Let's Talk Religion

A dive into Abd al-Malik’s role in shaping early Islamic identity. Discussion of the Dome of the Rock as a political and theological statement. Exploration of administrative reforms like coinage, Arabic as state language, and fiscal centralization. Examination of how civil wars and shifting communal labels narrowed a broad believers movement into a distinct Muslim identity.

Was the great Sufi thinker Ibn 'Arabi actually a kind of idealist philosopher? In this video we explore the metaphysics of the Akbari tradition and the famous doctrine of Wahdat al-Wujud (Oneness of Being).I examine Ibn ‘Arabi’s view that God (al-Haqq) is the only true Reality, while the universe is a divine self-disclosure within Being. Along the way we look at concepts like wujūd (Being), imagination (khayāl), the immutable entities (a‘yān thābita), and the idea that the world is a reflection of the divine attributes.Find me and my music here:https://linktr.ee/filipholmSupport Let's Talk Religion on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/letstalkreligion Or through a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/talkreligiondonateSources/Recommended Reading:Abdel-Hadi, Faris (2025). "Ibn 'Arabi's Religious Pluralism: Levels of Inclusivity". Routledge.Addas, Claude (1993). "Quest for the Red Sulphur". The Islamic Texts Society.Austin, R.W.J. (translated by) (1980). "The Bezels of Wisdom". Classics of Western Spirituality Series. Paulist Press.Chittick, William (1989). "The Sufi Path of Knowledge: Ibn 'Arabi's Metaphysics of Imagination".Chittick, William (1998). "The Self-Disclosure of God: Principles of Ibn al-'Arabi's Cosmology". State University of New York Press.Chittick, William (2005). "Ibn Arabi: Heir to the Prophets". OneWorld Publications.Chodkiewicz, Michel (1993). "Seal of the Saints: Prophethood and sainthood in the doctrine of Ibn 'Arabi". Translated by Liadain Sherrard. The Islamic Texts Society.Caner Dagli (translated by) (2004). Ibn 'Arabi - "The Ringstones of Wisdom (Fusus al-Hikam)". Great Books of the Islamic World. Kazi Pubns Inc.Dyczkowski, Mark S.G. (1987). "The Doctrine of Vibration: An Analysis of the Doctrines and Practices of Kashmir Shaivism". SUNY Press.https://hareesh.org/blogpageIbn Arabi - "The Universal Tree and the Four Birds (al-ittihad al-kawni). Translated by Angela Jaffray. Oxford: Anqa Publishing.Ibn 'Arabi - "The Openings Revealed in Makkah: al-futuhat al-makkiyya". Translated by Eric Winkel. Volumes 1-7. Pir Press.Kastrup, Bernardo (2019). "Idea of the World, The: A multi-disciplinary argument for the mental nature of reality". Iff Books.Kastrup, Bernardo (2024). "Analytic Idealism in a Nutshell: A straightforward summary of the 21st century’s only plausible metaphysics". Iff Books. Muller-Ortega, Paul (1988). "The Triadic Heart of Siva: Kaula Tantricism of Abhinavagupta in the Non-Dual Shaivism of Kashmir". SUNY Press.Rory Dickson, William (2024). "Dissolving into Being: The Wisdom of Sufi Philosophy". Anqa Publishing.Singh, Jaideva (Translated by) (1990). "The Doctrine of Recognition: A Translation of the Pratyabhijnahrdayam with an Introduction and Notes, by Ksemaraja". SUNY Press.Torella, Raffaele & Bettina Bäumer (2016). "Utpaladeva: Philosopher of Recognition". D.K. Printworld.Torella, Rafaele (Translated by) (2013). "The Isvarapratyabhijnakarika of Utpaladeva: Critical edition and annoted translation". Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Find Omid here:Instagram: brotheromidAnd Illuminated Tours/Courses:https://www.illuminatedcourses.comFind me and my music here:https://linktr.ee/filipholmSupport Let's Talk Religion on Patreon: letstalkreligionOr through a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/talkreligiondonateAlso check out the 'Let's Talk Religion' Youtube channel: Let's Talk Religion Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Omid (Umid) Safi, a scholar of Islamic studies and Sufism known for his work on mystical Islam and radical love, joins to trace the Madhhab-e Ishq. He discusses Ahmad Ghazali, Rumi, Ibn Arabi and poetry that makes love a spiritual method. Short reflections explore metaphors like intoxication, role-switching of lover and beloved, and how music and service embody divine love.

