Side by Side with Kazi Shafiqur Rahman

What does it mean to heal, not just in mind or spirit, but as a whole human being? In this moving conversation, Shaykh Dr. Asim Yusuf shares insights from a life spent at the crossroads of sacred knowledge and psychological care. We speak about faith through hardship, the tension between emotion and belief, the culture wars between Muslims, and why some questions aren’t meant to be answered just understood. Topics include: – Trusting Allah when life doesn’t go to plan – The difference between knowing the truth and living it – Saints, intercession & spiritual confusion – The Shaykh’s own story of becoming both a doctor and a scholar – Why he stopped performing nasheeds — and what that taught him This episode is a quiet reminder that healing isn’t always about fixing. Sometimes it’s about surrendering. 00:00 – Introduction: Why does Allah describe life as a journey? 03:50 – When Plans Fail: Trusting Allah’s Qadr 09:20 – Developing Sabr and Shukr in Real Life 14:45 – Heart vs Mind: Knowing vs Living the Truth 21:00 – The Shaykh’s Journey: Medicine and Sacred Knowledge 29:35 – Deobandi vs Barelvi: Sect, Culture, and Emotion 38:10 – Saints, Graves & the Question of Intercession 46:50 – Is Islam Over-Intellectualised Today? 54:25 – Making Faith Relevant in a Secular Age 01:02:40 – When Emotions Get in the Way of Belief 01:10:15 – Finding Your Own Path to Allah 01:17:45 – The Problem with Proving Everything 01:23:10 – Why Shaykh Asim No Longer Performs Nasheeds 01:28:00 – Final Reflections: Trust, Journey & Divine Wisdom SPONSOR MESSAGE – Send Money to Bangladesh with ZERO Fees! Taptap Send makes it easier to support loved ones back home, with no transfer fees and a £20 bonus just for you. Download the app using this link: 👉 https://taptapsend.one... [https://taptapsend.one...] When prompted to “Add promo code,” enter KSR and press ‘Enter’. Taptap Send UK Ltd is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 (FRN: 900842). #ShaykhAsimYusuf #IslamAndPsychology #SpiritualHealing #FaithJourney #DeobandiBarelvi #IslamicMentalHealth #SideBySidePodcast #KaziRahman #TaptapSend #TrustInAllah #Sabr #Shukr #BritishMuslimVoices

From Construction sites to Masjid, from England to Morocco, Dowie’s journey to Islam is anything but ordinary. In this powerful and reflective episode, Dowie shares how he embraced Islam, how his own father followed him into the faith, and why he believes Muslim men must rise, not just spiritually, but in discipline, responsibility, and purpose. As a revert, mentor, and advocate for authentic Islamic masculinity, Dowie has been at the forefront of Dawah and men’s development in the UK and beyond. What we explore: – His Shahada and life in Morocco – What happened when he told his family – His father’s unexpected conversion – How to share Islam with non-Muslims without pressure – The role of discipline in faith – Why Muslim men need to lead with balance and impact This episode isn’t just about becoming Muslim, it’s about becoming better. Timestamps: 00:00 – Dowie’s Journey to Islam 02:08 – Life in Morocco and Early Muslim Years 03:48 – Revert Story and Shahada 08:37 – Family Reactions and Father’s Conversion 12:28 – Sharing Islam with Non-Muslims 29:22 – Discipline and Balance in Faith 37:22 – Men’s Leadership and Community Productivity SPONSOR MESSAGE – Send Money to Bangladesh with ZERO Fees! Taptap Send makes it easier to support loved ones back home — with no transfer fees and a £20 bonus just for you. ✅ Download the app using this link:👉 https://taptapsend.one... 💬 When prompted to “Add promo code,” enter KSR and press ‘Enter’. Taptap Send UK Ltd is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 (FRN: 900842).

From prison cells to premium dining, this is the story of transformation you didn’t see coming.In this powerful episode of the Side by Side Podcast, Kazi Shafiqur Rahman sits down with Naz Choudry, founder of Coco Restaurants, to unpack the raw journey of a man who grew up behind bars and rebuilt his life through faith, failure, anda entrepreneurship.What we cover:– Growing up in the prison system– Finding Islam and the mindset shift behind bars– The painful reality of reintegration and family dynamics– Building a business while dodging temptation– Choosing halal over haram, even when it’s harder– Staying grounded, giving back, and guiding the next generationThis isn’t just an interview. It’s a blueprint for change.Timestamps:00:00 – Naz Choudry Introduction02:00 – Growing Up Inside: Childhood Behind Bars10:15 – Islam in Prison: Turning Point Through Faith17:40 – Reconnecting with Family After Release25:55 – The Struggle to Start Over: Life Outside33:10 – The Business Dream: Halal vs Haram Choices41:25 – Dealing with Temptation and the Street Life50:30 – Community, Purpose, and Staying Grounded01:00:05 – Lessons from Failure and Faith in Rizq01:09:40 – Helping Youth and Giving Back01:21:30 – Vision for the Future: Ummah, Business, and BeyondSPONSOR MESSAGE – Send Money to Bangladesh with ZERO Fees!Taptap Send makes it easier to support loved ones back home — with no transfer fees and a £20 bonus just for you.✅ Download the app using this link:👉 https://taptapsend.one…💬 When prompted to “Add promo code,” enter KSR and press ‘Enter’.Taptap Send UK Ltd is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 (FRN: 900842).#SideBySidePodcast #NazChoudry #PrisonToPurpose #CocoRestaurants #FaithAndBusiness #MuslimEntrepreneur #HalalHustle #KaziRahman #StreetToSuccess #IslamicMindset #Rizq #Bengali #BritishMuslimVoices

