Explore every episode of the podcast Sheikhing it Up with Sheikh Faiyaz

Reflection, Renewal & Return 29: When Ramadan Says Goodbye

The final night of Ramadan has approached, and with an anguished heart, we bid farewell.  

Reflection, Renewal & Return 28: What Remains Afterward?

As the month is quickly closing upon us, how can we continue to have an awakened heart? 

Reflection, Renewal & Return 27: Our Deeds are Witnessed

The believer lives with the understanding that everyone of their actions are seen. 

Reflection, Renewal & Return 26: What Do We Strive For?

In a beautiful verse, God gives us insight with respect to that which we should strive for in this world, so we can attain the best in the next world. 

Reflection, Renewal & Return 25: A Comforting Validation

In the Quran, God offers an incredible validation for those who strive in His way. 

Reflection, Renewal & Return 24: Filling the Heart with Virtue

After the nights of Qadr, we have emptied our heart of vice, and now our job is to supplement it with the best of qualities. 

Reflection, Renewal & Return 23: Softening the Heart on the Best of Nights

The night of Qadr is the most important of our lives...how can we soften our heart and stand before God in complete humility?

Reflection, Renewal & Return 22: A Devoted Heart

We seek toward cultivating a toward heart that is consistently looking for God at every moment during our lives.

Reflection, Renewal & Return 21: Reimagining Justice

We live in a world whereby inequity dominates because there is no sense of internal justice. 

Reflection, Renewal & Return 20: A Spiritual Self-Audit

We have to also examine ourselves and aspire for growth so that transition between this world and the next is seamless. 

Reflection, Renewal & Return 19: Conviction or Despair?

The believer never despairs, because our faith always runs deep, regardless of the situation around us. 

Reflection, Renewal & Return 18: Trust That Never Wavers

Amongst the hardest things for a believer to attain is tawakkul in God.

Reflection, Renewal & Return 17: Never Complacency

Complacency is one of the most trying of all spiritual diseases and we have to rid ourselves of it during this month. 

Reflection, Renewal & Return 16: Why Should I Be Normal?

A lot of people are comfortable being average...but believers have way more potential than to be okay with just being average. 

Reflection, Renewal & Return 15: The Inheritor of the Prophets II

The middle of the month of Ramadan marks the birth of Imam Hassan (a), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (s), who teaches us lessons in every dimension of life and resembles his grandfather in so many phases. [Part 2]

Reflection, Renewal & Return 14: The Inheritor of the Prophets I

The middle of the month of Ramadan marks the birth of Imam Hassan (a), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (s), who teaches us lessons in every dimension of life and resembles his grandfather in so many phases. 

Reflection, Renewal & Return 13: The Rotating Day & Night

Allah commands us to reflect on His words and His creation...have I ever been thankful for the sun? Or the moon?

Reflection, Renewal & Return 12: A Lesson in Humility & Sincerity

During these days, we seek toward cultivating a desire to only seek the pleasure of God, with no concern for anyone but Him. 

Reflection, Renewal & Return 11: A Shortcut to Paradise

Amongst the quickest ways to find paradise is not through increased prayers, fasting or recitation of Quran...but doing the little things at home. 

Reflection, Renewal & Return 10: Supporting God & His Prophet

What does it mean to support God and His Prophet? We learn it in practical steps from the wife of the Prophet, Lady Khadija (a).

Reflection, Renewal & Return 9: What is Knowledge?

A man comes to the Messenger of God (s) asking him, "what is knowledge?" The Prophet answers with an important response that requires some reflection. 

Reflection, Renewal & Return 8: How Can I Sit With God?

In a tradition, God says, "I sit with the one who remembers Me..." But what does it mean to be in His remembrance? 

Reflection, Renewal & Return 7: Don't Waste Today

The blessing of time is one that we don't get back...we have to hold ourselves to self-account as to not lose the opportunity. 

Reflection, Renewal & Return 6: Mindful Eating

This month is not supposed to be about food, but for so many of us, it is...how can we transform our relationship?

Reflection, Renewal & Return 5: Imperfection Before God

Vulnerability and admitting imperfection are two sides of the same reality, and they are both so vital in building out a relationship with the Creator. 

Reflection, Renewal & Return 4: Vulnerability Before God

The term vulnerability demonstrates our imperfection in front of God...and that is precisely what is needed for true reform. 

