In the Chapter of Constellations (Surat al-Buruj), there is a debate on who it refers to: the Christians of Najran, the Disbelievers in the Hellfire or the Biblical story in Daniel. I go through recent scholarship on the topic and agree with Walid Saleh that it refers to the Christians of Najran. The Christians of Najran were persecuted for their faith and were models of resilience and fortitude to the early Muslim community.

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In this podcast, we go back into time and share the first podcast of the show. I discuss why I am starting the Islamic Mary podcast, my personal connection to the topic and the potential that Maryam provides.

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When we think of fathers, the stereotypical image of somebody who is stern, domineering and even coercive may come up. In the stereotypical image of Islam, fathers are simply breadwinners and maintainers and arrange their daughters into unhappy and unloving marriages. Today, we explore the image of Luqman who is seen in the Qur'an as wise and teaches his son morals and etiquette. Luqman presents the image of a father who is teacher, mentor and guide.

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Muslims around the world are celebrating "Eid", in particular "the Eid of the Breaking of the Fast". I examine how the word "Eid" is used in the Qur'an, particularly in the words of Jesus/'Isa. Based on the request of his Disciples, Jesus/'Isa makes a prayer to God asking for a celebration and feast. He emphasizes the idea of inclusivity, divine signs and God being the provider.

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In many Biblical and Qur'anic stories, the protagonist isolates themselves and, at times, even go to prison. In this interview, I chat with Walaa' Qusaiy about her new book "When Only God Can See: The Faith of Muslim Political Prisoners". Walaa' discusses how faith and spirituality of Muslim prisoners merge with that of prophetic ones, and how they find inspiration and hope in their stories. The prison experience is pervasive in Muslim society and Islamic scholarship and we need to study that space to better understand the lives of the various Muslim scholars and activists.

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Subscribe to the Islamic Mary podcast which is available on the major podcast streaming services, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.

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Thanks for listening to The Islamic Mary Podcast!

Here I present a short commentary on Nostra Aetate, a Catholic document on the church's relationship with other religions. Specifically, I focus on the paragraphs on Muslims and how it open up modern possibilities for Christian-Muslim relations, such as shared spirituality, figures and social justice.

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Subscribe to the Islamic Mary podcast which is available on the major podcast streaming services, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.

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I have been thinking about fathers recently: what do they do? What is their function? How are they effectively? Today, I dive into the Biblical and Qur'anic Jacob/Yaqub and explore how the Qur'an understands fathers, especially in terms of their spiritual and mentorship role. Jacob/Yaqub is open about his emotions, complains to God, and encourages his sons to have belief or hope.

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Subscribe to the Islamic Mary podcast which is available on the major podcast streaming services, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.

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One of the reasons I became interested in Biblical and Qur'anic figures is because I did my dissertation and initial research on the medieval Ibn Kathir (d. 774/1373) and Ibn Taymiyya (d. 728/1328). Both Ibn Kathir and Ibn Taymiyya engaged the Arabic Bible and wrote on Biblical literature and its relationship to the Qur'an. These figures today would be understood as "salafis". But what does that mean? I sit down with Yasir Qadhi to discuss the meaning of "salafism", his relationship to the movement, and the potential for a more inclusive Islam.

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Subscribe to the Islamic Mary podcast which is available on the major podcast streaming services, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.

Order my new book The Islamic Mary: Maryam Through the Centuries

Take my quiz on the Islamic Mary which is based on my research and teaching

Visit my website to learn more about my bio, research, and blogs.

Join my listserve to be updated about my research, speaking and publications, especially my book on the Islamic Mary.

Thanks for listening to The Islamic Mary Podcast!