Muslim Money Talk

In this episode of Muslim Money Talk, host Areeb Siddiqui speaks with Sakib Ahmed, co-founder of Simply Smash, London’s highest-rated burger joint. Sakib shares his journey from fintech to food service, discussing the challenges of launching a values-driven restaurant and overcoming adversity, including a review-bombing incident that led the community to rally in support of his business.

This podcast is powered by Kestrl. 

Kestrl is an app that helps Muslim to grow their wealth without compromising their beliefs 

Kestrl - The Muslim Money App 

https://kestrl.io/

TIMESTAMPS: 

00:00 - Intro 

2:06 - Discussion on mutual connections in the London Muslim tech scene

3:00 - Saqib’s fintech background and degree apprenticeship at Goldman Sachs

8:05 - Founding Minideed, a charity-focused social media platform

15:34 - Developing a meaningful and positive social media experience

16:57 - Saqib’s transition from fintech to entrepreneurship with Minideed

17:56 - Decision to open a restaurant, leveraging family experience in the food industry

23:23 - Challenges of running a restaurant during the pandemic lockdown

24:32 - Tiramisu and “Help Our Heroes” campaigns to keep the restaurant afloat

29:05 - Transition to Simply Smash; inspiration for starting a new restaurant concept

32:13 - The “140-Day Challenge” to launch multiple brands and see which succeeds

38:34 - Simply Smash emerges as the winning concept; focus on data-driven burgers

41:39 - Emphasis on customer feedback and delivery experience as success metrics

45:07 - Saqib discusses the review-bomb incident over pro-Palestinian stance

47:51 - Community support through 200+ positive reviews

49:14 - Saqib’s commitment to integrating values into his business model

51:58 - Muslim values in business as a differentiator

52:18 - Financial and tech industry parallels with data-driven business models

54:19 - Saqib introduces Simply Smash’s Wagyu Beef Brisket burger

58:01 - Future plans: Scaling Simply Smash with potential new locations

1:04:01 - Discussion on balancing growth strategies: franchising vs. bootstrapping

1:06:50 - Saqib’s lessons from working with his brother to balance quality and operations

1:07:05 - Saqib’s high points: Impactful community work and building a values-based legacy

This podcast episode explores the journey of Fahan Ibrahim Hashi, founder of Nisa Invest, a financial platform tailored for Muslim women navigating personal finance in alignment with Islamic values. Fahan discusses her transition from investment banking to entrepreneurship and the challenges faced by Muslim women in finance.

This podcast is powered by Kestrl. 

Kestrl is an app that helps Muslim to grow their wealth without compromising their beliefs 

Kestrl - The Muslim Money App 

https://kestrl.io/

TIMESTAMPS: 

00:00 - Intro 

 02:11 – Fahan’s career story and her decision to transition from banking to financial planning.

 03:34 – Education background and early career in investment banking.

 06:12 – Fahan describes investment competitions in university.

08:10 – Explanation of her decision to pursue personal finance content creation.

11:04 – Participation in a boot camp for software development as preparation for Nisa Invest.

13:11 – The moment Fahan decided to focus on financial literacy for Muslim women.

16:13 – Early validation of Nisa Invest’s concept through community events.

19:20 – Fahan’s interest in modest fashion and its parallels with Islamic finance.

24:08 – Encounter with a modest fashion client sparks thoughts on entrepreneurship.

26:54 – Decision to fully commit to Nisa Invest and family’s support.

29:21 – Discussion on financial planning challenges for Muslim women.

30:49 – Explanation of Nisa Invest’s vision and services.

32:42 – Audience feedback and financial literacy tools provided by Nisa Invest.

34:23 – Description of Nisa Invest as a life-stage-focused financial planning platform.

38:30 – Importance of financial planning and breaking down taboos around money.

42:29 – Biggest challenges faced by Muslim women in finance.

51:01 – Simple starting advice for financial planning.

56:50 – Personal anecdotes and strategies for financial literacy.

1:02:16 – Fahan’s future goals for Nisa Invest and her current development work.

