ISRA Academy Podcast

Does Suffering Disprove God? - With Dr Omer Atilla Ergi

Dr Omer Atilla Ergi explores one of the most challenging questions in philosophy and theology: the Problem of Evil. Drawing on reason and Islamic theological insights, he examines whether suffering truly contradicts belief in a merciful God and how concepts such as free will, human perspective, and divine wisdom contribute to understanding this issue. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:26 The term theodicy 01:17 The argument that suffering contradicts God’s mercy 09:02 Is God All-Powerful? 09:51 If God is all-powerful, is He intentionally not stopping suffering? 13:50 Evil and suffering are subjective 19:03 Free will can cause suffering, but free will is needed

How Do We Know Which Religion Is True - With Dr Omer Atilla Ergi

In this conversation, Dr Zuleyha Keskin and Dr Omer Atilla Ergi explore one of the most important questions a person can ask: how do we know which religion is true?  00:00 Introduction 00:52 Who asks this question? 05:07 How the names of God may be understood in other religions 07:12 Renowned historic figures may have been prophets 13:15 Why would there be no prophet after Prophet Muhammad? 17:12 What if I was born into a non-Muslim family? 23:31 Being born into a certain religion is not an advantage

Is The Animal Kingdom Built on Suffering? - With Prof Mehmet Ozalp

Many modern atheists argue that the natural world is fundamentally cruel, a place where survival depends on predation, competition, and death. In this thought-provoking discussion, Prof Mehmet Ozalp and Dr Zuleyha Keskin explore a different perspective. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:38 Famous atheists portray life as all about suffering 04:05 There’s less suffering in the animal kingdom than it’s made out to be 11:44 Rational argument that life is about helping one another 19:50 Imam Ghazali’s approach 22:47 Knowledge beyond the animals

Nafs Al-Ammarah (The Commanding Self) - With Prof Mehmet Ozalp

What drives our thoughts, emotions, habits, and behaviours? In this new series, Prof Mehmet Ozalp and Dr Zuleyha Keskin explore the classical Islamic concept of the seven levels of the nafs (self), beginning with the first and lowest level: Nafs al-Ammarah (the Commanding Self). Drawing on Islamic scholarship, spirituality, and practical examples from everyday life, this discussion examines how the nafs influences our actions, why we struggle with certain habits, and how spiritual growth begins. 📌 Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:58 What is the nafs? 02:36 Introduction to Nafs al-Ammarah 08:30 Habit change and the different levels of the nafs 09:38 Signs of Nafs al-Ammarah 17:43 Hadith on anger and emotional dysregulation 21:22 The relationship between iman and Nafs al-Ammarah 25:28 How do you recognise that you are coming out of Nafs al-Ammarah? This episode is part of our series on The 7 Levels of the Nafs, exploring the journey of spiritual purification and inner transformation in Islam.

Madinah Before Islam - With Dr Suleyman Sertkaya

What was Madinah like before the arrival of Islam? In this insightful lecture, Dr Suleyman Sertkaya explores the history of Yathrib (later known as Madinah) before the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ migrated there. Discover the tribal dynamics, longstanding conflicts, and social conditions that shaped the city and prepared it for one of the most significant transformations in human history. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:15 Why it was called Yathrib 07:38 Population breakdown of Yathrib when the Prophet ﷺ arrived 11:23 Aws and Khazraj: Two brothers from the same mother and father 20:32 The Buʿāth Wars 30:46 The search for an external person to resolve conflict in Yathrib 43:17 Islam comes into the picture 44:15 Factors contributing to the people of Madinah accepting Islam