Most people never realize they're just following programmed responses. The clock says it's time to eat, so they eat. The craving hits, so they satisfy it. 

Free will becomes an illusion when every "decision" is actually a conditioned reflex.

But Allah, in His infinite wisdom, has given us tools to break these cycles. When you consciously choose to fast, to abstain, to say "no" when your nafs expects "yes" - you're not just changing your eating habits. You're reclaiming your willpower from systems designed to enslave it.

This is the essence of what Allah calls taqwa - that conscious awareness of His presence that gives you the strength to choose what pleases Him over what pleases your desires. 

Every time you resist an automated response and turn to Allah instead, you're building spiritual muscle that transforms every aspect of your life.

The Quran reminds us that Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves. 

Breaking these cycles is about liberating your soul from anything that competes with your devotion to your Creator.

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What would you ask for if you had a guaranteed yes?


In this short episode, Shaykh Muhammad Alshareef (rA) gives us a space to pause and reflect on the power of asking - not from people, but from the One who never turns you away. 


It’s about preparing your heart for that sacred moment when the doors are open… and what you choose to say when you step through.


It’s a reminder of who you’re standing in front of - and how much that one moment can shape your destiny.


Listen in. You might just change what you ask for next.

Get inside Art of Raising Muslims: https://www.raisingmuslims.com/art

Ever feel like you’re spiritually stuck?

You’re doing the worship. Saying the right words. But deep down, it feels like something’s off - like your heart is buffering.

In this podcast, Shaykh Muhammad Alshareef (rA) explores what it means to experience a true spiritual hard reset. Just like a device overloaded with too many apps, we build habits - some helpful, many harmful - that eventually slow us down or shut us off completely.

This is about breaking the patterns that are quietly draining you - whether it’s your emotional triggers, your autopilot sins, or your dependency on comfort routines.

Sometimes growth comes from pausing long enough to reset everything.

Get inside Art of Raising Muslims: https://www.raisingmuslims.com/art

The world has completely shifted. Industries that seemed unshakeable have crumbled overnight, leaving millions scrambling for what's next. But within this chaos lies the greatest opportunity of our lifetime.

A WOW idea is the kind of concept that makes people stop mid-conversation and say "I've never heard anything like that before." 

These are the ideas that serve people in ways that align perfectly with Islamic principles of benefit and justice.

The most successful Muslim entrepreneurs understand something profound: when your business truly benefits people, every transaction becomes an act of worship, every profit an opportunity for sadaqah, every success a means to serve Allah's creation better.

The question is whether you're ready to stop following the crowd and discover the one that's been waiting for you. 

The one that combines what you love, what the world needs, and what brings barakah to your rizq. 

Your community needs what only you can offer. The time to find it is now.

Get inside Art of Raising Muslims: https://www.raisingmuslims.com/art

Ever wondered what those overwhelming emotions are when you first see the Kaabah? 

This podcast by Shaykh Muhammad Alshareef (rA) breaks down the eight most common feelings Hajjis experience during their first Umrah - from confusion and awe to tiredness and even frustration with your travel companions.

Drawing from decades of Hajj and Umrah experience, this discussion addresses the emotional journey that often gets overlooked in typical "how-to" guides. 

You'll know why feeling confused when you first see the Kaabah is completely normal, understand the proper etiquette around the sacred House, and get practical advice for navigating the crowds.

The Kaabah as a direction rather than an object of worship, the significance of the Black Stone, and why Makkah is uniquely designed as a place where worship is the only focus. 

Stories from Seerah of the Prophet (SAW) and the Sahaba will help you understand your own experiences better, including lessons from the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah about handling frustration during sacred journeys.

Whether you're preparing for your first Umrah or reflecting on past experiences, this honest podcast validates the emotions of Hajis while giving Islamic guidance on how to process them spiritually. 

Perfect for anyone seeking to understand the deeper emotional and spiritual aspects of visiting the holiest site in Islam, especially in this season of Dhul Hijjah.

Get inside Art of Raising Muslims: https://www.raisingmuslims.com/art

In this episode, Shaykh Muhammad Alshareef (rA) dives deep into something many Muslims struggle with - making Dua for years without seeing results and wondering "maybe Allah doesn't want this for me." 

He shares his personal journey with trying to pray Fajr in the masjid for 30+ years while battling insomnia. The breakthrough came when he realized it wasn't about Allah rejecting his dua - it was about his strategy.

