I spoke with Mohammed Faris, one of the world's leading faith-based productivity experts, about what it actually means to be productive, achieving sincerity, the tyranny of clocks and watches, the restoration of the lunar calendar, overcoming regrets, remembering death... and a little about the future of this podcast!
Mohammed is founder of The Productive Muslim Company - a faith-based training and coaching company with over a million followers online - and the author of best-selling books “The Productive Muslim: Where Faith Meets Productivity” and "The Barakah Effect: More With Less".
He has delivered seminars and workshops in over 15 countries, featured on international media as well as the TEDx stage, and spoken at organisations such as Google, American Airlines, Salesforce, Accenture and the Islamic Development Bank Group.
Check out Productive Muslim: https://productivemuslim.com
Follow Mohammed: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammedfaris/
(0:00) What is productivity?
(2:30) Diverse experiences of productivity
(7:05) Challenges of universalising language
(17:53) How to know if you're productive
(23:09) How to assess & increase sincerity
(28:56) Letting go of outcomes
(36:12) Doing what you love
(40:53) Tyranny of the mechanical clock
(52:58) Intentions & resolutions
(56:33) Restoring the lunar calendar
(1:08:57) Rethinking business productivity
(1:13:40) Helping people to write books
(1:16:13) Overcoming regrets
(1:19:56) Remembering death
(1:25:49) What makes a podcast productive?
I spoke to one of the world's leading authorities on the biography of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, about why war persists, the prophetic approach to conflict and diplomacy, the challenge of historical objectivity and methods of contextualising prophetic practice.
Part 2 of this conversation will focus on contemporary questions that pertain to restraint, proportionality and accountability in an age of increasingly powerful and sophisticated weapons.
Prof Joel Hayward is Dean of the Sycamore Leadership Academy. He is the author or editor of 18 books and major monographs and over forty peer-reviewed articles, mainly in the fields of strategic studies, military history and the ethics of war and conflict.
Hayward has given strategic advice to political and military leaders in several countries, and was tutor Prince William. In 2011 he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and in 2012 as a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. In 2016 he was named as the “Best Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences” at the Middle East Education Leadership Awards.
Visit Prof Joel's website: https://joelhayward.org
Follow Prof Joel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professor-joel-hayward-2aa2248/
(0:00) Joel’s interest in warfare
(4:23) Is war inevitable?
(8:29) The nature of prophetic conflict
(21:02) Understanding prophetic raids
(33:18) Prophetic wisdom and clemency
(43:50) Are humans good or bad?
(54:16) Reconstructing historical incidents
(1:09:55) Contextualising prophetic example
🔽 DOWNLOAD a PDF summary of the key points of this conversation here: https://www.abrahamicrestoration.school/neovscovdownload
I hosted Mohammed Nizami once again for a detailed compare-and-contrast of the neoliberal status quo with the Abrahamic covenantal vision. It's a whistle-stop tour through the various spheres of life, showing not just how unnatural and destructive modernity has become, but also what a wholesome and prosperous alternative lies ahead... if only we would rise to the occasion.
In case you missed it, watch my first conversation with Mohammed here: https://youtu.be/DOmkMv4WKKY
Mohammed Nizami is founder of the New School for Abrahamic Restoration. The aim of the New School is to revive a way of life rooted in God’s law, aligned with the created order, and capable of renewing both soul and society.
Mohammed has completed a range of undergraduate and postgraduate studies at Al-Azhar, LSE, UCL and Warwick. He has expertise and experience in the fields of theology, covenantal law, politics, education and business administration.
Find out more: https://www.abrahamicrestoration.school
Follow on Telegram: https://t.me/shmnizami
(0:00) Taking a holistic approach
(4:31) The neoliberal order
(11:38) Nuanced reasoning
(15:47) Source of authority
(19:13) Human nature & meaning of life
(20:20) Freedom & moral grounding
(22:08) Economic philosophy
(27:32) Political philosophy
(41:50) Anthropology & psychology
(50:10) Education & character
(58:46) Environment & globalisation
(1:04:45) Definition of success
(1:10:57) Depth & continuity of revelation
(1:24:24) Dysfunction & hypocrisy
(1:29:18) What you should do next
(1:37:51) Relating to God properly
I've never been a fan of MyTenNights (MTN), the charity platform that has facilitated over $100m of donations by offering timed contributions on the Night of Decree (laylatul-qadr) in the month of Ramadan. Now it seems that the person who founded it, Ismael Dainehine, isn't too much of a fan of what he built either!
