
On Being a Professional Muslim: Rose Aslan Interviewed on "I'm a Muslim (And That's OK!)" Podcast
12/08/23 • 48 min
In this episode, Rose candidly converses with Shehla Faiza on her podcast, I'm a Muslim (And That's OK!), sharing her experiences as a "professional Muslim" in the U.S. and why she eventually left that role. Rose discussed the challenges and pressures she faced while representing Islam in academia and interfaith activism, particularly during the Trump era. She also discusses her decision to relocate to Istanbul and shift away from academia. This time, Rose is the guest being interviewed instead of the host, and she offers a deep dive into the complexities of public representation of Islam in the United States. Rose gives props to those continuing the hard but necessary work while also realizing that her time in that field had come to an end, at least in her former roles.
Watch this episode on Youtube on Shehla’s channel here.
Visit her website: https://www.imamuslimpodcast.com/
Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imamuslimpodcast/
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
In this episode, Rose candidly converses with Shehla Faiza on her podcast, I'm a Muslim (And That's OK!), sharing her experiences as a "professional Muslim" in the U.S. and why she eventually left that role. Rose discussed the challenges and pressures she faced while representing Islam in academia and interfaith activism, particularly during the Trump era. She also discusses her decision to relocate to Istanbul and shift away from academia. This time, Rose is the guest being interviewed instead of the host, and she offers a deep dive into the complexities of public representation of Islam in the United States. Rose gives props to those continuing the hard but necessary work while also realizing that her time in that field had come to an end, at least in her former roles.
Watch this episode on Youtube on Shehla’s channel here.
Visit her website: https://www.imamuslimpodcast.com/
Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imamuslimpodcast/
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
Previous Episode

Finding the Divine in a Secular Society: A Conversation with Dr. Rebecca Masterton
Listen to my chat with Dr. Rebecca Masterton as we explore her journey of finding spiritual meaning in secular British society. Rebecca talks honestly about feeling out of place in a society where deep spirituality isn't often a priority. She shares her story of how finding Islam brought her peace and a sense of fitting in.
In our conversation, Rebecca also gets real about balancing intuition with rationality and the dangers of blindly following spiritual teachers. From being a normal British teenager with a thirst for knowledge, to following a Hindu guru as a college student, later joining a Sufi order, and finally finding her path within Shi'ism, Rebecca's journey reveals her curiosity about the world and deep longing for connecting to the Divine.
Influenced by her deep understanding of Shi’i theology, she highlights why it's key to balancing our inner feelings with smart thinking – this isn't just about believing; it’s about understanding ourselves and the choices we make in our lives. Tune in for a real, down-to-earth discussion about navigating faith, questioning norms, and forging your own path.
Find out more about Dr. Rebecca Masterton at her website: https://onlineshiastudies.com.
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
Next Episode

Exploring Inner Strength and Overcoming Adversity: A Conversation with Zaahida Mahomedy
In this podcast episode, Zaahida Mahomedy shares her spiritual awakening and personal growth journey. Beginning her spiritual exploration at 13, influenced by her grandmother's devotion to the Qur’an, Zaahida navigated the challenges of growing up in a conservative Indian Muslim community in apartheid South Africa. Her journey took a significant turn in her mid-20s when she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. This health crisis deepened her spiritual path and highlighted the connection between emotional well-being and physical health.
Zaahida emphasizes the importance of emotional processing, nervous system regulation, and setting boundaries in the healing process. She talks about redefining her identity as a Muslim woman and advocating a holistic and personal engagement with the Quran. Zaahida's story is an inspiring example of resilience and transformation, demonstrating the power of faith and inner work in overcoming life's challenges and embracing authentic living.
Visit Zaahida on Instagram: @liveinspiredza or her website: https://zaahidamahomedy.com/.
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
Rahma with Rose - On Being a Professional Muslim: Rose Aslan Interviewed on "I'm a Muslim (And That's OK!)" Podcast
Transcript
Today's a little different. Instead of another one of my regular episodes interviewing other women, today I'm sharing an episode where I was a guest on another podcast. This podcast is called I'm a Muslim and that's okay. The host is Shehla Faiza, American Muslim, based in dallas, Texas, [00:02:00] where she interviews Muslim Americans about their experience and tries to educate her listeners about Muslims and Islam.
So it was a perfect opportunity for me to talk about what my experience w
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