Explore every episode of the podcast IslamicFinanceGuru Podcasts

Islamic finance has come a long way over the last 20 years, but is it actually serving Muslims as well as it should? In this video, we put six of the biggest criticisms of Islamic finance to Monem Salam and Khurram Agha, two industry veterans who have been at the heart of the space in the US.

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Timestamps

00:00 Intro

01:59 - Is islamic finance just conventional finance with a sharia sticker?

08:09 - Is islamic finance more expensive?

11:11 - Are there enough halal options?

18:52 - Why are halal finance options so limited?

21:33 - Are we building a prayer room in a casino?

23:52 - Are we building what muslims actually need?

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We met up with Tariq from Goldsand in Egypt to hear about his fascinating experiences in Mauritania, his time at Google and his startup Goldstand that is working on a savings account for Muslims.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

00:48 How did Tariq end up in Mauritania?

15:18 Tariq's experience working at Google

27:53 Why did Tariq move into crypto?

37:19 What is Goldsand?

Tariq Patanam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tariqpatanamGoldsand: http://goldsand.fi/

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Download our free halal investing checklist for beginners: https://www.islamicfinanceguru.com/resources/investment-checklist?utm_campaign=description&utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=social

🙆🏻‍♂️ Cur8 Capital is our investment arm: https://www.islamicfinanceguru.com/newsletter?utm_campaign=spotify-description&utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=social

If you're an experienced investor considering making an allocation of $100K+ with Cur8 Capital, you can book a call directly with our senior leadership team here: https://form.typeform.com/to/EvL0TMXv?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description&typeform-source=www.spotify.com

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I’m going to show you exactly how to earn your first 100,000 even if you have a low income.

I’m going to share 5 side hustles you can start in 2026 with $0 — and the last one is the one I’m most excited about, because it’s at the cutting edge and hardly anyone is doing it yet.

Building stronger finances is simpler than what you think. Find out more by watching this video, so you can get ahead 99 per cent of people in just three months.

In 2015, I left a 6-figure job in Law to start IFG, an online education platform for Muslims.Today, I also now run Cur8 Capital our investment arm which manages over $190m.

We have a team of 43 people across 3 offices and are on track to turn profitable this year. And in this video I’m going to share exactly how IFG and Cur8 make money and how that has changed over time.

I’ll also share with you the nerve-wracking point in our journey when we almost went out of business. I’ve never shared this before publicly.

I’ll share 13 of the biggest money wasters Muslims fall into and how you can avoid them, so your wealth goes towards building your future, your family, and your akhirah.

If you’re curious about what’s really going on with the EPIC City development in Texas, join me as I dive into the buzz and controversy around it with EPIC Masjid's Imran Chaudhary. We’ll cut through the noise, separate fact from fiction, and look at it from an investment perspective.

My friend Sonny is an entrepreneur who’s spent the last decade building and scaling businesses across food, property and community ventures. He’s developed a reputation for spotting opportunities and turning ideas into reality.Now focussed on transforming overlooked spaces into thriving destinations, his ventures like Momlette and Kismet Cafe sit alongside his property work, where he now manages assets totalling over £80 million.Momlette opened in 2022 and instantly went viral on Instagram for its halal British brunch, turning a small 14-seater café into a smash hit grossing over half a million pounds in year one. With the second branch launched in 2024, Momlette is set to become a franchise in 2026.I sat down with him to learn more about lessons entrepreneurs can take from his journey.

Can an Islamic bank led by non-Muslims be any good? This is the question I get asked a lot with Gatehouse Bank, so in this video, I will assess whether that's a fair question and dig into their main products.

Islamic mortgages are criticised for not being Islamic enough, instead the critics champion a different type of product called shared ownership. One of the best examples of shared ownership is Pfida - a new innovative way of home finance that has over 10,000 people on their wait list. Clearly, Pfida have captured the hearts and minds of many, so in this video I take a look under the hood and give my honest assessment on how Pfida stacks up against the rest? I’ll explain exactly what they do, how they are different from other Islamic home financing products, what their users have to say, and whether they are a viable alternative.

Walk away in just over an hour’s time with a clear game plan on how you’ll make savings each month, how to build your investments objectives so you’re not just stabbing in the dark, and what specific investment platforms are out there today for Muslims.