We spoke about his recent and very significant turning point in how he understands the purpose and contemporary reality of charitable activities, and also how the absence of a sound monetary system undermines the possibility of the very outcomes that aid is intended to achieve.
Now Ismael's focus is fully on EverGive, a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve for social impact. I challenged him on various aspects of the existing operational model and we discussed what the future might hold for this new offering.
Check out EverGive: https://www.evergive.com
Ismael's latest thought piece: https://www.evergive.com/blog/when-money-loses-its-soul-society-rots-from-within
Follow Ismael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ismael-dainehine-668776a7/
(0:00) Headline proposition
(0:27) In what way is charity broken?
(15:39) More on sustainability
(19:30) Addressing the root problem
(34:38) Is MyTenNights shutting down?
(51:09) How does EverGive work?
(57:23) Why a Bitcoin-based endowment?
(1:05:45) End-to-end Bitcoin aid
(1:13:02) Onboarding charities
(1:15:17) Spiritual & economic liberation
(1:17:25) How Ismael spends his time
(1:21:21) A more universal approach
(1:23:29) Life lessons & reflections
In this conversation, I explore another perspective on the potential future of Bitcoin as sound money, this time with Harris Irfan, a veteran of the Islamic finance industry.
We discussed some of the common arguments against Bitcoin as a possible medium of exchange as well as what the transition to a Bitcoin-based world might actually look like.
Harris is the CEO of Cordoba Capital Markets and advisor to Onramp MENA. He is former co-founder of Deutsche Bank Islamic Finance. He has three decades of professional experience in London and the Middle East, specialising in Islamic finance and fintech.
He is also author of the critically acclaimed best-seller, "Heaven's Bankers: Inside the Hidden World of Islamic Finance". He is Chairman of the UK Islamic FinTech Panel, and has been ranked in the Top 100 BAME Leaders in UK Tech by the Financial Times.
Follow Harris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrisirfan/
(0:00) Trailer
(1:25) Getting orange-pilled
(7:43) Is Bitcoin too concentrated?
(9:42) Separating money from state
(12:17) Is Bitcoin *real* enough?
(20:01) Dedollarisation will happen
(25:18) Faith and low time preference
(31:27) Educate and buy it yourself
(37:55) Goods, services and charity
(40:56) What about inheritance?
(43:20) Grassroots campaigns needed
(56:25) Who are the villains?
(1:00:28) Having universal concern
(1:07:29) What Harris is working on
(1:13:50) Becoming excellent
(1:15:38) Personal reflections
If you're thinking about the price of Bitcoin in terms of dollars or pounds... you're missing the point. The real power of Bitcoin, says investment expert Muhammed Yesilhark, lies in its intrinsic properties that make it a form of digital gold, i.e. a form of sound money that can protect your savings, help you win back your time and lead to more peaceful, prosperous and purposeful societies. If all this sounds too good to be true... well this conversation is for you.
Muhammed is Chief Investment Officer at Noia Capital, Board Member at Dubai Chambers and Co-founder & President at EverGive. He combines years of experience at the highest level of the investment management industry with a proactive approach to philanthropy and a faithful concern for the future of humanity, which he believes will depend in large part on the reestablishment of sound money.
Follow Muhammed: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muhammed-yesilhark-b089996/
(0:00) Trailer
(1:19) Getting introduced to Bitcoin
(10:11) The fiat system is illogical
(19:52) Why Bitcoin is revolutionary
(28:15) Sound money characteristics
(48:24) Fixing the incentive structure
(58:20) Is there a risk of hoarding?
