The Thinking Muslim

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Francesca Bocca-Aldaqre holds a MSc in Neuro-Cognitive Psychology & a PhD in Systemic Neuroscience (both from Ludwig-Maximilians Universität Munich, Germany) and a Diploma in Islamic Psychology (Cambridge Muslim College). She works as a counsellor in Islamic Psychology worldwide. She authored several books in poetry as well as essays on the relationship between Western thought and Islam

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Western psychology is limited by its focus on the material aspects of human existence. My guest today is Dr. Franchesca Bocca-Aldaqre, an Islamic psychologist and neuroscientist, who asserts that much of what preoccupies Western psychology—such as the emphasis on the egotistical self, the fixation on Freudian concepts of repressed childhood trauma, and the tendency toward over-medicalization—does not only undermine healing but can also be detrimental to individuals in the long run. Islamic psychology, according to her, is a field that has been overlooked, overshadowed by a modernity that fails to recognize human beings as holistic living souls. Dr. Franchesca offers a thoughtful critique of the maladies of capitalist life and also outlines a path towards a more balanced approach to living.

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Is the tide turning? The sentiment in Europe suggests that criticism of Israel is increasing, even from those who have previously been staunch allies. Is this a genuine attempt to correct a past miscalculation, or is it a cynical effort to salvage a failing international system and protect tarnished reputations? At the same time, the protests, lobbying, narrative-building, and activism aimed at changing the political discourse raise the question: isn’t this, regardless of intent, a positive step?

I posed these questions to Dr. Azzam Tamimi, a veteran campaigner for Palestinian rights who has consistently defended the Palestinian cause. We spoke after a series of horrific, cold-blooded murders, while desperate civilians clamoured for food at the American-backed Gaza aid distribution centres. Are any of these political shifts truly affecting the realities on the ground?

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Meeting someone who has experienced the trauma of Gaza is really humbling. Journalist Abu Bakr Abed did not start out as a war journalist. In relatively calmer days before the genocide, his reporting mainly was on football. But like so many Gazans, the slaughter changed lives and in so many cases ended them. 

I met Abu Bakr in Ireland, a country that had recently welcomed the young man after he spent 18 gruelling months witnessing the most horrific crimes. Abu Bakr’s faith, as you will see, remains strong, but he is broken, not by the bombs, but by the inaction. In this interview, he speaks of the responsibility of the Muslim ummah and how, he believes, we have all failed.

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Timestamps:

0:00 – Introduction

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The new Syrian government has had to deal with a bewildering array of internal and external challenges. How it deals with these will determine the future integrity and progress of the country. Today we welcome back onto the show historian Dr Diana Darke who told us previously that she will return back to the country and her house in the old city of Damascus after a period of being barred from entering. She tells us about the new Syria, its hopes and challenges. 

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The recent escalation of military hostilities between Pakistan and India resulted in some decisive tactical victories for Pakistan, despite the sheer weight of misinformation coming out of India. The downing of five Indian aircraft with the confident use of Chinese hardware would have sent a signal to India that its war readiness is in question. But did Pakistan do enough to consolidate its battlefield gains? And what of the broader regional dynamic for the country, which has been bogged down by political and economic crisis?

To help us understand the broader analysis, we have today Ibrahim Moiz, author of The True Story of the Taliban. He is a writer and researcher on Pakistan and Afghan affairs.

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The UAE has curated a string of anti-revolutionary non-state actors across the Middle East to serve the state’s deeply secular interests. Abu Dhabi has waged a war against Islamic civil society and non-state actors under the pretext of fighting “terrorism” and today acts as the primary means by which the small but effective federation of seven emirates prevents the rise of independent states in the Middle East. Behind every foiled attempt to wrestle power from Arab dictators is the UAE, which has used its petrodollars and economic prowess to curtail civil society activism. Its deep alliance with Israel and its Zionist project have given the UAE an unprecedented means to act as a spoiler in the region. Today, we explore the tentacles of this project and its impact upon the hopes of much of ordinary Arab Muslim society. 

Our guest today is Dr Andreas Krieg, an associate professor at the Defence Studies Department of King's College London and a strategic risk consultant working for clients in the Middle East and beyond. He recently penned a piece which forms the backdrop of our conversation on the assertive statecraft of the UAE. 

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His article: https://www.middleeasteye.net/big-story/abu-dhabi-built-axis-secessionists-across-region-how

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As the Israeli war machine is in full motion, the position of the West lays bare the hollowness of its claims to observe international law. With every US-manufactured bomb dropped on Gaza, the vacuousness of its liberal world order is exposed to Muslims and the world. Yet what can we do about this situation? Lately, many governments have queued up to sign the so-called Abraham Accords with the apartheid state, and it has been concluded that the Arabs no longer care for the Palestinian cause. Today, we get a real feel for the ‘Arab street’ and what Palestine means to Muslims in the region.

