Rahma with Rose - Balancing Religion and Culture in a Secular Society: A Conversation with Shahira Qudrat

Balancing Religion and Culture in a Secular Society: A Conversation with Shahira Qudrat

10/11/24 • 33 min

In this episode, I sit down with Shahira Qudrat to discuss her lifelong spiritual journey and the challenge of reconciling her Afghan cultural upbringing with her American identity.

As a young Afghan-American woman, Shahira found herself caught between two cultures—balancing the traditional religious values of her family with the modern, secular expectations of American society.

Shahira also opens up about navigating difficult life experiences like an early marriage, divorce, and mental health struggles, sharing how she learned to find healing and purpose through her personal relationship with God. From her teenage years of exploring various religious traditions to the wisdom she shares with us, her journey is both deeply personal and universally relatable. This episode is filled with powerful lessons on the role of curiosity, community, and the many different paths that can guide us home.
Shahira Qudrat is a 1.5-generation Afghan-American Muslim woman and a dedicated daughter, sister, mother of five, and wife. With over 20 years of experience in private and non-profit sectors and the multicultural identity space, Shahira is a business leader specializing in strategy and planning. Her core strengths include organizational change management, high-functioning team development, business strategy planning, and project management, which she leverages to merge passion with purpose in her professional endeavors.

Find Shahira on Instagram @shahira_qudrat

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Find out more about Rose's work here: https://lnk.bio/dr.rose.aslan
Website: https://compassionflow.com
Support Rahma with Rose so I can keep producing more episodes here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2197727/supporters/new

Music credits: Vocals: Zeynep Dilara Aslan; Ney/drum: Elif Önal; Tanbur: Katherine Hreib; Rebap: Hatice Gülbahar Hepsev

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In this episode, I sit down with Shahira Qudrat to discuss her lifelong spiritual journey and the challenge of reconciling her Afghan cultural upbringing with her American identity.

Find Shahira on Instagram @shahira_qudrat

Support the show

Music credits: Vocals: Zeynep Dilara Aslan; Ney/drum: Elif Önal; Tanbur: Katherine Hreib; Rebap: Hatice Gülbahar Hepsev

Previous Episode

Overcoming Trauma and Finding Happiness: A Conversation with Samia Bano

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In this podcast episode, I chat with Samia Bano about her spiritual journey and how she overcame childhood sexual abuse to find inner peace and become a peacebuilder in her community. Samia shares how healing came through counseling, connecting with other survivors, and cultivating spiritual practices, including finding solace in prayer.

Reflecting on her faith, Samia explains how she initially embraced a dogmatic approach to Islam but later found peace by embracing pluralism. Her move from Pakistan to the U.S. and college experience helped her develop a more inclusive and open-minded understanding of Islam. We also discuss Samia’s heart-centered approach to navigating diverse Muslim communities, from conservative to progressive spaces.

The episode wraps up with a conversation on the pursuit of happiness and spiritual enlightenment. Samia emphasizes the importance of detachment and practical steps to cultivate lasting happiness. Known for her work as a Happiness Expert, author, and podcaster, Samia uses her signature program, combining positive psychology with spiritual wisdom, to help others overcome limiting beliefs and create a joyful, impactful life. A survivor, Reiki healer, and mental health advocate, Samia is also a bridge-builder between people of different faiths and cultures.

Samia Bano is a Happiness Expert, author, speaker, podcaster, and coach. Known for her book and podcast, Make Change Fun and Easy, Samia guides clients through her signature program, combining positive psychology with spiritual wisdom to overcome limiting beliefs and create a life of impact and joy.

A survivor of child sexual abuse, Samia began her journey toward inner peace at a young age. Samia has an inter-spiritual approach and is a bridge-builder between people of different faiths and cultures. Samia is also a Certified Reiki Healer, Crisis Counselor, and advocate for mental health awareness.
Find Samia online here:

Website and Youtube Channel

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Music credits: Vocals: Zeynep Dilara Aslan; Ney/drum: Elif Önal; Tanbur: Katherine Hreib; Rebap: Hatice Gülbahar Hepsev

Next Episode

Building Resilience and Small Steps Back to Yourself: A Conversation with Henrietta Szovati

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In this episode, I sit down with Henrietta Szovati to explore a journey shaped by profound moments and courageous leaps. Henrietta recalls how a near-death experience during a mountain hike opened up her path to spirituality, leaving her searching for life’s deeper meaning. Growing up in communist Hungary, she learned resilience in an environment that suppressed religion. She runs a vibrant writing club, empowering women to pursue their creative dreams and support one another along the way. Currently, she’s developing a leadership program specifically for Muslim women, while also nurturing her next big project, which is still under wraps.

Henrietta also shares her love affair with Andalusia's mountains and how nature now grounds her soul. She talks about her one-closet philosophy and how decluttering keeps her mind and life clear. And in one of her most powerful lessons, she describes how a silent six-month pause unexpectedly led her to her biggest dreams. For anyone seeking clarity, purpose, and resilience, this episode is full of insights that will leave you inspired to see the magic in stillness and creativity.
Find Henrietta at her website: www.henriettaszovati.com or on Facebook.

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Music credits: Vocals: Zeynep Dilara Aslan; Ney/drum: Elif Önal; Tanbur: Katherine Hreib; Rebap: Hatice Gülbahar Hepsev