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What happens when the faith you were raised with no longer feels like home? Raised in a Sufi Muslim family in Kashmir, Daisy Khan carried a deep sense of Divine presence from childhood. But as a young immigrant in America, she found herself lost, disillusioned, and searching for God in unexpected places, including ashrams and Buddhist retreats.

In this raw and honest conversation, Daisy shares how a hidden Sufi bookstore in New York pulled her back into a connection with the Divine. She discusses how zikr is an embodied healing practice, the quiet power of spiritual community, and what it means to reclaim faith on your own terms.

Dr. Daisy Khan is an award-winning speaker, author, and founder of WISE, advocating for Muslim women’s rights and spiritual leadership. Her memoir Born with Wings and latest book 30 Rights of Muslim Women reclaim the narrative on women’s agency in Islam. Featured in TIME’s 100 Most Influential People, BBC, CNN, The New York Times and more, she is recognized globally as a bridge builder and thought leader.

Find Daisy online:

daisykhan.com or wisemuslimwomen.org, as well as on Facebook, LinkedIn, IG (@daisykhan.nyc), and X (@daisykhan).

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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 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

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 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

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In this episode, I sit down with Henrietta Szovati to explore a journey shaped by profound moments and courageous leaps. Henrietta recalls how a near-death experience during a mountain hike opened up her path to spirituality, leaving her searching for life’s deeper meaning. Growing up in communist Hungary, she learned resilience in an environment that suppressed religion. She runs a vibrant writing club, empowering women to pursue their creative dreams and support one another along the way. Currently, she’s developing a leadership program specifically for Muslim women, while also nurturing her next big project, which is still under wraps.

Henrietta also shares her love affair with Andalusia's mountains and how nature now grounds her soul. She talks about her one-closet philosophy and how decluttering keeps her mind and life clear. And in one of her most powerful lessons, she describes how a silent six-month pause unexpectedly led her to her biggest dreams. For anyone seeking clarity, purpose, and resilience, this episode is full of insights that will leave you inspired to see the magic in stillness and creativity.

Find Henrietta at her website: www.henriettaszovati.com or on Facebook.

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 Shahira Qudrat to discuss her lifelong spiritual journey and the challenge of reconciling her Afghan cultural upbringing with her American identity.

As a young Afghan-American woman, Shahira found herself caught between two cultures—balancing the traditional religious values of her family with the modern, secular expectations of American society.

Shahira also opens up about navigating difficult life experiences like an early marriage, divorce, and mental health struggles, sharing how she learned to find healing and purpose through her personal relationship with God. From her teenage years of exploring various religious traditions to the wisdom she shares with us, her journey is both deeply personal and universally relatable. This episode is filled with powerful lessons on the role of curiosity, community, and the many different paths that can guide us home.


Shahira Qudrat is a 1.5-generation Afghan-American Muslim woman and a dedicated daughter, sister, mother of five, and wife. With over 20 years of experience in private and non-profit sectors and the multicultural identity space, Shahira is a business leader specializing in strategy and planning. Her core strengths include organizational change management, high-functioning team development, business strategy planning, and project management, which she leverages to merge passion with purpose in her professional endeavors.

Find Shahira on Instagram @shahira_qudrat

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 podcast episode, I chat with Samia Bano about her spiritual journey and how she overcame childhood sexual abuse to find inner peace and become a peacebuilder in her community. Samia shares how healing came through counseling, connecting with other survivors, and cultivating spiritual practices, including finding solace in prayer.

Reflecting on her faith, Samia explains how she initially embraced a dogmatic approach to Islam but later found peace by embracing pluralism. Her move from Pakistan to the U.S. and college experience helped her develop a more inclusive and open-minded understanding of Islam. We also discuss Samia’s heart-centered approach to navigating diverse Muslim communities, from conservative to progressive spaces.

The episode wraps up with a conversation on the pursuit of happiness and spiritual enlightenment. Samia emphasizes the importance of detachment and practical steps to cultivate lasting happiness. Known for her work as a Happiness Expert, author, and podcaster, Samia uses her signature program, combining positive psychology with spiritual wisdom, to help others overcome limiting beliefs and create a joyful, impactful life. A survivor, Reiki healer, and mental health advocate, Samia is also a bridge-builder between people of different faiths and cultures.

Samia Bano is a Happiness Expert, author, speaker, podcaster, and coach. Known for her book and podcast, Make Change Fun and Easy, Samia guides clients through her signature program, combining positive psychology with spiritual wisdom to overcome limiting beliefs and create a life of impact and joy.

A survivor of child sexual abuse, Samia began her journey toward inner peace at a young age. Samia has an inter-spiritual approach and is a bridge-builder between people of different faiths and cultures. Samia is also a Certified Reiki Healer, Crisis Counselor, and advocate for mental health awareness.

Find Samia online here:

Website and Youtube Channel

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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This is an episode from the podcast Include with Dr. Liz, who invited me to appear on her show.

Here is her overview of the episode:

A former tenured professor of religious studies and American expat living in Turkey, Rose is a courageous, compassionate, clever and complex, mother raising her son on her own. After stepping away from a job that most people never leave, she has found a better life in supporting others to become unstuck in their own lives.

Include Podcast available on Youtube and Apple podcasts and Dr. Liz’s website.

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