Boys In The Cave – Details, episodes & analysis

Hinduism, Psychedelics, False Spirituality, Secular Counselling, Ibadah, Muslim Mental Health, Theology, Waswasa

We discuss all the topics with Shaykh Abdullah Anik Misra

Shaykh Abdullah Anik Misra completed a Bachelors in Business Administration. He then traveled overseas in 2005 to study the Arabic language and Islamic sciences in Tarim, Yemen for some time, as well as Darul Uloom in Trinidad, West Indies.

He spent 12 years in Amman, Jordan where he focused on Islamic Law, Theology, Hadith Sciences, Prophetic Biography and Islamic Spirituality while also working at the Qasid Arabic Institute as Director of Programs. He holds a BA in Islamic Studies (Alimiyya) and authorization in the six authentic books of Hadith, and has completed one year of specialized training in issuing Islamic legal verdicts (Ifta’).

He also holds a certificate in Counselling and focuses on religious OCD and family/marital issues from an Islamic pastoral perspective. He is the author of the Seerah Song. He is an instructor and researcher in Sacred Law and Theology with the SeekersGuidance: The Global Islamic Seminary.

https://www.instagram.com/abdullah.misra/

https://www.facebook.com/shaykhabdullahmisra/

https://www.tiktok.com/@abdullahmisra

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Islamophobia, Aborigines, Structural Racism, Liberals, Colonial History, Capitalism, Honest Tea Talk, SNEAKO, Jordan Peterson, Right-Wing, Woke Ideology, Feminism, Post Modernism, Revolution

We discuss all the topics with Kaleem Bullivant

https://www.cage.ngo/

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Check out our website – boysinthecave.com

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Spirituality, Theology, Interfaith Dialogue, Intentions, Arianism, Dawah, Exclusivity, Heraclius, Najashi

We touch on all these diverse topics with Abdullah Kunde.

Abdullah Kunde is a paediatric doctor, and has been a member of the Labor Party for over 10 years. He has engaged in several interfaith dialogues and debates and facilitated courses on Islam and interacting with other religions.

Host : Tanzim

Please email us your comments, feedback, and questions at: boysinthecave@gmail.com, and leave a review and 5-star rating on iTunes!

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It seems like political events cause huge divisions in the ummah. So we talk with Shaykh Omar El-Banna about how we can reconcile political events. He also clarifies the whole takfir incident that happened with him.

Shaykh Omar completed a Bachelor of Science majoring in Engineering, attained in ijazah in teaching the Quran, studied for 8 years under shaykhs in Egypt, and also graduated from Al-Azhar University in Cairo from the Faculty of Shariah, Islamic Jurisprudence.

Please email us your comments, feedback, and questions at: boysinthecave@gmail.com, and leave a review and 5-star rating on iTunes!

Follow us on:

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Instagram – @boysinthecave

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Shaykh Omar's Online Visibility:

https://www.facebook.com/Sheikh-Omar-El-Banna-212684098797820/

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Shownotes

[1:00] Intro to Shaykh Omar's life

[4:00] Shaykh Omar taking Al-Azhar University to court

[8:55] The nature of Al-Azhar in regards to be controlled by the government

[12:00] How should Muslims react to Muslim political divisions?

[17:00] How do we reconcile groups with ideological difference like HT and Muslim Brotherhood?

[22:00] Does finding the Haqq in regards to politics boil down to sincerity?

[27:00] Does each group have a “portion” of the straight path?

[28:00] Tanzim mentions an example of cultish behaviour due to being affiliated with a certain group.

[32:00] Can cultish behaviour be excused on the basis of “taqlid”?

[34:00] What should our actions be when we witness injustice by the government? Should we stay quiet and obey the state or rebel?

[35:25] Are scholars perhaps justifying injustice by the government?

[40:00] Tanzim witnessing the different Islamic groups as a youth and the different ideologies that they bring to the table.

[45:00] Describing the incident where a person takfired Shaykh Omar

[56:00] If you had to hang with 3 people from history who would it be?

Dr. Samir Mahmoud and the team discuss variety of topics related to Islamic architecture, aesthetics, the modern world and philosophy.

Dr. Samir Mahmoud, PhD. is a graduate of the University of Cambridge (2012) in Islamic Studies. He is currently Assistant Professor of Architectural History & Theory at the Lebanese American University (LAU). Between 2013-2016 he was Visiting Assistant Professor of Architecture at the American University of Beirut (AUB). He was Postdoctoral Fellow at the Khalili Centre for Research in Art & Material Culture, University of Oxford (2012-2013) and Agha Khan Postdoctoral Fellow at MIT (2012).