(1:06:48) Less conflict, less crime
(1:12:06) Separating money from state
(1:16:03) Transition has already begun
(1:25:59) Central bank adoption
(1:32:40) How to buy Bitcoin
(1:35:27) Two effects of AI
(1:39:55) Advice for Iqbal
(1:45:41) Closing remarks
I sat down with the wonderful Tarek El Diwany after the recent publication of the 4th Edition of his hugely influential book: The Problem With Interest.
We revisited some familiar themes of his work - namely the great harms of interest-based economies and the ills of fiat money creation - as well as his views on Bitcoin as a form of sound money. Tarek also shared his thoughts on whether there is any hope of saving ourselves from the sinking ship in which we all find ourselves.
At Tarek's request, this is an audio only episode.
See Tarek's website: https://theproblemwithinterest.com
(0:00) Introduction
(3:31) Conceptual frameworks
(6:31) What is the problem with interest?
(11:10) Hasn't capitalism reduced poverty?
(24:50) Our broken monetary system
(30:42) If Tarek were Chancellor...
(41:01) Would a mass transition be painful?
(44:01) The power of vested interests
(49:24) Is Bitcoin the solution?
(59:06) Possibilities in the meantime
(1:08:01) Truth will win
Alcohol consumption has been rapidly declining in Britain, but the full benefits of this trend are yet to be fully understood and unlocked.
To discuss what's been happening and what the future could look like, I spoke to the highly experienced Dr Jennifer Eggert, Director of Policy and Research at Equi, about the think tank's new report entitled: "A Teetotal Britain? Learning from Faith Communities."
Equi is a new, dynamic, faith-based think tank committed to producing ethically-driven research and policy recommendations on issues affecting the UK.
Follow Jennifer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-philippa-eggert-6639a553/
Read the full report: https://equi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/08-Equi-Report-Teetotal-Britain.pdf
Discover Equi: https://equi.org.uk
(0:00) Trailer
(1:31) Introducing Equi's work
(8:31) Why discuss this topic?
(17:10) Calculating cost & data issues
(32:15) Why the fall in consumption?
(35:22) Reimagining nightlife
(51:50) Changing workplace trends
(53:49) Better use of cultural spaces
(57:51) How research impacts policy
(1:07:10) Equi's future
(1:11:15) Jennifer's journey
(1:16:01) Career advice
(1:22:43) Concluding remarks
One of my central convictions and most contrarian ideas is that the ways in which we use the terms "Islam" and "Muslim" - not to mention their various transliterated derivatives such as "Islamic" and "non-Muslim" - are inauthentic, inaccurate, misleading and divisive.
The identity and strategy of what is supposed to be a deeply faithful and universally impactful community has instead become irrelevant, redundant and insular, in large part because of the misunderstanding and misuse of these foundational terms.
I realise that these are significant claims with massive potential consequences for the way believers understand, organise and represent themselves.
But, based on my learning and experiences over the last decade in particular, I have come to see them as almost indisputable. I only say 'almost' because I always try to keep an open mind, no matter the level of my conviction. So I welcome critical responses, as long as they're shared... in good faith.
With thanks to my highly capable guest host Ali Siddiqui, this episode is a thorough exploration of the above ideas. There is always a lot more to say, which will perhaps follow in due course, if God wills. But if you can't wait...
- for a detailed exploration of all 72 nominal and verbal references to the root "aslama / yuslimu" found in revelation, see here: https://www.iqbalnasim.com/products/club-revelation/categories/2152673277
- for a related article, see here: https://www.iqbalnasim.com/blog/the-problem-with-islam-and-muslims
- read The Meaning and End of Religion: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meaning-Religion-Wilfred-Cantwell-Smith/dp/0800624750
(0:00) Trailer
(1:07) Review of In Good Faith so far
(7:02) Isn't it too late for change?
(16:03) Transcending "us and them"
(24:10) The tyranny of doctrine
(30:17) Tackling our shared challenges
(42:32) Universal values & universal concern
(51:12) Being deeply in our context
(1:17:20) Reconciling revelation with reality
(1:34:30) Practical ideas for a better future
(1:45:11) The importance of courage
Jehangir Malik OBE is Interim Director of the Asylum Reform Initiative, the alliance behind the Together With Refugees campaign coalition. He has over 30 years of leadership experience in local and national civil society institutions, notably having run both Muslim Aid and Islamic Relief UK, two of the country's most well-established, faith-based humanitarian organisations.
