Episode 106 - Jihad, Caravan Raids & The Jews of Medina | Professor Joel Hayward
Release Date: 05/31/2022
Ep 135 - Misyar, Secret Wives, Polygamy, Mut'ah: Halal or Haram? | Habeeb Akande
Boys In The Cave
Habeeb Akande joins BITC to talk misyar, secret wives, polygamy, passport wives, sex negative culture, and the nafs. We unpack how some men cherry pick fiqh to justify secrecy, how praiseworthy aims differ from loophole hunting, and what real justice and consent look like in practice. We also ask the question, have Muslims adopted a Christian style suspicion of pleasure and projected it onto Islam. Habeeb speaks from classical learning and lived research, Maliki fiqh, usul, erotology, African and Muslim cultures. We cover consent, maintenance, time rotation, publicity, and the harm rule, then...
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Ep 134 - Professor Joel Hayward on Rethinking Medina’s Covenant, Treaties & Statecraft
Boys In The Cave
Professor Joel Hayward unpacks how Medina actually worked, the Sahifat al Madinah, parallel pacts by clan, covenant enforcement, and the Prophet’s statecraft in moments like the Sawiq raid, the Qaynuqa crisis, the Nadir siege, and the Trench. We dig into source criticism, what the early texts really say, and why the dominant narrative needs a rethink. What we cover: • Sahifat al Madinah, what the charter says and how it functioned inside a web of bilateral pacts • The Prophet’s statecraft, treaties, arbitration, measured enforcement, generosity in terms • Banu Qaynuqa, cause of the...
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Ep 133 - Shaykh Asim Yusuf on Ghazali's Ihya: Timeless Wisdom for Modern Seekers
Boys In The Cave
Shaykh Dr Asim Yusuf joins Boys in the Cave for a deep dive into Imam al Ghazali’s Ihya Ulum al Din, how to read it in our time, and how its spiritual psychology maps onto modern clinical insights. We cover decontextualizing and recontextualizing sacred texts, the metaphysics of eating, marriage and companionship, contentment in a consumer world, and why spirituality is the ruh of the religion. What you will learn • Why an Ihya commentary speaks to today’s seekers, and how to apply it, context first, then decontextualize, then recontextualize • Metaphysics of eating, turning sunlight...
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Episode 132 - Dr. Yasir Qadhi on Rethinking Western Islam: Institutions, Salafism & The Tradition
Boys In The Cave
Dr Yasir Qadhi joins us to unpack Salafism, sectarianism, and how Muslims in the West can move from labels to leadership. We talk about what healthy disagreement looks like, why unity does not mean uniformity, and how communities can build real capacity, from mosques and schools to media, philanthropy, and liberal arts education. We get specific about funding ethics, local service to the poor, and civilizational projects that shape hearts and minds. The goal is practical, principled institution building that serves faith and society together. What you will hear: • Salafism in context,...
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Episode 131 - The Future of Western Muslims: Resistance, Sufism & Activism | Dr. Shadee Elmasry
Boys In The Cave
In this episode, Dr. Shadee Elmasry joins us for a powerful conversation about the challenges and responsibilities facing Muslims in the West today. We reflect on whether Muslims are in an “Abyssinia phase” or if the time has come to invest fully in building lasting institutions that can preserve faith and serve future generations. The discussion explores how to nurture resilient belief in young Muslims while navigating secular societies, and why institutions rooted in the deen are essential for long-term survival. Dr. Shadee reflects on the role of Sufism, noting that historically many of...
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Episode 130 - Jungian Psychology & Ibn Arabi Metaphysics: The Secrets of the Soul | Dr. Samir Mahmoud
Boys In The Cave
In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Samir Mahmoud joins us for a deep dive into the intersections of Islamic spirituality and Jungian psychology. We explore how classical Islamic thinkers like Ibn Arabi, Al-Ghazali, and Ibn Sina understood the soul, and how their insights resonate - and diverge - from the work of Carl Jung. We discuss the concepts of individuation, shadow work, and archetypes alongside Islamic notions of tazkiyat al-nafs, fana’, and qalb. Dr. Samir sheds light on the imaginal realm (ʿalam al-mithāl) as articulated by Ibn Arabi, and how it challenges modern...