Dr Samir is also director of "The Living Turath Initiative." Living Turath (Living Tradition in English) is an educational initiative that enables Muslims to discover the wisdom of the Islamic tradition today. Its mission is to educate Muslims on the continued relevance and value of traditional Islamic perspectives and practices for their day-to-day lives. To this end, we organize educational workshops, lectures, & retreats.

Dr Samir's interests vary widely and include: art & architecture (Islamic and Western), philosophy (Islamic, Neoplatonism, and Continental), Islamic studies, urban & landscape design, and psychology (particularly the dialogue between Islamic and Western ‘therapeutics of the soul’). He has lectured in the UK, Lebanon, & Australia.

Please email us your comments, feedback, and questions at: boysinthecave@gmail.com, and leave a review and 5-star rating on iTunes!

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Dr Samir Mahmoud Online Visibility:

https://www.facebook.com/samir.mahmoudmerabi

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Shownotes

[6:40] Islam and Sci fi discuss ion – of the tradition of storytelling in east and west;

How to reconcile imagination and stories to Islam.

[18:00] Islamic Architecture

Philosophical cultural shifts

[23:00] Kant, philosophical traditional onwards, of modernity forgetting and rejecting history.

[25:00] What is architectural modernism – break with the past.

[34:00] – Architecture is not neutral – it impacts on your lifestyle, happiness – colours, streets, use of materials, size of spaces.  

[36:00] – Late twentieth century becomes about how do we bring back what was lost – architecture theorists realise it has not been working.

The great transformation (book) -  capitalism.

Before there was a higher ethics controlling the market, now it is the MARKET that creates those norms and codes and ethical values for us.

The challenges of modernity are unique; qualitatively different o all that has come before;

[38:30] Quranic discourse as universal

[40:00] impulse in Islam towards non- figurative art

Islam recognizes the truth of other traditions; other traditions not seen as entirely other.

Islam is not just a perspective amongst others; it encompasses all in one – this seen in its artistic impulse; a likewise universality in the abstract.

[46:30] No concrete image that could represent Islam

Islam did not obliterate other culture’s forms

Western culture had images at centre; in Islam patterns were central.

[51:00] Islam took pride in borrowing from other cultures; there was no need to enclose upon ourselves

Post-Mongol invasion – Islam rejuvenated and flourished.

[56:30] Anecdotes on Hayban Laksan story and encounter with Germans in Spain.

Last of the Mohicans – if we are able to communicate more effectively; by explaining our wisdom to others, instead of asking for our right  

[1:00:00] - Hadith then Plato and Aristotle; scholars though the Greek had revelation, or through their own fitrah were able to discover their wisdoms  

Islam brought into the 21st century by its fixation on patterns to convey; instead of image.

Islamic architecture in the present: Cambridge Muslim College in the UK.

Dome has become part of experience and meaning of what a mosque is – creating that continuity.

[1:12:00] Mosques become a nexus for identity. A garden as welcoming;  

[1:15:00] Mystical geometry. Geometry as the realm behind the physical; instils a state of reverie.

More accurate representation of reality – the geometry than what we see in reality; what people now call virtual reality. Virtual means something beyond imagination.

No images dictated to you

In this episode, we discuss with Uthman Badar a variety of topics related to Islamic activism, political dimensions of Islam and Khilafa.

Uthman Badar is a writer, activist and PhD student of philosophy, and also a student of Arabic and Islam. He is member of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Australia.

Hosts: Tanzim

Please email us your comments, feedback, and questions at: boysinthecave@gmail.com, and leave a review and 5-star rating on iTunes!

Follow us on:

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Uthman Badar’s Online Visibility:

https://www.facebook.com/uthbadar/

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Shownotes

[0:00] Podcast - not affiliated with HT, we are talking about the perception of HT prevalent in the media; we have a negative image, of people with big beards - that is the stereotype we see.

Preaching something scary; in university scene we see the discussions and panels which are of great benefit, so we see that angle also of the hizbut tahrir personalities.

Wassim Doureihi video which went viral on ABC - boosted so much faith in our ability to control the narrative; the constant need to condemn; line of thinking made us realise many things .

Playing cricket with uthman; just a regular brother outside of his media personality.

