Boys In The Cave – Details, episodes & analysis

What does it mean to travel for Allah and not just for content or vibes In this episode of Boys In The Cave, Tanzim sits down with filmmaker and Revival Retreats founder Zoheb to unpack how spiritual travel reshapes the heart.

From his first work trip to Morocco, to documenting floods in Pakistan, to walking in the streets of Istanbul and the zawiyas of West Africa, Zoheb shares how travel became a mirror that showed him who he really was before Allah.

They discuss the ethics of charity media, not romanticising poverty, how to hold Palestinian and global suffering in your heart, and why sohbah and righteous companions may be the most important part of any journey.

Along the way, you will hear stories of hidden Moroccan homes, bustling Senegalese streets, and the teachers and scholars who quietly keep the light of the ummah alive.

If you have ever felt the urge to pack a suitcase for Umrah, retreats, or a trip that is more than tourism, this conversation will help you make your journeys intentional and rooted in love of Allah, His Messenger and His awliya.

What we talk about in this episode

• Why "your suitcase is a mirror" is the perfect metaphor for spiritual travel

• How filmmaking and faith came together in Zoheb's life

• Pakistan, Lebanon, Palestine and the ethics of charity campaigns

• How Revival Retreats began and what makes a retreat truly transformative

• Istanbul, Morocco and Senegal as lived expressions of Islamic civilisation

• Colonisation, travel etiquette and leaving your privilege at the door

• Sohbah, righteous companions and making every journey a journey to Allah

https://www.humanappeal.org.au/

Zoheb is a UK born filmmaker now based between Cairo and the UK, with a an Hons in Digital Media and Film Production.

He has filmed faith centred travel and cultural projects and humanitarian relief projects across the Muslim world, as well as events and music videos.

He now leads Revival Retreats, a platform hosting Islamic heritage travel and spiritual retreats.

Timestamps

00:11 Salaam intro, Gaza and global suffering

00:49 Who is Zoheb, filmmaker and Revival Retreats founder

01:39 "Your suitcase is a mirror" travel quote

03:52 Zoheb's background and discovering filmmaking

04:54 Why filmmaking became a path of service for the ummah

06:09 First work trip to Morocco and first time in a Muslim country

07:12 Humanitarian travel in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey

08:25 The birth of Revival Retreats and reconnecting Muslims to heritage

09:52 Pakistan trip in depth and what impacted him most

12:12 Listening to Syrian and Palestinian struggles on the ground

18:14 Not romanticising poverty and witnessing tragedy up close

20:29 The ummah as one body and what that really means

27:38 Living in Istanbul and walking in the footsteps of the sahaba

30:25 Zawiyas, scholars and why you must see Islamic civilisation for yourself

35:29 Senegal, West Africa and a lived experience of Islam

43:31 Countries that deepened his faith and the highlights of his travels

44:26 Why Morocco feels like home and a spiritual sanctuary

48:21 Hidden Moroccan homes and the lesson of inner beauty

52:34 Outward aesthetics, barakah and how we have been shaped by modernity

53:06 Teachers and scholars who shaped him on the road

59:57 Why traveling with like hearted people matters

1:02:30 Sohbah and the friendships that form on retreat

1:06:38 Quranic reminders about righteous companions

1:12:19 Fun Boys In The Cave question, three people to share a cave with

1:15:44 Where to find Revival Retreats and how to join

1:16:03 Where to follow Zoheb and his work online

1:16:48 Final reminder about Revival Retreats and Gaza projects

1:17:09 Outro, how to support 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 end with a practical justice audit couples can use today.

Key topics

• Misyar, valid form versus wise practice, rights that are commonly waived, housing, maintenance, scheduled nights, publicity

• Secret nikah and ghosted maintenance, predictable harm patterns, how to prevent them

• Polygamy, justice in time and spending, financial readiness, disclosure, consent, children and custody

• Sex negative culture, what Islam actually says about pleasure, reciprocity, privacy

• The harm rule and maqasid, when legal form must give way to justice

• Online masculinity scripts, cherry picked texts, how to read responsibly

https://www.humanappeal.org.au/

Timestamps

0:00 Intro and sponsor, Human Appeal Australia

6:20 Sham marriages and travel examples, Morocco and Indonesia

22:12 Secrecy and first wife, why that is wild

33:30 Utopia myth, gender tension is not new

47:40 Legal versus ethical, muhallil and misuse

1:07:26 Misyar defined, two types in practice

1:08:39 Rights waived, Sauda example and scholar logic

1:26:25 Legalism versus spirituality, closing reflections

1:28:39 Polygamy basics and justice

1:36:39 Misyar and secret marriage

1:46:39 Rights versus responsibilities

1:56:39 Secrecy and predictable harm

2:06:39 Ethics over loopholes

2:16:39 Practical safeguards and consent

2:24:39 Closing counsel and outro

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 facing Muslims in Australia today is:

👉🏽 Are we truly building political power — or just legitimising a broken system?

Following the devastating events in Gaza and the growing disillusionment with traditional Muslim institutions, Muslim Votes Matter emerged as a bold new grassroots campaign.

Ghaith outlines its origins, strategies, and goals — including the mobilization of Muslim voters across 11 key electorates in a way Australia has never seen before.

But with political slogans now echoing those of the mainstream — "cost of living," "housing crisis," etc. — many wonder: Has the focus on Gaza been diluted? 

