Diffused Congruence: The American Muslim Experience
This podcast highlights unique and interesting personalities from within and beyond the Muslim community. Hosts Parvez Ahmed and Omar Ansari engage guests in illuminating and invigorating conversations about a variety of subjects. The show explores the American Muslim experience through diverse perspectives and thought-provoking dialogue.
Episodes
Episode 161: The Nation of Islam, the Legacy of Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, and Islam in the Bay with Imam Faheem Shuiabe Part 2
For our first episode of 2026 we present Part 2 of our conversation with Imam Imam Fahim Shoaib which picks up where we left off at the end of Part 1. The conversation focuses on the Nation of Islam in the early 70s, exploring the community dynamics, the significance of resurrection in their theology, the influence of Malcolm X and the media's portrayal of the Nation, as well as the role of mytho
Episode 160: The Nation of Islam, the Legacy of Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, and Islam in the Bay with Imam Faheem Shuiabe Part 1
Another huge bucket list item for the show, we delve into the life and legacy of Imam Faheem Shuaibe, a prominent figure in the American Muslim community and heir to the life and legacy of Imam Warith Deen Muhammed(ra). The riveting conversation follows Imam Faheem's life and journey to Islam which in turn beautifully serves as the vehicle to explore the often overlooked years (1965-1975) of the N
Episode 159: Exploring Online Ecosystems and Subcultures with Sana Saeed
Omar and Parvez welcome back Sana Saeed to discuss the intersection of social media, politics, and the Muslim community. They explore the Mamdani campaign as a case study in Islamophobia, the evolution of online communities, and the impact of online and social merdia cultures on Muslim youth. The conversation delves into generational differences in online consumption and the challenges confronting
Episode 158: Insights into Chaplaincy and Civic Leadership with Imam Khalid Latif
This episode was another opportunity to check off a bucket list for the podcast as we were honored to sit with Imam Khalid Latif. Some unchartered territory for the show as co-host Omar Ansari was unable to make the recording but Parvez was able to find a last minute Associate co-host to fill in!
We had the chance to discuss Imam Khalid's life and the experiences that shaped him, the challenges an
Episode 157: David Coolidge Returns to Discuss His Study of Hinduism
Parvez and Omar finally return after the longest hiatus in the show's history! They bring us up to speed with all the going-ons in their lives from new jobs, moves, kids graduating to new kids being born!
As the show returns so does the show's guest! David Coolidge returns to discuss his groundbreaking new book, Hindu Bhakti Through Muslim Eyes. The book places the Caitanya Vaiṣṇava tradition—de
Episode 156: Understanding the Challenges Young Muslims Face in High School with Mental Health Clinician Ali Bishop
Parvez and Omar kick-off 2025 by finally dedicating an entire episode to a recurring and perennial conversation on the podcast: parenting challenges in today's climate. To help navigate this conversation, they are joined by Ali Bishop, an experienced mental health professional who works as a Mental Health Clinician at a local Bay Area public high school. Topics include the general challenges facin
Episode 155: Syrian-American Perspectives on the Syrian Revolution, Overthrowing Assad, and the Future of the Region
To close out 2024 Parvez and Omar are joined by two Syrian-American guests to share their perspectives on the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, the potential implications and challenges facing post-Assad Syria, and how the Syrian-American community is responding to these events.