Natural that people bring their own personalities and politics to discussion. The media gives us all of it in a negative light regarding HT, as such compelling people to stay away.

USYD talk - uthman badar form HT singled out as a radical figure in a negative light without raising any actual discussion.

We live in that society where conversation is skewed and not steered towards where it should be.

That’s sort of a natural consequence of living in this society; normative positions society hold which we have to fight against.

Having a debate about God is not too controversial, but about western foreign policy, it will be much more challenging to discuss that in this society - do we stay away or give it the justice it deserves, and what islam demands us to address of it.

[10:00] Is islam even part of the political realm?

Islamic society in sydney has several realms, of islam becoming about work on yourself, of islam coming to fruition through our internal struggle.

Those who try get by in society, doing the obligatory and not too much more.

And those who are more politically active and aware.

Many more nuances in how muslims go about this, in their particular ways of activism.

Different focus of other groups.

People can be engaged in various ways;

Whole idea of Khilafa - concept we probably haven’t heard of living in the West.

Are groups of islamic activism a cause of division? How can you claim something to help the whole ummah when the whole ummah is not on board with your vision?

Uthman: as long as those efforts are based in something sincere, then its not part of the problem - what is instead is that the vast majority of people don’t do much work, in this realm of trying to revive islam.

There is nothing much wrong with doing something but in different ways - what counts in the effort.

If someone is doing something beyond the personal obligation at a community level, then that is what is good. Collective effort is better. The condition of the ummah wont improve without collective effort.

So long as it is sincere and based in islam.

Problems exacerbated by the way different groups interact with each other.

Going further into the khilafa - what does it mean and how to go about it, and the history behind it.

What is it?

[18:00] Basically - the vehicle by which islam is implemented; it is not an additional thing for muslims, but the basis.

It is the way by which you implement islam completely;

The road to implement islam continues after the death of the prophet (saws).

The deen in its totality. Not about individuals - who can pray on their own.

Certain aspects that individuals can’t do  - state processes, civil society, etc.

Vast area of islam you cannot do without such a state - the contracts in islam, vast majority cannot be done without khilafa - like how interest is haram; the individual cannot do anything about that at a society level unless it is implemented.

We live in a time when the dominant paradigms structured our living when we think on individual terms, atomistically, and many muslims have internalised that thinking; of fixing themselves and nothing else.

The social and political aspects of islam are considered an afterthought whereas in reality they are central.

Historically it was implemented for hundreds of years, over a thousand.

[22:00] Do we need to worry about khilafah in our context of comfortable western lives? Don’t we just pray and fast and we’re good?

Allah’s pleasure lies in us doing what he wants us to do - and this is how the prophet saws implemented islam.

Different contexts require different things for us - the type of test we have changes.

We are responsible for what we did or didn’t do in trying to strive for the khilafa.

Role to pass on - of enjoining good and forbidding evil.

We need to learn about our responsibilities here and expand our scope.

Learn about political system and strive for it.

[26:00] The abyssinian model - our situation in west is not like mecca or medina, but like abyssinia, where we practice only to the extent we can.

But that model is a footnote to the prophet’s life - not intended as a permanent state, so we can’t make an analogy between our situation and them

As people only migrated to abyssinia temporarily, to come back to mecca and carry on their Islam.

We can’t just consider our situation here in the West as here and doing our basic personal prayers and otherwise enjoying life.

Society’s systems and structures shape us - the colonial invasion of the muslim world.

[30:00] European bought ideas of secularism, liberalism - that have influenced us over time. When you migrate to the west its the same thing on steroids, because we are on their own turf. We can’t see anything otherwise

World structured differently , in how we think.

Liberalism discussion.

[35:00] Reformation, science, rationality as the starting point for our understanding of RELIGION now.

Religion as interior.

[40:00] religion fed to us as something that oppresses and limits progress. West sees itself as the only one capable of progress.

Religion as limiting everything - the perception.

The West Universalizes themselves. They read violence into religion.

[46:00]  Isis discussion. ISIS makes the discussion more obscure as it is about American foreign policy.

[48:00] fulfilling conditions of Khilafa.

[51:00] Practicality of the Khilafa in a world dominated by western institutions and states. How can Khilafa fix the ills of the world system already in place?

We have to learn our best and understand - but we can’t assume all changes to be in our hands.

[57:00] How to we reconcile islamic punishments with this age?

Certain areas left for people to decide on themselves.

