The Ansari Podcast

What happens when you stop imagining yourself in the future?
In this episode of The Ansari Podcast, we explore Islamofuturism and the role of science fiction in shaping how Muslims imagine their faith, identity, and place in the future with Ahmed Elbenni. We discuss the influence of Dune, anime, Gulf futurism, and even aliens and the cosmos, while asking why Islam is so often presented in binary terms despite the breadth of its intellectual and spiritual tradition.
We explore what an Islamic science fiction could look like and what happens when people are unable to write themselves into the future. Because when you cannot imagine yourself in the future, do you risk disappearing from it?

JOIN OUR WEBSITE MEMBERSHIP! @ https://ansaripodcast.com

The Debt Clinic: https://www.mydebtclinic.com/ansari
Provision Capital: https://www.provisioncapital.com

00:00 What is Science Fiction?06:06 Ad08:12 Dune, Islamo-Futurism, and Islamic Science Fiction20:11 Why Do People of the Future Always Dress Like Muslims?31:53 Ad32:45 Defiant Optimism38:01 What If Someone Wants to Write?41:20 Muslims and Anime50:30 What is Gulf Futurism?55:41 Aliens, UFO's, and Islam01:06:07 Importance of Science Fiction01:20:51 Speed Round Questions01:24:30 Final Thoughts

#islamofuturism #islamicsciencefiction #sciencefiction #futurism #islamicart

Listen on All Audio Platforms: https://tr.ee/JeX-ILYSyj

Follow The Ansari Podcast
Instagram: https://instagram.com/ansaripodcast
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theansaripodcast
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ansaripodcast

In this episode of The Ansari Podcast, we are joined by Hassan Muzzad to explore one of the most significant and misunderstood chapters in Islamic history: the origins of the Sunni–Shia divide.
Together, we examine the leadership of Abu Bakr and Ali, the role of the Companions, the tragedy of Karbala, and why the Battle of the Camel may have been the defining moment that transformed political disagreement into a lasting division. Exploring both Sunni and Shia perspectives with nuance and respect, this conversation asks an enduring question: Was the Sunni–Shia split inevitable, or did history take a path that changed the Muslim world forever?

JOIN OUR WEBSITE MEMBERSHIP! @ https://ansaripodcast.com

The Debt Clinic: https://www.mydebtclinic.com/ansari
Provision Capital: https://www.provisioncapital.com

00:00 What Caused the Sunni Shia Split?
05:54 Why Ali and not Abu Bakr?
11:50 Ad
13:23 Why Does the Position of Khalifah Matter?
19:38 Who Are the Imams?
27:11 Who Are the Real Sahaba and are Reliable Sources?
39:06 Isn't Abu Bakr the Family of the Prophet PBUH?
45:31 Ad
46:22 What Happened at the Battle of the Camel?
59:09 What Happened with Hussain and Yazid?
01:08:14 Who Betrayed Hussain?
01:11:15 When did the Actual Sunni Shia Split Happen?
01:13:55 When Did Shia Hadith Begin?
01:16:42 Who are The 12 Imams?
01:24:28 Why Did Allah Allow Abu Bakr to Be the Khalifa?
01:33:44 Can Shia Insult the Sahaba?
01:36:14 Is the Ayatollah like the Pope?
01:49:38 Sunni and Shia are a Part of the Same Civilization
01:53:13 Final Thoughts

#shia #sunni #iran #islamichistory #muslimunity

Listen on All Audio Platforms: https://tr.ee/JeX-ILYSyj

Follow The Ansari Podcast
Instagram: https://instagram.com/ansaripodcast
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theansaripodcast
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ansaripodcast

Why would a Uyghur activist visit Israel? And what does that reveal about the way Muslims navigate justice in today's political landscape?
In this episode, we are joined by a Uyghur activist to explore China's persecution of the Uyghur people, his controversial visit to Israel, and the difficult questions that arise when every side seeks to claim, or discredit, your cause.

Together, we discuss Xinjiang, Palestine, the silence of many Muslim governments, nationalism, the Ummah, and why standing for one oppressed people should never require abandoning another.

