192: How a Young European Kid Discovered Islam w. Thom Defilet

What happens when you achieve everything the modern world tells you to want, success, wealth, freedom, and comfort, but still feel like something is missing?In this episode of The Ansari Podcast, Thomas Defilit shares his journey from European culture and the Western lifestyle to embracing Islam. His search for truth, happiness, and purpose led him to question everything he once believed about success and what makes life meaningful.Why are so many people in the West struggling to find purpose despite unprecedented material comfort? What does Islam offer that modern society cannot? And what can Muslims learn from the West while rebuilding their own civilization?Thomas and Ansari explore the spiritual emptiness of modern life, European culture, the search for God, ambition, burnout, Muslim identity, and the role of faith in finding lasting fulfillment.We also discuss the mindsets holding Muslims back, what Muslim societies can learn from Europe's achievements, and how a new generation can use its talents to contribute to the revival of Muslim civilization.A powerful conversation about converting to Islam, finding your purpose, and discovering what truly matters in life.CHECK OUT OUR PARTNERS:The Debt Clinic*: https://www.Thedebtclinic.com/ansariProvision Capital: https://www.provisioncapital.com00:00 Intro00:22 Why Islam?06:49 Lifestyle in Europe & Dubai09:17 Our Partners10:53 What can Muslims learn from Europe?23:15 The White Superiority Complex32:54 Finding you purpose in life38:32 How to deal with burnout and stress43:51 Speed-Round Questions48:13 Outro#convertstory #Islam #SearchForTruth #FindingPurpose #JourneyToIslam Listen on All Audio Platforms: https://tr.ee/JeX-ILYSyjFollow The Ansari Podcast: Instagram: https://instagram.com/ansaripodcastTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theansaripodcastTwitter/X : https://twitter.com/ansaripodcast

What happens to Islam when machines become smarter than us?In this episode of The Ansari Podcast, Professor Shoaib Ahmed Malik explores how artificial intelligence could challenge the way Muslims understand consciousness, the soul, human uniqueness, Islamic scholarship, fiqh, and even the Qur’an.Could AI ever become conscious? If it did, would Islam have to rethink it's positioning at all?What happens when AI can give Islamic advice, retrieve hadith, compare legal opinions, and potentially outperform the average Muslim scholar in certain tasks? Who controls the Ai systems that future Muslims and muftis may rely on?We also explore one of the most provocative questions of the episode: Could AI produce something like the Qur’an? What actually makes the Qur’an miraculous, and is there an objective standard for its inimitability?This conversation goes far beyond technology. It is about the future of Islam, religious authority, human identity, and what AI may force us to reconsider about ourselves.JOIN OUR WEBSITE MEMBERSHIP! @ https://ansaripodcast.com/Thank You for Your Support!*The Debt Clinic*: https://www.Thedebtclinic.com/ansariProvision Capital: https://www.provisioncapital.com00:00 Intro01:25 AI & Consciousness05:00 Our Partners15:54 Will Ai challenge God's existence?21:00 People Are Marrying Ai!26:39 iMufti: Ai will become an Islamic authority?30:24 Who will control the Ai giving Islamic rulings?37:18 Can AI match the miracle of the Quran?50:37 Ai: Are humans really the best of creation?53:58 Is Islam Open to this AI Future?55:23 What if an AI becomes Muslim?59:22 How Do You Make Sense of AI?01:06:42 Outro #islamandscience #scienceandgod #aiconsciousness #god #science #islam Listen on All Audio Platforms: https://tr.ee/JeX-ILYSyjFollow The Ansari Podcast:Instagram: https://instagram.com/ansaripodcastTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theansaripodcastTwitter/X : https://twitter.com/ansaripodcast

