Episode 132 - Dr. Yasir Qadhi on Rethinking Western Islam: Institutions, Salafism & The Tradition
Dr Yasir Qadhi joins us to unpack Salafism, sectarianism, and how Muslims in the West can move from labels to leadership. We talk about what healthy disagreement looks like, why unity does not mean uniformity, and how communities can build real capacity, from mosques and schools to media, philanthropy, and liberal arts education. We get specific about funding ethics, local service to the poor, and civilizational projects that shape hearts and minds. The goal is practical, principled institution building that serves faith and society together. What you will hear: • Salafism in context, strengths, blind spots, and the illusion of correctness • Agreeing to disagree, red lines, and ending the habit of turning rivals into enemies • From masjid to media, why we need journalists, artists, scholars, and leaders • Philanthropy with purpose, feeding the hungry locally, museums and public education, funding without strings • Liberal arts and classical sciences, why breadth of knowledge matters for the next generation • Living in the West with confidence, learning from Abyssinia If this conversation benefits you, share it with a friend, subscribe, and leave a comment with your biggest takeaway. Thanks to our sponsor Human Appeal Australia for supporting community focused conversations. https://www.humanappeal.org.au/appeal/gaza-emergency-appeal-2023-2/ 🕳️ Boys In The Cave is an independent platform exploring faith, politics, culture, and the pressing issues confronting the modern Muslim mind. Subscribe to join the conversation! 🔔 Like, Share, Comment & Subscribe to stay connected. Subscribe to Boys in the Cave Podcast for more insightful discussions on politics, culture, and community. Don’t forget to like, share, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on our latest episodes! Please email us your comments, feedback, and questions at:
[email protected], and leave a review and 5-star rating on iTunes! Timestamps 00:00 Intro and book context 06:58 Criticism and following trusted scholars 17:47 Unity, red lines, civility 21:05 Mawlid and taraweeh, nuance 33:12 Diverse strengths in the seerah 40:33 Seminary reform and the modern imam 49:40 Training leaders, contextualizing in the West 56:38 Knowledge exchange, Israiliyyat and kalam 01:12:07 Read real history, what to build next 01:26:44 Philanthropy, public projects, local politics, funding ethics 01:39:21 Identity pressure, Abyssinia question 01:42:35 Politics is a dirty game, ethics of engagement