Rahma with Rose

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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

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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 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/.

Support the show

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, 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/

Support the show

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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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.

Support the show

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 heartfelt conversation, I sit down with A. Helwa, whose writings have touched tens of thousands of people around the world, the celebrated author of Secrets of Divine Love: A Spiritual Journey into the Heart of Islam. We explore her personal journey through stages of spiritual awakening. Helwa opens up about her passionate belief that every person is profoundly loved by the Divine and shares her view that the spiritual path is a process of continuous discovery rather than a static destination.

We hear how she started with an intense period of connection to Islam as a pre-teen to a young adult life marked by spiritual estrangement and then to a reawakening of her Islamic spirituality sparked by her travels and encounters with diverse religious communities. Helwa shares transformative life moments and unpacks how writing poetry and sitting with various spiritual teachers aided her path. Tune in to learn about the ebbs and flows of spiritual seeking and how to cultivate a lifelong thirst for the Divine. What does your spiritual journey look like, and how can Helwa’s experiences inspire your own continuous discovery?

Learn more about A. Helwa’s work and how to approach the Divine through love at Instagram: @a.helwa or her website: www.authorahelwa.com.

Support the show

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