I’m still in disbelief that I host a podcast. Week after week. Alhamdulillah, we’ve just hit Episode 100 of the Side by Side Podcast, and I want to pause for a moment to say… Thank You. Thank You for getting Side by Side this far. I’m not an educated person. I barely scraped a B in GCSE English.I’m not naturally confident. And I’m definitely not a media professional. But I am someone who’s OK with being uncomfortable. Someone who doesn’t shy away from tough conversations. And someone who’s always trying to learn and grow. This podcast has been one of the most uncomfortable, humbling, and beautiful journeys I’ve ever taken. Every bit of encouragement, every bit of criticism, even the brutal kind, has shaped me. And I’m still learning.For our 100th episode, I wanted to do something meaningful. Something that’s been on my list from day one. So we finally brought together a panel to discuss one of the most complex and sensitive topics in the Muslim community: Is Halal Mortgage Really Halal? With me in this long-overdue conversation are: 🧠 Mufti Abdul Kadir Barkatulla – Islamic finance scholar 🏦 Sagheer Malik – Halal mortgage provider and industry voice 💬 Saira Hayati – a returning guest who raises bold questions 00:04 Historical Context of Islamic Finance in UK 00:07 Types of Islamic Home Finance 00:30 Pricing and Market Challenges 01:15 Future Developments and Solutions No fluff. No PR answers. Just real questions and genuine effort to seek clarity. I hope this helps you think deeper, ask better questions, and make more informed decisions, whether you agree or disagree. Thank you for walking this journey with me.– Kazi Shafiqur Rahman P.S: Apologies in advance for any technical issues in this episode if there are any! 💸 SPONSOR MESSAGE – Send Money to Bangladesh with ZERO Fees! Taptap Send is making it easier to support loved ones back home — with no transfer fees and a £20 bonus for first-time users. ✅ To claim your bonus: 👉 Download the app using this link: https://taptapsend.one… 💬 When prompted to “Add promo code,” enter KSR and press ‘Enter’. Taptap Send UK Ltd is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 (FRN: 900842).

He’s back, and this time, it’s personal. In Episode 99, Mahee Jalil returns to the Side by Side Podcast with Kazi Shafiqur Rahman for a fearless conversation that answers some of your burning questions from last episode with Mahee! What we unpack: * The £1 million scandal at East London Mosque * Mahee’s own fraud convictions, prison time, his opponent still in prison, and public disgrace * His alleged “First Solution” scandal and secret black book * Channel S and whether it still works as his guard dog * His views on Iran, Palestine, boycotts, and the future of Bangladesh * Personal stories of risk, loyalty, and even kidnapping It’s bold. It’s controversial. And it’s packed with uncomfortable truths. No filters. No favours. Just facts. 00:00 – Trailer 01:05 – The East London Mosque Scandal: Where Did the Millions Go? 12:24 – How Mahee Manages Risk (Despite His History) 17:00 – Firing People, Retaining Loyalty: Mahee’s Staff Strategy 18:52 – Is Channel S Just Mahee’s Guard Dog? 22:50 – Future of Bangladesh & Why He does not Back Prof. Muhammad Yunus 25:50 – The First Solution Scandal Explained 32:43 – Mahee’s Secret Black Book Revealed 33:55 – Palestinian Dates: Boycott, Fair Trade & Controversy 36:39 – Iran’s Global Grip: What’s Really Going On? 51:00 – Mahee’s Kidnapping: The Real Story 55:17 – Do Boycotts Actually Work? 1:10:15 – Buying Property in Cash & Final Reflections 💸 SPONSOR MESSAGE – Send Money to Bangladesh with ZERO Fees! Taptap Send makes it easier to support loved ones back home — with no transfer fees and a £20 bonus just for you. ✅ Download the app using this link: 👉 https://taptapsend.one… 🟢 When prompted to “Add promo code,” enter KSR and press ‘Enter’. 🔒 First-time users only. Taptap Send UK Ltd is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 (FRN: 900842). 🎧 Watch, share, and decide for yourself. 🔗 Useful Links: https://bit.ly/41ntoEO 💻 Website: https://kazirahman.co.uk/ & https://sidebysidepodcast.com/ Follow KSR ⬇️ 🔘 LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3v7wq3K 🔘 Instagram: https://bit.ly/46Wf4Ed 🔘 TikTok: https://bit.ly/4aqeQIr 🔘 X: https://bit.ly/3tiC7eQ 🔘 Facebook: https://bit.ly/41lFePL #SideBySidePodcast #MaheeJalil #EastLondonMosque #Iran #Bangladesh #Scandal #MuslimVoices #KaziRahman #Accountability