Re-Sight Islam

Religion News Headlines for September 17th, 2020

The Best of Planners

Season 2 - Episode 28 - The Best of Planners - We've all done it.  We think we are in control of our destiny - we have our own plan all laid out, scheduled down to the last minute, and then... life happens and the plan we had goes right out the window.  But sometimes - sometimes - we need to step aside and let someone with a better plan take the lead. In this episode, Qasim and Salaam bring the second season to a close as they close in on the Meccan plot to kill Muhammad and the Prophet's e...

Incredible Journeys

Season 2 - Episode 27 - Incredible Journeys - We have all had that one dream where you wake up in the morning and, for a few minutes, you stare at the ceiling, remembering the vivid details because of how real it felt.  Imaging having a dream - a vision - where you went on the most fantastic of journeys, and when you awoke, you remembered every single detail in such clarity and with such precision that, when shared, it literally transformed your life ad the lives around you. In this episode...

To Each His Own

Season 2 - Episode 26 - To Each His Own - One of the most misinterpreted aspects of the Islamic faith is that it is intolerant of the faith of others.  The words of the Holy Prophet, himself, honor a pluralistic society where tolerance for the religion of others must be honored.  Unfortunately, many of those who profess Islam do not even understand this basic tenet that was professed within the pages of the Quran.  In this episode, Qasim and Salaam relate the troubling years in which the fo...

Transformers

Season 2 - Episode 25 - Transformers - We're not talking about the "Robots in Disguise" (even though Salaam still plays with his Optimus Prime figure...), but rather those people who, despite the pressures of society and culture, stand their ground, embrace change and create a paradigm shift in their world.  In the earliest days of Islam there were few that "transformed" the acceptance of the Holy Prophet's teaching more than Abu Bakr, Hamza and Umar. In this episode, Qasim and Salaam tell ...

Faith and Patience

Season 2 - Episode 24 - Faith and Patience - How much can one person take?  If you were berated and beaten for your beliefs, how long would you remain peaceful until you struck back?  Would you have the patience to remain true to your convictions?  Would you leave your home and all that you know in order to keep the peace? In this episode, Qasim and Salaam follow the early Muslim migrants who fled their homes in Mecca and the persecution of the Quraysh, crossed the Red Sea and found refuge ...

Madman, Magician or Man of God?

Season 2 - Episode 23 - Madman, Magician or Man of God - A man is defined by his actions.  It doesn't matter what names you are called or what lies are told about you as long as you have remained true to yourself and to God.  The Holy Prophet Muhammad was faced with lies about his character and his purpose and met them with a conviction buoyed by his actions and his faith. In this episode, Qasim and Salaam take a look as some of the mental and physical hardships and torment suffered by the ...

Convictions of the Heart

Season 2 - Episode 22 - Convictions of the Heart - How strong are you?  Not physically, but mentally and emotionally?  Have you ever been pushed to your limit - to the point where the only thing left is your will and your spirit?  We all have a breaking point - but at what cost is it reached. In this episode, Qasim and Salaam reveal a mere sliver of the many trials and tribulations that faced early Muslims as they struggled to overcome the prejudice of the people of Mecca.  Through physical...

Power and Influence

Season 2 - Episode 21 - Power and Influence - Who has your back?  Really, who can you count on in life to be your hero when the chips are down and when the world seems to be against you.  We all need to have that one friend, spouse or relative that we can lean on and who will go the distance for you in tough times.   In this episode, Qasim and Salaam talk about the struggle between Power and Influence in the early days of Islam.  When the Meccans saw the influence of the Prophet Muhammad ea...

The Prophet's Path

Season 2 - Episode 20 - The Prophet's Path - In life, we get to choose our own path.  Sometimes it's an easy road, but often, when the road is the hardest, we get the greatest rewards.  But when you are chosen to follow a divine path, it is often the case that the trail is nearly impossible to travel - unless you have the support of faithful family and friends. In this episode, Qasim and Salaam guide you along the difficult path that the Prophet and his followers had to travel in the first ...

The Company You Keep

Season 2 - Episode 19 - The Company You Keep - Family always has your back, right?  Well, not always.  Sometimes they can be your biggest critics and hurdles.  In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, Qasim and Salaam examine this paradox and reveal that family - true family - is not always related by blood.  The team looks at those who were first to believe the words of the Q'uran, the first 5 family members and the 5 companions who became the true family of Muhammad.   In this episode, you wil...