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Episode 129 - False Flags & Manufactured Enemies: Unmasking Iran, Israel & Pakistan’s Shadow Wars | Ibrahim Moiz
Boys In The Cave
We’re joined by political analyst Ibrahim Moiz to dissect the unfolding chaos in the Middle East. From Israel’s escalating war rhetoric against Iran to Pakistan’s cynical geopolitical manoeuvres — we explore how narratives are weaponised, enemies are manufactured, and resistance is co-opted. We unpack: Whether Israel's war with Iran is about survival or hegemony The truth behind “Sunni vs Shia” framing in modern geopolitics Leftist solidarity with Palestine: genuine resistance or ideological trap? What this all means for the future of Muslim unity and resistance Is this the...
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Episode 128 - Who Decides If You’re Muslim? Faith, Government, or Community? | Dr. Jonathan A.C. Brown
Boys In The Cave
What makes someone a Muslim? Is it personal faith, government ID cards, or the community’s judgment? In this profound discussion, Dr. Jonathan A.C. Brown explores the tensions between Islamic identity, state power, and social expectations—from Malaysia’s laws defining "who counts" as Muslim, to the Tablighi Jama’at’s role in enforcing prayer, to Gaza’s impact on global Muslim solidarity. Key Topics: Faith vs. Formality: Can governments enforce Islamic practice without killing sincerity? Malaysia’s Paradox: Why some laws define Muslims by "what others think" of them. Prayer...
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Episode 127 - Decolonizing Islamic History: From Constantinople to the Mughals (feat. Mustafa Briggs)
Boys In The Cave
In this deep and enlightening conversation, Mustafa Briggs joins us to discuss the rich and often overlooked history of Islam and its profound impact on the modern world. From the contributions of Muslim civilizations to the legacy of figures like Muhammad Iqbal and the Ottomans, we explore how reclaiming these narratives can empower Muslims today. Mustafa also shares insights from his upcoming book, Islam and the Making of the Modern World, and why understanding our past is crucial for shaping our future. ✅ How Muslim scholars gave Europe "Arabic numerals" (including zero) — and why it...
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Episode 126 - MVM: Mobilising the Ummah or Normalising the System? | Ghaith Krayem & Dr. Yassir Morsi
Boys In The Cave
Is Muslim political mobilisation in Australia empowering the community — or playing into a system that was never built for us? In this powerful and timely episode of Boys in the Cave, we host a critical dialogue with Ghaith Krayem (national spokesperson of Muslim Votes Matter) and Dr. Yassir Morsi (lecturer, political theorist, and author of Radical Skin, Moderate Masks). Together, we unpack the tension between grassroots activism, electoral politics, and the deeper philosophical questions around identity, power, and belonging in a settler colonial state. One of the most urgent questions...
info_outlineHistory of Early Islam, Reliability of Seerah, Islamic Polity, Offensive Wars, Hadith, Assassinations, Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf, Tribalism, Treason, Treaties, Abu Sufyan
We explore all this with Professor Joel Hayward
Professor Joel Hayward is a New Zealand/British scholar, writer and poet who currently serves as Professor of Strategic Thought at the National Defense College of the United Arab Emirates. He has earned ijazas in ‘Aqidah (Islamic theology) and Sirah (the Prophet’s biography).
He has held various academic leadership posts, including Director of the Institute for International and Civil Security at Khalifa University (UAE), Chair of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences (also at Khalifa University), Head of Air Power Studies at King’s College London, and Dean of the Royal Air Force College (both UK).
He is the author or editor of fifteen books and monographs and dozens of peer-reviewed articles, mainly in the fields of strategic studies, the ethics of war and conflict, and Islamic and modern western history. His recent books include Warfare in the Qur’an (2012), War is Deceit: An Analysis of a Contentious Hadith on the Morality of Military Deception (2017), and Civilian Immunity in Foundational Islamic Strategic Thought: A Historical Enquiry (2019).
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Professor Joel Hayward's Socials