Along the way the show's guests candidly (and humorously!) discuss their experiences growing up as children of Syria
Episode 154: Election 2024 and the Muslim Vote with Zahra Billoo
Mere days aways from Election Day 2024, Parvez and Omar are rejoined by Civil Rights Attorney and Activist Zahra Billoo to discuss the Muslim vote and the 2024 Presidential Election. Are Muslims simply approaching who to vote for with the "lesser of two evils" calculus? Is there a long game and what are the short term consequences of playing the long game? All this and more for the show's special
Episode 153: Instilling Righteous Masculinity in Today's Young Men and the Al Qawwamun Retreat with Imam Jihad Mustafa
After a bit of a hiatus due to busy schedules, Parvez and Omar are honored to be joined by Imam Jihad Mustafa, Founder of the Qawwamun Retreat. This was a wide-ranging conversation with Imam Jihad discussing how socially conscious Hip-hop brought him to Islam, how today's Zeitgest and pop culture has engendered a crisis of defining and exemplifying masculinity to young men, and how the Qawwamun Re
Episode 152: Muharram and Āshūrā within the Shīʿī Tradition with Ahmad Rashid Salim
Closing out the blessed month of Muharram, Parvez and Omar are back for a timely and important discussion about Muharram, the Day of Āshūrā, and the events of Karbala from a Shīʿī perspective. This is a deep dive into Shīʿī readings of early Muslim history and the centrality of the Ahl-al Bayt (The Household/Progeny of the Prophet Muhammedﷺ) and specifically how the events of Karbala and the ven
Episode 151: Prophet Abraham, Sacrifice, God's Covenant and the Land of Israel with Dr. Ali Ataie
A special discussion for the Haj and Eid-ul Adha season, Parvez and Omar are joined by returning guest Dr. Ali Ataie. The show dives deep into the Prophet Abraham(as) in the monotheistic scriptures/traditions, including Abraham's service of sacrifice, the innumerable blessings bestowed to Abraham and his covenant with God. The conversation then examines how the Biblical and Tanakhic traditions has
Episode 150: Protests, Encampments, and the BDS Movement with Zahra Billoo
For the show's 150th episode Parvez & Omar are joined by the second guest ever to appear on the podcast, Zahra Billoo , Civil rights Attorney and Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations San Francisco Bay Area (CAIR-SFBA). Zahra brings her years of tireless Civil Rights work and activism to bear as she discusses the recent protests and encampments taking place across col
Episode 149: A Physician's Medical Mission to the Gaza Strip with Dr. Mohammad Subeh
Parvez and Omar are truly honored to host Dr. Mohammad Subeh who just returned from a five week medical mission to the Gaza Strip, specifically the Rafah Crossing to the south. Dr. Subeh shares his background born to a Palestinian refugee family living in Kuwait and then forced to flee overnight at the start of the First Persian Gulf War and invasion of Kuwait. Dr. Subeh shares in harrowing detail
Episode 148: Islam in the Inner City and the Work of Islah LA with Dr. Jihad Saafir
Here is an episode that's been a few years in the making! We finally had the privilege of sitting with Dr. Jihad Saafir of Islah LA to discuss his background, academic training, as well as the remarkable and pioneering work that Islah LA and Islah Academy are doing to serve the community in South Los Angeles. As you've come to expect from the podcast we cover a lot of ground including the socio-cu
Episode 147: Imam Tahir Anwar, His Silicon Valley Roots, Religious Education, and Advice for Ramadan
It's not too often that you come across a Silicon Valley raised and Dar-ul-Uloom trained Imam but that's exactly who joins Parvez and Omar to kick-off the blessed month of Ramadan. Imam Tahir Anwar, Imam of the South Bay Islamic Association and Lecturer at Zaytuna College returns to the show! This time around the discussion includes a deep dive into his background, his religious education and trai
Episode 146: From SoCal to Al-Azhar and Back with Shaykh Jamaal Diwan
Parvez and Omar are honored to be joined by Shaykh Jamaal Diwan, co-founder and Resident Scholar at The Majlis. This was a wide-ranging conversation with Shaykh Jamaal discussing his personal journey connecting with his faith, his studies at Al-Azhar University, and the principles underlying The Majlis. Beyond his personal journey the conversation touches on parenting, the challenges of nurturing
Episode 145: Integrating Islamic Spiritual Approaches into Professional Psychology and the Khalil Center with Dr. Hooman Keshavarzi
For our first episode of 2024 we present an interview conducted during our trip to Chicago with Dr. Hooman Keshavarzi, Founder and Executive Director of Khalil Center. Dr. Keshavarzi discusses his journey connecting with his faith, becoming a clinical psychologist, and how he integrated his studies in Islamic theology and spirituality towards creating an optimal, holistic model of mental health ca
Episode 144: Black Power and Palestine with Professor Michael Fischbach
We are back to close out 2023 and continuing our discussions on Palestine, this time through the prism of the Civil Rights struggle in the United States. Professor Michael Fishbach joins us to discuss his 2019 book Black Power and Palestine: Transnational Countries of Color. Professor Fishbach chronicles how Black Power activists and others in the Civil Rights struggle came to see Palestinians as
Episode 143: The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine with Dr. Rashid Khalidi
We are deeply honored and privileged to be joined by the eminent historian and perhaps leading academic on Palestine in the United States, Professor Rashid Khalidi. Dr. Khalidi discussesed his new book The Hundred Years' War on Palestine: A History of Settler-Colonialism and Resistance, 1917-2017 which chronicles his personal and ancestral connection to the land of Palestine and what he characteri
Episode 142: Media Coverage of the Palestinian Crisis with The Intercept’s Murtaza Hussain
We are back to discuss the ongoing crisis in Palestine, this time focusing on the one-sided and ideologically motivated media coverage. To offer his analysis and perspective, and discuss the possible factors that may change that status quo, we are joined by The Intercept's veteran journalist Murtaza Hussain.
