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In this episode, I speak with Raja Ávila about her spiritual and healing journey that led her on a path to immersing herself in the Sufi path. Raja is a wife, mother of two boys, a feminine embodiment coach, and a Sufi spiritual healer. She is originally from Colombia, where she worked in a Fortune 100 company climbing the corporate ladder, which led to her move to Brazil. While in Brazil, Raja started her spiritual exploration on many different paths, eventually accepting Islam. Along the way, she became a yoga instructor and Ayurvedic practitioner. Her journey has inspired her to support women who seek to restore sacred femininity in their lives, helping them accept and embrace the beauty of being women, and aligning themselves with their Allah-given fitra.

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Find out more about Rose's work here: https://lnk.bio/dr.rose.aslan
Website: https://compassionflow.com

Support Rahma with Rose so I can keep producing more episodes here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2197727/supporters/new

Music credits: Vocals: Zeynep Dilara Aslan; Ney/drum: Elif Önal; Tanbur: Katherine Hreib; Rebap: Hatice Gülbahar Hepsev

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In this episode, I am joined by Dr. amina wadud, aka the Lady Imam. She is well-known as one of the foremothers of Islamic feminism and has been a student of Islam for over 50 years. An outspoken activist and scholar with a focus on Islam, justice, gender, and sexuality, in this conversation, I ask Dr. amina questions beyond her public persona about her personal spiritual and healing journey. amina describes her spiritual life as one of different phases and how we need to follow an approach of gentleness and self-compassion to live a life of presence and connection to the Divine. 

Rather than teach an obligation-centered Islam, amina proposes that individuals practice spirituality according to their ability and capacity. She emphasizes that only by trusting oneself and focusing within can one begin to experience peace and stop focusing on the outside world's noise. Keep listening to hear many more gems on embodying spirituality and living a good life from Dr. amina wadud.

Find Dr. amina wadud at these websites and social media accounts: 
http://www.aminawadud.com/
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheLadyImam
https://www.patreon.com/TheLadyImam
https://twitter.com/TheLadyImam
https://qist1.com/

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Find out more about Rose's work here: https://lnk.bio/dr.rose.aslan
Website: https://compassionflow.com

Support Rahma with Rose so I can keep producing more episodes here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2197727/supporters/new

Music credits: Vocals: Zeynep Dilara Aslan; Ney/drum: Elif Önal; Tanbur: Katherine Hreib; Rebap: Hatice Gülbahar Hepsev

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Ever felt an unquenchable thirst for understanding the greater purpose of existence? Ever wondered how to navigate life's challenging terrains with the compass of spirituality?

In this episode, we venture into the realm of embodied spirituality with the guidance of our esteemed guest, Dr. Rosina-Fawzia Al-Rawi. From her fascinating journey that meandered through Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, the Emirates, and Palestine to Austria, Dr. Al-Rawi's insights are a refreshing look at the depth of Islamic spirituality from a women-centered lens. 

Come listen to a conversation about the mystical realms of Islam, the importance of honoring oneself as a Divine creation, and the potency of gratitude.

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Find out more about Rose's work here: https://lnk.bio/dr.rose.aslan
Website: https://compassionflow.com

Support Rahma with Rose so I can keep producing more episodes here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2197727/supporters/new

Music credits: Vocals: Zeynep Dilara Aslan; Ney/drum: Elif Önal; Tanbur: Katherine Hreib; Rebap: Hatice Gülbahar Hepsev

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In this two-part episode, I'm joined by Edina Leković, a prominent spokesperson for Muslims in the post-9/11 United States. We explore her journey from defending Muslim rights to experiencing burnout and rediscovering herself.

With over two decades of expertise in storytelling and community-building, Edina shares her personal and professional evolution. This episode is a must-listen if you've ever felt overwhelmed while dedicating yourself to others' well-being, whether you're an activist, a professional supporter, or a community helper. Edina opens up about her toughest days and the healing journey that followed.

Edina is a community scholar at UCLA, narrating LA's Muslim history, and serves as the executive director of the Robert Ellis Simon Foundation, focusing on mental wellness services for underserved LA County residents.

Tune in for a candid conversation that delves deep into Edina's remarkable life story. Find her on Instagram: @lamuslimhistory & @EdLek.

