Becoming a father is straight forward. Being a dad is not. Add to the mix the desire to bring up your children as Muslims at a time when Islam is under the spotlight doesn't lighten the load. In this episode I talk about my experience of becoming a father and my sometimes painful transition to embracing parenthood. I talk about helping my kids to forge their Islamic identity in a hostile environment, the difference between managing kids and parenting and why living your life through your kids is a recipe for disaster. Check it out. Enquiries: Tw/Insta: @moiazam / [email protected] (If you are a woman and have a perspective on relationships within the Muslim community then please get in touch. I'm keen to include a female voice on this podcast)

It's summertime here in the UK and that means one thing...wall to wall weddings! You just can't move for invitations. But something strange had happened over the years with the simple wedding transformed into incredibly elaborate and extravagant affairs with no expense spared and nothing left to chance. But what about the actual marriage itself? How much marriage planning had gone in to ensuring the happy couple stands the best chance of remaining happy? As usual Alyas Karmani (Imam, Psychologist, Counsellor) had a great deal to say on this episode: why the Islamic marriage contract (Nikkah) reflects long term thinking, why he doesn't want it recognised under English law and why women should demand their worth! Check it out. Please get in touch here: Tw/Insta: @moiazam / [email protected] (If you are a woman and have a perspective on relationships within the Muslim community then please get in touch. I'm keen to include a female voice on this podcast)

As the birth of our first child approached we did what any excited couple would do…we went pram shopping! But little did we know what this seemingly innocuous event would reveal so much about ourselves and our relationship.

In this episode Alyas and I chat about conflict in relationships and the lost art of negotiation and compromise. This is the fourth episode in the ‘insights' series: a deep dive in to specific aspects of relationships as viewed and experienced through the prism of being UK born Muslims. Gotta question: [email protected] / tw/insta: @moiazam

In this episode Alyas and I discuss how mental health can impact relationships and conversely how relationships are impacted by mental health. This is the third in the 'insights' series: a deep divie into specific aspects of Muslim relationships provided by counselor Alyas Karmani. Check it out. tw/Insta: @moiazam

This is the second in the 'insights' series: a deeper dive into specific aspects of Muslim relationships provided by counselor Alyas Karmani. In this episode Alyas offers 8 behavioural traits - based on extensive research and experience - that lead to nurturing and sustaining a successful marriage. Always super fun talking to Al. Check it out.

How do you know when a relationship is over? Like really over? Throughout my 10 year marriage there were countless moments I thought we shouldn’t be together but we endured oblivious to the walls slowly crumbling around us.  I guess what I'm asking is; at what point you should call it day even though you’re not 100% sure why? Email: [email protected] tw/insta: @moiazam

Remember Alyas Karmani? Of course you do! On one of my previous episodes he spoke passionately about his experiences of counselling Muslim couples over the last 25 years but painted a bleak picture of the future if the quality of relationships in the community didn't change for the better asap. It got me thinking: how can we start to affect change? 'Insights' is a new series of conversations that delve deeper in to relationship topics that impact the lives of Muslims and offers some practical advice. In this first episode Alyas and I discuss the subject of compatibility: how Islam describes it, why you can't ignore it and how to find it. Fascinating stuff.

The vast majority of Muslims who live in the UK are people of colour. Many, if not all, have suffered some form of racism at some point in their lives and - with the rise of Islamophobia - are left feeling anxious and fearful. The ability to process these emotions healthily may be the only thing that stands between you and a failed relationship. Email: [email protected] tw/insta: @moiazam

An update on this podcast...

Following on from ‘Ep5: Couples Therapy’ this is a special bonus episode that I’m sure you’re going to love listening to.

Alyas Karmani is a highly qualified relationship therapist who primarily works with the UK Muslim community. A few days ago we took some time out to chat about what he has learned from 25 years of counselling Muslim couples and uncover what it’s really like to be on the front line of Muslim relationship problems.

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