The Thinking Muslim

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Sami Hamdi joins Muhammad Jalal to analyse the 2026 US midterm election results, Donald Trump’s Republican losses and the growing challenge to American support for Israel.

Following Abdul El-Sayed’s victory in Michigan and James Talarico’s win in Texas, Sami examines how Gaza and the Iran war shaped the election alongside anger over the cost of living. With JD Vance identifying the US-Israel relationship as a factor in the Republican defeat, could support for Israel become an electoral liability across both parties?

We discuss AIPAC’s political influence, its decision to stop direct candidate endorsements and the pressure facing Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries. Sami revisits his support for the Abandon Harris campaign in 2024 and explains why he believes voters must keep holding politicians accountable over Palestine.

The conversation also explores Zohran Mamdani’s influence on American politics and the challenges facing Muslim Americans as they build alliances. Can newly elected politicians deliver on their promises? How should Muslims judge political compromise, and what could these results mean for the 2028 US presidential election?

Drawing on the Qur’an and the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Sami discusses the responsibility Muslims carry towards their neighbours and why he believes ordinary people’s efforts can change the direction of politics.

#SamiHamdi #USMidterms2026 #AIPAC #TheThinkingMuslim

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The views expressed in this video are those of the individual speaker(s) and do not represent the views of the host, producers, platform, or any affiliated organisation. This content is provided for lawful, informational, and analytical purposes only, and should not be taken as professional advice. Viewer discretion is advised.
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The HSBC Islamic fund scandal has raised urgent questions about halal investing: how can a Sharia-compliant fund hold shares in arms manufacturers and companies linked to Israel’s war on Gaza?

Riaz Hassan joins Muhammad Jalal to discuss reports of HSBC’s Islamic fund investing in companies including RTX, the parent company of Raytheon, and Palantir. Having raised concerns about Islamic investments in February, Riaz examines what these revelations mean for Muslim pensions and the wider Islamic finance industry.
How does Sharia screening work? Who takes responsibility when scholars approve a fund and banks choose its investments? And why might a company pass financial checks while its role in surveillance or weapons production goes unexamined?

In this episode, we discuss:
• How automated screening and company classifications shape Sharia-compliant investments.
• The concerns surrounding Palantir and RTX in Islamic investment portfolios.
• The role of Sharia boards, fund managers and accountability to Muslim investors.
• Why Riaz argues Islamic finance needs a political filter alongside its existing checks.
• BDS, divestment and the pressure Muslim investors can put on financial institutions.
• Alternative funds and self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs), alongside the difficulties of moving your money.

As Muslim investors question where their savings are going, this conversation asks what the halal label promises and what needs to change within Islamic finance.
Subscribe to The Thinking Muslim for more conversations on Islamic finance and the issues shaping Muslim communities.

#IslamicFinance #HSBC

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Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this video are those of the individual speaker(s) and do not represent the views of the host, producers, platform, or any affiliated organisation. This content is provided for lawful, informational, and analytical purposes only, and should not be taken as professional advice. Viewer discretion is advised.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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How private is your smartphone? What does WhatsApp encryption protect, and how much can the apps we use reveal about our lives?
Omar Al Zabir, who spent five years as an engineering manager on Meta’s High Severity Harm team, joins Muhammad Jalal on The Thinking Muslim to discuss digital surveillance, online privacy and the risks facing children on social media.

Drawing on his experience tackling severe harms on Messenger and Instagram, Omar examines how platforms collect data and design algorithms to keep us scrolling. The conversation explores what this means for Muslim communities and Palestine activists, including how awareness of surveillance can influence what we feel able to say online.

Muhammad and Omar also discuss smartphone security, WhatsApp and Signal, smart TV tracking, and the limits of VPNs. What should we understand before sharing sensitive information with AI chatbots? How are deepfakes changing what we can trust? And what can parents do to help protect their children from online grooming and harmful content?

Omar shares practical suggestions for reducing screen time and explains why he co-founded Kahf, a technology company developing tools for safer internet use.
Join the conversation

Has this discussion changed how you think about your phone or your family’s internet use? Share what stood out to you in the comments.

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Explore Kahf: https://kahf.co

#TheThinkingMuslim #OnlinePrivacy #DigitalSurveillance

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Disclaimer:
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This episode is sponsored by Seed Education Trust, which funds education and community projects in the UK, with a particular focus on young people. Find out more: https://www.seed.org.uk/thinking

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Sami Hamdi joins Muhammad Jalal to examine the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, the renewed war in Yemen and what this escalation means for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Following deadly strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and disruption to flights, Saudi Arabia faces renewed questions about its air defences and its reliance on American protection. The attacks have also disrupted attendance at Riyadh’s major energy conference, putting the kingdom’s ambitions as an international investment destination under pressure.
In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, Sami explores why he believes Mohammed bin Salman has become increasingly isolated. He examines Donald Trump’s approach to the Houthis and Iran, Saudi Arabia’s rivalry with the UAE, and the limits of the Mecca defence alliance with Pakistan and Türkiye.

The conversation also examines Yemen’s fractured politics and the consequences of foreign intervention. Sami challenges the celebration of the Houthis over Palestine, arguing that Muslim solidarity must also account for their treatment of Yemenis.

What would it take for Yemen’s people to determine their own future? And how should Muslims respond to a conflict in which competing regional powers continue to shape their lives?
Share your thoughts in the comments.

#SamiHamdi #SaudiArabia #Yemen #Houthis #TheThinkingMuslim

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This episode is sponsored by Musletter, a free, five-minute newsletter sharing news and insights from Muslims around the world. Subscribe at: https://musletter.com

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What would a Muslim world of fantasy look like? Tolkien gave us Middle-earth. C.S. Lewis gave us Narnia. Could Islamic storytelling create fictional worlds that capture the imagination of a generation?

Peter Gould joins Muhammad Jalal on The Thinking Muslim to discuss **Tales of Khayal**, a fantasy universe he co-created with author Rehan Khan, inspired by Islamic spirituality and the rich heritage of Muslim civilisation. With a novel series and plans for animation and a video game, the project explores how faith can shape the stories young Muslims grow up with.

Recorded in Istanbul, this conversation examines the Islamic understanding of imagination, or *khayal*, and its relationship to the heart. Gould shares how embracing Islam changed his approach to design, and how Islamic art and architecture continue to inform his work.

They discuss the concerns parents have about gaming and screen time, alongside the possibilities for immersive storytelling that encourages remembrance of Allah. Gould explains how Tales of Khayal draws on sacred knowledge and the history of colonialism, weaving questions about power and technological change into an adventure story.
The episode also explores why some Muslim professionals put aside their artistic ambitions, how they can return to creative work, and what artificial intelligence could mean for the future of design. Gould offers practical advice for anyone hoping to begin writing or rediscover their creativity.

Subscribe to The Thinking Muslim for more conversations on Islam and the ideas shaping Muslim life.

#PeterGould #TalesOfKhayal #TheThinkingMuslim #IslamicStorytelling #MuslimCreatives

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https://khayaal.com
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Disclaimer:
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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.