Support the show

Find out more about Rose's work here: https://lnk.bio/dr.rose.aslan
Website: https://compassionflow.com

Support Rahma with Rose so I can keep producing more episodes here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2197727/supporters/new

Music credits: Vocals: Zeynep Dilara Aslan; Ney/drum: Elif Önal; Tanbur: Katherine Hreib; Rebap: Hatice Gülbahar Hepsev

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In this two-part episode, I'm joined by Edina Leković, a prominent spokesperson for Muslims in the post-9/11 United States. We explore her journey from defending Muslim rights to experiencing burnout and rediscovering herself.

With over two decades of expertise in storytelling and community-building, Edina shares her personal and professional evolution. This episode is a must-listen if you've ever felt overwhelmed while dedicating yourself to others' well-being, whether you're an activist, a professional supporter, or a community helper. Edina opens up about her toughest days and the healing journey that followed.

Edina is a community scholar at UCLA, narrating LA's Muslim history, and serves as the executive director of the Robert Ellis Simon Foundation, focusing on mental wellness services for underserved LA County residents.

Tune in for a candid conversation that delves deep into Edina's remarkable life story. Find her on Instagram: @lamuslimhistory & @EdLek.

Support the show

Find out more about Rose's work here: https://lnk.bio/dr.rose.aslan
Website: https://compassionflow.com

Support Rahma with Rose so I can keep producing more episodes here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2197727/supporters/new

Music credits: Vocals: Zeynep Dilara Aslan; Ney/drum: Elif Önal; Tanbur: Katherine Hreib; Rebap: Hatice Gülbahar Hepsev

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Shazia's story begins in a small American town, where she faced unique challenges as a Muslim. It was not until later in her life that she renewed her connection with the Divine after losing her son soon after his birth and then going through a divorce. Despite the taboos around these topics in her community, Shazia is unapologetic about sharing her story to let other women know they are not alone and that they, too, can find fulfillment after tragedy.

Keep listening to more about Shazi's serendipitous encounter with a spiritual teacher that helped her find a deeper approach to Islamic spirituality, in contrast to the Islam she was raised within a traditional Indian-American Muslim household. Along the way, Shazia has explored numerous healing modalities, reexamined cultural and religious norms as a Muslim woman, and found a way to live a balanced life.

Find Shazia Imam online at these locations:
TheLifeEngineer.com
IG: @thelifeengineer.com
Facebook.com/ShaziaTLE
Feminine & Fulfilled Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/feminine-fulfilled/id1347262113

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Find out more about Rose's work here: https://lnk.bio/dr.rose.aslan
Website: https://compassionflow.com

Support Rahma with Rose so I can keep producing more episodes here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2197727/supporters/new

Music credits: Vocals: Zeynep Dilara Aslan; Ney/drum: Elif Önal; Tanbur: Katherine Hreib; Rebap: Hatice Gülbahar Hepsev

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In this episode, Rose gets vulnerable about notions of authority in Islam and why it’s such a complex and touchy subject—drawing upon her years as a scholar of religious and Islamic studies and working with Muslim clients as a life coach. She looks at theoretical interpretations and teachings of Islamic law and notions of authority and explains why they need to be adjusted to spread love, not fear.

The way authority within Islam has been presented to many Muslims in a black-and-white manner can be harmful and inaccurate. Rose recommends that Muslim leaders, teachers, and scholars take a trauma-informed approach to teaching Islam to support rather than turn away those who feel marginalized by mainstream Muslim communities and their approach to interpreting Islam. 

Rose argues that Muslims must take a compassion/rahma-centric approach to religion and spirituality to represent Islam as the religion of compassion, justice, and love and encourage Muslims to reconnect with its core spirituality and the Divine.

Qur’anic verse references in episode: Surah 3, verse 7.

Note: In the episode, I said that the 49th imam currently leads the Dawoodi Bohra community; I was mistaken. As of 2016, the community is presently led by the 53rd Da’i al-Mutlaq.

Support the show

Find out more about Rose's work here: https://lnk.bio/dr.rose.aslan
Website: https://compassionflow.com

Support Rahma with Rose so I can keep producing more episodes here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2197727/supporters/new

Music credits: Vocals: Zeynep Dilara Aslan; Ney/drum: Elif Önal; Tanbur: Katherine Hreib; Rebap: Hatice Gülbahar Hepsev

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Discover how Maryam Qadri found unity and love through her multi-faceted, multi-religious spiritual journey, from her initiation into Sufism to her exploration of essential spirituality through her fluid religious identity and practice. Maryam comes from a Christian background and has explored various religious and spiritual wisdom traditions during her life journey. Her unique experiences underscore the importance of seeking the ultimate truth and following the heart's whispers.

