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

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

Was The Universe Created For Humans Only - With Dr Omer Atilla Ergi

In this first episode of Response to Atheists, Dr Zuleyha Keskin speaks with Dr Omer Atilla Ergi about humanity's place in creation, the possibility of other intelligent beings, and what the Qur'an says about the vast universe around us. 📌 In this episode: 00:00 Introduction 00:31 Introduction to the series 02:10 Does the Qur'an say the entire universe was created just for us? 05:47 We are not alone 09:34 Qur'an 17:70: Favouring humans over most, not all of creation 14:24 Qur'an 65:12: Many earths? 19:31 Why I'm a strong believer in other creations like humans Both Dr Omer Atilla Ergi and Dr Zuleyha Keskin teach in the Islamic Studies courses offered by ISRA Academy. For more info: https://www.isra.org.au/uni-courses/

7 Things Children Need More Than Love - With Dr Zuleyha Keskin

Most parents love their children deeply. However, children need more than love. Drawing on examples from the life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and stories from the Qur'an, this talk offers practical insights for parents who want to raise children who feel secure, guided, resilient, and spiritually grounded.