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From Bacon To Biryani, Allah guided me !!! PODCAST: Inspiring story of John Gatt a self confessed former far-right adherent and islamophobe speaks about his journey to Islam. He hated Muslims but loved biryani, a typical geezer that went on holiday to Dubai, a skinhead whose dad is a west ham fan now tells all in green street!!!!
Said Nursi (1877–1960), often known as Bediüzzaman—“the wonder of the age”—remains one of the most influential Islamic thinkers of the 20th century. Born in the village of Nurs in eastern Anatolia, Nursi lived during a period of immense political and social upheaval: the final years of the Ottoman Empire, the establishment of the Turkish Republic, and the dramatic secular reforms that followed. Through it all, he dedicated his life to demonstrating how faith and reason, religion and science, can reinforce rather than contradict one another.
A Life of Intellectual Resolve
Nursi’s early years were marked by extraordinary intellectual ability. By his teens, he had mastered multiple Islamic sciences, garnered recognition from established scholars, and developed a passionate commitment to social and spiritual renewal. Unlike many traditional scholars of his time, Nursi was intensely interested in the modern world—its scientific discoveries, philosophical trends, and political transformations.
He believed that Muslims needed an education system that integrated religious knowledge with modern scientific learning. His dream was the establishment of a university in eastern Anatolia—Medresetü’z-Zehra—that would bring together three strands of knowledge: religious sciences, natural sciences, and moral education.
The Risale-i Nur: A Movement of Ideas
Nursi’s most enduring legacy is the Risale-i Nur Collection, a vast body of Qur’anic commentary written during years of exile, imprisonment, and surveillance under early Republican authorities. Rather than writing in classical scholarly style, Nursi crafted accessible, spiritually uplifting works that spoke directly to ordinary readers.
The Risale-i Nur emphasizes:
These writings spread quietly across Turkey through handwritten copies, eventually giving rise to the Nur movement, a community devoted to education, spirituality, and social ethics.
Faith in a Secular Age
Said Nursi lived through a time when expressing religious devotion in public life became politically fraught. Yet he remained steadfast in his principle of non-violence and insisted on working through peaceful persuasion and example. For Nursi, the ultimate struggle was not political but spiritual—helping individuals strengthen their belief, refine their character, and cultivate trust in God.
His insistence on responding to oppression with patience, sincerity, and moral courage has made him an enduring symbol of spiritual integrity.
Why His Message Still Resonates
In an era marked by polarization, mistrust, and confusion, Nursi’s voice feels surprisingly contemporary. He invites readers to:
The global reach of the Risale-i Nur today—from Turkey to Southeast Asia, Europe, and beyond—reflects the timelessness of his message.
Said Nursi was more than a scholar; he was a bridge between worlds—between tradition and modernity, reason and revelation, intellect and heart. His writings continue to guide millions seeking clarity, purpose, and a spiritually grounded approach to modern life.
Losing a parent is one of the most profound and heart-wrenching experiences a person can face. In Islam, the bond between a child and their parents is sacred and deeply honored. When that bond is broken by death, the pain can feel overwhelming. Yet, our faith provides us with guidance, compassion, and ways to find peace amidst the sorrow.
Grief is a natural part of being human. Even the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ shed tears upon losing his loved ones, showing that sadness does not contradict faith. What matters most is how we navigate that grief. Islam encourages believers to express their pain but to remain patient and trust in Allah’s divine wisdom. Every soul belongs to Allah, and to Him we all return. This understanding is meant to comfort the heart, reminding us that death is not an end but a transition to the eternal life.
One of the most healing reminders is that our connection with our parents does not end with their passing. The Prophet ﷺ taught that when a person dies, their deeds come to an end except for three — ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, and a righteous child who prays for them. Through dua, we can continue to honor and benefit our parents even after they have left this world. Making dua for their forgiveness, giving charity on their behalf, and continuing the good they started are all acts of love that keep their legacy alive.
It’s also important to give yourself permission to grieve. Islam does not demand emotional suppression. It asks for patience — sabr — which is not the absence of emotion, but the choice to hold on to faith despite the pain. Surround yourself with supportive people, seek comfort in prayer, and spend time in remembrance of Allah. Reading the Qur’an, especially verses that speak of mercy and reunion in the Hereafter, can bring immense comfort to a grieving heart.
Remember that the pain of loss is a sign of love. The more we loved our parents, the deeper the ache we feel when they are gone. But Allah’s mercy is greater than any loss. He promises that those who are patient in the face of trials will receive His blessings and reward beyond measure. Holding on to this hope can transform grief into a source of closeness to Allah.
As time passes, the sharpness of the pain may fade, but the love and memories remain. Continue to make dua, give charity, and live in a way that would make your parents proud. In doing so, you keep their light shining in your life and prepare for the moment when, by Allah’s mercy, you will be reunited in the eternal gardens of peace.
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Raised Catholic. The media made him an islamophobe at 16. Studying Islam and its history to dismantle it led him to embracing it instead. Now Pablo is studying Islamic history to dismantle the lies we’ve been fed about Islam, the Muslim Golden Age, and the legacy of civilizations like Al-Andalus. And he’s on a mission to share lessons from the past that the Ummah needs today — and you will be shocked by what he reveals.In this powerful episode, we uncover the truth the West wants you to forget — and why it matters more than ever.
When everyone said “me, me,” the Prophet ﷺ said “my ummah, my ummah.” He cried for his followers and made du‘a for people he never met — including you. The Prophet ﷺ taught us that when you pray for others, angels reply: “Ameen, and for you the same.”
So expand your du‘a. Pray for the ummah, for the oppressed, for those who’ll never know your name.
When you pray beyond yourself, Allah expands your heart.
Watch till the end to learn how the Prophet ﷺ’s example can transform your du’a.
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Join MintPress director Mnar Adley as she embarks on walking through the city of Hebron, where her family originates from. Known to Palestinians as the city of al-Khalil, Hebron is the largest and most populated Palestinian city in the West Bank. Dubbed by Israel as 'Hebron Smart City' -- this is where Israel tests its Draconian surveillance technology on the Palestinian population as part of what is called the Wolfpack surveillance system.
Mnar Adley takes us along her journey as she crosses through the most heavily armed and surveilled checkpoints in the world where Israel has set up an automated apartheid system to track Palestinian movement. Adley is joined by Palestinian activist Izzat Karake from Youth Against Settlements who chronicles the struggle against settler colonialism where armed Jewish settlers supported by Israeli soldiers are trying to take over the city to Judaize the quarter.
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In this powerful segment from The Tea with Myriam François, author and journalist Fatima Bhutto calls out the hypocrisy of Western feminism — a movement that once claimed moral authority, now silent as Palestinian women suffer. From the weaponisation of feminist discourse to the systematic erasure of Palestinian voices, Bhutto exposes how “girlboss” capitalism and selective outrage have hollowed out the feminist project.
Habeeb Akande joins BITC to talk misyar, secret wives, polygamy, passport wives, sex negative culture, and the nafs.
We unpack how some men cherry pick fiqh to justify secrecy, how praiseworthy aims differ from loophole hunting, and what real justice and consent look like in practice.
We also ask the question, have Muslims adopted a Christian style suspicion of pleasure and projected it onto Islam. Habeeb speaks from classical learning and lived research, Maliki fiqh, usul, erotology, African and Muslim cultures.
We cover consent, maintenance, time rotation, publicity, and the harm rule, then end with a practical justice audit couples can use today.
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