up in difficult circumstances as an introverted young man who loved to read. His life was shaped by the rise of hip-hop and gangster rap. His attempt to become a drug dealer was short-lived due to the strong guiding presence of his mother.

Azeem’s life was turned around in an instant when he saw Louis Farrakhan on TV, leading him to join the Nation of Islam. From that point on, a journey of self-discovery and discipline unfolded, intertwined with his pursuit of comedy.

Azeem shares his experiences of providing entertainment to Western Muslims in the aftermath of 9/11, shedding light on the complexities of belonging and acceptance, particularly for Black Muslims within the broader Muslim community.

Join us as we delve into Azeem's story of resilience, transformation, and the power of laughter in navigating life's challenges.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Early life and childhood.

• Struggling to fit in as a child. Feelings of loneliness and abandonment

• Racism

• Gangster rap and hip-hop

• Gang culture

• Becoming a drug dealer

• Louis Farrakhan and conversion to Nation of Islam

• Becoming a Muslim

• Global comedy tour ‘Allah Made Me Funny’

• Showing Western Muslims how to laugh

• Sacrifices

• Balancing work and home life

• Legacy

#comedy #muslimcomedy #noi #nationofislam #farrakhan #AllahMadeMeFunny #islam #humour #muslim #racism #funny

USEFUL LINKS

- Watch this episode on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/muslimcentric

- Azeem Muhammad

https://azeemcomedy.com/

https://www.instagram.com/azeemcomedy/

https://www.facebook.com/AzeemComedy/

https://twitter.com/AzeemComedy

- Allah Made Me Funny

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allah_Made_Me_Funny

===

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In this episode, we are honoured to host a panel featuring prominent Islamic scholar Shaykh Ruzwan Mohammed, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain Zara Mohammed, and seasoned media relations strategist Osama Saeed.

Together, they engage in an enriching dialogue covering a wide spectrum of topics, offering insights and perspectives that promise to broaden your understanding and stimulate critical thinking. 

Topics discussed include #gaza #palestine #islamophobia #muslims #israel #antisemitism #muslimleadership #media #piersmorgan #mainstreammedia #theoryofchange

In this episode:
0:00:00 Introductions
0:02:00 How has the Gaza war affected you?
0:03:00 How has the Gaza war affected you? (Zara)
0:05:19 How has the Gaza war affected you? (Osama)
0:08:07 How has the Gaza war affected you? (Shaykh Ruzwan)
0:13:10 Has there been an effective response from the UK Muslim community ?
0:31:17 Zara's experience of the Muslim community after travelling to 300 organisations
0:36:09 Mosques, Imams and Vision
0:37:30 UK versus USA Imams and Mosques
0:38:00 A solution to the Palestine conflict
0:40:05 Who should Muslims vote for in the UK and USA ? Has the UK Labour party lost the Muslim vote?
0:44:00 Muslims engaging in politics
0:47:25 Has the push for Muslims to be involved in politics in the West been a waste of time?
0:55:00 Osama's Theory of Change for peace in Palestine - the art of persuasion 
0:56:55 Joe Biden and Israel
1:00:55 Shaykh Ruzwan: The community inflicting this is a traumatised community
1:01:33 Normalisation of Israel by Saudi Arabia, UAE and other countries
1:04:00 Muslim countries and their position
1:06:53 What do Non-Muslims think of the Muslims?
1:10:10 What does NOT change? Example of Amazon
1:11:44 What has Zara learnt about the Media Machine? 
1:15:23 Zara's response to "Do you condemn Hummus?"
1:17:08 Should Zara appear on the Piers Morgan show? Osama's advice from a media relations expert
1:20:22 The Muslims need a Message. Tackling Islamophobia. Anti-Semitism.
What needs to happen? What do Muslims have to offer?
1:23:30 Politicians and Food banks. A loss of dignity
1:25:25 Shaykh Ruzwan's 'controversial' views on the media, Muslim messaging, communication, Muslims in the civic space, Islamophobia and the Prophetic example
1:30:30 Challenges of bringing on board Islamic Scholars to address current issues such as Islamophobia
1:36:00 Solving Zara's dilemma - how to get the right Islamic Scholars involved?
1:38:24 An alternative solution to Islamophobia - examples from the LGBT community. Pride, Stonewall and the Rainbow
1:41:25 The reality of Muslims being victimised and attacked
1:46:05 A question of courage. Come out of your echo chamber
1:47:40 Are there intelligent Muslims forming a vision and long-term strategy for Muslims in the UK?
1:53:57 Concluding messages

Recorded 31 January 2024

USEFUL LINKS

- SHAYKH RUZWAN MOHAMMED
Regarded as one of the foremost Islamic scholars in the West. 