Our guest this episode is Dr. Tareq Al-Suwaidan. He is the CEO and owner of Gulf Innovation Group in Kuwait and was the General Manager of Al-Resalah Satellite TV - ranked among the highest in the Middle East.

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We all know how difficult it has been for food and essential supplies to reach the beleaguered people of Gaza. This, Insha'Allah, is changing. We have partnered with a charity, Baitulmaal, because now, more than ever, there is a need not only in Gaza but also in Turkish controlled Northern Syria and in all the places we routinely talk about in this program where our ummah is subject to abject poverty. We have chosen this charity because Baitulmaal is a non-profit with people on the ground who organize well-thought-out projects and serve the most needy.

You can also support The Thinking Muslim through a one-time donation: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/Donate

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Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rājiʿūn

"Indeed, to Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return.”

It is with great sadness that Muhammad Jalal’s wife passed away on Wednesday. She had been courageously living with cancer for over three years. She was a soul who remained obedient to her Lord to the very end and never wavered in her iman and goodness. May Allah open the doors of mercy for her and leave her good deeds and service to the ummah as sadaqah jariah for her.

يٰۤاَيَّتُهَا النَّفۡسُ الۡمُطۡمَٮِٕنَّةُ

ارۡجِعِىۡۤ اِلٰى رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَّرۡضِيَّةً ‏

Allah will say to the righteous,˺ “O tranquil soul!,

Return to your Lord, well pleased ˹with Him˺ and well pleasing ˹to Him˺.

The Prophet (saw) said:

“The most beloved people to Allah are those who are most beneficial to others.”

Farhat lived this truth. May every act of kindness and dedication to our ummah she performed count as sadaqah jāriyah for her.

We ask Allah (SWT) to envelop her in mercy, to forgive her sins, to make her grave a garden from the gardens of Paradise, and to reunite her with her loved ones in Jannat al-Firdaws, the highest level of Paradise.

"Allahumma ighfir laha, warhamha, wa 'afiha, wa'fu 'anha."

"O Allah, forgive her, have mercy on her, grant her peace, and pardon her."

May her soul find rest, and may we all find strength in the legacy she left behind.

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Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rājiʿūn

"Indeed, to Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return.”

It is with great sadness that Muhammad Jalal’s wife passed away on Wednesday. She had been courageously living with cancer for over three years. She was a soul who remained obedient to her Lord to the very end and never wavered in her iman and goodness. May Allah open the doors of mercy for her and leave her good deeds and service to the ummah as sadaqah jariah for her.

يٰۤاَيَّتُهَا النَّفۡسُ الۡمُطۡمَٮِٕنَّةُ

ارۡجِعِىۡۤ اِلٰى رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَّرۡضِيَّةً ‏

Allah will say to the righteous,˺ “O tranquil soul!,

Return to your Lord, well pleased ˹with Him˺ and well pleasing ˹to Him˺.

The Prophet (saw) said:

“The most beloved people to Allah are those who are most beneficial to others.”

Farhat lived this truth. May every act of kindness and dedication to our ummah she performed count as sadaqah jāriyah for her.

We ask Allah (SWT) to envelop her in mercy, to forgive her sins, to make her grave a garden from the gardens of Paradise, and to reunite her with her loved ones in Jannat al-Firdaws, the highest level of Paradise.

"Allahumma ighfir laha, warhamha, wa 'afiha, wa'fu 'anha."

"O Allah, forgive her, have mercy on her, grant her peace, and pardon her."

May her soul find rest, and may we all find strength in the legacy she left behind.

Listen to the audio version of the podcast:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vXiAjVFnhNI3T9Gkw636a

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Sami Hamdi first came on The Thinking Muslim two years ago on the 28 April 2023. To mark the two years we have brought together some of his choice moments that remind us of our need to fuse faith with thinking and activism.

We all know how difficult it has been for food and essential supplies to reach the beleaguered people of Gaza. This, Insha'Allah, is changing. We have partnered with a charity, Baitulmaal, because now, more than ever, there is a need not only in Gaza but also in Turkish controlled Northern Syria and in all the places we routinely talk about in this program where our ummah is subject to abject poverty. We have chosen this charity because Baitulmaal is a non-profit with people on the ground who organize well-thought-out projects and serve the most needy.

You can also support The Thinking Muslim through a one-time donation: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/Donate

Listen to the audio version of the podcast:

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