Maryam Qadri is a sociologist by degree and a Sufi in training. She is a writer, content creator, and co-founder of Essential Spirituality. Her newest publication is The Mystical Garden: A Collection of Sufi Poetry and Prose.

Maryam unravels the power of healing modalities and their impact on her mental health journey, championing the benefits of bibliotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. Discover how they can reshape distorted thoughts and negativity bias. Learn how journaling can empower us, especially when we make it a daily practice to write down things we appreciate.

We round off our discussion by addressing ways to cope with anxiety and depression. Explore the role of physical exercise, music, mirror work, faith, and bibliotherapy as vital tools. Maryam speaks to the power of self-acceptance, respect for pluralistic beliefs, and sincerity in our spiritual journey.

Find Maryam Qadri online: www.essentialspirituality.org and purchase her book, The Mystical Garden: A Collection of Sufi Poetry and Prose here: https://a.co/d/4fEgEjw

Support the show

Find out more about Rose's work here: https://lnk.bio/dr.rose.aslan
Website: https://compassionflow.com

Support Rahma with Rose so I can keep producing more episodes here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2197727/supporters/new

Music credits: Vocals: Zeynep Dilara Aslan; Ney/drum: Elif Önal; Tanbur: Katherine Hreib; Rebap: Hatice Gülbahar Hepsev

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Come, join me on an intimate exploration as I speak with Noha, a divine alchemist and healer from South Africa who has masterfully combined teachings from a variety of modalities and teachers. Noha illuminates her unique journey, beginning with a profound questioning and search for the Divine as a teenager, and the surprising path that led to a deeper understanding of healing and self-love.

Noha's perspective is beautifully steeped in her faith as a Muslim, adding a rich layer to her experiences and teachings. We explore not only how her religion and spirituality has shaped her work, but also engage in a thoughtful discussion about the significance of reflection and gratitude when connecting with the Divine. Listening to Noha's story is refreshing as she describes how she pushes through dogma and rigidity to a place of curiosity and openness.

At the end of our conversation, Noha shares a traditional Islamic song of gratitude from her hometown of Cape Town.


Find Noha and her offerings online here: https://linktr.ee/_Noha_?fbclid=IwAR35q6eij0UGKlRb_uoIhTyaJQXAWEpbn0Z-6uLxwNroobRt-vZiehFbhkE

Support the show

Find out more about Rose's work here: https://lnk.bio/dr.rose.aslan
Website: https://compassionflow.com

Support Rahma with Rose so I can keep producing more episodes here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2197727/supporters/new

Music credits: Vocals: Zeynep Dilara Aslan; Ney/drum: Elif Önal; Tanbur: Katherine Hreib; Rebap: Hatice Gülbahar Hepsev

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What happens when a quest for meaning and purpose intersects with growing up in a politically charged environment? Join us as we converse with Dr. Saliha Farid Abdel Khalik, an inspiring philosopher and spiritual coach hailing from Egypt who now lives in Malaysia. Her intriguing journey of self-discovery and spirituality amidst political unrest is truly eye-opening, and her exploration of various religions and philosophies paints a vivid picture of spiritual resilience.

In this episode, we delve into the depths of Saliha's transformative experiences studying the teachings of Ibn al-Arabi during her Ph.D., as she highlights the lessons of diving deep into the Sufi path. We discuss the crucial nuances between the psychological and spiritual realms and how creating a healing space for religious and childhood trauma can foster growth and self-knowledge. Saliha also talks about her explorations into Hindu and Buddhist philosophies, her connection to yoga, and her eclectic and rich path of healing through many different modalities.

In the final stretch, we explore the power of relaxation and trust as potent tools for healing, growth, and spiritual transformation. Saliha enlightens us about the teachings of Ibn al-Arabi, emphasizing the role of understanding and embodying divine names. We wrap up with her inspiring message about the simplicity of the spiritual path and how to navigate it with trust, surrender, and relaxation. This episode is sure to leave you feeling uplifted, with a deeper understanding of the importance of shedding self-images and projections to truly know oneself. 

Find Saliha online: https://www.hyleconsciousness.com/ and listen to her music here: https://sali.hearnow.com/

Support the show

Find out more about Rose's work here: https://lnk.bio/dr.rose.aslan
Website: https://compassionflow.com

Support Rahma with Rose so I can keep producing more episodes here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2197727/supporters/new

Music credits: Vocals: Zeynep Dilara Aslan; Ney/drum: Elif Önal; Tanbur: Katherine Hreib; Rebap: Hatice Gülbahar Hepsev