How do you know that what you believe is Islamically sound? Every belief and opinion is rooted in one particular worldview or another. Sometimes these worldviews are so ingrained in our society that they are difficult to detect, let alone challenge.

Islam has better ways than other worldviews to address the issues currently facing us, from theological issues such as the ways we imagine God, to social issues such as sexuality and gender identity, to political issues and everything in between.

Join Imam Tom Facchine in Dogma Disrupted as he dives deep into conversation with a subject expert each week to unravel the worldviews we live by, break the chains of the ideologies we unassumingly subscribe to, and re-center the Islamic worldview to address the most contentious issues of today.

New episodes every week, starting this Sunday, inshaAllah!

Ethics involve moral principles or what is deemed right or wrong behavior. Who decides what is ethical in our modern world? What can Islamic ethics teach us about what we know, how we conduct ourselves, and the knowledge we produce? Join Imam Tom and Dr. Ovamir Anjum, Yaqeen Institute’s editor-in-chief, to shed light on the ethics of knowledge as well as the paper publication process at Yaqeen. 

What is Islamic orthodoxy and why do we need it? Who gets to decide what is orthodox and how do we reconcile differences of opinion? Join our host Imam Tom Facchine and special guest Dr. Tahir Wyatt in unpacking Islamic orthodoxy, its limits, and its assumptions in the way we understand our religion, read the Qur’an, and practice our faith. Additionally, discover how Yaqeen checks papers and content for Islamic orthodoxy. 

0:00 - Introduction
2:50 - The Greek roots of the word “orthodox”
7:14 - “Infidels” and fidelity (nasiha) 
10:00 - The concept of orthodoxy is important for happiness in life
21:53 - There's a lot in Islam that no one differs about
23:31 - The Prophet ﷺ's final advice on dealing with differences 
30:22 - What criteria make an ijtihad (interpretation) valid?
32:23 - Differences of opinion among the Sahabah
34:14 - What does it mean to do sajda (prostration) like a camel? 
35:29 - Did the Sahabah disagree about aqeedah or just fiqh?
41:43 - How much of our aqeedah is a product of history after the Companions?  
43:40 - Ibn Abbas (ra)'s debate with the Khawarij, the first sect in Islam
48:46 - The emergence of the Shi‘a and Murji’ah, and codifying aqeedah 
52:42 - Some early written works on aqeedah
56:08 - “New aqeedah” as time goes on?
1:01:32 - The different contexts of Imam Ahmad and Ibn Taymiyya
1:04:05 - Do the works of male scholars uphold the patriarchy?
1:11:34 - The importance of scholars
1:13:56 - How does Yaqeen ensure the orthodoxy of its content?

#dogmadisrupted #imamtom #orthodoxy #yaqeenpodcast #yaqeen #islamicethics 

Human rights may seem like an obvious thing to advocate for. After all, we are all human and want the best for ourselves and others. But where does our notion of rights really come from? Who is the “human” of human rights? 

Imam Tom Facchine invites Dr. Zara Khan to discuss the history of human rights movements, the underlying assumptions of what it means to be human, as well as how human rights discourse is politicized and weaponized against Islam and Muslims. 

Why were we created and where are we going? Any level of pondering over our existence ultimately leads to the question of believing in a higher power. In Islam, tawheed, believing in the oneness of God, can not only inform our moral actions, but is an entire worldview that shapes every facet of our lives. 

Sh. Mohammad Elshinawy joins Imam Tom Facchine to unpack the arguments for the existence of God, from believing in a higher power versus nothing, to the existence of one God versus multiple, and finally, the existence of Allah versus a deistic god. 

Islam follows an objective morality defined by God that we must follow and protect no matter how the societies around us change. One of the most difficult topics to discuss that directly challenges this is the fairly new paradigm of sexuality and sexual identity. Why does Allah care about what we do in the bedroom? What’s wrong with people choosing who to love? 

Imam Tom Facchine and Dr. Sharif El-Tobgui discuss the history of sexuality and the sexual revolution, the Islamic view of sexuality and love, and common objections to Islamic sexuality discourse. 

Should we ally with the Left or the Right? On one hand, the Liberal party has appealed to Muslim rights as a minority group, while the Conservative party aligns with our moral values. Muslim political involvement is a fairly recent trend, and our alliances speak to more than just our personal preferences. 

