The Reflected Podcast

In deze episode hebben we het over een belangrijk onderwerp binnen de moslimgemeenschap: de druk die moslimvrouwen ervaren om hun hijab af te doen om te kunnen studeren, stage te lopen of een job te vinden. We bespreken waarom je nooit je geloof, waarden en identiteit zou moeten opofferen om door anderen geaccepteerd te worden.

We praten over discriminatie op de werkvloer, het hoofddoekenverbod in scholen en de uitdagingen waarmee hijabdragende vrouwen geconfronteerd worden tijdens hun opleiding en zoektocht naar werk. Ook delen we ervaringen uit de lerarenopleiding en bespreken we waarom het belangrijk is om voor jezelf en je overtuigingen op te komen.

Daarnaast hebben we het over alternatieve carrièrepaden, ondernemerschap en het creëren van kansen waarbij je trouw kunt blijven aan jezelf. Want wie zegt dat je moet blijven vechten voor een plek waar je niet welkom bent, als er zoveel andere deuren voor je kunnen opengaan?

We bespreken ook het belang van vertrouwen op Allah, het besef dat jouw rizq niet afhankelijk is van één werkgever en de moed om groter te dromen.

Dit is wat jullie moeten weten: je hoeft jezelf niet kleiner te maken om in iemands wereld te passen. Blijf trouw aan je geloof, ken je waarde en durf te kiezen voor een toekomst waarin je zowel professioneel kunt groeien als jezelf kunt blijven.

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In deze episode (this one is in Dutch, sorry English speakers) gaan we het hebben over het hoofddoekenverbod in België en onze persoonlijke ervaringen daarmee. We vertellen hoe we op de middelbare school dagelijks met het verbod te maken kregen en hoe we onze hoofddoek aan de schoolpoort moesten afdoen. Ook tijdens uitstappen en sportactiviteiten werden we regelmatig aangesproken op wat we op ons hoofd droegen.

We bespreken dat het volgens ons niet alleen om een regel ging, maar vooral om de manier waarop we hierdoor behandeld werden. We voelden ons geviseerd, gecontroleerd en soms vernederd, terwijl we goede leerlingen waren. Daarnaast praten we over hoe zulke ervaringen het gevoel van erbij horen en de ontwikkeling van jongeren kunnen beïnvloeden.

Een belangrijk onderwerp in de aflevering is het idee van vrijheid en mensenrechten. We bespreken het recht om je religie te beleven en hoe belangrijk het is om je eigen waarden en identiteit te kennen en daarvoor op te komen.

Tot slot bespreken we inclusiviteit. Volgens ons moeten scholen ervoor zorgen dat alle leerlingen zich welkom en veilig voelen, ongeacht of ze een hoofddoek dragen of niet. We delen ook onze ervaringen met werk en benadrukken dat je niet zomaar je waarden hoeft op te geven om geaccepteerd te worden.

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In Part 3 of this series on memorising the Quran, the discussion focuses on what memorising the Quran can teach a person about their potential, identity, and purpose. The speaker explains that memorising the Quran gave her confidence and discipline, showing her that she was capable of achieving difficult goals. However, she also struggled with being known only as “the Quran girl,” feeling that people reduced her identity to her memorisation.

The episode argues that memorising the Quran should not be the end goal, but a foundation for building a meaningful and successful life. The Quran should influence a person’s character, ambitions, skills, and contribution to society. The speakers encourage people who have memorised the Quran to use their other talents too, whether in business, medicine, engineering, education, content creation, or other fields.

A major theme is the importance of sharing beneficial knowledge. Rather than remaining hidden out of fear of judgment, Muslims who have knowledge and good character are encouraged to take leadership, create content, and positively influence others.

Finally, the episode reminds listeners that they do not need to be perfect before pursuing their dreams. Memorising and revising the Quran is a lifelong journey, so people should keep growing, remain sincere, and pursue their potential while living according to the Quran.

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In this episode pt 2 we are going deeper into the hidden challenges of memorizing the Quran, the pressure that comes after finishing, and how the experience can shape your identity. We explore the reality that memorization never truly feels “finished” because learning new pages must happen alongside constantly revising old ones. What seems like the end is actually the beginning of an even greater commitment.

We also discuss how Quran memorization can become focused on recitation and performance rather than understanding, reflection, and applying its message to everyday life. Understanding the meaning and context of the verses can make memorization more accessible and meaningful, and it is not something reserved for a certain age or type of person.