Desert Island Gems interview: https://youtu.be/HuoEr_L_KXw

https://www.isyllabus.org/teachers/

https://www.iidr.org/people/21-ruzwan-mohammed/

- ZARA MOHAMMED
Award-Winning Leadership Strategist, Public Speaker & Consultant
Regarded amongst the most influential women in the UK today.

https://twitter.com/ZaraM01

https://www.instagram.com/zara_m02

https://zara-mohammed.com/

- OSAMA SAEED
Director of comms, policy and campaigns at Shelter
Former Amnesty International's comms director
Former Al Jazeera Media Network's head of comms

https://osamabhutta.scot/

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/osamasbhutta

https://instagram.com/osamasbhutta

https://twitter.com/osamasbhutta

===

SUPPORT US

If you benefited from The MuslimCentric Podcast, please subscribe, leave a review, comment and rating.

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER

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Website: https://www.muslimcentricpodcast.com

Muslims die by suicide too.

This may be an uncomfortable reality for many within religious communities but is an important issue for us to discuss. Research suggests that discussing suicide does not make it more likely but may actually help people get the right support.

My guest is Professor Rory O’Connor, a Professor of Health Psychology at the University of Glasgow who has been working on suicide research for over 25 years. As the head of the Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory at the University of Glasgow, President of the International Association for Suicide Prevention, and Past President of the International Academy of Suicide Research, Professor Rory brings a wealth of knowledge to the conversation.

As well as contributing to BBC documentaries on the subject, his award-winning book “When it is darkest: Why people die by suicide and what we can do to prevent it” addresses the common questions, myths and misunderstandings surrounding suicide.

In this interview, Professor Rory not only shares leading research on the topic but also opens up about his personal experiences of losing people to suicide. This episode aims to foster understanding, dispel myths, and encourage dialogue around a critical issue affecting communities worldwide.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How to talk about suicide

• Why Rory wrote the book

• Patterns of suicide throughout our lifetime

• Suicide in men

• Importance of sleep

• Understanding deliberate self-harm and suicide

• Coping with the loss of a loved one

• The unpredictability of grief

• Why people die by suicide – the Integrated Motivational-Volitional (IMV) model

• Advice if you have suicidal thoughts

• Social media and news guidelines

• Faith, religiosity and suicide

• Suicide in Muslim countries and around the world

• Is suicide preventable?

• Helping those who are suicidal

• What are the signs someone may be suicidal?

• Developing a safety plan

• A Muslim parent’s story of losing his child by suicide

USEFUL LINKS

- Watch this episode on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/muslimcentric

- Professor Rory O’Connor

https://twitter.com/suicideresearch

https://suicideresearch.info/

https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/healthwellbeing/staff/roryoconnor/

https://www.instagram.com/oconnor_roryc

Trustee & Podcast Host, MQ Mental Health Research

https://www.mqmentalhealth.org/category/mq-open-mind-podcast/

President, International Association for Suicide Prevention

https://www.iasp.info/our_team/rory-oconnor/

Past President, International Academy for Suicide Research

https://suicide-research.org/

- Book

When it is darkest: Why people die by suicide and what we can do to prevent it

Professor Rory O’Connor

https://amzn.eu/d/deKVide

- Article

A Muslim parent’s story of losing his child by suicide

https://inayatscorner.wordpress.com/2021/07/15/goodbye-to-my-dear-son-adam-salih/

https://inayatscorner.wordpress.com/2022/07/06/my-son-adam-suicide-one-year-on/

SUPPORT US

If you benefited from The MuslimCentric Podcast, please subscribe, leave a review, comment and rating.

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER

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**GETTING HELP IF YOU ARE SUICIDAL**

Support is available. Inshallah things will get better so do not feel you have nowhere to turn. Here are some options to consider.

