"Between Texts and Freedom: Where Islamic Thought Meets the Modern Idea of Liberty" is a podcast series that seeks to re-engage contemporary audiences with Islamic philosophy and to reposition its rich intellectual tradition in addressing today’s concerns. It aims to explore the concept of freedom in Islamic thought in comparison with modern political understandings of liberty.

This month’s episode, ‘Is There an Islamic Social Contract? Rethinking Freedom and Governance’ features the host Souad Adnane, a researcher with a PhD in Public Policy from George Washington University and a longstanding interest in Islamic thought. She is a founding member of the classical liberal think tank Arab Center for Research, Morocco, and a former board member of the Islam and Liberty Network. Souad is also an economic development specialist with over 15 years of experience across the MENA region, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia, providing advisory support to governments and international organizations. 

The guest, Dr. Deina Abdelkader, is an associate professor in the Political Science Department and a research affiliate at the Center for Middle East Studies, Harvard University. Dr. Abdelkader is the director of the Peace and Conflict Studies program. She is a comparativist and international relations specialist. Her scholarly interests and research focus on the Middle East and North Africa, comparative democratization in the Muslim World, Islamic activism, and the role of Muslim women in religious interpretation.

She is the author of the book The Forgotten Khayr al-Din al-Tunsi's Islamic Social Contract Governance, Public Welfare and Justice. This book confronts the longstanding marginalization of Muslim thought within political theory, highlighting the epistemological assumptions that have elevated Western intellectual traditions while overlooking the rich political heritage of the Islamic world. Focusing on the nineteenth-century reformer Khayr al-Din al-Tunsi, it presents the first in-depth study and translation of his political writings, interpreting them through the framework of Islamic jurisprudence, particularly the Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿa (Objectives of Islamic Law).

"Between Texts and Freedom: Where Islamic Thought Meets the Modern Idea of Liberty" is a podcast series that seeks to re-engage contemporary audiences with Islamic philosophy and to reposition its rich intellectual tradition in addressing today’s concerns. It aims to explore the concept of freedom in Islamic thought in comparison with modern political understandings of liberty.

"Between Texts and Freedom: Where Islamic Thought Meets the Modern Idea of Liberty" is a podcast series that seeks to re-engage contemporary audiences with Islamic philosophy and to reposition its rich intellectual tradition in addressing today’s concerns. It aims to explore the concept of freedom in Islamic thought in comparison with modern political understandings of liberty.

The June episode “Ijtihad as a Space for Freedom and Reason in Islamic Thought” is the first part of a two-part episode featuring the host Souad Adnane, a researcher with a PhD in Public Policy from George Washington University and a longstanding interest in Islamic thought. She is a founding member of the classical liberal think tank, Arab Center for Research, Morocco, and a former board member of the Islam and Liberty Network. Souad is also an economic development specialist with over 15 years of experience across the MENA region, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia, providing advisory support to governments and international organizations. 

The guest, Dr. Badr M. Tachouche, is a  Doctor of Philosophy and a Lecturer at the Anglo-American University, Prague. where he teaches Europe and Islam: An Interdisciplinary Approach and Composition. He is also a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Middle Eastern and African Studies, University of West Bohemia, and a research fellow with the Islam and Liberty Network in Malaysia. 

Dr. Badr has published with the University of Oslo, contributed to a range of Arabic media platforms, and reviewed scholarly work for both the Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace and the University of West Bohemia. He has also written and produced television programs and web documentaries. His research interests include Islamic legal theory and Malikism, the history of al-Andalus, pedagogy in Islamic educational settings, and the musicology of al-Andalus. Bridging scholarship and art, he has shared his work through academic publications as well as performances for both scholarly and artistic audiences.  

"Between Texts and Freedom: Where Islamic Thought Meets the Modern Idea of Liberty" is a podcast series that seeks to re-engage contemporary audiences with Islamic philosophy and to reposition its rich intellectual tradition in addressing today’s concerns. It aims to explore the concept of freedom in Islamic thought in comparison with modern political understandings of liberty.

The April episode “Who Owns the Self? Islam, Obedience, and Liberty” features the host Souad Adnane, a researcher with a PhD in Public Policy from George Washington University and a longstanding interest in Islamic thought. She is a founding member of the classical liberal think tank, Arab Center for Research, Morocco, and a former board member of the Islam and Liberty Network. Souad is also an economic development specialist with over 15 years of experience across the MENA region, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia, providing advisory support to governments and international organizations. 

The guest, Mustafa Akyol, is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, where he focuses on the intersection of public policy, Islam, and modernity. He is the author of books such as The Islamic Moses: How the Prophet Inspired Jews and Muslims to Flourish Together and Change the World (2024), Reopening Muslim Minds: A Return to Reason, Freedom, and Tolerance (2021), Why, as a Muslim, I Defend Liberty (2021), The Islamic Jesus: How the King of the Jews Became a Prophet of the Muslims (2017), and Islam without Extremes: A Muslim Case for Liberty (2011), all of which have been translated into various languages.

The Thinking Muslim, a popular podcast, defined Akyol as “probably the most notable Muslim modernist and reformer.” In July 2021, the UK magazine Prospect listed him among “The World’s Top 50 Thinkers.”