About Murtaza Hussain
Brooklyn-based journalist and “Habitual line stepper” Murtaza Hussa
Episode 141: Historicizing and Contextualizing the Palestinian Struggle with Dr. Ussama Makdisi
We had the pleasure of sitting with Dr. Ussama Makdisi, Professor of History at the University of California Berkeley for a detailed, highly enlightening and impassioned discussion of the history of the Palestinian struggle. Dr. Makdisi masterfully contextualizes what is happening right now in Palestine within the broader history of the Western colonialist, Zionist project that has dehumanized, br
Episode 140: Diffused Congruence Celebrates 10 Years!
10/3/2013 - 10/3/2023
Parvez gets on mic to ruminate on 10 years of the podcast, its genesis, mission, accomplishments, pitfalls avoided, and future plans. We are immensely proud and grateful for these past 10 years but we could not have done it without you, our listeners! Thank you for your continued support, feedback, and for sharing the show. We pray that Allah blesses us with 10 more years and
Episode 139: What is Palliative Care and Its Implications? In discussion with Dr. Aziz Ansari and Omer Mozaffar
We continue making our way through our Chicago recordings with a very special conversation about Palliative Care, a topic that is hardly discussed in the Muslim communities but can impact the lives of young and old alike within the community. Palliative care specifically deals with relieving serious health-related suffering, be it physical, psychological, social, or spiritual for patients with ser
Episode 138: Habeeb Quadri, Educator Extraordinaire
Next stop in Chicagoland takes us to Skokie where Parvez and Omar had the honor of sitting with author, educator and school administrator, Habeeb Quadri. We had an in-depth conversation about his experiences growing up in Chicago, what inspired him to become an educator, and his journey from teaching inner city schools in Detroit and Chicago to serving as Principal and Superintendent of a renow
Episode 137: Ahmed Rehab and ”the Chicago Way”
Next stop on Parvez & Omar's Chicago sojourn is the beautiful CAIR offices on historic State Street in downtown where they had the privilege of sitting with Ahmed Rehab. Ahmed's ability to articulate a clear and convincing analysis of contemporary social and political issues while maintaining a fidelity to Islam's normative teachings and practices made for a wide ranging and thought-provoking
Episode 136: Shaykh Mohammed Amin Kholwadia
Parvez and Omar have the opportunity to sit with Shaykh Amin Kholwadia and learn about his lifelong journey towards Islamic scholarship, from childhood, schooling, coming to America, and ultimately, the establishment of Darul Qasim, an institute of traditional Islamic higher learning headquartered in the Glendale Heights suburb of Chicago.
About Shaykh Mohammed Amin Kholwadia
Shaykh Amin
Episode 135: Umair Haseeb, from Chicagoland to the Maghreb and Back
We are joined by Umair Haseeb. They discuss his family background, growing up in Chicagoland, the spark that led to his spiritual awakening, and his studies towards Islamic scholarship abroad.
About Umair Haseeb
Umair Haseeb formally studied Arabic, the basics of Islam, and Quran in Chicago, which lead him to move to Morocco and Sahara to pursue a full time study of Arabic and Islamic Law. He re
Episode 134: Professor Adnan Zulfiqar’s Work in Law, History and Religion
We visited the Stanford University campus to sit with Professor Adnan Zulfiqar to discuss his journey and his work in the fields of law, history and religion, as well as some of the research he is currently doing in the areas of criminal law & procedure, Islamic jurisprudence, and rule of law in the Global South. We found Adnan's experiences to be extraordinary and his insights to be enligh
Episode 133: Shaykh Jabir Tarin on Islamic Scholarship, Muslim Mental Health, HFSAA and more!
