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In this episode of Rahma with Rose, I sit down with poet and writer Ameera Aslam to explore what it means to soften without losing your edge. Ameera speaks openly about her evolving relationship with Islam, from early rigidity and burnout to a slower, more spacious faith. We talk about spiritual exhaustion, divorce, rebuilding self-worth, and what it takes to listen for your voice in a world that constantly tries to quiet it.

Ameera shares how connecting with the Prophet Muhammad, studying with women scholars, and returning to embodied practices helped her move from resentment to trust. This conversation is for anyone navigating disillusionment, identity, or the long road home to themselves.

Ameera Aslam is a bestselling author, award-winning poet, translator, editor, and activist from Singapore. Her work has appeared in various publications, both locally and internationally. Desiring Light, her first poetry anthology, won the Daybreak Press Book Awards in 2021. Her third book, When You Think You’re Falling, published in March 2024, has been on multiple bestseller lists, including Singapore’s national newspaper, The Straits Times. Her activism includes speaking out against domestic violence and supporting domestic violence survivors, as well as raising awareness and funds for migrant workers in Singapore (#SGMuslims4MigrantWorkers).

Find Ameera on Instagram: @AmeeraAslamWrites

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Find out more about Rose's work here: https://lnk.bio/dr.rose.aslan
Website: https://compassionflow.com

Support Rahma with Rose so I can keep producing more episodes here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2197727/supporters/new

Music credits: Vocals: Zeynep Dilara Aslan; Ney/drum: Elif Önal; Tanbur: Katherine Hreib; Rebap: Hatice Gülbahar Hepsev

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In this episode of Rahma with Rose, I’m joined by Fatimah, a licensed therapist and trainer in Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy. Fatimah shares her unique journey as a Black Muslim woman navigating motherhood, spiritual growth, and a career in mental health. We dive into how she integrates IFS therapy with Islamic psychology to help clients confront and heal from past trauma. Fatimah explains how reconnecting with our "inner parts," embracing vulnerability, and practicing self-compassion can guide us through life’s biggest challenges. Her story is both inspiring and deeply personal—don’t miss this heartfelt conversation about resilience, faith, and healing.

Fatimah Finney is an innovative thinker and licensed mental health counselor, as well as a trainer at the Internal Family Systems Institute. Her work goes beyond traditional therapy, integrating IFS as a framework for deep self-exploration and healing. She’s also a consultant for intercultural competence, helping individuals and organizations enhance their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Fatimah completed a graduate diploma in Islamic Psychology from Cambridge Muslim College, and she’s actively integrating these rich insights into her practice. Outside of her work, Fatimah is a mother and a writer, and her piece "In My Skin: An Autobiography" was featured in the anthology Nonwhite & Woman: 131 Microessays on Being in the World. Join us as we explore her unique approach to mental health, spirituality, and social justice.

Support the show

Find out more about Rose's work here: https://lnk.bio/dr.rose.aslan
Website: https://compassionflow.com

Support Rahma with Rose so I can keep producing more episodes here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2197727/supporters/new

Music credits: Vocals: Zeynep Dilara Aslan; Ney/drum: Elif Önal; Tanbur: Katherine Hreib; Rebap: Hatice Gülbahar Hepsev

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In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Rola Hallam, a doctor, activist, and humanitarian whose life was reshaped by the Syrian war. As a frontline doctor working on medical missions in Syria, Rola confronted unimaginable devastation, and her own experience of trauma eventually pushed her toward a profound spiritual awakening.

Rola opens up about finding peace through Buddhism, rediscovering Islam through Sufism, and how reciting the beautiful names of the Divine became her guide to healing. In this intimate conversation, Rola’s journey from burnout to renewal shows the power of facing our hardest moments—and how spirituality can anchor us through it all.

Dr. Rola Hallam is the first Syrian TED Fellow and a renowned humanitarian, social entrepreneur, and NGO leader. She has supported frontline health workers in war-torn communities, helping build seven hospitals in Syria and reaching over 4 million people. Rola speaks on transformative topics such as authentic communication, balancing impact with well-being, and trauma-informed leadership. She offers strategies for overcoming burnout through nervous system regulation and self-compassion, guiding leaders to build resilient, thriving organisations. Her talks have inspired over 12 million viewers across platforms like TED, Google, and Women in the World.

Connect with Rola at drrolahallam.com.

Support the show

Find out more about Rose's work here: https://lnk.bio/dr.rose.aslan
Website: https://compassionflow.com

Support Rahma with Rose so I can keep producing more episodes here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2197727/supporters/new

Music credits: Vocals: Zeynep Dilara Aslan; Ney/drum: Elif Önal; Tanbur: Katherine Hreib; Rebap: Hatice Gülbahar Hepsev