1-Call or text a helpline

Supports in UK – Note services may vary depending on where you live

- Samaritans: For everyone

Call 116 123

Email jo@samaritans.org

- Muslim Youth Helpline: Faith and culturally sensitive support by phone, live chat, WhatsApp or email. We offer non-judgemental, confidential support 7 days a week, 365 days a year including bank holidays and Eid.

https://myh.org.uk/

- Papyrus: Prevention of young suicide HOPELINE247

Call 0800 068 41 41

Text 07860 039967

Email pat@papyrus-uk.org

- Shout Crisis Text Line: For everyone

Text "SHOUT" to 85258

- YoungMinds Crisis Messenger: For people under 19

Text "YM" to 85258

- Worldwide: Please contact support in your country.

Find A Helpline - International Association for Suicide Prevention

https://findahelpline.com/i/iasp

https://www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts/

2-Talk to someone you trust

This could be a friend or family member.

3-Contact a health professional

In the UK, you can,

Call your GP

Call the NHS 111 or 999 if it is an emergency

Beyond his success in the stand-up comedy realm, Preacher Moss's talents extended to writing for renowned figures such as Damon Wayans and George Lopez. Despite achieving trailblazing success as an American Muslim comedian, Moss, often referred to as the O.G. (Original Gangster), deliberately resisted the allure of mainstream comedy career opportunities, steadfast in his commitment to uphold his faith without compromise.

Born into a Christian family in Washington DC in the 1960s, Moss's formative years were shaped by the harsh realities of racism. His parents, both civil rights activists, embody the spirit of change—his father a Black Panther, and his mother having crossed paths with Martin Luther King Jr.

As a Sunni Muslim, Preacher Moss was inspired by Imam Warith Deen Muhammad but also benefited from the discipline and self-dignity espoused by the Nation of Islam.

Delving into his unique perspective, Preacher Moss shares his experiences of being Black within the Muslim community, shedding light on how he navigated the challenges of racism within this diverse group.

His story not only entertains but also serves as a platform for fostering understanding and unity. Listen in as Preacher Moss opens up about his unique journey, offering valuable insights and inspiring anecdotes that transcend the boundaries of comedy.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Early life and childhood. Growing up in an active civil rights household.

• Racism as a child

• Becoming a Muslim

• Origins and strategy behind ‘Allah Made Me Funny’

• Muslim comedians in the mainstream

• Comedy mentor Dick Gregory

• Imam Warith Deen Muhammad and the Nation of Islam

• Personal sacrifices

• Meeting Muhammad Ali

#comedy #muslimcomedy #AllahMadeMeFunny #islam #humour #muslim #racism

USEFUL LINKS

- Watch this episode on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/muslimcentric

- Preacher Moss

https://preachermoss.com/my-story

https://www.instagram.com/preachermoss

https://twitter.com/PreacherMOSS

https://www.facebook.com/preachermoss

https://www.youtube.com/@PreacherM1

- Allah Made Me Funny

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allah_Made_Me_Funny

- Interview with Brother Ali (Travelers Podcast)

https://youtu.be/iX9__GYxkv8?si=UKO6gPcXVGxZgALr

https://youtu.be/9iRZ3XRcPPo?si=p_jNPSuxP9CKwFX3

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If you benefited from The MuslimCentric Podcast, please subscribe, leave a review, comment and rating.

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER

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On his return to the UK, he authored the iSyllabus Islamic Studies curriculum which has been taught to over 7000 students in 15 cities for more than 10 years. Since the pandemic, it has moved online and now has a global audience.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Early life and childhood

• Difficulty reading at a young age

• Involvement in street violence

• Studying in Glasgow, Turkey, Cairo, Yemen and Damascus

• Life as a student in the Middle East

• Developing a ground-breaking English Islamic studies programme for a Western audience

• Personal sacrifices

• Impact on physical health

• Character and personality

• Legacy

• Relaxation, humour and leisure

#isyllabus #islamic #islamicstudies #islam #quran #education #muslim

USEFUL LINKS

- Watch this episode on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/muslimcentric

- Biographies of Shaykh Ruzwan

https://www.isyllabus.org/teachers/

https://www.iidr.org/people/21-ruzwan-mohammed/

- iSyllabus Islamic Studies programme

https://www.isyllabus.org/

https://www.facebook.com/iSyllabus/

https://www.instagram.com/isyllabus/

https://youtube.com/@iSyllabus/

https://isyllabusforschools.org/

SUPPORT US

If you benefited from The MuslimCentric Podcast, please subscribe, leave a review, comment and rating.