How can we secure our rights in a secular democracy while also pushing back against policies that go against our beliefs, such as the open promotion of LGBTQ ideas in our schools? Imam Tom Facchine invites Dr. Mobeen Vaid to recount the history of Muslim political involvement and activism, as well as to discuss ways to maneuver the political landscape while staying true to our faith. 

What religious rights are students entitled to in schools? It’s one thing to be able to opt out of a single class that doesn’t align with Islamic morality, but how can students and parents successfully navigate an environment where LGBTQ ideas are presented in math problems, showcased in libraries, and plastered in hallways? Sh. Ahmad Saleem joins Imam Tom Facchine to discuss the prevalence of LGBTQ ideologies in public school systems, the impact of this ideology on children, and Muslim students’ rights to freedom of religion. 

Are sexual desires an essential part of who we are? No matter how the world shifts, Islam is clear about not allowing our desires to define us. So what then about feeling same sex attraction? Doesn't that automatically mean that someone is gay? Imam Tom Facchine invites Waheed Jensen to discuss his experiences living with same sex attraction while rejecting current narratives and labels, and how we can support individuals in our communities that struggle with these feelings.

Secularism portrays itself as a neutral worldview that allowed for open exchange of ideas and way of life outside the laws of the Church. In reality, it has reconfigured the way we think about and experience the world. Imam Tom Facchine invites Dr. Zara Khan back on the show to analyze the history of secularism and where it has left us today. 

What do we lose when Islam is privatized and reduced to a personal matter? 

Daniyah Hannini joins Imam Tom Facchine to explore the profound consequences of secularization as it reshapes the Muslim mind, redefines Islamic identity, and challenges traditional practices. 

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Secularism postures itself as a neutral body, but it’s anything but. Its commitments on how religion can enter the public sphere influence the way we think about our faith, and in turn interact with our scholarship and scholars. In fact, it is one of the reasons for the erosion of trust in religious authority. 

Dr. Usaama al-Azami joins Imam Tom Facchine in discussing the shifts in our understanding of religious interpretation and authority and how we can better engage with our scholarship.  

How do we know that God exists? Why do we need faith to be good people? Imam Tom Facchine invites Dr. Nazir Khan to break down the arguments for atheism and address the most fundamental questions about the Divine, religion, and faith. 

Shirk (idolatry) is widely known as the greatest sin a person can commit. What makes it worse than murder, oppression, and destruction? It ultimately leads back to the connection between faith and morality. Imam Tom Facchine invites Dr. Zohair Abdul Rahman to break down the consequences of shirk within popular moral frameworks, and the places where morality fails without faith. 

With the introduction of radical gender ideology material in schools as early as elementary, parents are growing more concerned about their children’s education. What’s more concerning are rules that no longer allow parents to opt their children out of material that they deem inappropriate. How can parents best voice their concerns and firmly put their foot down on issues like these? 

Imam Tom Facchine invites Kareem Monib and Sameerah Munshi from the Coalition of Virtue to discuss their involvement in this fight for parental rights in school systems. 

Mental health has become a widely discussed and emphasized subject, particularly in the last five years. While mental health services are a critical component to healthcare, the mental health industry operates on multiple underlying dogmas that are opposed to the Islamic worldview.

Dr. Zohair Abdul Rahman joins Imam Tom Facchine to bring to light four key dogmas at play that both Muslims who seek access to these services and practitioners themselves should keep in mind when facing this paradigm. 

#ethics #mentalhealth #therapy #islam

The Struggle for a United Community | Dogma Disrupted w/ Imam Tom Facchine

Is disunity a significant threat in our communities? Where do we draw the line between excusable and inexcusable differences? Sh. Mohammad Elshinawy joins Imam Tom Facchine to discuss what unites us as Muslims, and how to work together despite our differences.

With a mounting death toll of over 1500 lives, we are yet again witnessing the oppression of Palestinians unfold before our very eyes. While the the media buzzes with news articles, think pieces, and commentary, there is much being lost on the context and crux of the issue—primarily, the liberation of Palestinians from an apartheid regime that is committing genocide. Why is it so hard to explain this without being attacked? 

Dr. Omar Suleiman and Dr. Ovamir Anjum join Imam Tom Facchine to contextualize the history leading up to this moment, and unpack the influence of language and framing of how this conflict is told.