European punishments were also cruel not even 100 years ago

[1:00:00]  Christians in their attempt to reconcile faiths with modern western science.

Responsibility to study this and realise the basis of our faith, the difference between science and scientism

[1:09:00] The liberal standard cannot be our criteria. Present islam in a way that gives people the best chance.

[1:15:00] Jizya and Zakat - jizya can be less than zakat; not unequal as people think it all is, unless you use a western lense.

Body of muslim statehood and power - to protect those muslims now who are being persecuted.

Needs leadership that is sincere and based in Islam.

[1:20:00]  Khilafa in the modern day - is it possible, what does it require - material force and public opinions.

Your passion for the faith is important when it comes to dawah. So we talk with the beloved Kamal Saleh in regards to his journey in the dawah scene via content creation, how he "blew up" online, the science behind making videos and also his journey with OnePath Network.

Kamal Saleh is a speaker, spoken word poet, director, editor and content creator for Talk Islam & OnePath Network.

Hosts : Tanzim & Josh

Please email us your comments, feedback, and questions at: boysinthecave@gmail.com, and leave a review and 5-star rating on iTunes!

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Kamal Saleh’s online presence

https://www.facebook.com/kamalsalehkamal

Talk Islam

https://www.facebook.com/talkislam/

OnePath Network

https://www.facebook.com/OnePathNetwork/

Link for ‘Last Chance’ movie trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brt6H9MtD2c

‘Meaning of Life’ video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d16CpWp-ok

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[2:15] Tazim and Josh’s initial encounter with One Path. Tanzim falls off a cliff in dramatic fashion.

[5.55] Introduction to Kamal Saleh.

[8:30] Reasons for wanting to do media, MUMSA’s footprint and Kamal’s journey to Islamic content production.

[13:55] The benefits of the Muslim society on the individual.

[17:25] Kamal’s Youtube videos and the reception to his content.

[22:00] ‘Meaning of Life’- how and why Kamal did it and the impacts it has had on people.

[30:10] Jaclyn Glenn’s response to Kamal’s video and counter-responses and etiquette in Dawah.

[36:45] Kamal’s journey to America and his views on America.

[39:40] Keeping the ego in check with the newly found fame and doing things for the sake of Allah.

[45:25] Kamal on joining One Path and his current activities with One Path.

[47:30] Objectives of One Path and engaging with the audience and giving the audience something of benefit to take home.

[52:15] The impressive setup of One Path’s studio.

[54:10] Kamal discusses One Path’s movie, “The Last Chance”.

[1:01:55] On the history of Youtube user ‘lebo2196’.

[1:05:45] The importance of having a scholar/shaykh over your shoulder when you do what you are passionate at for the Ummah

In this bumper episode, Dr Shadee joins the team to discuss some essential issues. This includes the real role of tasawwuf and purification of the heart, the importance of a ‘street’ education, the state of academia, how to understand the world from an Islamic lens, and how to practically do dhikr.

Dr. Shadee Elmasry was born and raised in New Jersey and studied in the Muslim world in Fez, Hadramawt, Cairo, Makka, and Madina.  He completed a Masters from The George Washington University in comparative religion, then a PhD from the University of London, SOAS on “Da’wa in the Works of Imam al-Haddad.”

Hosts : Tanzim & Josh

Please email us your comments, feedback, and questions at: boysinthecave@gmail.com, and leave a review and 5-star rating on iTunes!

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Dr Shadee’s online presence

https://twitter.com/DrShadeeElmasry

https://www.facebook.com/DrShadeeElmasry/

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0:00 - Intro

1:00 - Upbringing and the importance of having passion and putting effort into the din

9:30 - The importance of knowledge; the superiority of the scholar over the worshipper. Discussion of how Muslims cannot just be ideologues; there has to be practical application so we are the complete package. Importance of ibadah, Quran, Tajweed etc.

22:00 - The sanad tradition allows Islam to be preserved and gives us something firm to act upon.

28:00 - Introduction. Dr Shadee talks about his journey coming out of academia and his ‘second education’ on the streets. The importance of knowing what’s affecting the people so you can be effective. The problems with a lot of modern academia; often it is disconnected and has no effect on the world. True knowledge is that which benefits the listener.

44:00 - Career discussions and Dr Shadee’s advice on STEM and the liberal arts.

46:30 - The framework we use to understand the world; materialist vs an Islamic framework. The Muslim considers both the asbaab (means) and their status with Allah. The way to think about and act in the face of oppression.