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER

https://bit.ly/newsletter-muslimcentric

KEEP IN TOUCH

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/muslimcentric

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muslimcentric

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muslimcentricpodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/muslimcentric

Website: https://www.muslimcentricpodcast.com/

For those unfamiliar with the history of apartheid in South Africa, Ambassador Ebrahim describes what it was like. Key milestones include Nelson Mandela’s release from prison in 1990 after 27 years. He went on to become the President of South Africa in 1994.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Formative early life experiences growing up in an apartheid system

• Student politics

• Surviving in prison with a programme of Quran study

• Anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobia

• Muslim leadership in the West

• Muslim politicians balancing faith issues

• Navigating politics, slavery, Islamophobia and LGBT

• Balancing responsibilities to wife, family and home life during political office

• Personal sacrifice

USEFUL LINKS

Watch this episode on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/muslimcentric

Article on Islamophobia (2010) from Arches Quarterly magazine

‘South African Muslims Over Three Centuries: From the Jaws of Islamophobia to the Joys of Equality’

Link to article

Social Media

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ambassadorasool

SUPPORT US

If you benefited from The MuslimCentric Podcast, please rate, review, like and share.

KEEP IN TOUCH

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/muslimcentric

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Website: https://www.muslimcentricpodcast.com/

Born in the 1940s in London, he became a professional photographer and took iconic pictures of Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and many more bands of the 1960s.

After becoming a Muslim, he took the early photos of the Hajj and has been taking photos ever since. Brother Peter Sanders has produced books which contain photos that will take your breath away.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Early life in London

• Becoming a photographer

• The 1960s and 70s

• Becoming a Muslim

• Art and Culture in Islam

• The art of spirituality

• British Muslim identity

• Iconic photos

• Meeting saints and sages

• Sacrifice

USEFUL LINKS

Watch this episode on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/muslimcentric

Websites including photo galleries

https://petersanders.com/

https://www.theexemplars.com/

https://www.artofintegration.co.uk/

Books

• The Art of Integration

• In the Shade of the Tree

• A visit to the Prophet

• Meeting with Mountains

• Seek Knowledge even in China

• Exemplars for our time

Available from https://petersanders.com/product-category/books/

Social Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/petersandersphotos/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petersandersphotos/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/petersanders_

SUPPORT US

If you benefited from The MuslimCentric Podcast, please rate, review, like and share.

KEEP IN TOUCH

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Website: https://www.muslimcentricpodcast.com/

The interview was recorded during Dr Hany’s visit to Glasgow, Scotland as part of a film festival showing a documentary about his life. It is a must watch film – see link below.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Early life in Egypt

• Life as a medical doctor

• Marriage

• Starting Islamic Relief

• 3 key life decisions (1) leaving Cairo age 27 (2) leaving Medicine age 45 (3) leaving Islamic Relief age 58

• Being a failure

• Critical views of Muslim Charities

• Sacrifice

• Personal development

• Being a visionary

• Growth of organisations beyond the vision of the founder

• Legacy

USEFUL LINKS

Watch this episode on Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/muslimcentric

Documentary - Hany El-Banna: The man behind a major global charity (Al Jazeera World)

https://youtu.be/nDBtIOXjJIs

Dr Hany Links

Youtube (2800+ videos): https://www.youtube.com/@hanyelbanna-2162

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theflyingdoctor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/drhanyelbanna

SUPPORT US

If you benefited from The MuslimCentric Podcast, please rate, review, like and share.

KEEP IN TOUCH

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/muslimcentric

Facebook: muslimcentric

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Website: https://www.muslimcentricpodcast.com/

He is well known for translating a number of works into English, including co-translating volumes of In the Shade of the Quran by Sayyid Qutb.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• My relationship with Malcolm X

• Early life growing up in Libya

• Developing a relationship with the Quran

• Encountering ‘In the Shade of the Quran’ by Sayyid Qutb

• Islamic Societies and FOSIS (Federation of Student Islamic Societies)

• Sayyid Qutb, Milestones and In the Shade of the Quran

• The roots of Islamic activism in the UK (1960s+)

• Do Muslims read enough?