Parvez and Omar return from a short post-Ramadan hiatus and meet with Shaykh Jabir Tarin to discuss his path as a young man to scholarship, his work in the growing and important field of Muslim mental health and counseling, as well his involvement with the Halal Food Standards Alliance of America (HFSAA).
About Shaykh Jabir Tarin
Shaykh Jabir Tarin is a registered associate marriage and family the
Episode 132: Raising Muslim Children: Challenges and Insights with Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi
Parvez and Omar are joined by Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi, as they discuss the challenges (and joys) of raising Muslim children. She shares some of her own experiences growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area and also offers insights about how to instill a love of the Deen and a strong Muslim identity in our children.
About Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi
Hosai Mojaddidi has been serving the Muslim communit
Episode 131: Shaykha Muslema Purmul’s Journey to Religious Scholarship
Parvez and Omar are joined by Shaykha Muslema Purmul, co-founder and Religious Director at The Majlis. They discuss her family’s journey from Afghanistan to Southern California, as well as her motivations to pursue her religious studies at Al-Azhar University, and the work she is doing today as Religious Director at The Majlis.
About Muslema Pumul
Muslema Purmul was born in Raleigh, North Carolin
Episode 130: The True Story of a Muslim Mystic, a Hollywood Epic, and the 1977 Siege of Washington, DC, with Shahan Mufti
Parvez and Omar are joined by Shahan Mufti, author of American Caliph, The True Story of a Muslim Mystic, a Hollywood Epic, and the 1977 Siege of Washington, DC.The new book is the first full account of the largest ever hostage taking on American soil and of the tormented man who masterminded it. Informed by extensive archival research and access to hundreds of declassified FBI files, American Cal
Episode 129: Spiritual Manipulation, Charismatic Leadership, and the Dangers of Cults, with Yousuf Azhar
Parvez and Omar sit down with Yousuf Azhar who shares his personal experiences joining and then leaving a Muslim cult, the corrosive spiritual manipulation and abuse he suffered, and the patterns to look out for.
About Yousuf Azhar
Yousuf Azhar was born in India and migrated to the USA at the age of two. He studied Arabic at the University of Damascus for one year and has studied general Islami
Episode 128: Muslims in the Media, with Sue Obeidi and Dr. Eveylyn Alsultany
Parvez and Omar take a visit to Souther California to sit down in person with Sue Obeidi and Evelyn Alsultany to discuss the state of Muslims in the media.
About Our Guests
Sue Obeidi is the Director of the Hollywood Bureau for the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC). Obeidi ensures that MPAC’s Hollywood Bureau is a partner with the entertainment industry.
Evelyn Alsultany is a leading expert on
Episode 127: The Power of Storytelling, with Ahmed Khan, from the Creative Minority Podcast
Parvez and Omar are joined by a fellow podcaster, Ahmed Khan. They sit down at Zaytuna College in Berkeley to discuss the power of storytelling, and the inspiration behind some of their respective work in the world of podcasts.
About The Creative Minority Podcast
The Creative Minority seeks to engage with contemporary intellectual issues ranging from but not included to politics, philosophy, theo
Episode 126: The Midterm Elections & The Problem of Democracy, with Shadi Hamid
Parvez and Omar sit down with returning guest Shadi Hamid to discuss the midterm elections and his new book, The Problem of Democracy: America, the Middle East, and the Rise and Fall of an Idea.
In The Problem of Democracy, Shadi Hamid reimagines the ongoing debate on democracy’s merits and proposes an ambitious agenda for reviving the lost art of democracy promotion in the world’s most undemocr
Episode 125: Zaki Returns to Discuss Polarization in Social Media, Muslim Twitter and More!
Zaki Hasan, co-founder of the show, returns to catch up with Omar and Parvez. They discuss the impacts of social media on the polarized state of politics, Muslim Twitter and much more!
About Zaki Hasan
Zaki Hasan has been a media scholar and critic for more than twenty years. His film reviews and analyses have appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle, HuffPost, and The Philadelphia Weekly, and in
Episode 124: A Discussion with a Pioneer in the American Muslim Experience, Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi
Parvez and Omar make a trek down to Orange County to sit with a pioneer in the American Muslim experience, Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi and learn about his life's journey from India to Madinah to United States and to discuss his legacy and impact on the American Muslim community.
About Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi
Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi is the imam and religious director of the Islamic Society of Orange Co
Episode 123: The Journey of Michael Wolfe
Parvez and Omar sit down with Michael Wolfe to discuss his journey to Islam, his pilgrimages to Mecca, and his work with Unity Productions Foundation (UPF).
About Michael Wolfe
Michael B. Wolfe is an American poet, author, and the President and Co-Executive Producer of Unity Productions Foundation. A secular American born in Cincinnati, Ohio to a Christian mother and a Jewish father, Wolfe convert
Episode 122: The Great Muslim American Road Trip (And Everything That Came Before It) with Mona Haydar and Sebastian Robins
Parvez and Omar are joined by Mona Haydar and Sebastian Robins to discuss their upcoming PBS Documentary, "The Great Muslim American Road Trip".
About "The Great Muslim American Road Trip"
Follow a millennial Muslim American couple on a cross-country journey along historic Route 66. As they meet new friends and explore more than a dozen stops, Mona and Sebastian weave a colorful story about what i
Episode 121: Ramadan Health and Wellness, with Dr. Sofia Ghani
Parvez and Omar are joined by Dr. Sofia Ghani to discuss health and wellness in this holy month of Ramadan.
About Dr. Sofia Ghani
Dr. Sofia Ghani started her career as a clinical pharmacist managing patients' drug therapy at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas. Being around very sick people on a laundry list of medications was an everyday norm for her. It never failed to surprise her how many medicati
Episode 120: A Look Behind the Camera, with Aaron Sellers (Part 2 of 2)
Parvez and Omar are joined again by Aaron Sellers and dive deep into his path as a Muslim convert, his move from the east coast to the west, to work at Zaytuna Institute, and Zaytuna's transition into a college. This is the second episode of a 2 part conversation.
This is a continuation from episode 119, where we talked to Aaron about his early years, his conversion and his early experiences as a
Episode 119: A Look Behind the Camera with Aaron Sellers, Part 1 of 2
Parvez and Omar are joined by Aaron "Haroon" Sellers and dive deep into his early years, his conversion and his early experiences as a Muslim, in part 1 of a 2 part conversation.
About Aaron “Haroon” Sellers
Aaron “Haroon” Sellars was born in Washington, D.C. and attended Virginia Commonwealth University, where he majored in graphic arts and developed a special interest in film, photography and mu
Episode 118: Zaki Returns to Discuss The Matrix Resurrections and More in the Film Industry
Zaki Returns to Discuss The Matrix Resurrections and More in the Film Industry
Episode 117: The DR34M
Parvez and Omar check one off the bucket list, with NBA superstar Hakeem Olajuwon joining them for an in-depth conversation covering his entire career and more.
About Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon, nicknamed "the Dream", is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Houston Rocke
On the Passing of Usama Canon
Like countless others today we are deeply saddened by the loss of our friend, teacher, and supporter Usama Canon . He will always hold a very special and dear place in our hearts as the guest on our very first show. He agreed without any hesitation and as was his nature was extremely generous with his candor, hospitality, and time. We pray that God envelope him in His mercy and Grace, overlook hi
Episode 115: The Crisis in Afghanistan, with Hamid Khan
Parvez and Omar are joined by Hamid Khan to discuss the end of the Afghan war and the crisis that followed.
About Hamid Khan
Mr. Hamid Khan is an accomplished legal professional with 20 years’ experience advancing the rule of law through public policy, global program development, and legal education.
Mr. Khan is also an expert in Islamic constitutionalism, issues of Islamic law in armed conflict a
Cure4Aasim: Help Save a Life
Co-host Omar A. Ansari's brother-in-law, Aasim Syed, was just diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which impacts the bone marrow. He has already received an initial round of intense chemotherapy and the doctors have now said a blood (stem cell) transplant is required ASAP.
We also learned that there is NOT A SINGLE MATCH in the entire registry for him right now. Unfortunately South Asians
Episode 113: Two Gods - Zeshawn and Aman Ali’s Documentary about Community, Faith, and Healing
Zeshawn and Aman Ali join us to discuss their new documentary, Two Gods.
ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY
An intimate documentary about faith, renewal, and healing, Two Gods follows a Muslim casket maker and ritual body washer in New Jersey, as he takes two young teenagers under his wing to teach them how to live better lives.