How does power actually work in Washington....and who really runs things?Isra Chaker has spent her career building campaigns around human rights, refugees, public policy, and social change. In this episode, she explains how influence actually works behind the scenes in DC. Hav eyou heard of the mechanics of power in Washington DC like: "stakeholder mapping, campaign strategy, and coalition building" , then you don't know how to navigate American politics yet. Isra also shares the story behind one of the most unusual campaigns of her career: renting Donald Trump’s childhood home , turning the house into a global campaign.We also discuss her experience working inside major human-rights organizations, including the conversations and advocacy surrounding Amnesty International’s position on Gaza, and what happens behind the scenes before an organization makes a major public determination.Beyond politics and advocacy, Isra opens up about facing Islamophobia growing up, how those experiences shaped her path, and why she describes herself as a social architect, someone focused on building long-term influence, institutions, and relationships.We also talk about her work with Every Mother, a coalition working to raise millions of dollars to support mothers and babies around the world, and how her own difficult pregnancy made that mission deeply personal.JOIN OUR WEBSITE MEMBERSHIP! @ https://ansaripodcast.comThank You for Your Support!*The Debt Clinic*: https://www.Thedebtclinic.com/ansari*Provision Capital:* https://www.provisioncapital.com00:00 Intro00:42 She was behind Amnesty International & Gaza?!05:22 How to play the game of power in Washington DC10:05 Our Partners11:41 How to make friends & influence people 10116:58 She Rented Trump’s Childhood Home26:34 How to get people to pay attention to your cause34:45 Muslim Americans don't understand power39:11 Isra's incredible of Trump's presidency42:19 Story from Bullied Muslim Girl to Change Maker56:36 Saving Mothers & Babies Around the World01:07:21 Final Thoughts01:08:21 Outro*Listen on All Audio Platforms:* https://tr.ee/JeX-ILYSyj*Follow The Ansari Podcast**Instagram:* https://instagram.com/ansaripodcast*TikTok:* https://tiktok.com/@theansaripodcast*Twitter/X:* https://twitter.com/ansaripodcastNasheed in Ad: Halal Sounds - SHAJARAYouTube: / @halalsounds24#trump #power #washingtondc #muslimamerican #gaza #howtomakefriends #howtoinfluencepeople

Would the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ use our modern financial system?In this powerful conversation, we explore a much bigger question than whether a Muslim can take out a mortgage in America: Would the Prophet ﷺ have accepted an economic system built around fiat currency, debt, and interest — or would he have worked to build an alternative?We break down the European Fiqh Council’s fatwa on conventional mortgages, the difference between the Prophet’s ﷺ approach in Mecca and Medina, and why establishing an independent Muslim marketplace became such an important priority after the Hijrah.The conversation then expands beyond mortgages into the foundations of Islamic economics and Islamic banking. What would a genuinely interest-free financial system look like? Can Muslims build alternatives to conventional banks? What role should gold and silver play in protecting wealth from inflation? And how should Muslim families think about debt, riba, home ownership, saving, and long-term financial planning?At the heart of the discussion is a larger question: instead of only asking how Muslims can function inside the existing financial system, should the Ummah be building institutions of its own?Whether you're thinking about a halal mortgage, conventional mortgage, Islamic home financing, riba, fiat currency, gold and silver, Islamic banking, or the future of Muslim economic independence, this conversation challenges us to rethink what a truly Islamic financial system could look like.Watch the Full Episode here: https://youtu.be/ou2GZyWLi8ESupport The Ansari Podcast: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/ansaripodcastMain Channel for Full Episodes: ⁨@TheAnsaripodcast⁩Follow The Ansari Podcast:Instagram: https://instagram.com/ansaripodcastTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theansaripodcastTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/ansaripodcast#Islamicfinance #Islamicbanking #HalalMortgage #FiatCurrency #prophetmuhammad #wealth #finance

