For 70 years you were taught to laugh at UFOs, and that wasn't an accident. After WWII, the US saw an explosion of 10,000+ sightings, and what followed was one of the earliest examples of social engineering: a deliberate campaign to make it a cultural stigma to even talk about them. So what's really going on?In this episode of the AlMaghrib Podcast, Sh. Ammar AlShukry sits down with Sh. Fahad Tasleem (research fellow and instructor at Sapiens Institute) to examine the UFO/UAP phenomenon through the lens of the Islamic tradition. They trace the cover-up and its reversal, the 2017 NYT whistleblowers, the House hearings, the rebrand from "UFO" to "UAP," the USS Nimitz "Tic Tac" footage — and then ask the deeper question: what is the best explanation for it all?From testimony as a source of knowledge, to alien abductions, to the "Jinn Hypothesis" and why it may have greater explanatory scope, power, and depth than the extraterrestrial story, this is a conversation about being ready for what comes next, especially if disclosure ever claims that "they" created us.🛸 This is Part 1 — Part 2 drops next week. Subscribe and hit the bell so you don't miss it.⏱️ Chapters (estimated — adjust to the final cut)0:00 The 70-year setup: why you were taught to laugh1:30 Welcome + guest: Sh. Fahad Tasleem (Sapiens Institute)3:30 Amthal: how ridicule was engineered5:30 Post-WWII: 10,000+ sightings across America7:00 Testimony and how you know what you know9:30 1953 Robertson Panel & the 3 tactics of social engineering12:30 The reversal: NYT, whistleblowers, House hearings, UFO → UAP15:00 The USS Nimitz "Tic Tac" case17:00 Declassification, John Mack, and the Zimbabwe schoolchildren19:30 Government reaching out to churches — and Muslim leaders next?21:00 The Jinn Hypothesis: explanatory scope, power, depth23:00 Aliens vs. jinn — and the theological room for both25:00 Evidences from the tradition: abduction, speed, builders & divers28:00 The real objective: deception and turning people from Allah29:30 The dawah angle: real experiences, real conversions31:00 Getting ahead of disclosure (and the "science & Quran" caution)32:30 Inference to the best explanation33:30 Being proactive: closing thoughts🎙️ Guest: Sh. Fahad Tasleem — Sapiens Institute🎙️ Host: Sh. Ammar AlShukrySubscribe for new episodes of the AlMaghrib Podcast.#UFO #UAP #Jinn #AlMaghribPodcast #FahadTasleem

Ever stand for salah and feel… nothing? You're not broken, and that feeling may say more about the state of your brain than the state of your heart.

In this episode of the AlMaghrib Podcast, Sh. Ammar AlShukry sits down with Ustadha Sarah Sultan, a licensed mental health counselor, to answer the real questions about focus, emotion, and connection in prayer.They unpack why khushu' looks different for everyone, why chasing a "feeling" in salah is the wrong goal, how grief, anxiety, and depression affect your worship, and what waswasa (and its overlap with OCD) really is, plus practical, therapist-backed tips you can use before your very next prayer.This is a conversation for anyone who has ever felt their prayer go quiet and wondered what to do about it.📿 Want to master the prayer from A to Z? Shaykh Abu Eesa's Divine Link is your complete, on-demand guide to the Fiqh of Salah, every ruling, every scenario, lifetime access. Start here 👉 https://almaghrib.online/salahChapters:0:00 Is it your heart or your brain?0:42 Welcome — focusing on focus in salah2:00 Why disconnection happens: emotion and connection2:55 "You're fine" — khushu' looks different for everyone4:45 The perfectionism trap of Shaytan6:17 When salah was a refuge after losing a loved one10:00 Discipline: forcing the heart to follow the mind11:11 The cognitive triangle — thoughts, actions, emotions12:05 Investing in salah outside of salah13:11 Preparing for prayer like a guest is coming15:02 Don't "steal" from your salah16:15 One thing you can do before every prayer17:55 Grief, trauma, and the survival brain18:50 "I don't understand Arabic" — does it compound the distance?24:01 The value you lose by not being present24:53 Waswasa, OCD, and scrupulosity28:46 The hadith that mirrors modern therapy33:32 Fear of losing iman: guilt vs. shame39:51 Is salah medicine, obligation, or both?44:42 When anxiety or depression gets in the way47:21 Ustadha Sarah's personal tips for khushu'50:04 Scent, location, and grounding your senses53:37 Experiment with your salah — recreate your best prayer🎙️ Guest: Ustadha Sarah Sultan, licensed mental health counselor🎙️ Host: Sh. Ammar AlShukrySubscribe for more honest conversations on faith, the heart, and everyday Islam.#Salah #Khushu #MentalHealthAndFaith #UstadhaSarahSultan #AlMaghribPodcast