I very much enjoyed Jehangir's well-informed and no-nonsense assessment of topical issues - immigration, political division and the kind of introspection needed by Muslims - as well as his practical advice and solutions for these difficult times.
Follow Jehangir: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jehangir-malik-obe-015a292a/
Also: https://togetherwithrefugees.org.uk
Check out the Himmah project from (51:49): https://himmah.org
(0:00) Trailer
(1:21) Civil society response to populism
(7:35) Immigration and integration
(14:51) Sensible immigration policy
(21:37) Taking the heat out of dialogue
(27:59) Growing anti-Muslim narrative
(33:29) Is there a Muslim attitude problem?
(51:49) Case study: Himmah in Nottingham
(55:55) Muslim national-level dysfunction
(1:02:55) Start being of service to all
(1:07:15) A reflection on Quran 41:34-36
(1:11:19) Concluding thoughts
Could the solution to the woes of modernity lie in an ancient story that Jews, Christians and Muslims have largely forgotten, and of which others may be completely unaware?
That’s the view of my guest Mohammed Nizami, founder of the New School for Abrahamic Restoration. The aim of the New School is to revive a way of life rooted in God’s law, aligned with the created order, and capable of renewing both soul and society.
Mohammed has completed a range of undergraduate and postgraduate studies at Al-Azhar, LSE, UCL and Warwick. He has expertise and experience in the fields of theology, covenantal law, politics, education and business administration.
Find out more: https://www.abrahamicrestoration.school
Follow on Telegram: https://t.me/shmnizami
(0:00) Trailer
(1:30) Setting the scene
(3:45) Who is God?
(15:04) Restoring order on earth
(24:25) Abrahamic tradition & legacy
(45:15) Message to Jews & Christians
(1:06:16) The universal proposition
(1:18:52) A coherent approach today
(1:36:17) What the future holds
Technological developments are reshaping our environments - and therefore our minds and souls - at an alarming rate. In this chat, Fahad Tasleem wonderfully makes the case for why a return to natural beauty is vital to preserve our connection with the divine.
This conversation was originally intended to be a private one for Fahad Tasleem and I to get to know each other for the very first time. He kindly allowed it to be recorded, and afterwards we both agreed it was interesting enough to be released into the public domain as an In Good Faith episode!
Fahad is a research fellow and instructor at The Sapience Institute, where his research focuses on Islamic Theo-Philosophy & Spirituality. He is the author of the book, "No Doubt: Finding Certainty in an Age of Uncertainty". He is also at the tail end of his PhD in Islamic Thought.
Fahad's channel: @FahadTasleemOfficial
Follow Fahad: https://www.instagram.com/fahadtasleem/
Find out more: https://www.fahadtasleem.com
(0:00) Being proactive and universal
(8:20) Othering and dehumanisation
(14:49) Engaging with empathy
(27:46) How colour influences us
(34:04) How natural beauty affects us
(41:45) Different types of perception
(50:41) Connecting sound and meaning
(58:16) How natural beauty points to God
(1:03:19) Appreciating beauty is the default
(1:11:50) Salvation and legal categories
(1:16:51) How technology erodes our souls
(1:32:51) Reflecting on Quran 35 : 27-28
(1:38:24) Concluding remarks
Why are we in a meaning crisis when we are constantly surrounded by sources of meaning? To help us understand this issue more deeply I spoke with Dr Tubanur Yesilhark, Head of Operations at the International Foundation for Muslim Theology (IFMT). The main goal of the IFMT is to bring God-talk back into the centre of day-to-day life. The most recent project of the IFMT on Divine Revelation and Communication was funded by the John Templeton Foundation.
Dr Tubanur's completed her PhD at Durham University, UK. Her thesis - A Muslim Response to Evil: Said Nursi on the Theodicy" - was published by Routledge in 2018.