Does evolution disprove Islam? Was Adam the father of all humans or all hominids? And can the theory of evolution be reconciled with the Qur’an and Islam? In this episode of The Ansari Podcast, Dr. Shoaib Malik, Lecturer in Science and Religion at the University of Edinburgh, joins us to explore Islam and evolution, human origins, Prophet Adam, Darwinian evolution, and the relationship between science and religion and science and Islam. We ask some of the biggest questions surrounding Islam, evolution, and the origin of humanity: Where did human beings come from? What exactly does modern evolutionary science tell us about our ancestry? Were there human-like creatures before Adam? Was Adam biologically related to other hominids? And does accepting evolution conflict with the Qur’an?Dr. Shoaib Malik explains his theory of Adamic Exceptionalism, a framework for understanding Adam within the scientific evidence for human evolution while preserving the theological significance of Adam in Islam. Also...are humans related to monkeys or apes?From Al-Ghazali and Islamic philosophy to genetics, common ancestry, apes, hominids, and endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), we explore where Islamic theology and evolutionary biology overlap — and where the limits of science may begin.We also discuss whether believing in evolution is haram, whether there can be such a thing as “Islamic science,” the relationship between humans and jinn, historical Islamic discussions surrounding the Queen of Sheba, and some of the stranger questions surrounding human origins.Can Muslims accept evolution?Did humans evolve from apes?Were there other human species before Adam?Was Adam the first Homo sapiens?Can the Qur’an and modern science both be true?This is a conversation about Islam and science, evolution and religion, Adam and Eve, human evolution, Islamic theology, the Qur’an, genetics, anthropology, and the origins of mankind.JOIN OUR WEBSITE MEMBERSHIP! @ https://ansaripodcast.comThank You for Your Support!*The Debt Clinic*: https://www.Thedebtclinic.com/ansari*Provision Capital:* https://www.provisioncapital.com00:00 Intro01:59 Is There Anything in Science that Says God Doesn't Exist?05:24 Ghazali & Evolution?07:29 Our Partners09:02 Is Believing in Evolution Haram?18:30 Islam and Evolution Don't Disagree29:37 Humans Have Married Jinn?35:39 Was Queen of Sheba Half Jinn?!38:51 Humans, Apes & Jinn47:04 What Type of Human Was Adam?54:53 DEBATE: Is There Such Thing as "Islamic Science"?01:06:28 Final Thoughts01:07:37 Part 2 Sneak Peek*Listen on All Audio Platforms:* https://tr.ee/JeX-ILYSyj*Follow The Ansari Podcast**Instagram:* https://instagram.com/ansaripodcast*TikTok:* https://tiktok.com/@theansaripodcast*Twitter/X:* https://twitter.com/ansaripodcast#Islam #science #Evolution #Jinn #Adam

Former Chief Scientist & Engineer at Google & Uber & prominent artificial intelligence expert explores the promises, dangers, and unanswered questions surrounding AI, and what its rapid development means for Muslims and the future of the Muslim world.The Prophet Muhammed's Hadith...could AI bring an age of extreme abundance? What makes the frontier of AI dangerous, and will Muslims be apart of this rapidly changing world?AI raises profound moral and religious questions. Can we use AI to determine what is halal and haram? What happens when governments and militaries deploy AI? Should Muslims participate in AI-driven warfare, and how should Islamic frameworks approach the technologies shaping our future? What if there's Ai sex robots, Virtual realities where your parents are still alive, falling in love with an Ai - How will Islam answer the questions of the future?We explore AI, artificial intelligence, the future of technology, Islam and AI, AI ethics, AI consciousness, AI psychosis, AI warfare, halal and haram, Muslims and technology, the Muslim world, AI and education, AI and jobs, governments using AI, data centers, AI models, AI investment, and the future of humanity.JOIN OUR WEBSITE MEMBERSHIP! @ https://ansaripodcast.comThank You for Your Support!*The Debt Clinic*: https://www.mydebtclinic.com/ansari*Provision Capital:* https://www.provisioncapital.com00:00 The Prophet'sﷺ Hadith: AI & the time of abundance09:08 Debt Clinic/Provision Capital!10:40 Will AI gain Consciousness? 16:13 The Future of AI and Islam: Sex robots & Fiqh22:56 AI & the rise of small business27:32 "We must embrace AI" Ai VS Islam?36:26 Governments: How will Ai change the balance of power41:52 Who does AI Help More? Israel or...?45:47 Is Ai Losing Money? How Dangerous Are Data Centers?53:08 Can Muslims Lead in Ai or Will Ai Destroy Islam?01:05:04 Ansari AI and Other Projects01:11:55 Speed Round Questions01:15:11 Outro*Listen on All Audio Platforms:* https://tr.ee/JeX-ILYSyj*Follow The Ansari Podcast**Instagram:* https://instagram.com/ansaripodcast*TikTok:* https://tiktok.com/@theansaripodcast*Twitter/X:* https://twitter.com/ansaripodcast#AI #DataCenters #hadith #islam #prophetmuhammad #futuretech #prophecy #dayofjudgment