He memorized the Quran at 9. Started teaching at 14. Left corporate accounting to build an institution from scratch and in 4 years, produced 40+ huffaz.Imam Hamzah Ghia is the founder of Hamd Institute in Houston, TX, a full-time Quran memorization and Islamic studies program that started with 5 students and now serves hundreds, powered by over 118 volunteers. In this episode of the AlMaghrib Podcast, we sit down with Imam Hamzah to talk about what it actually takes to build an Islamic institution in America: from the rejections, to leaving a stable career, to the moment he said Bismillah and just started.If you've ever felt called to serve your community but didn't know where to begin, this conversation is for you.What we cover:- How a 9-year-old hafiz found his "why" years later through the Seerah- Teaching Quran in 9th grade and never stopping- Balancing a corporate job at Chevron with teaching 5 days a week- Why 9 to 10 organizations rejected his vision before one said yes- Launching Hamd Institute on the Day of Arafah with 5 students and 2 teachers- The mindset shift from "this needs to make financial sense" to tawakkul- Building a team of 118 volunteers through clear roles and ownership- Advice for young Muslims who want to start something that mattersTimestamps: 00:00 Preview 01:08 Meet Imam Hamzah Ghia, founder of Hamd Institute 02:30 Growing up in Houston & memorizing Quran at age 9 03:49 The gap after hifz, finding the "why" through the Seerah 04:06 Starting to teach in 9th grade 07:08 When teaching went from a job to a mission 13:36 Working at Chevron while teaching 5 days a week 16:00 The dream: a full-time Quran program 24:10 Taking the vision to 9 to 10 organizations and being rejected 26:32 Launching Hamd Institute: Day of Arafah, 5 students, Bismillah 30:13 Finances, tawakkul, and the "just start" mindset 34:22 Advice for young Muslims building something from the ground up 38:31 The One Minute Manager & keeping tasks with their owners 43:01 How everyone can contribute, even from home 47:29 Risk tolerance and the entrepreneurial spirit in Islam 50:46 Quran Flow Podcast, the hafiz family journey🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every weekHamd Institute: https://www.hamdinstitute.org/

You’re aware of your wounds. You’ve tried therapy. You’ve made so much du’a. And you still feel stuck.Ustadha Yasmin Mogahed and Ustadha Sarah Sultan go beneath the surface in this conversation.

Covering why trauma doesn’t come from the event itself but from not having the tools to process it, why addictions and harmful behaviors won’t stop until you understand the need they’re filling.

How childhood wounds quietly show up inside your marriage, and what the first actionable step looks like when awareness alone isn’t enough.Watch Part 1 of their conversation here 👉    • Why You Feel Empty: Overcoming Anxiety & A...  Subscribe for more AlMaghrib Podcast conversations 💜—#YasminMogahed #SarahSultan #AlMaghribPodcast #ChildhoodTrauma #IslamicPsychology #MuslimMarriage #HealingInIslam #MuslimWomen

For centuries, Granada has symbolized the final chapter of Muslim Spain.

But what many people don't know is that Islam is experiencing a remarkable revival in Spain today.