Reflection, Renewal & Return 3: Seeking a Heart at Rest

Even Ibrahim (a), in his supplication, sought further contentment and certainty as keep his heart at rest. We have the opportunity to hand as well to ascend the ladder of knowledge and cognition of God during these nights and days. 

Reflection, Renewal & Return 2: Today, There is No Blame

When Yusuf (a) had an opportunity to take revenge on his brothers, he said, "Today, there is no blame upon you," demonstrating his forgiveness and compassion. We seek the same embrace from God during these nights. 

Reflection, Renewal & Return 1: Wake Up, It's Time

The best days are upon us, and its time to wake up from our slumber and embrace the blessing. 

Daily Sustenance for the Heart 30: Farewell, My Friend

Bidding farewell is incredibly challenging, especially for someone who is so close and dear to our hearts...

Daily Sustenance for the Heart 29: Timeless Lessons from Sura al-A'la

In this episode, we summarize the 5 timeless lessons that we are able to deduce from Chapter 87 of the Holy Quran. 

Daily Sustenance for the Heart 28: Taking Lesson from the Past

The conclusion of Sura A'ala offers us important insight into how we should take lessons from those who have come before us, and a beautiful reminder that humanity has consistently been called to reach our full potential.

Daily Sustenance for the Heart 27: Eternal Bliss

In this life, we experience temporary joy and pleasure, but in the world beyond this one, the things that make us happy are better and longer lasting. 

Daily Sustenance for the Heart 26: A Profitable Transaction

We have the opportunity to make an incredibly unique business deal with the Lord of the Worlds, who offers us an incredible profit margin. 

Daily Sustenance for the Heart 25: Breaking the Shackles of Dunya

This world has a strong hold on us, and every ounce of our effort needs to strive to breaking away from it.

Daily Sustenance for the Heart 24: Higher Accountability

True growth is in perfecting the good and improve on the bad...steps we all need to take. 

Daily Sustenance for the Heart 23: The Reset Button

God provides us with so many an indication why we should strive to attain His pleasure, and on the best of nights, we get the best opportunity to do so.  

Daily Sustenance for the Heart 22: The Internal Conscience

We are fighting an internal battle within ourselves everyday, and its vital to cultivate an environment that pushes the self toward virtue.  

Daily Sustenance for the Heart 21: God's Deterrent

Amongst the biggest reasons why God mentions punishment as often as He does in the Quran is because it is meant to serve as a deterrent for the believer; such that we only aspire and desire His reward. 

Daily Sustenance for the Heart 20: Who Are Those Who Remember?

We are shackled by the distractions of this fleeting world; yet God wants us to rise above and enter into a state of His remembrance. 

Daily Sustenance for the Heart 19: Reminders Amidst Distraction

God has put us in a position to find success via the reminders He has put on display for us, in spite of all the distractions we get caught up with. 

Daily Sustenance for the Heart 18: The Path of Ease!

God has created a path to paradise that is meant to be easy, but only if we are also easy!

Daily Sustenance for the Heart 17: The Quest for Knowledge

The path to quench our innate desire for knowledge should never cease; but its important we take it from the appropriate sources and know that God will support is in our journey if we approach it the right way. 

Daily Sustenance for the Heart 16: Deeper Lessons

The verses of the Quran provide insight into nature many a time, but also calls us to look within ourselves in a unique way. 

Daily Sustenance for the Heart 15: Internal and External Guidance

God has created us in a world with seemingly many things to overcome...but not without His guidance, which sprouts from so many different dimensions. 

Daily Sustenance for the Heart 14: The Best of Names

God has the best of names; and He calls upon us to invoke them. Through building a link with these names, we have the capacity to increase our ma'rifah of Him. 

Daily Sustenance for the Heart 13: The All-High

We know and perceive God through the names and attributes that He has introduced Himself to us by...and He begins chapter 87 with His Ultimate Authority. 

Daily Sustenance for the Heart 12: The Object of Our Love

God, the Creator of the Heavens and Earth, in His authority and magnanimity, has created us so that we find Him in the midst of all that we're surrounded by. 

Daily Sustenance for the Heart 11: Listen and Transform

The month of Ramadan is the month of the Quran, and if we begin to listen with our hearts, we have incredible potentials to transform our souls. 

Daily Sustenance for the Heart 10: In the Footsteps of the Best of Creation

The conclusion of Imam Sajjad's Dua welcoming the Month of Ramadan sends salutations upon the Prophet. There is no better way to start or conclude any dua than by reciting salawat on our Prophet.