• Muslim students today

• Being placed on Gaddafi’s liquidation list

• Witnessing the assassination of his friend

• Opposing Gaddafi and accepting his life will be in danger

• Reflections on the Arab Spring

• South Africa and the legacy of Imam Abdullah Haron

• Advice on deepening our relationship with the Quran

Interview recorded 8 March 2020.

USEFUL LINKS

About Ashur

http://ashurshamis.com/personal/about-ashur/

The Colonel’s Stray Dogs (Trailer)

https://youtu.be/WxRs6DmLAUY

In the Shade of the Quran

https://www.kubepublishing.com/collections/vendors?q=Sayyid%20Qutb&contributorID=100063

Imam Abdullah Haron

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdullah_Haron

SUPPORT US

If you benefited from The MuslimCentric Podcast, please rate, review, like and share.

KEEP IN TOUCH

Website: https://www.muslimcentricpodcast.com/

Facebook: muslimcentric

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Panelists:

- Shaykh Abdul Aziz Ahmed: World renowned scholar and educationalist based in Glasgow.

https://www.facebook.com/abdul.azizahmed.906

- Saiqa Naz: Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)

https://twitter.com/saiqa_naz

- Dr Aman Durrani: Consultant Psychiatrist based in Glasgow

Questions:

• Is mental illness associated with punishment from God?

• Mind, Body and Soul

• Importance of Breathing

• Struggling to implement the CBT model – the value of a therapist

• The spiritual path – Ilm (knowledge), Amal (action), Haal (state)

• Is OCD due to Shaytan, your Nafs or a psychological coping mechanism?

• Using medication to treat your mental health

Mental health and wellbeing is such an important and relevant issue affecting all of us, our friends and our families. This episode is a recording of an event held in Glasgow, Scotland in July 2018 called "Coping with Stress and Anxiety - a practical approach from a spiritual and psychological perspective".

VIDEO

Watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/yPhQax5p4sc

SUPPORT US

If you benefited from The MuslimCentric Podcast, please rate, review, like and share.

KEEP IN TOUCH

Website: https://www.muslimcentricpodcast.com/

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Speaker: Saiqa Naz is a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)

https://twitter.com/saiqa_naz

Topics covered by Saiqa:

• CBT model

• Problem solving technique

• Impact of negative thoughts

• Coping skills for managing stress

• Identifying signs of stress and anxiety

• Causes of stress

• Worked example

• Differentiating real and hypothetical worries

Mental health and wellbeing is such an important and relevant issue affecting all of us, our friends and our families. This episode is a recording of an event held in Glasgow, Scotland in July 2018 called "Coping with Stress and Anxiety - a practical approach from a spiritual and psychological perspective".

VIDEO

Watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Tw9lXRidjUE

SUPPORT US

If you benefited from The MuslimCentric Podcast, please rate, review, like and share.

KEEP IN TOUCH

Website: https://www.muslimcentricpodcast.com/

Facebook: muslimcentric

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Twitter: @muslimcentric

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/muslimcentric

PART 1 - The Spiritual Perspective

Speaker: Shaykh Abdul Aziz Ahmed. A world renowned scholar and educationalist based in Glasgow. I interviewed him on this podcast episode #25 - Desert Island Gems.

https://www.facebook.com/abdul.azizahmed.906

Shaykh Abdul Aziz focuses his discussion on

• The relationship between culture and religion

• Muslim tendencies to focus on supernatural forces to explain mental illness

• Anxiety as a gateway to other mental health difficulties

• Shaykh Abu Zayd al-Balkhi - a 9th century polymath who wrote about mental and psychological disorders. The book in English is widely available "Abu Zayd al-Balkhi’s Sustenance of the Soul: the Cognitive Behavior Therapy of a Ninth Century Physician" (ISBN:1565645995)

• Dealing with Negative and positive thoughts

• Arabic terms and concepts of anxiety and sadness

• Prophetic traditions

VIDEO

Watch the video on Youtube: https://youtu.be/009FiMOU69s

SUPPORT US

If you benefited from The MuslimCentric Podcast, please rate, review, like and share.

KEEP IN TOUCH

Website: https://www.muslimcentricpodcast.com/

Facebook: muslimcentric

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Twitter: @muslimcentric

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/muslimcentric