Shot in a striking black-and-white, Two Gods explores the juxtaposition of gri
Episode 112: Women & Gender in the Qur’an, with Dr. Celene Ibrahim
Parvez and Omar discuss Dr. Celene Ibrahim's works on women and gender in the Qur'an
About Dr. Celene Ibrahim
Dr. Celene Ibrahim is the author of Women and Gender in the Qur'an from Oxford University Press (2020) and the editor of One Nation, Indivisible: Seeking Liberty and Justice from the Pulpit to the Streets from Wipf & Stock Publishers (2019). Her current book project on the concept of
Episode 111: Immigrant Stories, with Habibe & Ishrat Husain, from the Rahima Foundation
Parvez and Omar are joined by Habibe and Ishrat Husain, from the Rahima Foundation. They tell the story of their immigration to the United States, their (inter-cultural) marriage, their migration out West, and the forming of Rahima Foundation.
About Habibe
Habibe came to the United States in 1962, as a high school foreign exchange student from Turkey. After completing high school, she went on t
Episode 110: Disney Film Director, Lena Khan
Parvez and Omar are joined by Lena Khan, to discuss her latest achievements in directing films.
About Lena Khan
Lena is a Canadian American writer and director. Her first feature film, THE TIGER HUNTER, released in over 60 cities nationwide and garnered effusively positive reviews from The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and more. Fresh off of her first film, Disney tapped Lena to direct FLORA
Episode 109: Fifty Years of Community Work in Chicago’s Far South Side, with Imam S. T. Ibrahim
Parvez and Omar welcome Imam Ibrahim to talk about his youth, his transition to Sunni Islam, and his nearly 50 years of needs based community work in the Chicago area for the past 50 years.
About Imam S. T. Ibrahim
Imam Ibrahim served as the founding Imam of the Mosque of 'Umar, Inc. on Chicago's Far South Side in the Roseland community from 1973 to 2009. He led prayers and all related services
Episode 108: Politics, Religion and Culture, with Sana Saeed from AJ+
Parvez and Omar are joined by Sana Saeed from AJ+ to discuss, among other things, social media culture, holding Muslims leaders to a standard, the "akh-right" and the transition to the Biden administration. It was an engaging, no holds barred conversation that we hope you'll join us for.
About Sana Saeed
Sana Saeed is a Host and Senior Producer who has been with AJ+ since 2014, helping launch the
Episode 107: CelebrateMercy, with Tarek El-Messidi
Parvez and Omar are joined by Tarek El-Messidi, founder of CelebrateMercy. They look back to the inspiration behind the organization, discuss its genesis and initial launch, and touch on some of the team's current initiatives.
About CelebrateMercy
CelebrateMercy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that teaches about the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ’s life and character – to Muslims and the general pub
Episode 106: Premarital Preparation, Healthy Marriages, and Divorce in the Muslim Community, with Sadia Jalali, LMFT
Parvez and Omar welcome Sadia Jalali, LMFT to start a conversation on marriage and divorce in the American Muslim community. They discuss the importance of premarital counseling, of nurturing marriages from day one, and of getting help before it's too late to save a marriage.
About Sadia Jalali
Sadia Jalali is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). Sadia holds a BA in Psychology from U
Episode 105: Parvez joins "Sultans and Sneakers" to discuss "Podcasting, Platforming, and Politics".
Parvez joins Mahin Islam on Episode 036 of the Sultans and Sneakers podcast to talk about "Podcasting, Platforming, and Politics".
The Sultans and Sneakers podcast, based out of Chicago, is a podcast, according to Mahin, which asks "WHY do we believe the things we do?" Mahin regularly interviews "interesting people to understand the WHY behind their beliefs." He has interviewed athletes, entrepr
Episode 104: The 2020 Election, a Discussion with Democratic Strategist Mustafa Tameez
With only days left until the pivotal 2020 U.S. election, Parvez and Omar are joined by Democratic strategist Mustafa Tameez, to discuss how we got here and possible outcomes for election night and thereafter.
About Mustafa Tameez
Mustafa Tameez is Outreach Strategists’ Founder and President. Mustafa began his career in New York advertising for corporate clients, but after moving to Tex
Episode 103: The Exorcist, a Conversation with Kamran Pasha
Parvez and Omar are joined by screenwriter and director Kamran Pasha, to discuss The Exorcist (1973).
In addition to being a favorite film of both Parvez's and Kamran's, The Exorcist has had a significant influence on popular culture and has received critical acclaim, with several publications having regarded it as one of the greatest horror films of all time.