Understand the debate, learn practical insights, and discover what Mohsin and I have to say about this modern asset class.And do remember, with every investment, your capital is at risk, always research the asset, understand the risks, and only invest what you can afford to lose.Read more:Is Crypto Halal or Haram? What Different Scholars Say: https://www.islamicfinanceguru.com/articles/scholars-who-say-cryptocurrency-is-haram-and-those-who-say-its-halal#:~:text=Mufti%20Muhammad%20Abu%2DBakar%20%E2%80%93%20Mufti,of%20shops%20and%20platforms%20todayFatwa: Is Bitcoin Halal or Haramhttps://forum.islamicfinanceguru.com/t/fatwa-is-bitcoin-halal-or-haram/35?_gl=1*kdeg1k*_gcl_au*MTM3MjE3NDQ0MS4xNzU1NTk4OTYy*_ga*MTg5NjAzMTE1MC4xNzUzMzYwNTQ0*_ga_NT552JYRBN*czE3NTY5OTU4MzMkbzEyOCRnMCR0MTc1Njk5NTgzMyRqNjAkbDAkaDA

Uthman Ibn Affan (RA) was one of the wealthiest men in Islamic history. But how did he do it?In this video, I dive into the wealth-building principles of Uthman Ibn Affan and explore the lessons we can apply to our own lives today.Get ready to learn the secrets that helped him build lasting wealth, and how you can do the same.

Financial literacy is more than numbers. It’s about empowering the Ummah to create wealth and opportunities. Join Ibrahim and Almir Colan as they explore the road to financial freedom.

In this episode, we dive into the inspiring journey of CK Foods, a family-run business that scaled from zero to $100 million without compromising on Islamic principles.

Learn how they navigated the food industry, avoided riba, and stayed true to their faith while achieving massive success.

👉 Listen now to hear the full story of halal entrepreneurship and financial resilience.

In this episode, IFG Co-founder Ibrahim Khan sits down with Nester Co-founder Mohammed Paracha to uncover the mindset, principles and strategies that shaped his success.What drives a Muslim millionaire?Get ready to gain actionable insights on wealth-building, entrepreneurship and staying true to your faith while achieving wealth and financial freedom.#MuslimMillionaire #HalalWealth #MuslimEntrepreneur #IbrahimKhan #FinancialFreedom #FaithAndFinance #HalalInvesting #MuslimMoney #Entrepreneurship

Are Muslims falling for the Alt-Bro trap?Sociologist Dr William Barylo joins IFG’s Ibrahim Khan to expose the rise of the Muslim manosphere: a red-pill inspired movement wrapped in Islamic branding. They explore the toxic blend of hustle culture, fake alpha coaches and social media dawah and how it’s exploiting Muslims seeking purpose, wealth and identity.

Arfah Farooq, co-founder of Muslim Tech Fest, shares the inspiring journey of creating a global platform that empowers Muslim entrepreneurs and tech innovators.🎧 In this episode, Arfah talks to IFG Co-Founder Ibrahim Khan about her mission, the challenges she faced and the future of tech for Muslims.Get ready for actionable insights on entrepreneurship, tech, and building impactful communities.#podcast #arfahfarooq #muslimtechfest #startup #entrepreneur #tech #muslimsintech #ibrahimkhan #muslim #ifg

In this podcast episode, Ibrahim Khan sits down with Ibrahim Al Kurd, a Forbes 30 Under 30 Founder. He studied medicine and then founded four other companies, a charity and invested in businesses. He shared with us cutting-edge insights at the frontier of the crypto world, and how it is still possible to make money from Crypto in 2025.

There's a lot of talk about Islamic revival, but rarely ever is there any talk of a plan to get us there? In this podcast episode, Ibrahim Khan outlines the blueprint for bringing the next Golden Age of Islam.

In this episode, Ibrahim Khan speaks with Dr Sohaib Saeed, who is well-known for his translations of classical works of tafsīr. He discusses how to make the Quran more accessible by changing the way we teach Quran and also go into how the Quran views money.

In this podcast episode, Ibrahim Khan sits down with best-selling author ('The Productive Muslim' and 'The Barakah Effect') Mohammed Faris. He shares with us insights on how Muslims can become more productive and bring barakah into our lives.

