Cultivating Mercy: Music, Spirituality, and the Man of Real

In this episode of Beyond Names, Dr. Habib welcomes artist, former imam, and spiritual teacher Abdul Karim Pinckney — also known as The Man of Real — for a heartfelt conversation on faith, transformation, and his latest project, Project Inspire. From his journey through Islam and Sufism to his love of music as a vehicle for sacred expression, Abdul Karim shares how life itself becomes a spiritual practice. Together, they explore themes of remembrance, mercy, culture, and connection — and how hip-hop can be a bridge between worlds. This episode includes a special listen to his track “We Give It All We Got” and a moving reflection on spirituality as a lived, embodied experience

Highlights include:

• A powerful spiritual turning point from the Bronx to the Qur’an
• The roots of Project Inspire and using music as a teaching tool
• Cultivating mercy in daily life and building spiritual resilience
• The sacred role of curiosity and living remembrance
• Why “spirituality starts in the stomach”

Tune in for inspiration that’s real, grounded, and full of heart.

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