In this episode of the AlMaghrib Podcast, Sh. Ammar Alshukry sits down with Ust. Hisham Melara in Granada to discuss the rebirth of Islam in Spain, the story behind the first mosque built in Granada after 500 years, the challenges faced by Spanish Muslims, and the growing community of local converts reconnecting with their Islamic heritage.

They explore:

• The revival of Islam in modern Spain
• How Granada's mosque took 23 years to build
• The incredible story of funding that came when all hope seemed lost
• What it means to be a Spanish Muslim today
• The legacy of Al-Andalus and its relevance today
• The future of Islam in Spain
• A powerful Hajj story that changed everything

This is a conversation about faith, perseverance, identity, and the enduring impact of Islam in one of its most historic lands.

Subscribe for more conversations from around the Muslim world.

#Spain #Granada #AlAndalus #IslamInSpain #MuslimHistory #OmarSuleiman #AlMaghrib #IslamicHistory #MuslimPodcast #GranadaMosque

What does it really take to rebuild a community?

In this powerful conversation, Imam Qasim shares decades of wisdom on sacrifice, leadership, dawah, marriage, inner-city community work, and the mindset required to truly impact people’s lives. From operating in Houston’s Fifth Ward to building Masjid Al-Tawheed into a source of hope and transformation, this episode dives deep into the realities of serving people where others gave up.

We discuss:

• The hidden cost of community leadership
• Rebuilding neighborhoods through Islam
• Why sacrifice is necessary for real change
• Marriage, patience, and emotional discipline
• Longevity in dawah and staying grounded
• The mindset needed to serve people sincerely

This is more than a podcast episode, it’s a blueprint for contribution, resilience, and purpose.

Featuring Imam Qasim of Masjid Al-Tawheed, Houston🎙️ Almaghrib Podcast

#imamqasim #Islam #Dawah #Community #MuslimPodcast #Houston #Masjid #IslamicReminder #MuslimCommunity #Almaghrib

Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair shares one of the most powerful stories ever told on the AlMaghrib Podcast.From homelessness, house fires, and raising his younger brothers… to becoming an NFL star while holding tightly to his Islam - this episode is a reminder of what tawakkul, sacrifice, and responsibility truly look like.Azeez opens up about: • Growing up homeless as a Muslim in America • Becoming his brothers’ guardian while in college • The advice from his mother that changed his life • Going undrafted after a devastating ACL injury • Staying grounded in the NFL • Representing Islam publicly • Speaking up for Palestine, Sudan, and the oppressed • Using fame as an amanah from AllahThis is more than a sports interview.It’s a conversation about manhood, faith, perseverance, and trusting Allah when life makes no sense.Share this episode with someone who needs hope.CHAPTERS:00:00 House Fire & Homelessness01:25 Introducing Azeez Al-Shaair05:12 Growing Up Poor in Tampa07:41 Parents’ Divorce Changed Everything08:39 Moving Constantly & Long Bus Rides09:24 Wanting to Play Football11:25 His Grandfather Believed in Him First14:12 Getting Destroyed at First Practice15:18 “I Suck” — Breaking Down to His Mother17:05 “What Is For You Will Never Pass You By”18:42 Training Alone Every Day20:35 Getting a Second Chance at Football23:33 The House Fire During Ramadan28:50 His Mother’s Secret Charity31:32 The Homeless Man Who Gave Them $1,00034:31 Carrying Responsibility as the Older Brother36:36 Becoming Guardian of His Brothers in College39:57 Sacrificing the Normal College Experience41:30 Staying Muslim in Sports Culture45:00 Being Teased for Wearing the Same Clothes49:24 Why Responsibility Creates Focus56:12 The Blessing Hidden Inside Hardship1:00:12 NFL Dreams Becoming Reality1:03:35 Tearing His ACL1:05:45 The Darkest Days of His Life1:07:50 Trusting Allah Through Recovery1:08:28 Going Undrafted1:12:51 Signing with the 49ers1:15:08 From Undrafted to NFL Star1:16:37 Using Fame for Something Bigger1:17:20 Why He Spoke Up for Palestine & Sudan1:22:56 Getting Fined by the NFL1:26:20 The Meaning Behind “Al-Shaair”1:28:18 Football Questions from a Texans Fan1:42:48 The Baklava Lesson & Spiritual Discipline1:47:39 Final Reflections & Closing Remarks