Persevere

Season 2 - Episode 18 - Persevere - What do you do when you know something great is just around the corner, but the struggle is real?  Do you quit or do you keep pushing forward? In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, Qasim and Salaam address this by looking at the struggles of the Holy Prophet in the days immediately following the first revelation of the words of the Q'uran. This episode examines how Muhammad was bouyed by his faith, and the support of his beloved wife and a Christian hermit, ...

Recite

Season 2 - Episode 17 - Recite - This is the episode that is the epicenter of the story of Islam - and the origin of the Podcast name.  In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, Qasim and Salaam examine the life of Muhammad with his beloved wife, Khadija, and the years leading up to the Prophet's revelation of the Q'uran by the Angel Gabriel.   This episode examines the family struggles and losses that Muhammad and Hadija experienced as well as their dedication and devotion toward eachother and Go...

Special Episode: Questions from our Listeners!

Season 2 - Episode 16 - Special Episode - In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, Qasim and Salaam answer a few questions that have been sent in by the listeners. How does Islam view Tattoos?  (And who are we to judge either way?) Are all the Prophets male? (And if so, what does that mean for a woman's role in Islam?) Why wouldn't God reveal his message to everyone instead of just a select few? With the ususal LOTR and Marvel references, you can find out: What are the 4 greatest attributes of...

The Trustworthy and the Virtuous

Season 2 - Episode 15 - The Trustworthy and the Virtuous - In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, Qasim and Salaam take a close look at the unlikely story of a poor, uneducated 25 year old man who catches the eye of a wealthy, 40 year old, twice widowed, business woman - and the relationship that blossomed from this improbable pairing. This episode will also help you will learn how a business woman shattered the glass ceiling in a time where women didn't do such things and how her tenacity in d...

The Elements of Justice

Season 2 - Episode 14 - The Elements of Justice - In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, Qasim and Salaam take a closer look at one of the key fundementals of the Islamic Faith:  the fair and equitable treatment of all people - the upholding of justice. The narrative of Justice weaves a story that works it's way from quantum physics to meteors to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.  With an emphasis on understanding the importance of one's oath and the secular nature of just treatment, the team...

Mirror, Mirror

Season 2 - Episode 13 - Mirror, Mirror - In this episode, Re-Sight Islam addresses whether a man is the reflection of the society in which he lives or can society be molded into the reflection of the man.  Qasim and Salaam tackle how a young man can rise to greatness and fulfill the prophecies - even in the face of temptation and violence.  What does it take for a person to go against societal trends and norms to affect change around him?  Can one man sheath the swords of perpetual war? Ta...

The Great Tree

Season 2 - Episode 12 - The Great Tree - In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, Qasim and Salaam bring the story back to that of a young boy orphaned at the young age of 6 years old. Embraced by his Grandfather, only to be orphaned again in 2 years, the child's story is that of compassion and empathy.  Qasim and Salaam relate the teachings of Jesus, through Matthew, and the visions of the kindly Grandfather, Abd al Muttalib, that the "good tree will bear the good fruit". To find out what the P...

Friends and Allies

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Friends and Allies -  In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, Qasim and Salaam take a look at an issue that is all too common in today's society - the bullying of people because of their differences - and how we can each step up to stop it and become the Friends and Allies that we all need. Using today's headlines, personal examples from their own lives and the historical precedent set in the history of Islam, Qasim and Salaam explain how ignorance and fear can be overcom...

The Heart of a Prophet

Season 2 - Episode 10 - The Heart of a Prophet -  In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, Qasim and Salaam begin the story of the life of the Prophet Muhammad from birth until he is orphaned at the tender young age of six. They tell the story of a very young boy, facing an uphill struggle - fatherless, poor, and, eventually an orphan - who, even at an early age, demonstrated the tenacity, faith and strength of will that would be a hallmark of his journey. What is "Desert Day Care"? Who was the ...

No True Scotsman

Season 2 - Episode 9 - No True Scotsman -  In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, Qasim and Salaam jump right into why ISIS and other extremists really need to crawl back under the rocks from which they came.  They set the record straight on the differences between the acts of individual Muslims and what Islam teaches.  As they pull back the veil of misunderstanding, the team sets the foundational rules necessary for legitimate scholarly interpretation of the Q'uran and the teachings of the Pro...

The Cure for Ignorance

Season 2 - Episode 8   What is The Cure for Ignorance? In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, Qasim and Salaam address the misattributions and misinformation that have permeated the discussion on defining the essence of Islam as it is set forth by the Prophet Muhammad.   The team embraces the sincere critics of Islam - welcoming the questions and challenges of the curious and denouncing the intollerance of the furious.  What about Muslims who commit terror?  What do they mean by a "Jihad of the...

Who Speaks for Islam?