That's the good news he wants to share: those Duas you thought would never be answered might just need the right approach. 

Shaykh (rA) explores different types of Duas - some happen immediately (like his childhood Ramadan story), while others require effort and strategic planning. Just like building a house requires more than just money for construction, our bigger duas often need foundations and multi-level planning.

It's time to elevate our Duas beyond just jobs, houses, and cars. He challenges listeners to develop a decade-long vision, because an excellent life never happens by accident - just as we tell non-Muslims that the universe's excellence proves Allah's existence!

Learn from prophetic examples like Nuh (AS) building the ark and Musa (AS) leaving comfort to free Bani Israel. Their stories show that even miraculous outcomes required strategic effort first.

Get inside Art of Raising Muslims: https://www.raisingmuslims.com/art

Have you ever felt guilty for asking Allah for a good life? As if dreaming big or wanting to thrive in the Dunya somehow makes a person less pious?

This podcast addresses a limiting belief that holds many Muslims back - the idea that seeking success in this world contradicts spirituality. 

It challenges the misconception that comfort, abundance, or a fulfilled life is something to be ashamed of. 

Instead, it brings attention to clear Qur’anic verses where Allah promises blessings in the dunya to those who believe, have taqwa, and do good deeds.

It explores how the Prophet ﷺ and his companions lived with purpose, control, and a deep sense of responsibility. 

Their simplicity was a choice - rooted in wisdom. 

They had access to wealth and influence but used it for the sake of Allah, with clarity and impact.

The podcast also emphasizes the balance between tawakkul (trust in Allah) and taking strategic action. Trust doesn’t mean inaction—it means doing one’s part while relying on Allah’s plan.

This is a powerful reminder that there’s no second round in life. It encourages believers to aim high, live with purpose, and stop holding back due to misplaced guilt. A much-needed mindset shift for anyone who feels torn between spiritual sincerity and worldly aspiration.

Get inside Art of Raising Muslims: https://www.raisingmuslims.com/art

You know those heated arguments in the masjid about moon sighting, or the tension when someone corrects another's prayer? 

In this podcast, Shaykh Muhammad Alshareef (rA) shows us how the Companions had passionate disagreements but never let them destroy their brotherhood.

Shaykh (rA) didn’t just tell us to "be nice" - he gave real strategies for dealing with conflicts, showing how to give advice without humiliating people, and explaining why some of our well-intentioned dawah efforts actually push people away.

In an age where Muslim communities are fracturing over the smallest issues, where social media arguments turn into real-world divisions, we desperately need to learn how to disagree without destroying our bonds.

This is about preserving relationships while standing firm on principles. Whether you're dealing with family disagreements, community politics, or just trying to navigate everyday interactions with other Muslims, the wisdom shared here is invaluable.

If you've ever felt frustrated by divisions in the ummah or wondered how to correct someone without hurting them, this talk is for you. It's about building the kind of community where differences strengthen us rather than tear us apart.

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Allah tells us this single night is better than a thousand months - that’s over 83 years of worship.

A few hours of sincere prayer on this night outweighs a lifetime of normal worship.

The angels descend in numbers we can’t comprehend, filling the earth with peace until dawn breaks.

It’s the night when destinies are decreed, when prayers are especially powerful.

This is why we must make haste in seeking this night out in the last ten nights of Ramadan.

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Why do hardships come even after choosing the path of Islam? Shouldn’t life become easier when you're on the truth?

In this podcast, Shaykh Muhammad Alshareef (rA) shares a powerful reflection on trials, struggles, and the reality of faith. 

Allah makes it clear in the Quran: “Do you think you will enter Paradise while such [trials] have not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you?” (Quran 2:214). 

Every believer will be tested, just as those before us were. Wealth, health, and personal hardships are all part of the journey. The struggle itself is proof that you're on the right path.

Jannah is not easy. It is surrounded by difficulty, while Hellfire is surrounded by ease and desires. The challenges you face, the temptations you resist, the hardships that shake you - every single one is a step closer to Allah’s pleasure.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, if you're questioning why life isn’t getting easier, this reminder is for you. The road to Jannah is not for the weak-hearted. But for those who endure, who hold firm, who refuse to waver, the reward is beyond imagination.

Let this reminder reshape the way you see your trials. Stay the course. Stay firm. Keep going.

Get inside Art of Raising Muslims: https://www.raisingmuslims.com/art