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 escape and migration to Medina and into the welcoming arms of his followers.  You will hear how placing your trust in God, especially when you are not sure of your options, is often the best path to take. Find out: What you do when assassins are, literally, at your door?  How do you hide behind a spider's web?  Why is Salaam so excited about the "Prancing Pony"?  What is Qasim's definition of a "Muslim Buzz Kill"?  What was the song to welcome the Prophet when he finally joined his people? To find out the answers to these questions, download and take a listen! *** Special Bonus Track - at the end of today's podcast is an excellent version of the song that welcomed the Prophet to Medina.  We have shared the lyrics here and you can listen to it separately on YouTube by following this link. Tala Al Badru Alayna -sung by Yusuf Islam Tala'al-Badru 'alayna, min thaniyyatil-Wada' wajaba al-shukru 'alayna, ma da'a lillahi da' O the White Moon rose over us From the Valley of Wada' And we owe it to show gratefulness Where the call is to Allah Ayyuha al-mab'uthu fina ji'ta bi-al-amri al-muta' Ji'ta sharrafta al-Madinah marhaban ya khayra da' O you who were raised amongst us coming with a work to be obeyed You have brought to this city nobleness Welcome! best call to God's way Tala'al-Badru 'alayna, min thaniyyatil-Wada' wajaba al-shukru 'alayna, ma da'a lillahi da'   Thank you to everyone who has sent in questions and voted on our polls! We love hearing from you. Be sure to send in questions and vote on our poll on our website here: www.religionnewsfoundation.org/resightislam If you have any questions for Qasim or have suggestions for topics, you can always Tweet them to @MuslimIQ  or @ReligionNewsFdn or send an email to ReSightIslam@ReligionNewsFoundation.org. This has been a production of the Religion News Foundation  For more information on these, and other religion news stories from around the world, visit religionnews.com or subscribe to  “Religion News Headlines” on your Alexa or Google smart home device, or on Apple Podcast. The Religion News Foundation – Your source for professional journalism covering religion for over  80 years.   Love what you hear?  Show your support and help us keep Re-Sight Islam as the #1 Podcast on Islam in the US by Becoming a Patron - and getting cool gear! - your generous donations will ensure that we are able to deliver a message of peace and reconciliation for all to hear! We close out our second season with nearly 55,000 downloads! ... we really have something going here!  Thank you so much for all the support!

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, Qasim and Salaam tell the story of the incredible night journeys of the Prophet where his spiritual visions take him to Heaven and to Jerusalem - The Mi'raj and The Isra. Find out about the fantastical beast - the Buraq - that "lifted" the prophet on his journey.  Understand why the vision of Islam is one of working together for humanity and peace.  Who told the Muslims to pray 5 times a day?  How come Qasim is a failure on Tinder?  Why does Salaam have beard envy of Johnathan Frakes?  To find out the answers to these questions, download and take a listen! Thank you to everyone who has sent in questions and voted on our polls! We love hearing from you. Be sure to send in questions and vote on our poll on our website here: www.religionnewsfoundation.org/resightislam If you have any questions for Qasim or have suggestions for topics, you can always Tweet them to @MuslimIQ  or @ReligionNewsFdn or send an email to ReSightIslam@ReligionNewsFoundation.org. This has been a production of the Religion News Foundation  For more information on these, and other religion news stories from around the world, visit religionnews.com or subscribe to  “Religion News Headlines” on your Alexa or Google smart home device, or on Apple Podcast. The Religion News Foundation – Your source for professional journalism covering religion for over  80 years.   Love what you hear?  Show your support and help us keep Re-Sight Islam as the #1 Podcast on Islam in the US by Becoming a Patron - and getting cool gear! - your generous donations will ensure that we are able to deliver a message of peace and reconciliation for all to hear! We have over 50,000 downloads! ... we really have something going here!  Thank you so much for all the support!