Season 2 - Episode 7   In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, Qasim and Salaam address a key question: Who speaks for Islam?  Is it the Sunni or the Shia Imam? Is it Al-Qaeda or Daesh? OR... is it a couple of ruggedly hansom podcast hosts? The team examines the tragedy of 9/11 - the attrocity seen in the loss of innocent life and the intellectual tragedy of this act as the first exposure, for many, to Islam.  They ask some tough questions and bring to light the real roots of the biase in unders...

Family and the Orphan Who Adopted the World

Season 2 - Episode 6   In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, Qasim and Salaam embrace "family" and tell the story of the family ties that led to the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.  In this episode, the team follows the lineage of the Prophet Abraham to Qusai ibn Kalib, the unification of the Quraysh Tribes and the establishment of Mecca as a center of trade, democracy and religion.  Learn the story of the union of Abdullah ibn abd-al-Muttalib and Aminah and why the time you are given with fami...

Jahillyyah: The Age of Ignorance - Old and New

Season 2 - Episode 5   In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, Qasim and Salaam take a look at the times, just before the revelations to the Prophet, known as Jahillyyah, or the Age of Ignorance, and what those days and the modern day radical Islamists have in common. In this episode, the team looks at the differences between history and propaganda and how that difference relates to the pre-Islamic Meccans.  The differences that become evident when you begin to compare what you believe and what ...

A New Hope: Prayers and Prophecies

Season 2 - Episode 4: A New Hope.  In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, Qasim and Salaam venture to a distant desert where a young man, being raised by his uncle, must battle agains the odds to fulfill his destiny. In this episode, the team explains the differentiation of the three classes of the Arab people and the meanings of some of the more common Arabic words you hear in Islam. You will also gain an understanding of how elephants, birds with stones and deadly viruses played a role in the...

Understanding Miracles: Abraham, the Exodus and the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ

Season 2 - Episode 3:  In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, Qasim and Salaam take a closer look at the miracles that are extolled in the Torah, Bible and Q'uran.   This episode examines what we mean by a "miracle".  If natural laws are made by God, does God break his own laws when a miracle is performed?  Are their exceptions to the Laws of Nature or are their exceptions to man's understanding of these laws?  If a miracle can be explained away by natural phenomena, does that, in and of itself...

A Long Walk in the Desert: From Faith Springs Life

Season 2 - Episode 2:  In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, Qasim and Salaam continue to examine the evolution of faith, humanity and religion as it sprang forth from the early prophets when they brought God's word to man. This episode follows one man's journey into an unforgiving desert where faith and trust are put to the test.  In keeping with the 3 themes of the Season 2 - Religious Freedom, The Evolution of Religion and Human Unity Across Faith Groups, the guys embrace the concept that "...

In the Beginning: Science, Religion and Truth

Season 2 - Episode 1:  In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, Qasim and Salaam kick off Season 2 by going back to the beginning - 14 billion years back - in order to examine some of the fundementals of how science and religion create the natural synergy that leads to the truth that we live today.     This episode grapples with the Big Bang, the creation of the stars, dark matter, dinosaurs, Adam & Eve and how science and religion are not the mutually exclusive schools of thought that so many h...

Season 2 Trailer: A New Season, A New Format and More Pop Culture

Qasim and Salaam are back for Season 2 of Re-Sight Islam!  Season 1 was an unqualified success thanks to you, our listeners, and all of the great support and feedback you sent our way.  Season 2 will continue with the "Jihad of the Pod" incorporating all of the things you love - the witty banter, the pop-culture references and the compelling story narratives.  We will also be changing up the format just a bit - RSI will be released twice weekly with shorter episodes of 25-30 minutes.  We re...

Jurist, Scholar, Wife and Warrior - Hazrat Ayesha and her Influence on Islam

In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, the final episode of Season1, Qasim and Salaam examine the life and the influence of the Prophet Mohammed's beloved wife, Ayesha.  Respected by the Prophet for her intelleigence, judgement and understanding of His teachings, she stands as a model of piety, truthfulness and strength for modern women throughout the world.  In telling her story, Qasim and Salaam are joined by Qasim's wife, Ayesha, to lend some authenticity that Salaam's falsetto could never ac...

Faith Driven Action - 3 Women of Achievement

In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, Qasim hit the road with a live recording from the 2018 Religion News Association National Conference in Columbus, Ohio. Qasim is joined this week by 3 amazing women who exemplify Faith Driven Action. Qasim's first guest is Morgan Lee, fellow podcaster and editor for Christianity Today Magazine.  Qasim and Morgan take a look at the common ground shared by Muslim and Evangelical Christian outreach and how both can work together in a pluralistic society.  Gue...

