The Thinking Muslim

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France is home to one of the largest Muslim populations in Europe. Yet for many Muslims, practising Islam has become increasingly difficult. From restrictions on religious expression to the growing influence of the far right, many are asking a question that would have seemed unthinkable a generation ago: is there still a future for Muslims in France?

In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, Muhammad Jalal is joined by Marwan Muhammad, one of the most prominent voices on Islamophobia and civil rights in France. Together they examine how the French state views Islam, the reality of Muslim life under laïcité, the controversy surrounding the government's report on the Muslim Brotherhood, the targeting of Muslim women, and whether Muslims can organise politically to defend their rights.

This is an essential conversation for anyone seeking to understand the changing relationship between France and its Muslim population.

About Marwan Muhammad:
Marwan Muhammad is a French-Egyptian author, statistician and human rights advocate. He is the former director of the Collective Against Islamophobia in France (CCIF) and has worked with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) supporting Muslim communities across Europe, Central Asia and North America. He also led the first nationwide survey of Muslims in France and now works as a human rights consultant for international organisations.

You can find Marwan Muhammad here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marwan-muhammad-9049553b?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/diplomathics/
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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.
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One thousand days since the start of the genocide in Gaza, the humanitarian catastrophe continues to unfold. In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, Dr. Azzam Tamimi joins the podcast to examine where Gaza stands today, how the conflict has reshaped the Palestinian cause, and what the future may hold.

The conversation explores the political realities surrounding Hamas, the impact of the Iran - Israel war, the role of Western media, the effectiveness of protest movements, and the broader questions of Muslim unity, nationalism, and solidarity. Dr. Azzam Tamimi also shares his recommendations for those looking to deepen their understanding of Palestine through reading.

About Dr. Azzam Tamini:
Dr. Azzam Tamimi is a Palestinian-British academic, political analyst, and author specialising in Middle Eastern politics and Islamic movements. He is widely recognised for his commentary on Palestine, political Islam, and regional affairs, and has written extensively on Hamas and the Israeli - Palestinian conflict.

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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.

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In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, we sit inside the historic Al-Nuri Bimaristan in Damascus with Dr. Francesca Bocca-Aldaqre to explore one of the most remarkable institutions in Islamic civilisation.

The bimaristan was not simply a hospital. It was a place of healing that understood the human being in their entirety, body, mind, and soul. At a time when much of the world had yet to develop humane approaches to mental healthcare, Islamic civilisation had already built institutions rooted in dignity, compassion, and holistic care.

Together, we explore what made the bimaristan unique, from its patient-centred design and therapeutic environment to the waqf systems that sustained it for generations. We also reflect on what Syria has lost through war, what traditional Islamic approaches to healing can still offer today, and whether these institutions can once again play a role in rebuilding a wounded society.

As Syria looks toward recovery, this conversation asks an urgent question: can true reconstruction happen without healing the people themselves?

Here is Dr Francesca's profile if you wish to find out more about her:
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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.
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In this episode, we sit down with Ghassan Hitto, Executive Director of Syrian Forum and former Prime Minister of the Syrian Interim Government, for an in-depth conversation on Syria’s economic collapse, humanitarian crisis, and the immense challenge of rebuilding a nation devastated by more than a decade of war.
With over 90% of Syrians living below the poverty line, millions displaced, and reconstruction costs estimated at over $216 billion, Syria stands at a critical crossroads. What will recovery actually require? Who will shape it? And how can rebuilding serve the Syrian people rather than outside interests?
Ghassan Hitto shares his insights from years of humanitarian, economic, and development work inside Syria and across the region.
In this conversation, we discuss:

• The reality of poverty and welfare in Syria today
• What reconstruction costs truly mean on the ground
• Housing, displacement, and the refugee return question
• The impact of lifted sanctions — and why it’s only a first step
• Banking, investment, and economic recovery
• Rebuilding Syria’s education and healthcare systems
• The role of youth, agriculture, and economic participation
• Governance, corruption, and political legitimacy
• The importance of civil society in rebuilding
• The role of Islamic institutions like waqf, zakat, and charitable networks
• What a truly Syrian model of recovery could look like
This is a vital conversation about the future of Syria — not just rebuilding infrastructure, but restoring dignity, institutions, and hope for millions of Syrians.

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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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.
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In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, we are joined once again by political analyst Sami Hamdi to unpack the far-reaching consequences of the Iran-Israel war and what it reveals about the changing balance of power in the Middle East.

When the conflict began, Washington and Tel Aviv spoke of regime change in Tehran, destroying Iran’s nuclear programme, and remaking the region. Yet months later, many of those ambitions appear unrealised. We examine whether the war has damaged perceptions of American power, strengthened Iran's position, and exposed the limits of Israeli influence despite its military campaign.

We also explore the growing independence of regional powers such as Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, both of which resisted pressure to join a wider confrontation. Has a new regional order begun to emerge?

The conversation turns to Syria, where Ahmed al-Sharaa faces mounting pressure to navigate a volatile geopolitical landscape while prioritising stability and reconstruction. We discuss whether Damascus can avoid being drawn into future conflicts and what role Syria may play in the region's future.

We also examine the continuing tensions between Türkiye and Israel, the state of the Saudi-UAE rivalry, Mohammed bin Salman's standing in the Muslim world, and whether new trade corridors and rail projects signal the revival of a long-lost vision of Muslim economic integration.

Finally, we discuss reports of a potential multi-billion-dollar package involving Iran, including sanctions relief, infrastructure rebuilding, guaranteed loans and the unfreezing of assets, and what this could mean for the future of the region.

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

You can find Sami Hamdi here:
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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.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
06:20 - Strait of Hormuz Showdown: Has Iran Forced Washington to Back Down? | Regime Change and Regional Power
20:30 - Iran’s Support for Militias in Syria | What Kind of Iran Emerges After This Conflict?
40:30 - Has Israel Lost the Public Relations War? | How Iran Changed American Perceptions of Israel
54:15 - Erdoğan’s Warning to Israel | Is Turkey the Next Target?
1:08:45 - Syria After the Revolution | The Limits of Pragmatism and Dealing with the US
1:24:15 - The New Hijaz Railway | A Symbol of Muslim Unity After 100 Years of Division?
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