A quiet name change on a school register. Pronouns switched without a word to the parents. Then the reveal: at home she’s one child, at school she’s another. That’s the moment most families realise they can’t outsource their children’s formation—and it’s where our conversation with Yusuf Patel begins.

We dig into how parents can confidently navigate RSE in UK schools without retreating from education altogether. Yusuf explains why emailing questions (not just chatting at the gate) creates an audit trail that compels a school to reflect: what exactly is being taught, which parts are compulsory, and how will the religious background of pupils be respected? We unpack the latest legal clarity on biological sex, what it means for toilets, uniforms, social transitioning, and safeguarding, and how to press for policy updates that protect freedom of belief in the classroom. Real case studies show how calm complaints turned into apologies, revised policies, and cancelled sessions when materials crossed the line—proof that small, strategic wins protect many children.

Then we turn the lens homeward. Values are caught, not taught, so we talk about building a lived Islam that children can see: praying on time, modelling charity, showing gratitude and tawbah, and aligning daily choices with faith. Yusuf calls fathers to emotional availability—hugs, words of affection, and presence that inoculate against online echo chambers and peer pressure. And when a child says, “I’m not a boy,” we offer a roadmap rooted in love: slow down, look beneath the label, rebalance home routines, limit digital triggers, and seek a trusted Muslim counsellor who explores underlying needs rather than fast-tracking identity claims.

If you’re a parent, teacher, or governor looking for practical steps, legal awareness, and heart-level guidance, this conversation will equip you to engage schools wisely and strengthen your home. Subscribe, share with a fellow parent, and leave a review with the one question you’ll email your school this week. Your voice—and your love—can change the outcome.

Chapters:

0:00 Chapter 1 - Intro

1:41 Chapter 2 - The Challenge of Sexualised Education

2:10 Chapter 3 - Step One: Know What’s Being Taught

3:55 Chapter 4 - The Power of Engagement

5:35 Chapter 5 - Know Your Rights: The Parental Toolkit

8:54 Chapter 6 - Case Study: A Father’s Impact

11:25 Chapter 7 - Real-Life Incident: A Child Punished for His Faith

13:59 Chapter 8 - Every Success Counts

15:08 Chapter 9 - Teach Children to Speak Out

16:47 Chapter 10 - Courage in the Classroom

19:14 Chapter 11 - Gender Ideology in Primary Education

24:17 Chapter 12 - Advice to Parents

25:31 Chapter 13 - Develop a Child's Relationship With Allah

28:07 Chapter 14 - The Absent Father Problem

30:24 Chapter 15 - The Sunnah of Showing Love

34:18 Chapter 16 - How to Raise Dysfunctional Children

40:04 Chapter 17 - If your child comes to you and says...

46:15 Chapter 18 - Conclusion

This is part of our Guarding Innocence c

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Shaykh Abu Aaliyah explores modernity as a philosophical worldview that trades meaning for power, examining how Muslims can navigate these challenging waters while preserving their faith and purpose.

• Modernity is not about technology but the philosophical assumptions underpinning our world for the past 300-350 years

• Most people today don't realise what they've lost as meaninglessness has become the default philosophy of our culture

• Muslims are susceptible to "ideological osmosis" – absorbing modern ideas even while practicing their faith

• Rather than building a competing "juggernaut," Muslims need an “ark of salvation”, built on Quran, Sunnah and scholarly consensus

• We need scholars who understand both traditional Islamic knowledge and modernity's philosophical underpinnings

• Consumerism is perhaps the most spiritually destructive aspect of modernity, directly feeding into "hubb al-dunya" (love of worldly things)

• Many Muslims have become fixated on outward expressions of faith while neglecting the purification of the heart

• The path forward requires "shrinking our souls" rather than expanding them – cultivating humility instead of self-promotion

• Muslims must position themselves as healers offering the balm of Tawhid to a spiritually wounded world

• True progress isn't measured by how far or fast we move, but by maintaining our direction toward Allah

Receive one of 25 free copies of "A Muslim's Guide to Modernity" by leaving a thoughtful comment about what you've learned from this conversation.

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Palestinians have inhabited their land for millennia, with genetic studies confirming 70-90% correspondence between modern Palestinians and ancient Canaanites from 4,000 years ago. This scientific evidence directly contradicts the Zionist narrative that portrays Palestinians as newcomers to the region.

