Muslim Money Talk

In this episode of Muslim Money Talk, Pontus Selander shares his journey from atheist stockbroker-in-training in Sweden to embracing Islam and becoming a leader in Islamic finance with Saturna Capital. He and host Areeb Siddiqui dive into halal investing, ESG, the challenges of Islamic wealth management, and how Muslims can start investing responsibly, even with small amounts.

This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromise

Find out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/

And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/

Show Notes:

00:00 - Opening 

06:20 – Pontus’ upbringing in Sweden, father’s death, early reflections on God.

13:00 – University debates with Muslim friends, prejudice, and first real exposure to Islam.

18:00 – Journey to Shahada, struggles with prayer and alcohol, finding meaning.

27:00 – Family and community reactions, first Eid experience, challenges as a revert.

32:30 – Career in finance, haram investments, dua for change, move into renewables.

39:00 – Marriage, leaving lucrative but haram opportunities, focus on halal income.

50:00 – Challenges in Islamic investing: lack of diversity, Sukuk, BDS concerns.

59:00 – Active vs passive investing, Saturna’s approach to screening & ESG.

10:06:00 – Growth of Islamic investing in UK & Sweden, importance of education.

01:10:00 – Future of Saturna & Kestrel, advice for Muslim fintech and investors.

A candid conversation with financial advisor Faisal Sheikh challenges the Muslim community’s obsession with buy-to-let property and the recent outperformance narrative of Sharia funds, urging a shift toward backing real, productive businesses. The episode also wrestles with crypto’s value (or lack thereof) in Islamic ethics, practical portfolio constraints for everyday Muslims, and building financial literacy—especially for Muslim women.

This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromise

Find out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/

And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/

Show Notes: 

00:00 - Opening 

09:25 – Sharia funds landscape; small/mid-cap basics

12:30 – “Outperformance” myth (US tech overweight) + risks

19:19 – Deejah Money: goals-first, empowering Muslim women

27:17 – Crypto: speculation vs real utility (Islamic lens)

34:01 – Practical steps: emergency buffers, limited options, risk

36:35 – Personal story: scarcity mindset, decisions, teaching kids

60:20 – Parting advice: buffers, education, and when to seek advice

The episode follows Sheikh Salman Hassan’s personal shift from a transactional view of Islam and Islamic finance to a theology-first ethic of reflecting Allah’s attributes in life and business, prioritising real societal benefit over box-ticking legality. He urges collaboration across the industry—even pragmatically working within conventional frameworks when necessary—to tackle poverty and widen access to finance, while sharing candid stories about mentorship, ego, and spiritual transformation.

This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromise

Find out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/

And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/

Show Notes: 

00:00 - Opening 

05:03 — Spiritual crisis: knowledge without purification

09:52 — From transactional deeds to ma‘rifah (reflecting Divine attributes)

15:44 — Debt ethics via sabr/halim; theology-first approach to finance

34:41 — Collaboration over competition; “rizq is written”

49:32 — What’s missing in today’s Islamic finance

56:46 — Prioritizing poverty & access; serve all society

01:06:33 — Advice to fintechs: do everything with ihsan (even tidy bathrooms!)

01:09:05 — Start with istighfar; the “empty pipe” ego metaphor

01:12:52 — Boundaries; jamali vs jalali mercy/strength; Ali (r.a.) anecdote

01:16:17 — Being mentored by someone younger; humility lessons

01:17:19 — Dream of Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani; signs of guidance

01:20:18 — “Sacred Compass” talk aligns; offer to mentor; wrap-up

In this episode, Nabil Kazi shares his journey from working at Disney and Pixar to paving the way for Muslims in Hollywood, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities of representation in entertainment. Alongside his career insights, he reflects on personal experiences, global travels, and how storytelling can reshape narratives about Muslims worldwide.

This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromise

Find out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/

And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/

Show Notes: 

00:00 – Early days at Disney, challenges of openly being Muslim in Hollywood.

00:34 – Toy Story, Pixar collaboration, and creative branding work.

01:08 – Introduction of guest Nabil Kazi and his Hollywood background.

02:11 – Marathons, Ironmans, and athletic pursuits.

04:42 – World travel goal: visiting all 197 countries, inspired by his late father.

06:36 – Highlights and misconceptions about Yemen, Somalia, Libya, and Afghanistan.

12:23 – Growing up near Disneyland, passion for entertainment.

13:48 – Breaking into Pixar and the Toy Story franchise.

20:00 – Marketing, branding, and franchise-building strategies at Disney.