The conversation then moves into confidence, competition, stress, and the struggle with perfectionism. Learning to surrender what is outside your control can transform how you approach challenges. Finally, we talk about breaking away from expectations placed by others, pursuing a bigger vision, and using the Quran as a foundation for personal growth, confidence, courage, and becoming your best self.

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In this episode, we talk about what it really takes to memorize the Quran and the journey that led Salma to completing it at 17 years old. She shares what first motivated her to start, after seeing young children confidently recite the Quran, and how that inspiration pushed me to take the first step.

Her journey didn’t start easily. She said:"I was initially rejected from the Quran class because my Arabic reading skills weren’t strong enough. Instead of giving up, I used that rejection as motivation. I spent a year improving my Arabic while memorizing the Quran independently, eventually earning my place in the Quran class and quickly becoming one of the top students."

We talk about the discipline, consistency, sacrifice, and daily routine that were required to reach my goal. I share how I had to stay focused, sometimes choosing memorization over social activities and family outings, and how my identity became deeply connected to the Quran.

We also discuss the assumptions people made about Salma after she memorized the Quran, including being expected to have all the answers about Islam. She explains why understanding, researching, and checking what the Quran actually says is so important, especially when culture and misinformation can be confused with faith.

The next questions are answered in Part 2.

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In this episode, we’ll be talking about what it really means to grow, heal, and build your own life when you come from a toxic home environment.

We’ll share our personal experiences of moving out, living independently, and challenging the belief that you have to be married before you can leave your family home.

We’ll also talk about what to do when moving out isn’t financially possible yet, and how you can start creating a healthier environment for yourself right where you are.

From protecting your peace and changing your surroundings to working on your trauma, identity, and subconscious beliefs, we’ll explore how much of your healing journey can begin before your circumstances completely change.

Most importantly, we’ll discuss the power of taking ownership of your life instead of waiting for the “perfect” moment whether that means getting your dream home, starting your business, becoming more visible, or finally pursuing a goal you’ve been postponing.

This episode is about taking action, stepping into the identity of the person you want to become, trusting Allah while also doing your part, and understanding that your current environment does not have to define your future.

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In this video, we talk about how to start a business as a Muslim without simply copying what everyone else is doing. We explore the importance of solving real problems within our community instead of creating more products and clutter. We discuss how discovering our unique purpose, talents, and experiences can help us build a meaningful business that reflects who we are. We also explain how entrepreneurship is a journey of personal growth, pushing us beyond our comfort zones and revealing the fears and weaknesses we need to work on. We emphasize that we are more than the roles we have, such as being a mother, wife, or businesswoman, and that we should continue developing ourselves. Most importantly, we explore how building a business with faith in Allah, taking action, and relying on Him can create greater freedom, purpose, and peace. Finally, we discuss avoiding burnout and building an identity that supports both business success and a fulfilling life.

If you'd like us to help you on a deeper level, apply to the Mentorship below.

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In this episode, we’ll be talking about consistency, discipline, and what it really takes to turn your goals into reality.

We challenge the idea that some people are simply “not consistent.” In reality, we are all consistent at something : the question is whether our habits are moving us closer to the life we want. We share how we built consistency by making our goals easier, creating simple routines, and taking small steps every day.

We also dive into content creation, personal branding, and the importance of showing up even when you don’t feel confident or ready. We discuss how batching content, saving ideas, creating systems, and simply taking action can make consistency feel much more achievable.

But this episode goes deeper than productivity. We talk about identity, confidence, and the courage to step into the person we believe we are meant to become. From our perspective as Muslim women, we explore what it means to stop hiding, embrace our voice, and use the opportunities and skills Allah has given us to create positive change.

Ultimately, this episode is about taking yourself seriously, trusting your potential, and understanding that if you want a different life, you have to start acting like it.

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In this episode, we talk about the three main things that can stop us from becoming the people Allah wants us to be: distractions, a lack of clear goals, and playing small. We discuss how we don’t need to have our entire future figured out before taking the first step, and how trusting Allah can guide us toward our purpose. We explore the importance of faith, self-love, self-discovery, and gaining clarity about what we truly want in life. We also discuss taking responsibility for our own growth instead of using distractions or relationships as excuses, and learning to dream bigger without limiting ourselves. Ultimately, the episode encourages us to overcome distractions, set meaningful goals, trust Allah, and strive to become the people we were created to be.

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