What if changing your life starts with changing what’s happening within you?If you’re anxious about your future—worried about your job, school, finding a spouse, money, or whether your life is going in the right direction—this conversation is for you.We’re joined by Muhammad Ubaidy to explore how Islam can change the way we understand ourselves, our struggles, and the future we’re so often afraid of.We talk about the Quran, the nafs, self-awareness, sin, spiritual discipline, rizq, dua, destiny, and what it means to truly trust Allah. Muhammad explains why we aren’t simply our thoughts, how our past can shape the way we experience life, and how hardship can become part of our spiritual transformation.What do you do when you’ve made dua but feel like nothing is changing? How do you stop overthinking your future? Can you change your destiny? What does it actually mean to have tawakkul and trust that Allah has a plan for you?We also explore the stories of the Prophets and how their lives can help us understand the different states we experience within ourselves.If you’re struggling with anxiety, uncertainty, your faith, your purpose, or fear about what’s coming next, this episode offers a deeper Islamic perspective on finding peace, strengthening your relationship with Allah, and learning to trust what you cannot yet see.JOIN OUR WEBSITE MEMBERSHIP! @ https://ansaripodcast.comThank You for Your Support!*The Debt Clinic*: https://www.mydebtclinic.com/ansari*Provision Capital:* https://www.provisioncapital.com00:00 The Quran Rewires Your Subconscious11:52 Our Partners13:26 Change what’s within…21:12 Can You Convince Allah to Change Your Destiny?30:20 Can You Speak Things into Existence?40:27 How do You Live with yourself when so Sinful?49:25 What if You've Made Dua but Lost Hope?58:46 What if Your past comes to chase you?01:01:50 Final Thoughts01:02:24 Speed Round Questions01:07:01 Connecting to Quranic Dua01:15:30 Outro#spirituality #islam #motivation #quran #selfimprovement #subconsciousreprogramming #tawakkul #innergrowth #wealth #rizq #islamicmotivation *Listen on All Audio Platforms:* https://tr.ee/JeX-ILYSyj*Follow The Ansari Podcast**Instagram:* https://instagram.com/ansaripodcast*TikTok:* https://tiktok.com/@theansaripodcast*Twitter/X:* https://twitter.com/ansaripodcast

Abdul El-Sayed comes on the podcast to explore what it means to build a political movement in an America defined by deepening political and cultural divides.Together, we discuss winning beyond your political base, navigating Washington in the era of Trump, and creating meaningful change in a system shaped by powerful interests. Abdul also shares his perspective on Muslim representation and rising anti-Muslim rhetoric in American politics.Can a new kind of politics bring people together across America’s growing divides?JOIN OUR WEBSITE MEMBERSHIP! @ https://ansaripodcast.comThe Debt Clinic: https://www.mydebtclinic.com/ansariProvision Capital: https://www.provisioncapital.com00:00 Why Republican Voters love Abdul10:27 Ad12:01 Taking Lobbyists Out of Government14:19 Ending the Oligarchy16:15 Hassan Piker & the New Progressive Left20:47 Taxes & grocery prices24:41 Medicaid & healthcare for all26:13 Trump28:11 Anti-Muslim Rhetoric30:42 Ad31:34 Members Questions33:54 Final Thoughts#politics #abdulelsayedListen on All Audio Platforms: https://tr.ee/JeX-ILYSyjFollow The Ansari PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/ansaripodcastTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theansaripodcastTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/ansaripodcast