29:35 – Stories about working with celebrities like Tom Hanks and Miley Cyrus.

32:07 – Being Muslim in Hollywood: challenges, perceptions, and representation.

38:53 – Rise of Muslim creatives: Riz Ahmed, Rami Youssef, Moe, and others.

46:19 – Advice on authentic Muslim storytelling without labelling.

50:25 – New Muslim-led studios and changing confidence in Hollywood.

56:06 – Advice for aspiring Muslim filmmakers and writers.

58:21 – Streaming vs theatrical release, marketing strategies, and building franchises.

1:07:03 – Inspiring more Muslims to enter entertainment.

This episode explores the challenges Muslims in the UK face around wealth creation, from limited savings to a lack of financial literacy. Guests Ahmad Ayoubi and Adel Bereksi-Reguig, co-founders of Nisba, share their personal journeys and vision for empowering Muslims with halal investment education and tools.

This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromise

Find out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/

And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/

Show Notes: 

00:00 - Opening 

01:36 – Meet the founders of Nisba

03:42 – Career journeys: trading, teaching & consulting

09:41 – Reconnecting through faith and charity

13:27 – Founding Nisba: from idea to platform

20:09 – Leaving conventional finance for halal alternatives

25:35 – The mission: education, tools & coaching

35:20 – Biggest financial challenges facing UK Muslims

43:06 – Who should own Islamic banks?

49:25 – Challenges in halal investing & boycotts

56:09 – Practical advice for young Muslims with savings

1:07:31 – Final thoughts 

Dr. Mohammed Mustafa, a British-Australian-Palestinian doctor, recounts his harrowing experiences in Gaza, describing the humanitarian catastrophe, targeted destruction of healthcare workers, and his mission to establish a mobile, internationally staffed hospital to save children and rebuild medical infrastructure. He urges collective action, emphasising that every person can contribute to Gaza’s recovery beyond just seeking a ceasefire.

This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromise

Find out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/

And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/

Show Notes: 

00:00 - Opening

06:41 – His motivation to become a doctor and commitment to serving in crisis zones

08:43 – Firsthand account of Gaza’s conditions, lack of resources, and constant danger

13:10 – Going viral while in Gaza; using social media to humanise Palestinians

14:20 – Family’s reaction to his mission; personal encounters with relatives in hospitals.

23:37 – The humanitarian crisis for Gaza’s children and risk of losing a generation.

25:54 – Proposal for mobile, solar-powered hospitals to rebuild healthcare.

31:29 – Navigating politics and risk to push the hospital project forward.

41:37 – Call for global grassroots action; everyone has a role to play

In this episode, the Areeb Siddiqui interviews his grandmother, Naina, about her remarkable life spanning pre-partition India, the creation of Pakistan, and her experiences living through pivotal moments in history. She reflects on her family’s legacy, her father’s resistance during partition, and shares advice on marriage, faith, and resilience.

This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromise

Find out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/

And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/

Show Notes:

00:00 – Opening

01:47 – Naina’s career as a color consultant and inventing “ash white”

03:01 – Early family history: Nawabs, British titles, and their land

06:57 – Grandfather’s barrister training in London and British influence

10:42 – Father’s resistance during partition and move to Hyderabad

14:35 – The value of jungles and the struggle over land

18:55 – Hyderabad’s independence, weapons surrender, and returning to Nagpur

21:22 – Bombay memories and partition violence stories

25:27 – Father’s plans for Pakistan and his untimely death

28:08 – Life at Bhadra House: elephants, tiger hunts, and palaces

33:11 – Hunting stories: man-eating tigers and family traditions

42:05 – Moving to Pakistan: Karachi in the 1960s and climate changes

45:52 – Comparisons of Pakistan then vs now, 1971 war memories

47:50 – Marriage and moving abroad; life in America and Europe

51:29 – Living through global events: WWII, partition, 9/11 aftermath

56:30 – Islamic banking, zakat, and her perspective on Kestrel

59:02 – Advice on marriage, family, and resilience in life

1:07:06 – Closing thoughts and reflections on her peaceful life

In this episode of Muslim Money Talk, host Areeb Siddiqui speaks with Adil Hussain from Islamic Finance Guru (IFG) about the powerful financial lessons found in the Quran and how they can guide Muslims in managing their money ethically. They explore stories from Surah Yusuf and Surah Kahf, the role of Bitcoin and Islamic finance today, and how Muslims can build generational wealth through tools like waqf, zakat, and halal investing.