Husayn Kassai started a small company alongside his fellow co-founder to tackle the problem of idea verification whilst at university. The result was a startup which is reportedly being sold for up to $650m. This is the story for how they did it.

In this episode, Ibrahim takes a turn in the guest seat to address some common criticisms about Islamic Finance asked by our very own Sohaib Ashraf, a portfolio manager for our sister company Cur8.

We deep dive into all things date-related with Nazim Awan, co-founder of Holy Land Dates.

Ibrahim Khan hosts.

Have you ever reached a milestone, only to find it doesn't bring the happiness you expected? Picture Jordan Welch, having achieved a multimillion-pound exit, standing amidst wealth and success yet feeling a profound void. This video takes you on a journey exploring his story and many like his, where the endless chase for riches becomes a roadblock to true fulfilment. We’ll explore the choices we make at the fork in the road - one path glittering with gold, the other quietly inviting us toward deeper meaning and peace. Will you choose the superficial allure of material wealth, or the enlightening journey toward purpose?

Iqbal Nasim is a renowned educator and speaker dedicated to guiding individuals towards a truly God-centered life. Iqbal holds an MA in Economics and Management from Cambridge University and an MSc in Voluntary Sector Management from Cass Business School. In 2011, he left a successful investment banking career to lead the National Zakat Foundation (NZF), significantly impacting the distribution of Zakat in the UK. Today, through his platform iqbalnasim.com, he offers courses like 'Transform My Prayer' and shares insights to help believers prepare for the Last Day, live as true believers, and strive for God's cause.

From the moment we die, our wealth stops being ours - and starts becoming a test for our loved ones.

In this deep-dive episode, we cover the full Islamic, legal, and practical picture: from the spiritual roots of fara’id, to real-life inheritance disputes, to exactly how to draft a compliant will in the UK. We unpack taxes, trusts, non-Muslim relatives, complex assets, and more - all through the lens of Islamic law.

Whether you're writing your first will or managing a family estate, this is the one episode you can’t afford to miss.

Should Muslim giving be about short-term reward — or long-term systems change?
In this episode, we explore what strategic sadaqah looks like, why building impact means more than just building buildings, and how funders can rethink their approach to truly uplift the Ummah.

Ibrahim Khan sits down with Kazi Abidur Rahman, Sunnamusk's CEO,‬ to hear the story of how the business went from the streets of East London to becoming an international brand doing £20m a year in revenue.

Islamic education is changing and Niyyah is leading the way. Forget outdated, overwhelming approaches - this conversation explores how modern tech transforms how Muslims connect with the Quran. In this episode, Ibrahim sits down with Shinaz Navas, founder of the Niyyah App, to discuss the future of Quran learning.

They dive into how bite-sized lessons, AI-driven personalisation, and mobile-first education are making it easier than ever to build a lifelong connection with the Quran - one daily lesson at a time.

Zakat isn’t just charity—it’s a weapon for real change.Forget the usual “feel-good” charity talk—this conversation uncovers the revolutionary potential of Zakat for nationwide impact. In this eye-opening episode, Ibrahim sits down with Sheikh Sohail Hanif (CEO, National Zakat Foundation) to discuss the often-overlooked power of Zakat to drive real-world change—including fighting Islamophobia, supporting refugees, educating our communities, and shaping a more just society.

Join us in this exciting episode as we literally hear it from the horse's mouth, Sultan Choudhury - a leader in Islamic Finance in the UK and a exec level insider who spills the tea on Islamic banking, halal mortgages and more...Don't miss this one.

Islamic scholarship is evolving, and Al-Salam Institute is at the forefront of this transformation.This conversation explores how modern education makes classical Islamic studies more accessible than ever.In this episode, Ibrahim speaks with Sheikh Akram Nadwi, founder of Al Salam Institute, to discuss the future of Islamic scholarship. We dive into how structured online programmes, flexible learning pathways, and world-class mentorship are empowering students worldwide to engage deeply with sacred knowledge—one lesson at a time.NOTE: While we deeply respect the Shaykh we do not necessarily agree with all his views and for our views on Islamic mortgages and finance, see our website: https://www.islamicfinanceguru.com.

Ex-City lawyers Ibrahim Khan and Mohsin Patel started Islamic Finance Guru as a blog. They just wanted to solve a problem. Then things took off. Here’s the real story.

