In this episode I address the role of Islam in high-politics and low-politics (defined by me in the beginning of the episode). Faith, understood and practiced truthfully should engender a patriotic spirit. Why and how are some of the questions I try bring up and answer.

Eid al-Fitr is the culmination of the massive achievement of Ramadan. In this episode I offer some points on how to really make the most of this special day. Enjoy!

The Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr) is the peak of Ramadan and a tremendous opportunity for us to not only turn to God with sincere devotion and repentance, but to begin a new chapter in our lives. However, while we are used to hearing about the immense merits of this important night, it's easy to be overwhelmed and not actually know what to do. In this episode I offer a simple, yet effective program to help us make the most of this blessed evening.

The Battle of Badr is the most important and decisive battle from the life of the Prophet (God bless him and give him peace). It occurred shortly after the Prophet migrated to Madina from Mecca and took place during the first Ramadan fasted by the early Muslim community. There has always been a special relationship between Ramadan and conquest throughout Islamic history. However, it is the conquest of the self that we ultimately seek.

Ramadan is the peak of the Islamic calendar. It is the greatest opportunity we have to reset our spiritual system. While we let the body feast throughout the year, Ramadan is the greatest opportunity to let the soul feast. This episode is an overview that provides a simple framework of how to get the most out the month.

We do not live alone. We are constantly interacting, communicating, and dialoguing with others. Yes, the term "interfaith dialogue" frequently comes up in the context of religion, but in this episode I have something much more broad than that in mind.  After all, these are our first principles meant to provide guidance for us in all aspects of our life. Hopefully this brief discussion will provide a framework for constructive communication and dialogue with others.

The eve of the 15th of Sh’aban is one of the most significant and spiritually important times in the Muslim calendar. It is a night that the salaf used to seek out and honor with pious devotion and sincere supplication. What follows is a very simple overview of the importance of this event and recommendations for observing it.

We cannot be who we are or do the things we do except through and by the natural world around us. The Quran and Hadith literature are replete with references to the animated nature of the environment, to the duty we owe the environment, and to the obligation to keep its balance. The environment is one of the meta principles of Islam, and since the natural world around us is in crises, it is ever more important that we learn what it means from our faith point of view.

The boundaries of civilizations and religions are fundamentally porous. It is common for them to speak to one another, to benefit from one another, and to work in tandem for common goals. Islam, as both a religion and civilization, is no exception and has been very open historically to learning and benefiting from others. In this episode I dissect this and also draw some contemporary examples.

In our current context it is common to hear discussions about the compatibility or non compatibility of Islam with certain trends. While there is no doubt that these conversations have always occurred, they seem to happen more today than ever before. In this episode I want us to start thinking about what we already know and believe about Islam, but to articulate it in the language of "paradigm". I think that this is really just the beginning of the discussion, and I hope  to expand on it much more in the future.