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 followers of Islam were interred in the Valley of Abu Talib and were subjected to isolation and starvation designed to break their faith. Find out more about Salaam's obsession with Capri Sun and a clean posterior.  What do ants have to do with the salvation of the starving Muslims?  What was Abu Talib's final message to the Quraysh?  How did the Holy Prophet treat those who worshiped idols - even when they were family members?  And who REALLY is the Silver Power Ranger? Thank you to everyone who has sent in questions and voted on our polls! We love hearing from you. Be sure to send in questions and vote on our poll on our website here: www.religionnewsfoundation.org/resightislam If you have any questions for Qasim or have suggestions for topics, you can always Tweet them to @MuslimIQ  or @ReligionNewsFdn or send an email to ReSightIslam@ReligionNewsFoundation.org. This has been a production of the Religion News Foundation  For more information on these, and other religion news stories from around the world, visit religionnews.com or subscribe to  “Religion News Headlines” on your Alexa or Google smart home device, or on Apple Podcast. The Religion News Foundation – Your source for professional journalism covering religion for over  80 years.   Love what you hear?  Show your support and help us keep Re-Sight Islam as the #1 Podcast on Islam in the US by Becoming a Patron - and getting cool gear! - your generous donations will ensure that we are able to deliver a message of peace and reconciliation for all to hear! Wait... What? We are closing in on 50,000 downloads! ... we really have something going here!  Thank you so much for all the support!

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 the stories of these three companions of the Holy Prophet and relate their inspiring journeys and how each transformed their own views and the opinions of the public. You will find out what people did for protection before there were any organized police.  What are the benefits of having a woman making the rule?  When is it appropriate to smack someone up side the head with a bow? and What book Salaam considers the second most moving story in his life? Listen to this episode to find the answers to these questions and more! Thank you to everyone who has sent in questions and voted on our polls! We love hearing from you. Be sure to send in questions and vote on our poll on our website here: www.religionnewsfoundation.org/resightislam If you have any questions for Qasim or have suggestions for topics, you can always Tweet them to @MuslimIQ  or @ReligionNewsFdn or send an email to ReSightIslam@ReligionNewsFoundation.org. This has been a production of the Religion News Foundation  For more information on these, and other religion news stories from around the world, visit religionnews.com or subscribe to  “Religion News Headlines” on your Alexa or Google smart home device, or on Apple Podcast. The Religion News Foundation – Your source for professional journalism covering religion for over  80 years.   Love what you hear?  Show your support and help us keep Re-Sight Islam as the #1 Podcast on Islam in the US by Becoming a Patron - and getting cool gear! - your generous donations will ensure that we are able to deliver a message of peace and reconciliation for all to hear! Nearly 48,000 downloads and counting... we really have something going here!  Thank you so much for all the support!

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 with a just Christian King. The RSI team will explain what they mean when they say "It's expensive to be poor" and why the Quraysh may just be the where Corporate Lobbying originated.  You will learn how the words of Jafar saved the lives of all of the refugees and how The Lion King, The Matrix and a group of fleeing Hobbits tie in to the Holy Prophet's journey from Mecca. Thank you to everyone who has sent in questions and voted on our polls! We love hearing from you. Be sure to send in questions and vote on our poll on our website here: www.religionnewsfoundation.org/resightislam If you have any questions for Qasim or have suggestions for topics, you can always Tweet them to @MuslimIQ  or @ReligionNewsFdn or send an email to ReSightIslam@ReligionNewsFoundation.org. This has been a production of the Religion News Foundation  For more information on these, and other religion news stories from around the world, visit religionnews.com or subscribe to  “Religion News Headlines” on your Alexa or Google smart home device, or on Apple Podcast. The Religion News Foundation – Your source for professional journalism covering religion for over  80 years.   Love what you hear?  Show your support and help us keep Re-Sight Islam as the #1 Podcast on Islam in the US by Becoming a Patron - and getting cool gear! - your generous donations will ensure that we are able to deliver a message of peace and reconciliation for all to hear! Nearly 46,000 downloads and counting... we really have something going here!  Thank you so much for all the support!

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 early Muslims at the hands of their neighbors.  How would you have handled it? Would you have done as Muhammad did? The team will help you understand the importance of the Haj as it predates Islam.  You will find out the lengths a true friend will go.  Salaam and Qasim will explain the connection between Monty Python, Mark Twain and the Holy Prophet. AND You will see why Islam believes in the importance of education for both MEN and WOMEN. Thank you to everyone who has sent in questions and voted on our polls! We love hearing from you. Be sure to send in questions and vote on our poll on our website here: www.religionnewsfoundation.org/resightislam If you have any questions for Qasim or have suggestions for topics, you can always Tweet them to @MuslimIQ  or @ReligionNewsFdn or send an email to ReSightIslam@ReligionNewsFoundation.org. This has been a production of the Religion News Foundation  For more information on these, and other religion news stories from around the world, visit religionnews.com or subscribe to  “Religion News Headlines” on your Alexa or Google smart home device, or on Apple Podcast. The Religion News Foundation – Your source for professional journalism covering religion for over  80 years.   Love what you hear?  Show your support and help us keep Re-Sight Islam as the #1 Podcast on Islam in the US by Becoming a Patron - and getting cool gear! - your generous donations will ensure that we are able to deliver a message of peace and reconciliation for all to hear! Nearly 45,000 downloads and counting... we really have something going here!  Thank you so much for all the support!