Follow Dr Tubanur: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tubanur-yesilhark-ozkan/
Check out IFMT: https://ifmt.co.uk
(0:00) Trailer
(0:44) The meaning crisis
(3:24) A world without humans
(6:43) Our unique purpose
(13:20) The levels of meaning
(19:44) Surrounded by signs
(25:00) Advice to parents
(29:47) Divine names: an example
(34:59) How to sustain deep connection
(45:32) How intention transforms action
(59:18) From multiplicity to unity
(1:10:01) Levels of paradise
(1:12:50) About the IFMT
(1:23:40) Future plans and conclusion
In the most open, heartfelt and vulnerable conversation of In Good Faith thus far, Salman Hasan shares his personal story of how he suffered from feelings of hypocrisy and unworthiness for years before finally finding a way to confront them in a hugely transformative manner. There's something here for anyone struggling with - but still seeking - a deep connection with the divine.
Salman is Chief Legal Officer & Co-founder at Pfida, a fintech company with a mission to provide everyone with equal and fair opportunities to save, invest and ultimately own a home without interest and debt. He is a qualified solicitor and scholar with over 20 years of legal and Islamic finance experience.
Follow Salman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/badrulhasan/
Check out the spiritual development network from which Salman has benefited: https://propheticpath.co.uk
Check out Pfida: https://www.pfida.com
(0:00) Trailer
(0:50) How me first met
(2:10) The need to have a mentor
(4:11) Background and realisation
(9:59) Declaring the need for help
(15:53) The divine-human connection
(23:22) Beyond the transactional
(33:54) Revelation as a mirror
(41:04) Receiving direct insight
(49:15) Dreams and synchronicity
(53:37) Reflecting divine qualities
(59:39) The possibility of self-deception
(1:04:54) The qualities of a mentor
(1:14:02) Taking a universal approach
(1:29:51) Concluding reflections
Dr William Barylo is a sociologist and visual artist using pictures and film to explore social issues from a decolonial and restorative perspective. He looks at how grassroots initiatives in Europe and North America navigate societal challenges. We sat down to discuss his latest publication: British Muslims in the Neoliberal Empire: Resisting, Healing, and Flourishing in the Metacolonial Era.
Dr William's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UC1KQMrAkTXCx0oGPWppZKVg
Website: https://williambarylo.com
Get hold of the book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/British-Muslims-Neoliberal-Empire-Metacolonial-ebook/dp/B0F1NCFJVH/
(0:00) Trailer
(0:57) What is neoliberalism?
(6:09) How to survive the system
(13:27) Harms vs benefits
(23:44) What is metacolonialism?
(34:36) Breaking the cycle
(42:28) The importance of faith
(1:02:36) Reimagining ummah
(1:15:01) Representation... so what?
(1:17:39) Remaining hopeful and active
(1:25:08) Conclusion
Dr Ali-Reza Bhojani is Assistant Professor in Islamic Ethics at the University of Birmingham, where he has been based since 2021. He has held previous academic posts at the Al-Mahdi Institute, the University of Nottingham, the University of Oxford, and the Markfield Institute for Education. He completed his PhD at the University of Durham and his thesis was published as Moral Rationalism and Sharia (Routledge, 2015).
I found our conversation - which centred on the ethics of Artificial Intelligence - refreshing and illuminating. Aside from the opportunities and threats of current technological trends, we touched on the role of moral rationalism in the formation of law as well as the future of Muslim scholarship in the UK.
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Follow Ali-Reza: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-reza-bhojani-1b612272/
Check out Al-Mahdi Institute: https://www.almahdi.edu
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(0:00) Trailer
(0:45) Our previous meetings
(2:10) The vast range of AI issues
(7:02) How faith informs an ethical approach
(17:51) Should AI development stop?
(24:33) Where do we place value?
(33:40) Aiming for prosperity in this life
(42:08) The human cost of automation
(54:02) How LLMs can erode truth
(1:05:47) An example based on Ali's PhD
(1:09:15) Guidance for students
(1:11:30) How moral rationalism gets sidelined
(1:22:10) Being open to learning from others
(1:27:10) The nature and future of scholarship
(1:41:40) How people can support scholars
In Part 2 of my conversation with Hamza Tzortzis, he speaks for the first time publicly about his recently submitted PhD thesis: A Theo-Philosophical Assessment of al-Iʿjāz al-ʿIlmī and the Multiplicity of Readings Approach.
