ISRA Academy Podcast

In this conversation, Zeynep Yuksel speaks with Dr Zuleyha Keskin about the label “part-time Muslim.” Why we use it, what we actually mean by it, and whether it is a helpful or healthy way to speak about people’s faith.

Timestamps:

00:00 Why do people use the term “part-time” Muslim? 04:26 How faith and practice play out 06:54 Everyone can see someone else as a “part-time” Muslim 11:48 Labe...

Raising daughters in a Western context comes with challenges that are not always immediately visible. In this conversation, Zeynep speaks with Dr Zuleyha Keskin about how parents can help Muslim girls develop the confidence, resilience and inner strength needed to remain grounded in their faith.

00:00 Introduction 00:30 One of the biggest challenges 04:36 Being Muslim requires a lot of strength 07:58 The challenges are socially mor...

In this follow-up discussion, Dr Zuleyha Keskin and Dr Omer Atilla Ergi respond to Neil deGrasse Tyson’s arguments about God, particularly in light of the many questions and comments raised after the first episode.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction 00:25 Summary of Neil deGrasse Tyson’s main argument 01:19 Why Neil deGrasse Tyson’s belief — or lack of belief — matters 05:12 Why the question of God and suf...

What changes when doing good no longer feels like a constant battle, but begins to come from within? In this episode of our series on The 7 Levels of the Nafs, Prof Mehmet Ozalp and Dr Zuleyha Keskin explore Nafs al-Mulhamah — the Inspired Self.

📌 Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 03:20 The Qur’anic basis for Nafs al-Mulhamah 07:45 Intrinsic motivation at this level 10:36 Weight training analogy 14:22 Salah at this level 2...

Dr Zuleyha Keskin speaks with Dr Omer Atilla Ergi about the scientific, philosophical, and theological questions surrounding the beginning of the universe. The conversation explores the limits of current cosmological theories and what the universe’s beginning may imply for deeper questions about creation, causation, and the possibility of something coming from nothing.

Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 05:43 Scientific answer ab...

What happens when we begin to recognise our faults, question our behaviour, and hold ourselves accountable?

In this episode of our series on The 7 Levels of the Nafs, Prof Mehmet Ozalp and Dr Zuleyha Keskin explore Nafs al-Lawwamah — the Self-Reproaching Self.

📌 Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 02:52 Three things that bring us into Nafs al-Lawwamah 06:28 Why Allah swears by this level of the nafs 12:20 Low self-worth and muhas...

Dr Suleyman Sertkaya explores the historical and Qur’anic context behind the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ military engagements in Madinah. The discussion examines why permission to fight was given, the objectives behind military expeditions, and how the Prophet’s actions are often misunderstood when removed from their broader context.

📌 Timestamps

00:00 Foundation steps the Prophet took in Madinah 07:56 Muir: The Prophe...

In this episode, Dr Omer Atilla Ergi explores Said Nursi’s Addendum to the Fifteenth Word, where Nursi recounts an inner dialogue with Satan concerning the Qur’an.

Through a series of doubts and responses, the discussion examines claims that the Qur’an resembles human speech and that people can produce words similar to it.

Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 03:30 Said Nursi: “Satan whispering into my heart”...

In discussions about faith and atheism, the conversation is often shaped not only by evidence, but also by the way arguments are constructed. In this episode, Dr Zuleyha Keskin speaks with Dr Omer Atilla Ergi about several common logical fallacies that frequently appear in arguments against belief in God. Together, they explore how these fallacies influence public discourse and why clear reasoning is essential when discussing quest...

More than 1,400 years ago, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ established the Charter of Madinah, bringing diverse religious, tribal and cultural communities together under a shared framework.

Dr Suleyman Sertkaya explores its principles of coexistence, religious freedom, cultural autonomy and shared responsibility and argues that this historic document can solve many of the problems we’re facing today.

Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 04...

Mental health is discussed more openly than ever before, yet many Muslims still hesitate to speak about their struggles or seek support. Does experiencing anxiety, sadness or emotional distress mean our faith is weak? And what role can therapy play alongside faith?

Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:16 Why some Muslims are ashamed to experience certain emotions 03:08 Why Muslims shy away from therapy 05:14 Do faith and therapy serve ...

In this episode, Dr Zuleyha Keskin speaks with Dr Omer Atilla Ergi about one of the most enduring questions of our time: are science and religion really in conflict? They explore the historical relationship between faith and scientific inquiry, challenge common misconceptions about Islam and science, and discuss why the deeper we understand the universe, the more profound its mysteries become.

Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:15 E...

Raising daughters in a Western context comes with challenges that are not always obvious. In this conversation, Zeynep speaks with Dr Zuleyha Keskin about helping Muslim girls develop the confidence, resilience and inner strength needed to remain grounded in their faith. They discuss the subtle social pressures young Muslim women face, the importance of building trust and creating a relationship in which daughters feel safe speakin...

In this conversation, Ustadh Ahmet Ozturk speaks with Professor Mehmet Ozalp about the deeper meaning and spiritual significance of Bismillah — “In the name of Allah.” This is a thoughtful conversation on faith, creation, dependence on Allah, and the spiritual power contained in words we often say without fully reflecting on their meaning.

Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 01:00 We don’t say Basmala enough 02:34...

If God needs nothing, why did He create the universe? And if He is completely self-sufficient, why does He ask us to worship Him?

In this episode, Dr Zuleyha Keskin speaks with Dr Omer Atilla Ergi about Allah's absolute independence, the purpose of creation, and why worship benefits us, not God. Together they explore how worship is ultimately a process of purification and spiritual growth.

Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 04:49 It&rsq...