This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromise

Find out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/

And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/

Show Notes: 

00:00 – Opening

02:17 – Adil’s background: From EY to Wahid to IFG

04:23 – Discovering Islamic finance as a young professional

08:17 – Early Islamic fintech players (Wahed, Yielders, etc.)

10:19 – Adil’s switch from data science to Islamic finance content

11:57 – Tips on creating viral, educational content

12:49 – Personal journey of discovering Quranic financial lessons

14:12 – Quran stories: The fisherman, two gardens, Musa (AS), Khidr (AS)

19:39 – Surah Kahf and the spiritual danger of wealth

21:53 – Arrogance and wealth: Lessons from Quranic figures

24:43 – Prophets with wealth (Sulaiman AS) vs simplicity (other stories)

27:49 – Story of the fishermen and divine protection of wealth

33:13 – Parenting, wealth, and spiritual inheritance

35:01 – Perpetual charity (waqf) and its modern impact

38:58 – Evergive, Bitcoin waqf, and endowments in Islamic history

42:02 – Bitcoin as an alternative monetary system

45:59 – Halal status of Bitcoin and critiques of fiat money

48:55 – The halal vs price debate in Islamic finance

50:37 – Pricing, funding, and halal savings/mortgage products

53:15 – Role of Islamic current accounts & financial conditioning

56:20 – Awareness as the main barrier to adoption

59:08 – Algorithms, Islamic content, and social media reach

01:00:15 – Wahed’s viral Mufti Menk campaign and media reactions

01:04:39 – Marketing, awareness, and IFG’s educational mission

01:06:52 – Final thoughts: competition, growth, and community responsibility

Episode number 50!!!

We’re joined by Abdul Haseeb Basit, cofounder of Madinah Angels to discuss Islamophobia in the startup ecosystem, prompted by controversial comments from a top VC partner, and explore how Muslim entrepreneurs can build their own spaces and funding networks. They also delve into the origins and growth of Madinah Angels and the Muslim CEOs Dinner series, aimed at empowering Muslim founders.


This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromise

Find out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/

And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/


Show Notes


00:00 - Trailer and intro 

02:20 – The book that changed his career

04:49 - Mystery guest arrives

07:21 – Growing up nomadic and pilot dreams 

11:36 – Career in banking (working with Areeb’s dad?!)

15:06 - Islamic Finance Impressions and moving to FinTech

18:08 – Ethical vs. Islamic branding: lessons for founders

24:05 – Why Islamic fintech will outpace Islamic banks

29:28 – Islamophobia in Silicon Valley and start-up culture 

35:31 – Madinah Angels: Vision, first deal & founder advice

44:11 - Web3, Stable coins and the future of Islamic fintech 

48:31 – The Muslim CEOs Dinner: building community & collaboration

54:41 – Legacy, supporting Muslim businesses & global impact

1:01:22 – Closing thoughts & next steps

Meet Rehan Ahmed, founder of Halal Stocks, an Australian based FinTech on a mission to give investors an unfair advantage in the markets. 

Ethan shares his journey from tech to the Muslim
Charity sector and how a shocking revelation led him to founding Halal Stocks. We discussed the evolution of halal investing, why you really can beat the markets, practices of the early Muslims and crucially: how to align Islamic and ethical investing. 

Find out more about Halal Stocks and become a lifetime member here : https://t212.halalstocks.co/

This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromise

Find out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/

Show Notes: 

00:00 - Trailer

02:48 - Growing up in Australia 

05:10 - Quitting IBM to join Muslim Aid

10:05 - Realising how Charities pay salaries

17:17 – Lack of halal investment options in Australia

20:21 – Launching Halal Stocks in 2018

22:43 – Value investing vs. Growth investing

26:08 - Can you ever beat the market? Active vs Passive debate 

32:32 - Are stocks still worth investing in?

34:25 – Halal Stocks’ offering: automated portfolios, not funds

36:07 – Sharia compliance vs. ethical investing: the BDS challenge

38:53 - Helping Muslims escape 40 hour work weeks

43:03 - Muslims building the first Market in Medina

46:18 - Can Muslims really make a difference in the markets?

48:23 – Why don’t Islamic Investing Standards include Ethical Screening?

51:16 – Dispelling the myth: most companies aren’t involved in unethical practices

53:06 – Getting Lifetime
Membership at Halal Stocks!

54:50 – Upcoming products: intelligent crypto, gold, and US market timing

58:01 – Final advice: follow the Prophet’s example through entrepreneurship

01:00:20 – Audience Q&A : the risk of entrepreneurship