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In this powerful and heart-opening episode of Rahma with Rose, I sit down with Humera Khan, a London-based community leader, educator, and faith-based activist who has spent decades merging social justice and spirituality into an embodied path. Humera opens up about her journey from cultural Islam as a young woman to recognizing activism, motherhood, and community-building as deeply spiritual practices, challenging traditional notions of spirituality as quiet withdrawal from society.

She candidly reflects on how patriarchal and authoritarian interpretations of Islam have constrained the richness of lived faith, offering a critical yet compassionate critique of shame-based approaches that remain far too common in Muslim communities. With grace and wisdom, Humera shares the personal tools that have helped her stay grounded through adversity, confront gender injustice in religious spaces, and embrace her “enoughness” as a British Muslim woman.

Humera Khan is a freelance Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion consultant and trustee of the London-based An-Nisa Society, a pioneering Muslim women's organisation she co-founded. For over four decades, she has worked at the intersection of community development, policy, and social justice, focusing on the needs of Muslim families. Humera has led and developed projects in Islamic counselling, supplementary education, youth engagement, and sexual health—most notably through her Cycle of Life book series. She has contributed to national conversations through governmental advisory roles and interfaith dialogue, and continues to write and speak on issues such as identity, gender, Islamophobia, and family welfare.

Connect with Humera through An-Nisa Society: www.an-nisasociety.org

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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 deeply moving episode, Rose speaks with Ustadha Zaynab Ansari about her spiritual awakening as a young American Muslim woman studying in Damascus in the 1990s, her journey through traditional scholarship, and the personal trials that reshaped her faith, including widowhood and becoming a single mother overnight. Zaynab explores how Islam’s spiritual core can offer healing in times of grief, the role of women scholars, and the need for honest community accountability in the face of abuse. Zaynab’s voice is one of fierce rahma-compassion, honesty, and grace as she reflects on her life’s path and shares hard-won wisdom for navigating faith, loss, motherhood, and the complexities of being a Muslim woman scholar in the U.S. today.

Ustadha Zaynab Mansour Ansari spent her formative years studying traditional Islam in Damascus, Syria, and has been active in Islamic education for over 20 years as a teacher, writer, and mentor. She teaches with the Ribaat Academic Institute and Jannah Institute and is currently a full-time instructor at Tayseer Seminary in Tennessee. Her work centers on deep scholarship, pastoral care, and creating sacred space for Muslim women’s voices and growth.

Find Ustadha Zaynab online at these places: https://tayseerseminary.org/, https://ribaat.rabata.org/, https://www.jannahinstitute.org/, IG handle: @ustadhazaynab, FB name: Zaynab Mansour Ansari

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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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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).

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 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 Finney, 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