Ramadan is a Proof Against Us
The Mohamed Ghilan Podcast
Ramadan is a time in which we exercise our agency in a way unlike the rest of the year. We approach it with deliberate intent, set goals, reorient ourselves and rearrange our priorities to make our relationship with Allah our primary concern. In a way, we're establishing a proof against ourselves, demonstrating our capacity to choose Allah over dunya. The question we should ponder on is how can we exercise this agency in an effective way against the pulls of our lower self. Join Al-Andalus Academy at Instagram Facebook Twitter
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Post Ramadan Reflections
The Mohamed Ghilan Podcast
Ramadan is a special time of the year in which we as Muslims engage in an act of worship that's like no other. In contrast to all other acts of worship, fasting is an intimate act that cannot be witnessed or confirmed by anyone other than Allah. It's a secret between the servant and their Lord. Being granted permission by Allah to engage in this intimate act of drawing nearer to Him should bring us all to a pause to reflect on what that means in terms of our status with Allah. Join Al-Andalus Academy at Instagram Facebook Twitter
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Imanophobia and the Adoption of Aesthetic Sensibility by Muslims
The Mohamed Ghilan Podcast
As Muslims have become increasingly integrated into social justice movements and the entertainment industry, many prominent figures are taking actions that align with the dominant ideology in these spheres. Despite their apparent unrelatedness, a common theme runs through Muslim hijabi Instagram influencers taking off their hijabs, comedians mocking Islamic practices like the dua, and political allegiances made in the name of combating Islamophobia. In this episode, the distinction made by the late Algerian sociologist and philosopher Malek Bennabi between aesthetic and moral sensibilities as...
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Jerusalem is Worth Nothing…and Everything!
The Mohamed Ghilan Podcast
What is Jerusalem worth? What kind of attachment does being a Muslim entail to the Holy Land? The recent announcement from U.S. President Donald Trump that recognizes Jerusalem as the official capital of Israel has created massive outcries and lamentations over the grim prospects for peace. However, from a spiritual and Quranic standpoint, much good has come out from this announcement. We just need to have the right perspective to see it. Topics discussed in this episode include the status of Jerusalem in Islam and the attitude a Muslim should adopt with regards to their relationship...
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The Reliever (al-Munfarijah) | Part 3 of 3
The Mohamed Ghilan Podcast
The Reliever (al-Munfarijah) is a poem composed by the great Tunisian scholar Yusuf ibn Muhammad at-Tawozari at-Tilimsanī (d. 1119 AD/513 AH). He was known for his mastery of the various Islamic sciences but his erudition and rhetorical abilities became his defining feature to the degree that he was known as ibn an-Nahawi (Son of the Grammarian). al-Munfarijah is one of the most famous poems recited in North Africa and generally in the Islamic world. ibn an-Nahawi composed it in response to a request from his family who were living under an oppressive ruler. Ever since this poem has been...
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The Reliever (al-Munfarijah) | Part 2 of 3
The Mohamed Ghilan Podcast
The Reliever (al-Munfarijah) is a poem composed by the great Tunisian scholar Yusuf ibn Muhammad at-Tawozari at-Tilimsanī (d. 1119 AD/513 AH). He was known for his mastery of the various Islamic sciences but his erudition and rhetorical abilities became his defining feature to the degree that he was known as ibn an-Nahawi (Son of the Grammarian). al-Munfarijah is one of the most famous poems recited in North Africa and generally in the Islamic world. ibn an-Nahawi composed it in response to a request from his family who were living under an oppressive ruler. Ever since this poem has been...
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The Reliever (al-Munfarijah) | Part 1 of 3
The Mohamed Ghilan Podcast
The Reliever (al-Munfarijah) is a poem composed by the great Tunisian scholar Yusuf ibn Muhammad at-Tawozari at-Tilimsanī (d. 1119 AD/513 AH). He was known for his mastery of the various Islamic sciences but his erudition and rhetorical abilities became his defining feature to the degree that he was known as ibn an-Nahawi (Son of the Grammarian). al-Munfarijah is one of the most famous poems recited in North Africa and generally in the Islamic world. ibn an-Nahawi composed it in response to a request from his family who were living under an oppressive ruler. Ever since this poem has been...
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The Illusion of Controlling Destiny
The Mohamed Ghilan Podcast
This episode is a sneak peak into our weekly live sessions at Al-Andalus Academy's Halaqa series where we're currently engaging in the study of Sidi ibn 'Atā-illah's Kitab at-Tanwīr (The Book of Illumination). In this session, wel delve into three reasons that should compel us to dropping the measure alongside Allah ﷻ. These revolve around the understanding that our attachment to the measure is borne out of an illusion that not only do we have control over our outcomes for ourselves, but also that we know best what's good for ourselves. This notion is what Sidi ibn 'Atā-illah seeks...
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On Sleep
The Mohamed Ghilan Podcast
Humans spend one third of their lives sleeping. It's one of the most conserved behaviours in nature, which speaks to a crucial role it plays in survival. Yet, much of the popular discussion on sleep follows a reductive approach that focuses on its import in the physical realm whilst completely ignoring the metaphysical realities behind it. Sleep is described in the Quran as a sign of God, as well as affirming its role as a restorative process. A discussion on sleep is deficient, and can even be miseading in its implications if it only addresses its physiology and excludes its...
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Living with Purpose
The Mohamed Ghilan Podcast
What is the point of what you do? Whether it’s educational, career, or business pursuits, life is filled with transitions that end with the ultimate transition from this stage of our existence to the next. As we pass from this world we take nothing with us, and when we meet the angels in the grave we get hit with the reality that none of our titles, accolades, and material wealth meant anything in and of themselves. Arriving at this realization before our death can trigger an existential crisis. This is not a matter of addressing our specific purpose, but a matter of answering the larger...
info_outlineThe body is a sacred trust from God and similar to other material possessions we have under our care in this world we will be asked about how we took care of it. How we physically look is a manifestation of how we treat our bodies, and how we treat our bodies manifests in our mindset and how we conduct our lives. All this has a direct impact on our spiritual development.
Topics addressed in this episode include the relationship between the impact of stress on the brain and physical exertion, the importance of exercise and eating habits, and life lessons learned in the gym.
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