In addition to his work at Cato, Akyol is a senior lecturer at the Islamic Civilization and Societies program at Boston College and the director of the Islam and the Muslim World course at the Foreign Service Institute.

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Welcome to the first episode of the Edraak Podcast! In this episode, Dr. Ali Salman and Noor Netusha Nusaybah introduce the Edraak series and the thinking behind its expansion into Edraak Weekly and Edraak Monthly.

The conversation unpacks Edraak’s core vision: developing a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the Muslim world by moving beyond conflict-centric and security-focused narratives. The hosts explain the structure of Edraak Weekly, which tracks key developments across four zones of the Muslim world, and Edraak Monthly, which will feature long-form analysis, podcasts, and book reviews.

This episode also situates Edraak within the broader mission of the Islam and Liberty Network, focused on advancing informed conversations around religious, economic, and political freedoms in Muslim societies.

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How do students in Moroccan Madrasas achieve Arabic fluency in just a few years, without the use of modern tools?

This discussion explores how Madrasas balance tradition and modern needs, the significance of Arabic in understanding Islamic texts, and how these centuries-old institutions are adapting to contemporary challenges without compromising their core values.

🔹 Highlights:

Arabic instruction for non-native speakers

The role of the “Sheikh” in holistic education

Poetry and memorization in Arabic mastery

Madrasas as community and spiritual centers

Educational relevance in today’s world

📌 Keywords: Madrasa education, Arabic fluency, traditional Islamic learning, Zaytuna College, Mohamed Bufaris, Islamic pedagogy, Arabic language instruction

#Madrasa #ArabicLearning #IslamicEducation #TraditionalLearning #ZaytunaCollege #DrMohamedBufaris #MoroccoMadrasas #ArabicForBeginners

Dr. Mustafa Radji, a senior professor from the University of Mustaganum in Algeria, delivered a webinar presentation on the role of Sufi endowments in Algerian civil society, discussing their historical significance and potential for addressing contemporary challenges. The presentation explored how waqf (Islamic endowments) systems can support social welfare, particularly for women and refugees, while highlighting the need for legal reforms to empower Sufi institutions in North Africa. Despite facing various challenges in establishing the Hayek Institute of Economic Thinking in Algeria, Dr. Radji continues to work with civil society and Sufi organizations to promote economic freedom and civil society development rooted in Islamic tradition.

Is religious conversion an ultimate expression of free choice? How does embracing Islam in secular society reshape one's sense of identity and freedom?

Join us as Dr. Václava Tlili explores the complex journey of Czech converts to Islam, framing religious conversion not as a single moment but as a gradual process shaped by personal experience and existential searching. Discover how individuals navigate between societal expectations and their inner quest for authenticity and spiritual meaning in a country with little historical connection to Islam.

Speaker: Dr. Václava Tlili, Cultural Anthropologist specializing in Islamic religious expressions, affiliated with Department of Middle Eastern Studies, Faculty of Philosophy and Arts, University of West Bohemia in Pilsen

You can also watch the full webinar recording here.

Do follow our Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Youtube channel and X (Twitter) to stay abreast with our upcoming Edraak series webinar, or visit our website to subscribe to our email newsletter for any latest updates.

Thank you for listening to our podcast and see you in the next one!

This is part of the Edraak series, an initiative by the Islam and Liberty Network Foundation (ILNF) designed to deepen our understanding of liberty and its various manifestations in theoretical, legal, and social contexts.

In a world fractured by conflict and religious division, how do we find common ground for dialogue and understanding?

Dr. Mohsin Naqvi invites us to rediscover the shared ethical, spiritual, and philosophical foundations of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Drawing from scriptural, historical, and theological perspectives, learn how these traditions unite on fundamental principles like monotheism, justice, and compassion—creating pathways to mutual understanding in our divided world.

Speaker: Dr. Mohsin Naqvi

You can also watch the full webinar recording here.

Do follow our Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Youtube channel and X (Twitter) to stay abreast with our upcoming Edraak series webinar, or visit our website to subscribe to our email newsletter for any latest updates.

Thank you for listening to our podcast and see you in the next one!

This is part of the Edraak series, an initiative by the Islam and Liberty Network Foundation (ILNF) designed to deepen our understanding of liberty and its various manifestations in theoretical, legal, and social contexts.

Join us as Dr. Kazeem Olaniyan explores Nigeria's historical journey with Shariah implementation, examining how the lack of absolute religious freedom has impacted the nation's path to peace and prosperity. From pre-colonial to post-independence periods, Dr. Olaniyan demonstrates how Shariah extends beyond a mere legal system to encompass a comprehensive code of conduct designed for human welfare. The discussion will critically analyze the ongoing challenges in harmonizing Shariah with Nigeria's constitutional framework, and why the quest for its full implementation continues to shape the nation's religious and legal landscape.

Speaker: Dr. Saeed Khan

You can also watch the full webinar recording here.

Do follow our Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Youtube channel and X (Twitter) to stay abreast with our upcoming Edraak series webinar, or visit our website to subscribe to our email newsletter for any latest updates.

Thank you for listening to our podcast and see you in the next one!

This is part of the Edraak series, an initiative by the Islam and Liberty Network Foundation (ILNF) designed to deepen our understanding of liberty and its various manifestations in theoretical, legal, and social contexts.