1:04:56 – Rapid-fire questions covering Fahan’s favorite books, influencers, and inspiration.

1:08:10 – Closing remarks and where to follow Fahan’s work with Nisa Invest.

Meet Mudassar Chaudhry, creator of the LARGEST professional Muslim Community in the World at EY. We delved into his journey from a school leaver to becoming a key figure his company. Mudassar discusses the value of personal branding, community building, and navigating corporate life while maintaining his faith and identity.

This podcast is powered by Kestrl. 

Kestrl is an app that helps Muslim to grow their wealth without compromising their beliefs 

Kestrl - The Muslim Money App 

https://kestrl.io/

TIMESTAMPS: 

00:00 - Introduction

03:09 - Early years and influences 

06:04 - Finding the EY internship and School Leavers programme 

11:47 - the benefits of EY vs University 

15:09 - Family reactions to leaving University 

21:27 - A natural born leader?

24:05 - Identifying the problem for Muslims in EY

29:01 - Becoming the chair for EY’s Muslim Community

32:51 - What was the mission?

36:20 - The impact and value of Personal Brand

38:18 - Getting EY’s CEO in the Ramadan Video 

43:35 - The ‘fast for a day’ Ramadan challenge

45:13 - What made the community so successful?

50:19 - Succession planning 

52:10 - Fighting Islamophobia and creating a safe space for Muslims

1:00:26 - Personal Finance views and challenges 

1:04:46 - Muslims’ misconceptions about money and career

1:10:07 - Why Muslims need communities at work

In this episode of Muslim Money Talk, host Areeb Siddiqui speaks with Khalid Howlader, a decentralised finance (DeFi) evangelist and chairman of Marhaba Network. They explore the origins and future potential of decentralised finance and Bitcoin within the framework of halal finance, discussing how cryptocurrency can offer a fairer, Sharia-compliant alternative to traditional centralised banking systems, especially in light of the flaws exposed by fiat currency and financial crises.

This podcast is powered by Kestrl. 

Kestrl is an app that helps Muslim to grow their wealth without compromising their beliefs 

Kestrl - The Muslim Money App 

https://kestrl.io/

TIMESTAMPS: 

00:00 - Intro

02:44 – Khaled explains decentralised finance (DeFi) and its benefits over centralised banking.

05:19 – Discussion on Khaled’s career shift from centralised finance to DeFi and Bitcoin.

08:00 – How Islamic finance aligns with decentralised technology and Bitcoin.

09:59 – How Bitcoin and decentralised systems represent an alternative to traditional banking.

12:16 – Explanation of Bitcoin’s uniqueness and comparison with other cryptocurrencies.

17:28 – History of fiat currency and the end of the gold standard.

20:05 – Inflation and monetary debasement after the breakdown of the gold standard.

25:08 – How decentralised finance and crypto offer a different economic model.

35:42 – Possibilities for countries like Pakistan to adopt Bitcoin as a currency.

41:06 – Risks and potential issues of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).

50:01 – Khaled’s experience with the Marhaba project and its Sharia-compliant offerings.

59:24 – Explanation of Marhaba’s wallet, its decentralised features, and Sharia-compliance.

1:04:11 – Discussion on mass adoption of decentralised finance and potential roadblocks.

1:09:07 – Potential role of Islamic insurance in accelerating decentralised finance adoption.

1:16:00 – Conclusion and how Islamic banks could innovate using decentralised finance.

In today's episode, Areeb interviews Raza Ullah, founder and CEO of Pfida, an Islamic fintech company providing debt-free homeownership solutions as an ALTERNATIVE to Islamic Mortgages. 

Raza shares his journey from a successful actuarial career to creating an innovative, Sharia-compliant alternative to conventional mortgages, driven by his desire to align his work with Islamic values and serve the Muslim community.

This podcast is powered by Kestrl. 