Using so-called scientific miracles to prove the divine origin of revelation has been an extremely popular way of bolstering the faith of existing believers, as well as encouraging others to believe. But does this approach make sense? Watch to find out!
(0:00) Trailer
(0:52) Why the PhD topic was chosen
(4:47) Epistemic goal as priority
(7:43) Embryology example
(10:27) Are there any scientific miracles?
(17:43) Probability and transient science
(26:04) The multiplicity of readings approach
(33:19) The benefit of instrumentalism
(36:09) Backbone and ribs example
(40:41) The real miracle of the Quran
In this first episode of a two-part conversation with the prolific and well-renowned Hamza Tzortzis, I got to pick his brains about the Quran. How should people approach and understand it today? How can and should it be contextualised? How do we separate between the universal and the particular?
Part 2 will focus entirely on his recently submitted PhD, entitled "A Theo-Philosophical Assessment of al-Iʿjāz al-ʿIlmī and the Multiplicity of Readings Approach."
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Hamza is the founder and CEO of Sapience Institute. He is the author of the best-selling book: “The Divine Reality: God, Islam and The Mirage of Atheism”, which has been translated into over 10 languages. He has an MRes, MA and a PgCert in Philosophy from the University of London. He has studied Islamic Thought and Theology with a wide range of scholars.
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Follow Sapience Institute: @SapienceInstitute
Follow Hamza: @HamzaTzortzisOfficial
Hamza's website: https://www.hamzatzortzis.com
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(0:00) Trailer
(1:12) About Hamza's PhD
(2:41) How to introduce someone to the Quran
(15:52) Should we read in order or at random?
(26:41) The importance of living the Quran
(32:31) How to frame guidance for people today
(46:42) Paying attention to our worldview
(54:28) How to contextualise the Quran
(1:11:45) Case study: inheritance
(1:21:11) Case study: zakat threshold (nisab)
(1:35:56) Balancing realities and ideals
In this episode, Taimur Abdaal is back to quiz me about what it means to lead a truly authentic, God-centred life, especially in the context of work. For most of us, work occupies the bulk of our time, attention and energy. Unfortunately, for many of us, it also often ends up being unfulfilling and misaligned with our deepest values and our overall worldview. Can this tension be resolved in a way that is sustainable? I believe so... and this conversation will help show you how.
(0:00) Do we each have an authentic self?
(3:41) Seeing money and time in perspective
(10:04) Deciding what you don't want
(18:03) Assessing your real intentions
(23:27) Start adding value
(26:39) How do we know what God wants?
(32:27) Various possible outcomes
(38:11) My priorities vs the world's needs
(44:23) Using the Ikigai framework
(51:12) Case studies
(55:28) Tuning your own antenna
(59:17) Macro priorities today
Surkheel Sharif, aka Abu Aaliyah, founded and has been the director of the Jawziyyah Institute since 1999: a non-profit organisation dedicated to cultivating an Islam true to its time-honoured tradition, relevant to its current context, and of benefit to wider society.
He has authored the following works: More Fish Please & the Earth’s Complaint (2011), Fussing Over the 15th of Sha’ban & the Golden Rule of Differing (2011) and, most recently, A Muslim’s Guide to Modernity (2025). He has also translated a few texts from Arabic to English, notably The Exquisite Pearl (2000). He gained an MA in Islamic Studies from Birkbeck College, University of London, in 2009.
Find our more: https://thehumblei.com
Buy A Muslim's Guide to Modernity: https://turath.co.uk/products/a-muslims-guide-to-modernity
Article referenced at 1:04:35: https://thehumblei.com/2019/10/27/women-mosques-misogyny-to-misrepresentation/
(0:00) Trailer
(1:12) The meaning of Surkheel
(4:47) Early life and education
(16:27) Evolving community concerns
(29:53) How our attitude needs to change
(36:34) An assessment of the status quo
(48:44) The failures and future of scholarship
(59:55) Integrating macro and micro factors
(1:11:52) The need for imagination and conversation
(1:22:01) A vision for faith in Britain
(1:27:11) Future publications and final thoughts