1:02:30 - Islamic conception of spirituality; not usually an escape from reality, but a preparation for it. The importance of remembrance of Allah and ways of doing it. Discussion on doubts, darkness and purification of the heart.

1:11:45: More on the heart and tasawwuf. Discussion on how to come to certainty and rational proofs. Importance of dhikr (remembrance) of Allah again. Practical ways to do dhikr. Importance how you deal with others and the link to your state in the grave.

1:24:15 - Brief discussion on Karamaat. Book reference: Sufis of Andalusia.

1:28:40 - If you were to sit in a cave with 3 people, who would you pick?

Time for an imaan boost during Ramadan! We bring on our beloved close friend Rafael to talk about his journey to Islam from Atheism, the insane experiences he had before converting and also the struggles he went through after converting.

Rafael Bruzzese is currently studying Teaching, majoring in English Literature at The University of Sydney. He was part of a 'Converts Panel' at the University of Sydney and very recently was part of a 'Ins and Outs of Islam' panel, which took place at the University of New South Wales.

Host - Tanzim & Josh

Please email us your comments, feedback, and questions at: boysinthecave@gmail.com, and leave a review and 5-star rating on iTunes!

Follow us on: Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/boysinthecave/

Instagram – @boysinthecave

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Become a Patreon today! https://www.patreon.com/boysinthecave

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Rafael Bruzzese's Online Presence

https://millennialmuslims.wordpress.com/2017/04/20/if-youre-muslim-why-are-you-white/

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[2:30] Other revert stories and different experiences

[8:15] Planting the seeds when giving dawah

[12:30] Rafael's upbringing and how his parents influenced him

[20:45] When Rafael first encountered Islam

[24:00] General perception of religion

[29:00] Rafael's initial experiences with Islam

[37:00] Objectification of women

[38:00] Rafael's experience of alcohol poisoning

[40:00] Rafael's encounter with a Muslim Turkish girl

[45:00] Rafael's Shahada

[47:00] How did Rafael gain certainty in Islam?

[51:00] Rafael's experiences and encounters after converting

[1:01:00] Where Rafael is currently at in regards to Islamic knowledge

[1:05:00] Orientalism &  perspectives of history

[1:08:00] Rafael's encounters with particular Islamic groups

[1:16:00] Perennialism - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perennial_philosophy

Women in Islam is a big topic so we chat with The Salafi Feminist in regards to Muslim women issues that are prevalent in the Muslim community, how we should deal with it, compare our current situation with the Muslim women of The Prophet peace be upon him's time and how as a community we can solve the current issues.

The Salafi Feminist aka Zainab bint Younus is a Canadian Muslim woman who has been active in grassroots da'wah and writing about Islam and the Ummah for the last ten years. Her main focus is on gender relations, Muslim women in Islamic history, and combating misogyny in Muslim communities. She can be found posting regularly on her Facebook page (The Salafi Feminist) and her blog TheSalafiFeminist.blogspot.com

Host - Tanzim & Josh

Please email us your comments, feedback, and questions at: boysinthecave@gmail.com, and leave a review and 5-star rating on iTunes!

Follow us on: Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/boysinthecave/

Instagram – @boysinthecave

Twitter - @boysinthecave

Become a Patreon today! https://www.patreon.com/boysinthecave

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The Salafi Feminist's Online Presence;

https://www.facebook.com/TheSalafiFeminist/

Twitter: @AnonyMousey

thesalafifeminist.blogspot.com

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Shownotes

[1:30] State of halal food places in Canada & differences between Canada and Australia

[6:30] Introducing The Salafi Feminist & her journey as a writer

[12:00] Why Zainab chose her moniker as The Salafi Feminist

[19:00] Using the term "feminism" to reclaim Muslim rights under Islam

[23:20] Stephen Hawkings and how some Muslims reacted to his death

[27:30] What are the exact struggles of Muslim women and what can we do to solve them?

[29:30] Are women issues only particular to a group of community of Muslims i.e. Arabs, Desis?

[33:30] Do women from other faith groups go through similar struggles that Muslim women go through?

[36:20] Is the struggles of what the Muslim women face in The West different to the struggles Muslim women face in other parts of the world?

[39:30] Comparing the freedom of the women of RasulAllah's time to the times of today

[48:00] How did Muslim women's "freedom" become limited in today's day and age?

[49:15] Patriarchy that exists in the Muslim community

[53:00] How should we look after our Muslim daughters?