Kestrl is an app that helps Muslim to grow their wealth without compromising their beliefs 

Kestrl - The Muslim Money App 


https://kestrl.io/

Timestamp Breakdown

00:00 - Introduction

03:33 - Raza's career background

06:54 - The conversation that changed EVERYTHING

08:17 - Inspiration on Hajj

11:29 - Choosing to work in Islamic Finance

12:20 - Comparing Hajj experiences

14:20 - Raza’s wife’s reaction

15:35 - The problems with Islamic Mortgages

19:44 - The dangers of dual contracts (commodity Murabaha)

22:21 - Why are Islamic Banks more expensive?

25:04 - A step in the right direction 

26:28 - Why do Islamic Scholars sign off on these products?

28:38 - What is PFIDA and how it works?

31:59 - Pfida cost vs Conventional Mortgages

34:40 - How to buy a house Debt Free 

41:22 - Finding a Co-Founder & Shariah Scholar

45:10 - Community support and fundraising 

52:02 - What does Pfida look like today?

54:21 - Hopes for collaboration between FinTechs

56:06 - The power of a Mother’s Prayer

59:36 - Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in Islamic finance

In a Muslim Money Talk first I’m joined by my own brother! Ali Siddiqui, corporate lawyer, Kestrl’s head of legal and a student of Islamic Finance.

Ali gives an overview of Islamic Finance’s origins and how the industry operates despite a seemingly flawed ecosystem. He also goes into how Islamic Finance proved to be a route to combining his career with his faith.

This podcast is powered by Kestrl. Kestrl is an app that helps Muslim to grow their wealth without compromising their beliefs 

Kestrl - The Muslim Money App 

https://kestrl.io/

TIMESTAMPS: 

00:00 - Intro and guest’s background

02:45 – What is Islamic finance?

06:08 – Finance pre and post Islam 

09:14 – From Gold to Fiat 

12:42 – The Mudharaba model

15:11 - The Musharaka model

16:10 – Interest-free loans 

21:59: Credit sales 

25:46 – Islamic vs Conventional Mortgages

30:02 - Aligning faith and a career in law 

35:00 - Learning from the Ottomans and founding RFF

39:21 – Interest: why is it forbidden in Islam?

51:37 – Next steps for RIBA Free Foundation

54:53 – A hopeful future for Islamic Finance

1:00:24 - Why Muslims Cannot give up on this industry

Today's guest is Shinaz Navas, Founder and CEO of Niyyah and former EdTech VC investor.

Shinaz shared his journey from investor to founder, driven by a passion to help Muslims elevate their learning and build a better relationship with the Qur'an.

From fundraising challenges, early pivots and iterations, to his strong belief on why VC funding is the only way to go when it comes to building a start-up, checkout this latest episode of Muslim Money Talk!

This podcast is powered by Kestrl. Kestrl is an app that helps Muslim to grow their wealth without compromising their beliefs 

Kestrl - The Muslim Money App 

https://kestrl.io/

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Intro

03:10 - Uni and Career overview

07:02 - Moving to VC

09:35 - What VC's look for in early stage start-ups

12:06 - Start-up patterns and potential biases

15:04 - Is VC the only way to go?

16:50 - The VC power law

20:01 - Does VC mean Growth at all costs?

23:33 - Inspiration behind Niyyah (India to the UK)

26:44 - UK schooling is broken

30:45 - What does Niyyah do?

32:22 - Early Pivots in Niyyah's journey

38:40 - Drawing inspiration from Noom & Duolingo

41:08 - Finding a technical co-founder

44:02 - Raising the 1st funding round Niyyah vs. Kestrl

47:50- Pivoting to focus on Qur'an

50:57- Becoming VC backable

53:09 - Current focus on product-market fit and future plans.

54:49 - Key metrics to track

59:26 - Key growth channels & strategies

1:02:03 - What's next for Niyyah and rapid fire questions

In this episode of Muslim Money Talk, Nadir Abrar, shares his personal journey growing up as an immigrant in the UK, navigating issues of identity, race, and financial hardship. He discusses how these experiences shaped his professional ambitions, leading him to a career in banking, and ultimately changing his relationship with money, community, and family values.