That's where Dr. Yassir Morsi steps in. Known for his critical approach to liberal democracy and his deep engagement with Muslim political subjectivity, Yassir offers his critique.

Through his framework of Green, Amber, Red, he challenges not just tactics, but the very assumptions beneath Muslim participation in electoral politics.

🟢 Green: Even if we get MPs elected, then what?

🟡 Amber: Let's slow down and question the language we're using — are we naturalising liberal democracy?

🔴 Red: Have we diluted righteous anger over Gaza into civic slogans and softened resistance into vote-counting?

Key Themes Explored:

• The real motivations behind launching Muslim Votes Matter post-Gaza
• What it means to be a political lobby group — beyond peak bodies and backroom meetings
• Whether voting creates leverage or limits for Muslims - How the Muslim "bloc vote" operated, and whether it even exists
• Dr. Yassir's critique of political imagination, civic language, and electoral pragmatism
• Whether the rage and moral clarity sparked by Gaza has been rechanneled into a system that neutralizes resistance
• The dangers of "pragmatism" without deeper community discourse

Ghaith Krayem is the national spokesperson for Muslim Votes Matter, and is a former head of the Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV), and former CEO of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, and current operator of Hikmah Consulting.

Dr. Yassir Morsi is a provisional Psychologist at Australian international Academy and lecturer in Aboriginal Studies at La Trobe University. With a PhD in Political Science and Islamic Studies, he is the author of "Radical Skin, Moderate Masks".

🎧 Whether you're an organiser, skeptic, or student of political theology, this conversation is a must-watch. It's not just about votes — it's about vision.

🔔 Like, Share, Comment & Subscribe to stay connected. Subscribe to Boys in the Cave Podcast for more insightful discussions on politics, culture, and community.

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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Christchurch, the Far-Right and White Supremacy, Milo and Jordan Peterson, Islamophobia, Racism, Power and the actions of the Muslim leaders.

We touch on all these topics with Dr. Yassir Morsi.

Dr. Yassir Morsi's main area of research is the critical analysis of contemporary racism and Islamophobia. He is a regular contributor to The Guardian.

Dr. Morsi has completed a PhD in Political Science and Islamic Studies at the University of Melbourne

He was a lecturer at RMIT University in Melbourne and now he is currently lecturer at La Trobe University. His recent book release Radical Skin, Moderate Masks.

Host : Tanzim

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk6QiPIy0qE

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

Check out our website - boysinthecave.com

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

Instagram – @boysinthecave

Twitter - @boysinthecave

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

We touch on the tragic events of Christchurch, discuss how we should react as a community, the roles of the government and media in this event, and the roles of the Muslim leaders and laypeople.

Uthman Badar is a writer, activist, student of Arabic, Islamic sciences, Continental Philosophy and works with HT Australia.

Host : Tanzim

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9aF7q1kMEA

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

Check out our website - boysinthecave.com

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

Instagram – @boysinthecave

Twitter - @boysinthecave

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

Secularisation, Justice, nature of past Khilafas, Ottoman history & the power and depth of poetry.

We explore all these topics with Sadi Saifuddin.

Sadi Saifuddin has been involved in political activism in Sydney for 15 years, and is an avid reader of Ottoman history, and poetry. Sadi is an accountant by training and works in statistics.

Hosts : Tanzim & Rafael

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

Check out our website - boysinthecave.com

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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Sadi's Online Visibility

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Tafadari

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Kings of Islam, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Grass roots movements, different readings of the Seerah, Caliphates of the past, Justice in the modern day, how to change society, how a Khilafa would look in the modern day, politics in America.

We explore all these topics with Shaykh Omar Baloch.

Shaykh Omar Baloch has completed a degree in Islamic Studies from Al Azhar University.

Hosts : Tanzim & Rafael

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

Check out our website - boysinthecave.com

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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Shaykh Omar Baloch's Online Visibility

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/obaloch

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Mindfulness, Spirituality, Tasawwuf, Sufism and the Self.

We explore all these topics with Justin Parrott.

Justin Parrott has BAs in Physics, English from Otterbein University, MLIS from Kent State University, MRes in Islamic Studies from University of Wales, and is currently Research Librarian for Middle East Studies at NYU in Abu Dhabi & Research fellow for Yaqeen Institute.

Hosts : Tanzim & Rafael

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

Check out our website - boysinthecave.com

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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Justin Parrott's Online Visibility

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JustinAbuAminaElias

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AbuAminaElias

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Social Media, Youth, Selfishness, Ego, Lack of Belief, Atheism, Lost Values, State of the Ummah.

We touch all bases with Mohamed Hoblos.

Mohamed Hoblos is an international speaker and daee.

Hosts : Tanzim & Rafael

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

Check out our website - boysinthecave.com

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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We invite the wise men of the community Imran and Shihab onto our podcast to talk about their Muslim app called 'Go Pray!'. We also discuss all things tech, deen, life and career related.

Imran and Shihab are founding members of Go Pray!, app that connects Muslims to prayer places.

They are also members of SWMA, who are sponsors of Boys In The Cave. SWMA is a NFP group focused on empowering Muslim youth to give back to the community.

Hosts : Tanzim & Josh

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

Check out our website - boysinthecave.com

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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Go Pray! Online Visibility

https://gopray.com.au/

https://www.facebook.com/goprayapp/

Imran's Online Visibility:

https://www.facebook.com/imranc

https://twitter.com/imranlfc

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