What happens when the very future you’ve worked toward begins to feel a little too morally complicated? When a career you’ve always envisioned seems tied to a compromise you’re not at peace making? More deeply, what happens when Allah begins guiding your heart toward a sacrifice He may want you to make? During these blessed days of Dhul Hijjah, we are speaking with Hakeemah Cummings about her decision to walk away from medical school to avoid taking on interest-based loans. This i...

In this week's episode, I chat with one of my favorite humans: my dad! For as much as we talk about the first-generation story, there's one side we don’t hear nearly enough about: the immigrant parent POV. Here, Daddy and I talk about his upbringing in Côte d’Ivoire, his journey to the United States, the challenges he faced along the way, and how becoming a father shaped the sacrifices he was willing to make. We also talk about balance: where parents and children can meet in the middl...

Academic validation is great and all—until, like anything else, it exists in excess. As a first-generation American with big dreams so I could one day take care of my parents, I quickly found myself chasing educational and career milestones for the dopamine hit they always brought. Then it all came crashing down when I got my bar exam results, right as I was starting my big law job. Preparing to retake the bar didn’t just feel academically challenging—it felt spiritual. In the midst of it all...

Three words: long. time. coming. My prayer is that this platform becomes an open space for reflection, a growing community, and a place where intentions turn into action. In short—so much more than a podcast. I’m excited to stand alongside you as we navigate Deen, deadlines, and everything in between. Because for many of us, work isn’t just a 9 to 5. It’s something closer to a 9 to Asr.