We hope you enjoy this discussion, p
Episode 102: Celebrating the 7th Anniversary of the Podcast, with co-founder and former co-host, Zaki Hasan
Parvez and Omar are joined by Zaki Hasan, co-founder and former co-host of the Diffused Congruence podcast. In this episode, commemorating seven years since the launch of the podcast, we catch up and discuss all the craziness of 2020. This episode was recorded on Friday, October 9th, only a few weeks before the upcoming U.S. election.
Zaki Hasan has been a media scholar and critic for more than
Episode 101: Understanding Early Muslim History and Sectarianism, with Dr. Ali Ataie
Parvez and Omar are joined by Dr. Ali Ataie (professor of Arabic, Qur'an, and Comparative Theologies at Zaytuna College) for a discussion covering early Muslim history, Ahl-al-Bayt, and sectarianism in Islam.
This episode is the last in a series we are doing in the month of Muharram. In the previous three episodes, we covered a believer's journey from Sunnism to Shi'ism and Shi'ite theology, his
Episode 100: Shi’ism, a Deep Dive (Part 2), with Imam Hadi Qazwini
Parvez and Omar welcome Imam Hadi Qazwini (a Shi’i scholar and current Ph.D student at USC) as we partake in PART TWO of a deep dive into Shi’i history, theology and common practices. This discussion is the 2nd in a series of conversations on the topic of Shi’ism in this Islamic month of Muharram.
Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, is held to be the second holiest month, after Ra
Episode 99: Shi’ism, a Deep Dive (Part 1), with Imam Hadi Qazwini
Parvez and Omar welcome Imam Hadi Qazwini (a Shi’i scholar and current Ph.D student at USC) as we partake in a deep dive into Shi’i history, theology and common practices. The two part discussion is the 2nd in a series of conversations on the topic of Shi’ism in this Islamic month of Muharram.
Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, is held to be the second holiest month, after Ramaḍā
Episode 98: A Journey Within Islam, with R. David Coolidge
Parvez and Omar welcome R. David Coolidge (former Muslim chaplain at Dartmouth College and Brown University, and current PhD student at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA) to discuss his journey into and within Islam, which has taken him through the Sunni and Shia traditions. The discussion was especially timely considering we’re in the month of Muharram.
Muharram, the first month of
Episode 97: Addiction in the Age of Covid, with Dr. Amer Raheemullah, M.D.
Parvez and Omar welcome Dr. Amer Raheemullah (M.D.) to put a light on the increasingly important (and sometimes taboo) subject of addiction, a topic perhaps more important than ever in the "Age of Covid". Dr. Raheemullah specializes in opioid and benzodiazepine tapers, and treating substance use disorders in residential and outpatient programs, as well as inpatient and office-based settings.
Ab
Episode 96: Professor Mohammad Fadel Returns to Discuss the Current Political Climate, SCOTUS, the Election, and more!
Parvez and Omar welcome Professor Mohammad Fadel to discuss the current political climate in light of COVID-19, the recent Supreme Court decisions involving various hot button issues, and the upcoming election, which is less than four months away.
Mohammad Fadel is a Professor and Toronto Research Chair for the Law and Economics of Islamic Law at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law.
Episode 95: Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf Joins Us to Talk Basketball, the National Anthem, BLM and more
Co-hosts Parvez Ahmed and Omar Ansari are joined by a very special guest, former NBA player, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, for an in-depth conversation covering his early days as a youth in Mississippi to his ascension to the NBA, his acceptance of Islam, the national anthem controversy, current events, and his future plans. Join us for this long-awaited conversation!
Episode 94: Bringing in (a very unique) Ramadan, with Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Co-hosts Parvez Ahmed and Omar Ansari are joined by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, founder of SeekersGuidance. They dive deep into what Ramadan will look like this year, given the stay at home orders, and Shaykh Faraz shares his thoughts on, among many things, how to take advantage of the month's blessing despite the disruption.
Episode 93: The Public Health Impact of COVID-19, Panel Discussion
Co-hosts Parvez Ahmed and Omar Ansari are joined by Dr. Umair Shah and Dr. Mir Alikhan in a discussion covering the public health impact of the coronavirus crisis.
Dr. Shah is Executive Director and Local Health Authority for Harris County Public Health (HCPH) – a nationally recognized $100 million agency serving the nation’s 3rd largest county (4.7 million).
