During his visit to Australia, Sheikh Ibrahim bin Muhammad from Leicester, UK met with Robbie Hamza for this beautiful conversation.

There are many words of advice given by Sheikh Ibrahim, in particular a focus on never looking down upon anyone as you never know what their situation may be. Sheikh Ibrahim shared some great teachings that he learnt from his father about giving each person the support they need to achieve great things.   

Through this conversation, we are also reminded that no matter how great a sin may seem, there is no sin that Allah will not forgive. There is always hope for everyone to turn back to Allah regardless of what they may have done.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please do not hesitate to reach out for support.   You can also contact The Rehabilitation Project for support at http://therehabilitationproject.org/ 

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This week, Robbie and Dean chat to the CEO of the Islamic College of Brisbane, Ali Kadri. The group discusses substance abuse in schools, peer pressure, and how this affects the community.

Robbie Hamza and Dean Iossifides are two brothers who are tirelessly working within the Brisbane community to support those who are affected by drug and alcohol addiction.  In this episode, Dean shares how he turned his life around. Dean previously lived a life of excessive spending, partying and substance abuse. In this emotional discussion, he speaks about how he left that life behind, the events that led him to Islam, and the miracles that Allah showed him after he accepted Islam.

Robbie and Dean are facilitators of The Rehabilitation Project's Connect-Discover-Recover program in Brisbane. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please do not hesitate to reach out to these brothers for support.

Recently, Robbie Hamza sat with Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, a prominent Islamic scholar from Yemen who was visiting Brisbane. The conversation was a beautiful discussion on the Prophetic approach to assisting troubled youth, particularly those who are imprisoned as well as people who accept Islam after living a life of crime, addiction and abuse.

Habib Kadhim gave some incredible advice on how we as a community can look to the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, and his character, and learn countless lessons on how to support anyone who is going through any form of difficulty.

Robbie Hamza chats to Abdul Rashidi, a criminal defence lawyer who has a wealth of experience in representing community members charged with drug related offences.  Robbie and Abdul chat about the various cases Abdul has seen, and the circumstances that lead individuals to fall into a situation where they are charged with a criminal offence. 

Abdul briefly talks about the way the legal system works when an individual is charged, and areas where the wider Muslim community is lacking in supporting Muslim youth who are facing criminal charges.

If you or someone you know needs legal support, Abdul Rashidi can be contacted on 0401555705.

This week, Robbie and Dean sit with Jay and Mustafa, two brothers with lived experience of drug addiction and rehabilitation.  Jay and Mustafa share their stories, speaking of the difficulties they both faced and how they overcame their challenges.

They also discuss the great work they are now doing in the community to help others who face similar challenges.

Akrim Mahouachi joins us at the table for an incredible discussion on his experience as a psychologist working with Muslims affected by substance addiction and abuse.  Akrim beautifully links the rich traditions of Islam to empowering the individual to recover from any difficulties they may be facing. 

In this episode, Robbie and Dean sit with Taine and Mohammad, two young brothers who have overcome some extreme difficulties. The brothers discuss faith, family and substance abuse, and their individual experiences, and how this has shaped who they are now.

Robbie Hamza and Dean Iossifides chat to Mohamad Fenj from The Rehabilitation Project and Imam Ikraam Buksh about the lack of community response to people who are struggling with substance abuse, and the approach to assisting these people.  

The Rehabilitation Project is a community-based drug and alcohol addiction-support and recovery service targeted at, but not limited to, the Muslim community, aligning culturally sensitive and appropriate values to the psychosocial model using person-centred and strength-based approaches. This service will be launched in Brisbane soon, led by Robbie and Dean.

Find out more: http://therehabilitationproject.org/

Robbie Hamza and Dean Iossifides chat to Imam Uzair Akbar and Imam Ikraam Buksh about the reality of substance and alcohol abuse in the Muslim community. We talk about how big the problem is, how it affects the community, and what we as a community can do to make a difference.  

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