What happens when you stop imagining yourself in the future?In this episode of The Ansari Podcast, we explore Islamofuturism and the role of science fiction in shaping how Muslims imagine their faith, identity, and place in the future with Ahmed Elbenni. We discuss the influence of Dune, anime, Gulf futurism, and even aliens and the cosmos, while asking why Islam is so often presented in binary terms despite the breadth of its intellectual and spiritual tradition.We explore what an Islamic science fiction could look like and what happens when people are unable to write themselves into the future. Because when you cannot imagine yourself in the future, do you risk disappearing from it?JOIN OUR WEBSITE MEMBERSHIP! @ https://ansaripodcast.comThe Debt Clinic: https://www.mydebtclinic.com/ansariProvision Capital: https://www.provisioncapital.com00:00 What is Science Fiction?06:06 Ad08:12 Dune, Islamo-Futurism, and Islamic Science Fiction20:11 Why Do People of the Future Always Dress Like Muslims?31:53 Ad32:45 Defiant Optimism38:01 What If Someone Wants to Write?41:20 Muslims and Anime50:30 What is Gulf Futurism?55:41 Aliens, UFO's, and Islam01:06:07 Importance of Science Fiction01:20:51 Speed Round Questions01:24:30 Final Thoughts#islamofuturism #islamicsciencefiction #sciencefiction #futurism #islamicartListen on All Audio Platforms: https://tr.ee/JeX-ILYSyjFollow The Ansari PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/ansaripodcastTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theansaripodcastTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/ansaripodcast

In this episode of The Ansari Podcast, we are joined by Hassan Muzzad to explore one of the most significant and misunderstood chapters in Islamic history: the origins of the Sunni–Shia divide.Together, we examine the leadership of Abu Bakr and Ali, the role of the Companions, the tragedy of Karbala, and why the Battle of the Camel may have been the defining moment that transformed political disagreement into a lasting division. Exploring both Sunni and Shia perspectives with nuance and respect, this conversation asks an enduring question: Was the Sunni–Shia split inevitable, or did history take a path that changed the Muslim world forever?JOIN OUR WEBSITE MEMBERSHIP! @ https://ansaripodcast.comThe Debt Clinic: https://www.mydebtclinic.com/ansariProvision Capital: https://www.provisioncapital.com00:00 What Caused the Sunni Shia Split?05:54 Why Ali and not Abu Bakr?11:50 Ad13:23 Why Does the Position of Khalifah Matter?19:38 Who Are the Imams?27:11 Who Are the Real Sahaba and are Reliable Sources?39:06 Isn't Abu Bakr the Family of the Prophet PBUH?45:31 Ad46:22 What Happened at the Battle of the Camel?59:09 What Happened with Hussain and Yazid?01:08:14 Who Betrayed Hussain?01:11:15 When did the Actual Sunni Shia Split Happen?01:13:55 When Did Shia Hadith Begin?01:16:42 Who are The 12 Imams?01:24:28 Why Did Allah Allow Abu Bakr to Be the Khalifa?01:33:44 Can Shia Insult the Sahaba?01:36:14 Is the Ayatollah like the Pope?01:49:38 Sunni and Shia are a Part of the Same Civilization01:53:13 Final Thoughts#shia #sunni #iran #islamichistory #muslimunityListen on All Audio Platforms: https://tr.ee/JeX-ILYSyjFollow The Ansari PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/ansaripodcastTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theansaripodcastTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/ansaripodcast