This podcast is powered by Kestrl. 

Kestrl is an app that helps Muslim to grow their wealth without compromising their beliefs 

Kestrl - The Muslim Money App 

https://kestrl.io/

TIMESTAMPS: 

00:00 - Intro

02:11 – Nadir’s background, growing up in Pakistan and moving to the UK.

06:48 – Culture shock in a predominantly white neighborhood.

08:13 – Experiences with racism in school and feelings of embarrassment.

16:54 – Challenges of university and financial struggles.

19:29 – Visa issues, family sacrifices, and financial pressures.

24:48 – Transition into banking; importance of role models.

34:28 – Nadir’s reflections on how fintech impacts underrepresented communities.

46:33 – Overcoming imposter syndrome and starting a career at Barclays.

57:41 – Leading Barclays Fintech Accelerator and meeting Kestrl’s team.

1:02:21 – Reflections on working in a large financial institution as a Muslim.

1:09:03 – Nadir’s personal life: meeting his wife and building a family.

1:10:22 – Closing thoughts on money, family, and identity.

In this podcast episode, Zara Mohammed, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, discusses her journey into leadership, the challenges she has faced representing the Muslim community in the UK, and the efforts to change public perception through advocacy. Host Areeb Siddiqui talks about Zara’s media experiences, leadership in FOSIS, and the evolving representation of Muslims in British society.

This podcast is powered by Kestrl. 

Kestrl is an app that helps Muslim to grow their wealth without compromising their beliefs 

Kestrl - The Muslim Money App 

https://kestrl.io/

Show Notes:

00:00 - Intro 

02:07 – Zara shares her early career path in law and Muslim leadership.

04:14 – Challenges of being a visible Muslim and discrimination.

08:01 – Dealing with racism and advocacy as a student leader.

10:06 – Zara’s rise in leadership within FOSIS.

12:00 – What FOSIS does and its advocacy work.

15:30 – Challenges with Prevent and counterterrorism policies.

19:29 – Media challenges and Zara’s tough interviews.

26:00 – Rise of Islamophobia and far-right rhetoric.

32:00 – Reflections on Muslim leadership and representation in British society.

42:00 – Reflections on Ramadan and public Muslim identity.

50:18 – Zara’s leadership challenges and future aspirations.

In this episode of Muslim Money Talk, host Areeb Siddiqui is joined by Nina Mohanty, founder and CEO of Bloom Money. 

They discuss Nina’s journey from growing up in Silicon Valley to working for major fintech companies in the UK, and eventually founding Bloom Money, a financial platform that helps immigrants build financial resilience. 

Nina shares insights into the challenges and opportunities of serving underbanked communities, and the role of community-led initiatives in supporting immigrant financial needs.

This podcast is powered by Kestrl. 

Kestrl is an app that helps Muslim to grow their wealth without compromising their beliefs 

Kestrl - The Muslim Money App 


https://kestrl.io/

Timestamp Breakdown


00:00 - Intro

02:18 - Growing up and studying in Silicon Valley 

06:11 - Starting a career in London

07:36 - Should you do an MBA? (Studying at LSE)

11:45 - Mastercard: interviews and early opening banking

17:20 - Starling Bank: launching debit card and managing crises

19:42 - Building trust in Islamic Finance 

22:05 - Networking is a Superpower!

23:47 - Joining Bud: Open Banking & being the 1st woman at a start-up

28:06 - What Kestrl’s App does 

30:21 Joining Klarna: Buy Now Pay Later pros & cons

37:04 - Why interest is forbidden in Islam

39:40 - Launching Bloom Money in Covid 

43:48 - How much money do immigrants have?

46:48 - Bloom: Digitising an ancient global concept

50:05 - Building trust within communities

54:15 - What do people use the money for?

57:20 - Digitising trust in savings circles

1:00:04 - Are immigrants financially invisible?

1:05:31 - Far-right riots and the UK immigrant experience 

1:08:44 - Why Bloom needs to exist