Pursuing higher education in academia can be a rewarding experience, but it can be challenging for some Muslims. Does being a believer in a faith tradition necessarily conflict with the culture in modern academic circles? Is there a hostility to faith in academia that restricts Muslim students from feeling free to be themselves?

Ebadur Rahman and Rashid Dar join the ImanWire podcast for an impromptu conversation to discuss their experiences in academia and the changing landscape of Islamic studies in Western institutions in the first episode of our series about being Muslim in academic spaces.

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In this wide-ranging conversation, acclaimed photographer, filmmaker and media consultant Mustafa Davis joins the podcast to discuss the arts, the marketing of Muslim organizations, his own cautionary tale in social media and the third space movement.

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What exactly is Islamic finance and what are its goals? Umar Moghul, a corporate and finance lawyer and author of the book "A Socially Responsible Islamic Finance: Character and the Common Good" joins us to discuss how reimagining Islamic finance through a spiritual lens can elevate it to be an instrument for the betterment of society. Translating core concepts from the path of spiritual purification of the heart into finance, Moghul outlines a financial vision Muslims can have that is aligned with the highest ethical principles of their religion.

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On the first night of Ramadan, we discuss its spiritual dimensions, give practical advice on how to refine ourselves in the month, and share some of our own Ramadan life hacks. We also feature a special message from Shaykh Mohsen Al'Najjar given on the eve of the blessed month.

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Faced with the challenges of liberalism and a changing social milieu, Muslims fear the erosion of Islamic principles and traditions. In this desire to hold on to the tradition, a reactionary hyper-masculinity has developed in some circles, to counter the perceived effeminacy and feminism in many of these outside influences. Is this a necessary response, or has it gone too far away from the tradition itself? What are its repercussions for our families and communities? Do notions of masculinity in the tradition itself challenge or support this trend? How can we break the cycle of perpetual "bros" in our community and cultivate chivalrous, selfless rijaal that are both confident in their masculinity and also sincere helpers and supporters of women? In this episode, we are joined by Shaykh Muhammad Mendes, the founding director of SacredService for Freedom and Justice, to discuss our concept of manhood and how it can be embraced positively.

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Anti-Muslim racism can take a toll, especially among youth and others in the community who may feel the most targeted. To feel like a victim constantly under attack, however, poses significant dangers to our spiritual well-being. For some, this creates a hyper-reactivity that blames Islamophobia for all the challenges they face, even leading a small number to exaggerate or falsify claims of harassment. For the majority of others, their fears can either lead them to try to appear less Muslim or live as Muslims unknowingly crippled by their feelings of victimization and inferiority.

In this episode, Anse Tamara Gray and Zaynab Ansari discuss how to combat internalizing victimhood and how to be positive agents of change in our community and mentors to our youth. They also share their advice to Muslim women concerned about wearing hijab in the current climate.

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Activists and scholars have at times struggled to be on the same wavelength, creating obstacles in communal efforts for both social justice and spiritual refinement. What are the roots of this disconnect, and how can they get on the same page? In this episode, Dawud Walid and Tariq Touré join host Mohammed Saleem to examine the scholar-activist relationship from different angles, including generational and social dynamics at play, the role of Islamic spirituality and creed, relevancy in scholarship, and navigating through the influence of liberalism in activist circles. In this far-reaching conversation, they also discuss the leadership role Muslims can have, the ethics of civil disobedience and how Muslims can practically engage in activism.

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Women have always played important roles in Islamic learning, but their path to scholarship is not without its unique challenges. In part 1 of their conversation, Shaykha Tamara Gray of Rabata and Ustadha Zaynab Ansari of Tayseer Seminary discuss the future of female scholarship, facing misogyny in the community, and how to facilitate more open platforms for feminine voices in the teaching of sacred knowledge. The two scholars consider the role of feminism, the need for gender-equitable spiritual spaces and discourse, and other contemporary issues.

Please subscribe to the podcast and stay tuned for part 2 of their conversation. Please visit www.imanwire.com for the latest articles and podcast episodes. Send any questions or comments to @imanwired on Twitter or [email protected].

History shapes the present and influences the future, but what if that history was turned on its head? What if we were to learn that African Muslims in the 18th century were pioneers in abolishing slavery and monarchy? Or that the intellectual tradition in West Africa has a chain of authenticity actually more faithful to the practice of early Islam than some of its Middle Eastern counterparts often deemed more authoritative? Or that the flourishing of Islam throughout sub-Saharan Africa was predicated more on the personal piety and pacifism of "walking Qur'ans" than political state power?

In this episode, Dr. Rudolph Ware, professor at the University of Michigan and author of the book, "The Walking Qur'an", discusses a history of Islam and Africa that hasn't been taught in the history books — or our religious communities. These insights revolutionize our concepts of self and play a crucial role in the spiritual and social world-view and approach for those of all backgrounds, in America and beyond.

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For the past three years, Zaki Hasan and Parvez Ahmed have hosted Diffused Congruence: The American Muslim Experience, interviewing a wide variety of Muslims, ranging from well-known scholars to artists and activists. Casting light on the life stories of these individuals, the show has become a resource for both Muslims and those of other faiths and backgrounds to learn about both the diversity of American Muslims' experiences as well as the common threads that bring them all together. The two shared their own story with Mohammed Saleem in this episode, discussing a variety of topics, from where they see the American Muslim story heading in the future, the guest that surprised them most, to how even Batman and Ben Affleck connects with the American Muslim experience,

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