Dr. Alikhan is a private practice pul
Episode 92: Immigrant Stories, featuring Ahsan Syed
Join hosts Parvez Ahmed and Omar Ansari as they sit down with Ahsan Syed to hear about his journey from India to the United States half a century ago, and all the ups and downs that came with being an immigrant in America. This is the first in a series of episodes where we'll hear the stories of Muslim immigrants to the United States. Please note that this episode was recorded prior to the COVID
Episode 91: The Coronavirus Crisis
Join Parvez Ahmed and Omar Ansari as they catch up (virtually) from their homes in the bay area to discuss their experiences self-isolating and socially distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Episode 90: New Year, New Co-Host!
Diffused Congruence begins 2020 with a new co-host! Listen via the embed below (or via iTunes or Stitcher), and as always, please hit "like" on our Facebook page, and send any comments or questions to DiffusedCongruence@gmail.com.
Episode 89: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Conversation
Happy New Year! Diffused Congruence celebrates 2020 by taking a look at the latest film in the storied Star Wars saga with special guest Omar Ansari for a deep dive into the close of this latest trilogy. Listen as Zaki, Parvez, and Omar discuss what they liked, what they didn't, and just generally geek out over their shared love for this beloved franchise. Plus: An announcement about the future of
Episode 88: Kalia Abiade
Our guest this episode is Kalia Abiade, Managing Director for Strategy and Partnerships at the Pillars Fund. Ms. Abiade joins us for an engrossing discussion about the nature of her work and why it serves an important function within and without the Muslim community. Listen via the embed below (or via iTunes or Stitcher), and as always, please hit "like" on our Facebook page, and send any comments
Episode 87: Peter Sanders
We're joined this episode by renowned photographer Peter Sanders for a fascinating dive into his personal journey to Islam and what he's learned during his five decades capturing indelible and iconic images. Listen via the embed below (or at iTunes or Stitcher), and as always, please hit "like" on our Facebook page, and send any comments or questions to DiffusedCongruence@gmail.com.
Episode 86: Justin Mashouf
We're joined this episode by filmmaker Justin Mashouf, who discusses his engrossing new documentary The Honest Struggle, as well as the path he followed to pursue a career in filmmaking. It's a conversation we're confident you'll find educational and insightful, and you can check it out via the embed below (or via iTunes or Stitcher). As always, please hit "like" on our Facebook page, and send any
Episode 85: Asma T. Uddin
We're joined this episode by author Asma T. Uddin to discuss her new book When Islam is Not a Religion, as well as her reflections on the rise of the Muslim community in her native Florida, and much more. It's a fascinating and insightful conversation about a topic that's extremely important and relevant. You can listen via the embed below (or via iTunes or Stitcher), and as always, please hit "li
Episode 84: Youssef Ismail
We're joined this month by special guest Youssef Ismail, sharing his expertise with the science of moon sighting as we prepare to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha. In addition, he also tells the story of his time in the Bay Area during the early days of what would become Zaytuna College, and being "present at the birth," so to speak. Listen via the embed below (or at iTunes or Stitcher), and as always, pleas
Episode 83: Lisa Ahmad
Our special guest this month is famed chef and restaurateur Lisa Ahmad, who shares her heartfelt and inspiring story of coming to Islam, and how she founded Fremont, California's renowned Mirchi Cafe. It's a veritable feast for the senses in this episode, and you hear it via the embed below (or via iTunes or Stitcher), and as always, please hit "like" on our Facebook page, and send any comments or
Episode 82: Amir Sulaiman
For this episode of the show we're joined by poet Amir Sulaiman, who shares his story, spanning his journey from growing up in Rochester, New York to his time on the stage for HBO's Def Poetry Jam. He also closes the show with a reading of some of his incredible work. It's an engrossing and lively hour of conversation, and you can listen via the embed below (or via iTunes or Stitcher), and as alwa
Recommended
Doctor Zhivago Slow Read
Apple News In Conversation
The Young and Called Podcast .
Jubal Phone Pranks from The Jubal Show
پلی لیست | PlayList
English with Olivia | Slow Conversations & Vocabulary
Bible Tea
TED Talks Daily
Pod Save America
Dateline NBC
صداستان: ساعتی با موسیقی
Becoming: HER with Nikki Spoelstra