JOIN OUR WEBSITE MEMBERSHIP! @ https://ansaripodcast.com

The Debt Clinic: https://www.mydebtclinic.com/ansari
Provision Capital: https://www.provisioncapital.com

00:00 Fleeing Xinjiang to Becoming Uyghur Activist
09:53 Ad
11:26 Why is China going after the Uyghur People?
12:17 Separation or Peace Treaty with China?
18:40 Why the Separatist Movement?
32:38 His Visit to and Connections to Israel
47:40 Ad
48:31 Where Do We Focus Gaza or Xinjiang?
55:41 Loving Your Country vs Worshipping It
01:01:15 What it Means to Stand for the Truth
01:14:17 Is Bringing Islam to the Chinese the Solution?
01:19:56 How the Uyghur Became Muslim/The story of how islam went to East Turkestan
01:25:34 Final Thoughts

#uyghur #china #palestine #israel #Xinjiang #EastTurkistan

Listen on All Audio Platforms: https://tr.ee/JeX-ILYSyj

Follow The Ansari Podcast
Instagram: https://instagram.com/ansaripodcast
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theansaripodcast
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ansaripodcast

In this episode, we are joined by a leading businesswoman and marketer Sarah Su who has worked with some of the world's biggest companies to exploring the unexpected journey that led her to Islam. Together, we discuss growing up in an atheist culture, the search for meaning beyond professional success, life as a Muslim in China, and how Islam challenged everything she thought she knew about purpose, identity, and healing. After achieving the career so many aspire to, she discovered that success alone couldn't answer life's deepest questions.

What happens when, instead of searching for Islam, it feels like Islam finds you?

JOIN OUR WEBSITE MEMBERSHIP! @ https://ansaripodcast.com

The Debt Clinic: https://www.mydebtclinic.com/ansari
Provision Capital: https://www.provisioncapital.com

00:00 Sarah’s Convert Story
05:07 Growing Up in an Atheist Culture
09:12 Ad
10:44 Why Choose Islam and not Chinese Religions?
13:09 Entering a Masjid For the First Time
19:11 Islam's Effect on Feminine Energy
23:16 Does Islam Oppress Women?
28:12 Life After Conversion
30:24 Ad
31:17 Islam in China Past Present and Future
44:46 Finding Spiritual Healing in Islam
51:12 Speed Round Questions
55:54 Final Thoughts
56:58 Outro

#china #revertstory #convertstory #islam #muslim

Listen on All Audio Platforms: https://tr.ee/JeX-ILYSyj

Follow The Ansari Podcast
Instagram: https://instagram.com/ansaripodcast
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theansaripodcast
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ansaripodcast

Why do so many Muslims feel intellectually insecure today?

In this episode, we are joined again by Ustadh Saad Yacoob to explore how the history of debate in the Muslim world, from the influence of Aristotle to the impact of colonialism, has shaped the way Muslims think, argue, and understand their faith today.
Together, we discuss righteousness, justice, revelation, the thought of Muhammad Iqbal, and why the modern culture of debate may reveal a deeper crisis: many Muslims have come to defend Islam on someone else's terms rather than their own.

Has modern debate brought Muslims closer to the truth? … or further away from it?

JOIN OUR WEBSITE MEMBERSHIP! @ https://ansaripodcast.com

The Debt Clinic: https://www.mydebtclinic.com/ansari
Provision Capital: https://www.provisioncapital.com

00:00 Intro
00:44 The History of Muslim Debates
05:44 Ad
07:15 Importance of Aristotle in Muslim Debates
14:07 Why are Modern Debates So Bad?
31:36 Ad
32:28 The Source of Muslim Insecurities
38:46 European Insecurities
41:12 The Struggles of Muslims in Recent History
46:00 Muhammad Iqbal’s Thought
57:10 What is the Point of Revelation?
01:00:44 What are We Doing With the World?
01:03:07 What Makes Islam Different that Every Other Religion
01:10:57 How to Raise a Generation of Muslims that aren’t Insecure?
01:14:54 Mamdani’s Significant Role
01:23:49 23. Does the Future of the Ummah Include Shia?
01:29:07 Final Thoughts
01:29:52 Outro

#debate #history #dawah #philosophy #civilization

Listen on All Audio Platforms: https://tr.ee/JeX-ILYSyj

Follow The Ansari Podcast
Instagram: https://instagram.com/ansaripodcast
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theansaripodcast
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ansaripodcast