The Spirituality of Justice: A Conversation with Layla F. Saad
05/24/24 • 61 min
In this episode, I speak with a woman whose podcast has deeply inspired me and whose writings have made significant waves in anti-racism movements. I had the opportunity to fangirl a little with Layla F. Saad as we discussed her journey to becoming an anti-racist changemaker and activist.
Layla is known for addressing issues of racism and social justice, but this is her first time speaking publicly about her beliefs and identity as a Muslim woman. The ongoing genocides in Gaza, Sudan, and Congo have profoundly strengthened Layla’s connection to the Divine through the concept of justice grounded within the Islamic tradition.
Our conversation also covers a range of other topics, including how Layla’s recent diagnosis as neurodivergent has changed how she interacts with the world and enabled her to understand herself better. Layla also shares her perspective on the importance of experiencing collective trauma, grief, and rage as part of our shared humanity.
Layla Saad is a New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author, speaker, teacher, and cultural worker. She is the author of the groundbreaking anti-racism book Me and White Supremacy and the host of the Become A Good Ancestor and Good Ancestor Podcasts.
Find Layla online here: https://www.instagram.com/laylafsaad/
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/becomeagoodancestor
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, I speak with a woman whose podcast has deeply inspired me and whose writings have made significant waves in anti-racism movements. I had the opportunity to fangirl a little with Layla F. Saad as we discussed her journey to becoming an anti-racist changemaker and activist.
Layla is known for addressing issues of racism and social justice, but this is her first time speaking publicly about her beliefs and identity as a Muslim woman. The ongoing genocides in Gaza, Sudan, and Congo have profoundly strengthened Layla’s connection to the Divine through the concept of justice grounded within the Islamic tradition.
Our conversation also covers a range of other topics, including how Layla’s recent diagnosis as neurodivergent has changed how she interacts with the world and enabled her to understand herself better. Layla also shares her perspective on the importance of experiencing collective trauma, grief, and rage as part of our shared humanity.
Layla Saad is a New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author, speaker, teacher, and cultural worker. She is the author of the groundbreaking anti-racism book Me and White Supremacy and the host of the Become A Good Ancestor and Good Ancestor Podcasts.
Find Layla online here: https://www.instagram.com/laylafsaad/
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/becomeagoodancestor
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
What happens when you know it’s not just you?
In this episode, Rose reflects on her creative work and the inspiration behind her podcast. In her life, she often explores ways to help others feel like they are not alone and are not the only ones who don’t feel like they fit into the status quo. Rose is motivated by her own experiences of being isolated and lonely and how she was able to thrive in communities with other women. The podcast shares stories of resilience from women from diverse backgrounds, and Rose discusses how it intersects with her work as a life coach, writer, space holder, and group facilitator.
You’ll get a glimpse of Rose's in-progress book projects and various activities, such as facilitating healing circles and group coaching programs. One theme in her work that comes up a lot is how she supports clients in reconnecting with spirituality on their own terms.
The episode offers a glimpse into Rose's journey, which led her to find her calling in guiding others to reclaim their power from within. Listeners learn why Rose's holistic, trauma-informed, compassion-centered approach can help inspire and motivate listeners on their own paths of personal growth.
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
How to Live an Ethical and God-Conscious Life: A Conversation with Sa’diyya Shaikh
In this rich conversation, Dr. Sa’diyya Shaikh, Professor in the Study of Religions at the University of Cape Town, shares her personal journey of growing up as a Muslim in South Africa during the apartheid era and how this informs her study of Islam and worldview. With a profound interest in Sufism, Sa’diyya explores the intersection of spirituality, gender ethics, feminist theory, and social justice, illuminating how these realms influence each other.
As a scholar-activist, Sa’diyya brings humility from her spiritual practice and a unique approach to liberation theology, motivating her to fight for the oppressed. She delves into the spiritual legacy of Islam, emphasizing how Muslims can engage with the Divine through attributes. Sa’diyya rejects the gendered limitations of the Divine, suggesting that Muslims can cultivate both power (Jalali) and beauty (Jamali) within themselves. Her extensive work includes interpretations of Islamic texts, Islamic feminism, and the embodied ethics of contemporary Muslim women. Sa’diyya also shares insights on balancing emotional and spiritual health with family and work life demands.
Sa’diyya Shaikh specializes in the study of Islam, gender ethics, and feminist theory, with a special interest in Sufism. Her study of Islam began with an abiding interest in existential questions and a commitment to social justice – much of her work is animated by interest and curiosity about the relationship between the realms of the spiritual and the political. She has published on interpretations of the Qur’an, hadith, and Sufi texts; Islamic feminism; religions and gender-based violence; Sufism and Islamic Law; contemporary Muslim women’s embodied ethics; and marriage, sexuality, and reproductive choices amongst South African Muslim women.
Sa’diyya is the author of Sufi Narratives of Intimacy: Ibn ʿArabī, Gender, and Sexuality (2012) and co-author and editor of The Women’s Khutbah Book: Contemporary Sermons on Spirituality and Justice from Around the World (2022) In her current work on ethics and Sufism, as well as in her own spiritual life, Sa’diyya draws on the inspiration, transmission, writings and teachings of several contemporary Sufi teachers including Shaykh Muhammad Rahim Bawa Muhiyadin (rahmatullah alayhi), Shaykha Cemal Nur Sargut, Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri and Shaykha Fawzia Al-Rawi.
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 - The Spirituality of Justice: A Conversation with Layla F. Saad
Transcript
Note: This transcript has been generated by AI and most probably has some mistakes in transcription.
Rose Aslan
In this episode, I speak with a woman whose podcast has deeply inspired me and whose writing has made significant waves in anti-racism movements. I had the opportunity to fangirl a little with Layla F Saad, as we discussed her journey to becoming an anti racist change maker, and activist. Leila is known for addressing issues of racism and social justice. But this is her
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