Think Muslim tech founders are just a niche? In this podcast episode, we're diving into the world of faith-driven entrepreneurs with Abdul-Rahman Abbas, a former NHS doctor who turned his passion for technology into a global success.He created Pillars, a widely-used prayer app, and is now launching JibrilApp, a groundbreaking platform for Islamic education and is dubbed as the "Duolingo" for Fiqh.Join IFG Co-founder Ibrahim Khan as we explore Abdul-Rahman's incredible journey from the medical field to tech entrepreneurship. Learn how he merges his faith with financial acumen to develop impactful solutions for the Muslim community around the globe.#MuslimTechFounders #AbdulRahmanAbbas #PillarsApp #JibrilApp #FaithDrivenEntrepreneurs #TechInnovation #IslamicEducation #FaithAndFinance #Entrepreneurship #TechCommunity #podcast

Hailing from Afghanistan, raised in the USA and living in Madinah, Sheikh Hasib Noor takes us through his engagement with the Taliban, his thoughts on Islamic revival and where he thinks Islamic Finance has gone wrong.

In this episode, Ibrahim takes a turn in the guest seat to address some common criticisms about Islamic Finance asked by our very own Sohaib Ashraf, a portfolio manager for our sister company Cur8 Capital.

People in war zones face difficult lives, but Ryan here has cracked the code to fighting the good fight and supporting them through good old venture capital.

Ashfaque Chowdhury has been in the UK Muslim education space for a while now, and he reveals a new way stay-at-home mothers (and fathers) can potentially earn up to £42k a year, among other exciting topics.

In this episode, Ibrahim speaks to Kamran Mahmood a successful entrepreneur who's been in the property game since he was 11 years old!

Now, Kamran is the CEO of Gridizen, an end-to-end property management platform.

Join Mohsin in this panel discussion as they uncover some hard truths about life in Dubai.

With 14 years collectively between them, they share their honest thoughts, experiences and things most Muslims don't consider - the good, the bad and the ugly.

Samara Iqbal is a leading lawyer specialising in international family law, and if you thought normal divorce proceedings were complicated, wait until the sun, sand and sea of Dubai gets involved. From crazy stories of lawsuits by the dead to an expats legal checklist, you'll enjoy this.

Entreprenuers rarely think about building banks, but Abdullo from Tajikistan is just built different. He, alongside his business partners, built and grew the first and one of the most successful islamic banks as well as some fintech companies in Central Asia. This is his story. ______

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In this podcast, we speak to millionaire philanthropist Rizvan Khalid, Managing Director at Euro Quality Lambs, about everything from generational wealth and managing family trust funds to philanthropy and his millionaire investing strategies. For those wanting to create generational wealth, this is one you cannot miss.

🙆🏻‍♂️ Our investment arm, Cur8 Capital - https://cur8.capital 💌 Sign up to our email newsletter - https://www.islamicfinanceguru.com/subscribe 🌍 Our website - https://www.islamicfinanceguru.com 📕 Order our book: https://amzn.eu/d/cNZevxo

🙆🏻‍♂️ Our investment arm, Cur8 Capital - https://cur8.capital We all think of zakat as just a mandatory charity for those with more wealth than others, but it is so much more. Prepare to really understand Zakat like never before as well as how it was meant to and can be used in this 3 HOUR long deep dive with an expert!

💌 Sign up to our email newsletter - https://www.islamicfinanceguru.com/su... 🌍 Our website - https://www.islamicfinanceguru.com 📕 Order our book: https://amzn.eu/d/cNZevxo

In this episode, we get the founder of Muzz (formerly MuzMatch), the largest Muslim matrimonial app in the world to talk about marriage apps, Gaza as well as his various beefs with Penny Appeal, Match Group and Asim Qureshi. For Penny Appeal Rebuttal see here: https://pennyappeal.org/news/setting-record-straight

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We speak to the Director of @DarulIftaaUK , Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam Al-Kawthari - an expert in Fiqh and legal rulings according to the Hanafi school about some burning questions discussed by many today.

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In this episode, we speak to Sunny Araf - featured in The Times' Top 50 Entrepreneurs - about what becoming an entrepreneur really means. Join us for a deep dive into his story.

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🌍 Our ⁠website⁠

📕 Order ⁠our book⁠