The Sudan crisis is one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes of our time and the world isn't paying attention. In this episode of the AlMaghrib Podcast, Shaykh Ammar Alshukry and Imam Khalid Latif sit down to expose the reality on the ground in Sudan, the genocide unfolding in Darfur, and why the global community has largely turned a blind eye.Over 12 million people displaced. Mass graves. Families torn apart. This isn't just news - it's an ummah in crisis.0:00 — Introduction: Living Beyond Yourself1:12 — Meet Imam Khalid Latif2:28 — Why Go to Sudan? The Motivation Behind the Mission4:32 — The Danger of Self-Serving Platforms7:05 — How Diverse Communities Unite on Shared Ethics8:15 — Generosity as a Form of Resistance10:14 — What Nobody Is Telling You About IDP Camps11:51 — Confronting Privilege Face to Face13:11 — Growing Through Love, Not Obligation15:18 — The Real Problem Isn't Ignorance — It's Indifference17:58 — Why Worship and Service Are Inseparable in Islam20:08 — Overcoming Fear and the Trap of Seeking Validation21:33 — The Sudan Trip: What It Actually Looked Like25:10 — How Small Donations Create Massive Collective Impact27:20 — The Spirit of the Sudanese People29:19 — Are You Even Paying Your Zakat to the Right People?30:22 — What Happens When You Leave an IDP Camp and Return to Normal Life34:31 — Rahma: The Missing Ingredient41:59 — Khalid's Journey: Cairo, Sudan, and the Unexpected Welcome43:30 — Stories of Resilience from the Displacement Camps46:30 — Zahara's Story and the Power of Pure Intention49:20 — Happiness Is Not What You've Been Sold52:50 — Why Displaced Families Built a Mosque First54:30 — Three Things That Make Sudan Unlike Anywhere Else58:50 — How You Can Help: Service Trips and Spreading Awareness1:00:20 — Final Reflections🔔 Subscribe to the AlMaghrib Podcast for weekly conversations on faith, community, and the issues that matter most to the ummah.📲 Follow AlMaghrib Institute:Website: https://almaghrib.orgInstagram:   / allomaghrib  Facebook:   / almaghrib  #SudanCrisis #Sudan #AlMaghribPodcast #IslamicPodcast #Darfur #SudanWar #HumanitarianCrisis #SaveSudan #Muslim #Ummah

During Black History Month, we honor the life and legacy of Imam Jamil Al-Amin, formerly known as H. Rap Brown, a towering figure of the Civil Rights Movement who spent over 25 years wrongfully imprisoned before passing away on November 23rd, 2025.We sat down with Wasiq Javed, founder of Students for Imam Jamil Al-Amin and law student at UT Austin, to remember this giant of American Muslim history and discuss what justice still looks like for him and our political prisoners.May Allah have mercy on his soul. الله أكبر🔔 Subscribe to AlMaghrib's YouTube channel and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.

Get ready for Ramadan with this comprehensive Q&A session featuring Dr. Waleed Basyouni, President of AlMaghrib Institute. Sh. Ammar AlShukry sits down with Sh. Waleed to answer 50+ of your most commonly asked fasting questions - all in one place.Questions answered in this episode include:- Should I follow moon sighting, calculations, or my local masjid?- Do pregnant and breastfeeding women fast or pay fidya?- What do women do when their period is irregular during Ramadan?- Which medications break the fast? What about injections and IVs?- Is it 8 or 20 rak'ahs for Taraweeh?- When exactly can a traveler break their fast?- Can students break their fast for important exams?- When do I stop eating for suhoor—at the adhan or after?- Can I make du'a in English during Taraweeh?And more!Watch it, save it, and share it with your friends and family for barakah!Subscribe and turn on notifications for more beneficial content.#Ramadan #Fiqh #AlMaghrib #IslamicEducation #Fasting