• Genetic research shows Palestinians have preserved more ancient Canaanite DNA than European Jews who have approximately 40-50% correspondence
• Ben-Gurion himself acknowledged Palestinians descended from Jewish farmers who lived in the region 2,000 years ago
• The land was called "Palestine" for over two millennia, named after the Philistines encountered by Herodotus around 500 BCE
• Lord Balfour admitted Britain "deliberately declined to accept the principle of self-determination" in Palestine
• Einstein opposed Zionist political control, advocating instead for a "secured bi-national status in Palestine"
• Anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism – Ben-Gurion understood Palestinian opposition was to foreign occupation, not Judaism
• The occupation of West Bank and Gaza violates the UN Charter principle that territory cannot be acquired through conquest
• Israel's security arguments parallel those used to justify slavery and other historical oppressions
• Under Islamic governance, Jews historically enjoyed protections and rights denied them in Christian Europe

Our history shows Muslims, Christians, and Jews can coexist peacefully under a system that respects religious differences while ensuring equal rights. We must challenge false narratives and work toward justice based on historical truth.

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When Ali Jaffery first experienced same-sex attraction at age 12, he began an 11-year journey of silence, shame, and self-loathing. Growing up in a conservative Muslim family with limited male mentorship, he felt fundamentally different and broken—convinced that his feelings made him unworthy in the eyes of Allah.

This profound conversation reveals the transformative moment when Ali began dismantling what he calls "the identity paradigm"—the false notion that experiencing same-sex attraction makes someone inherently different or forces them to choose between their faith and their feelings.

Ali articulates a powerful alternative framework grounded in Islamic tradition: differentiating between having desires (which aren't sinful) and acting upon them (which involves choice). Through deep reflection on the Qur’an, he discovered that the divine message wasn't about condemning people with certain attractions but rather calling everyone toward taqwa (God-consciousness) regardless of their internal struggles.

The healing journey Ali describes involves brotherhood, healthy masculine connections, and psychological insights that reveal how his sexualised attractions masked deeper needs for acceptance and belonging. Most movingly, he shares how honesty about his struggles led to a fulfilling marriage with a woman who responded to his disclosure with remarkable compassion…

For anyone navigating the complex intersection of faith and so-called “sexuality”—or simply trying to understand how Islamic teachings can address contemporary challenges with both compassion and principle—this episode offers rare wisdom. Ali's story demonstrates that neither shame-filled silence nor identity-based surrender are the only options, showing instead a third way: how struggle itself can become a pathway to spiritual growth and authentic relationships.

In this episode, Ali and the host Hamza Andreas Tzortzis discuss:

• First experiencing same-sex attraction at age 12 while lacking masculine role models and mentorship
• Carrying the secret for 11 painful years due to shame, fear and self-loathing
• Finding the courage to speak openly in counselling sessions at university
• Distinguishing between having desires and acting upon them – a crucial Islamic principle
• Discovering that healthy male relationships and brotherhood were what he truly craved beneath sexualised attractions
• Reframing the Quranic story of Prophet Lūt عليه السلام as calling people toward taqwa
• Building a successful marriage based on complete transparency and shared spiritual values
• Creating support systems for Muslims with same-sex attraction to find community without shame
• Emphasising that Allah judges actions rather than feelings we don't control
• Offering a third path beyond both denial and identity-based approaches to same-sex attraction

…and more.

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Sheikh Haitham Al-Haddad offers profound Islamic insights on preventing suicide, addressing hopelessness, and finding meaning during difficult times. Through Quranic principles and prophetic guidance, he provides a comprehensive approach to mental distress that addresses physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual dimensions.

• Life is inherently a test, so difficulties should be expected rather than surprising
• The sanctity of life in Islam extends to all creatures, with human life holding special value
• Despairing of Allah's mercy may be a greater sin than many realize
• Muslims have the lowest suicide rates among religious groups in the UK, demonstrating religion's protective effect
• Those contemplating suicide often mistakenly believe death ends suffering, when Islamic teaching shows accountability continues
• Finding hope requires understanding both dunya (worldly) and akhira (afterlife) perspectives
• Effective support combines physical practices (prayer, exercise), intellectual understanding, and emotional connection
• Remembering the temporary nature of this life compared to eternity helps contextualise current suffering
• Every challenge contains hidden opportunities for spiritual growth and development
• Muslims are created to lead humanity by example, carrying divine light to benefit others

Visit Islam21c.com/HoldOn to access resources from our campaign designed to provide Islamic tools for preventing suicide and addressing hopelessness in our communities.

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