Equity, Equality and Breaking Taboos - The Life of Khadijah, the Mother of the Faithful

In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, Qasim and Salaam examine the life and the influence of the Prophet Mohammed's first wife, Khadijah.  As the first person to accept Islam and the first to recognize Mohammed as a prophet of God, she remains as one of the most dynamic female characters in all of history. This episode looks at how Khadijah, when faced with tragedy and societal oppression, rose up to become one of the most influential women of her day.  Qasim and Salaam tell how Khadijah took ...

Student, Scholar, Warrior & Martyr - The Story of Khalifa Ali

In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, Qasim and Salaam look at the life of Khalifa Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammed. He ruled as the Khalifa for 5 short years from 656 to 661 in the immediate aftermath of the assassination of Khalifa Usman. This episode examines the tulmultuous times of Ali's rule as Qasim and Salaam tell the story of Khalifa Ali's rise through the ranks at the side of the Prophet, his reluctant acceptance of the office of Khalifat, his mortal clash with ...

Bonus Episode: Live Interviews from the Jalsa Salana UK, August 3-5, 2018

In this bonus episode of Re-Sight Islam, we take a break from the historical story of Islam that we have been following. Come along as Qasim travels to the 52nd Jalsa Salana UK and takes some time to talk with some men and women who attended from around the world.  Listen to their views of Islam and how the faith is viewed by people of all faiths from many different parts of the world and, perhaps, gain some insight as to why a resurgence of peace is the goal for these faithful Muslims Sha...

The Light and the Darkness - The story of Khalifa Usman

In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, Qasim and Salaam look at the life of Khalifa Usman, who, upon the death of Kalifa Umar, became the 3rd Khalif of Islam.   This episode examines the just and true actions of the the Khalifa who outlined the responsibility the Muslim men have to their wives and that a man's deeds should be judged by his intentions.  Qasim and Salaam also provide insight into one of the darkest days in the history of Islam where the discord of hypocrits led to division, distr...

R.E.S.P.E.C.T. for all - The story of Khalifa Umar

In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, Qasim and Salaam take a dive into the life of Khalifa Umar,  who came to power as the second Khalifa after the death of Abu Bakr.   This episode examines the battles and victories under the rule of Khalifa Umar and reviews his jurisprudence and rule over the people in his care. This episode looks deep into the man and the motivations that impacted his world view and his treatment of people - with special attention to women, children, the weak, the infirmed...

Words and Deeds

In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, host Qasim Rashid is once again joined by attorney and stand-up comedian, Salaam Bhatti.  Join them as they walk you through the early days of Islam that include the final days of the Prophet Mohammed and the trials and tribulations of the early followers of the faith. This episode asks the question "what is the price of your faith?"  It examines the atrocities committed against the Prophet's followers in an attempt to get them to deny their faith. This ep...

On Freedom, Faith and Forgiveness

In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, host Qasim Rashid is once again joined by attorney and stand-up comedian, Salaam Bhatti as they close out the 3rd part of the opening trilogy that emphasizes the life of Prophet Mohammed. Together they examine the story of the Prophet Mohammed's final days, leading up to the final revelations of the Holy Qur'an and the Prophet's Farewell Address. This episode explains how the "Wikipedia" of Islam sets the record straight, shows us the romantic side of the...

Fight or Flight

In this episode of Re-Sight Islam, host Qasim Rashid is once again joined by lawyer and stand-up comedian Salaam Bhatti. as they continue with part 2 of the opening trilogy that emphasizes the life of Prophet Mohammed. When faced with hatred and discrimination - threats and great personal loss – how would you respond? Do you fight back or do you suffer in peace?  Find out how Muslims made an alliance with Christians and Jews in the early days of Islam and the immense benefits that result...

The Orphan and the Angel

In this inaugural episode of Re-Sight Islam, host Qasim Rashid is joined by attorney and stand-up comedian, Salaam Bhatti as they open the podcast series with a trilogy of episodes that shed light on the life of Prophet Mohammed. In this first part, they cover the, little discussed, early life of the Prophet Mohammed leading up to the revelation of the Holy Qur'an. Discover what women’s rights, the Justice League, breaking societal taboos, the Lord of the Rings, and open heart surgery hav...

Coming in August | Re-Sight Islam

Join host Qasim Rashid to explore Islam from the perspective of a Muslim living in the Western context. Prepare to laugh, learn, question preconceived notions and foster a spirit of community. Produced in affiliation with the Religion News Foundation (RNF).