Pablo Vasquez, scholar of Zoroastrianism and creator of the Soul Roots channel, guides a dive into Zurvanism and its contested place in ancient Persian religion. He explores Zurvan as a primacy of time, the sparse and mixed sources that complicate study, and why Zurvanist ideas rose in Sasanian scholarly and court settings.

Discover the early insights of 9th-century scholar Abu Zayd al-Balkhi, who explored mental health concepts millennia before modern psychology. Learn about his groundbreaking theories on anxiety, depression, and the interplay between body and soul. Delve into his innovative taxonomy of emotions, including fear and obsessive thoughts, and his practical advice for treatment that combines therapy and external support. Al-Balkhi's ideas on confronting fears mirror contemporary exposure therapy, providing a fascinating link between ancient wisdom and today's mental health practices.

Explore the life of Nicholas of Cusa, a 15th-century thinker who bridged philosophy, theology, and science. Discover his radical idea of 'learned ignorance' and how it shaped his views on infinity and knowledge. Delve into his mission to Constantinople, where diverse texts inspired his writings and ecumenical spirit. Learn about his unique views on God, opposites, and the unification of diverse religious practices. This fascinating exploration highlights why Cusa’s ideas remain significant in contemporary discourse.

In this video, I explain the meaning of taqiyya in Islamic tradition & where it comes from. We look at its historical context, what scholars actually say about it historically and today.Find me and my music here:https://linktr.ee/filipholmSupport Let's Talk Religion on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/letstalkreligion Or through a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/talkreligiondonateSources/Recommended Reading:Hallaq, Wael (2004). "The Origins and Evolution of Islamic Law". Cambridge University Press. Hallaq, Wael (2009). "Sharia: Theory, Practice, Transformations". Cambridge University Press. Stewart, Devin (2013). "Dissimulation in Sunni Islam and Morisco Taqiyya*". AL-QANTARA, XXXIV 2, 2013, pp. 439-490.https://islamqa.org/hanafi/askimam/81133/?utm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is Sharia law, really? In this video, we break down the meaning of Sharia, explain where it comes from, and discuss some of the most misunderstandings you’ve probably heard online.Find me and my music here:https://linktr.ee/filipholmSupport Let's Talk Religion on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/letstalkreligion Or through a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/talkreligiondonateSources/Recommended Reading:Hallaq, Wael (2004). "The Origins and Evolution of Islamic Law". Cambridge University Press. Hallaq, Wael (2009). "Sharia: Theory, Practice, Transformations". Cambridge University Press. Kamali, Mohammad Hashim, 'Shariah: Meaning, Definition, History, and Sources', Shariah and the Halal Industry (New York, 2021; online edn, Oxford Academic, 19 Aug. 2021). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Qadiriyya is often called the most widespread Sufi order in the world — but how did one 12th-century mystic in Baghdad inspire a global movement that still thrives today?This episode explores the life and legacy of Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, the saint revered across the Muslim world as Ghaus al-A‘zam — “the greatest helper.”From medieval Baghdad to North Africa, Turkey, South Asia, and beyond, we trace how his teachings spread across continents, shaping Islamic spirituality for nearly 900 years.Find me and my music here:https://linktr.ee/filipholmSupport Let's Talk Religion on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/letstalkreligion Or through a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/talkreligiondonateSources/Recommended Reading:Abun-Nasr, Jamil M. (2007). "Muslim Communities of Grace: The Sufi Brotherhoods in Islamic Religious Life". C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd.Knysh, Alexander (2012). "Islamic Mysticism: A Short History". BRILL. Malik, Hamza (2018). "The Grey Falcon: The Life and Teaching of Shaykh 'Abd Al-Qadir Al-Jilani". BRILL.Trimingham, John Spencer (1971). "Sufi Orders in Islam". Oxford University Press. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.