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 torture and anguish, the faith of the Prophet's followers was put to the ultimate test - with many paying the price with broken bodies, crushed spirits and, yes, lost lives. In this episode, the team weaves in their trusty references to LOTR and spice it up with some Mad Maxx and Game of Thrones.  You will find out who was Balal and what was the "Mic Drop Moment" that defined his life.  You will learn the names of the remarkable and true followers who suffered greatly at the hands of their own people.  AND you will understand what is meant when "a sin is not a sin" in the eyes of Allah. Thank you to everyone who has sent in questions and voted on our polls! We love hearing from you. Be sure to send in questions and vote on our poll on our website here: www.religionnewsfoundation.org/resightislam If you have any questions for Qasim or have suggestions for topics, you can always Tweet them to @MuslimIQ  or @ReligionNewsFdn or send an email to ReSightIslam@ReligionNewsFoundation.org. This has been a production of the Religion News Foundation  For more information on these, and other religion news stories from around the world, visit religionnews.com or subscribe to  “Religion News Headlines” on your Alexa or Google smart home device, or on Apple Podcast. The Religion News Foundation – Your source for professional journalism covering religion for over  80 years.   Love what you hear?  Show your support and help us keep Re-Sight Islam as the #1 Podcast on Islam in the US by Becoming a Patron - and getting cool gear! - your generous donations will ensure that we are able to deliver a message of peace and reconciliation for all to hear! 43,000 downloads and counting... we really have something going here!  Thank you so much for all the support!

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 eating away at their traditional hold on power, they sought retribution.  But Holy Prophet had someone in his corner who was willing to risk it all to fulfill his commitment to family and to his word. In this episode, Salaam's true identity will finally be revealed!  We will discuss what a real life hero really is and find out the difference between insults and the cold, hard truth.  Qasim also dives into one of the universal truths in religion - "Love thy neighbor"- and what it means to the people of early Islam and how it really impacts us today. Thank you to everyone who has sent in questions and voted on our polls! We love hearing from you. Be sure to send in questions and vote on our poll on our website here: www.religionnewsfoundation.org/resightislam If you have any questions for Qasim or have suggestions for topics, you can always Tweet them to @MuslimIQ  or @ReligionNewsFdn or send an email to ReSightIslam@ReligionNewsFoundation.org. This has been a production of the Religion News Foundation  For more information on these, and other religion news stories from around the world, visit religionnews.com or subscribe to  “Religion News Headlines” on your Alexa or Google smart home device, or on Apple Podcast. The Religion News Foundation – Your source for professional journalism covering religion for over  80 years.   Love what you hear?  Show your support and help us keep Re-Sight Islam as the #1 Podcast on Islam in the US by Becoming a Patron - and getting cool gear! - your generous donations will ensure that we are able to deliver a message of peace and reconciliation for all to hear! 42,000 downloads and counting... we really have something going here!  Thank you so much for all the support!

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 years of Islam.  Here, they give you a glimpse into the hurdles that lay in their way during these early days. In this episode, you will find out - What do "The Matrix" and the early days of Islam have in common?  What is the first rule of the "Muslim Club"?  What do we mean by a "ma'ruf" decision?  What is the significance of the House of Arqam? and What are the 6 reasons the early Arabs had violent opposition to Islam? .... Download and listen to find the answers! Please remember to subscribe, share and comment.  Thank you to everyone who has sent in questions and voted on our polls! We love hearing from you. Shout-out to Anke, Naureen and Azhar for great recent questions. Be sure to send in questions and vote on our poll on our website here: www.religionnewsfoundation.org/resightislam If you have any questions for Qasim or have suggestions for topics, you can always Tweet them to @MuslimIQ  or @ReligionNewsFdn or send an email to ReSightIslam@ReligionNewsFoundation.org. This has been a production of the Religion News Foundation  For more information on these, and other religion news stories from around the world, visit religionnews.com or subscribe to  “Religion News Headlines” on your Alexa or Google smart home device, or on Apple Podcast. The Religion News Foundation – Your source for professional journalism covering religion for over  80 years.   Love what you hear?  Show your support and help us keep Re-Sight Islam as the #1 Podcast on Islam in the US by Becoming a Patron - and getting cool gear! - your generous donations will ensure that we are able to deliver a message of peace and reconciliation for all to hear! We have over 40,000 downloads!  Thank you so much for all the support!