Shaykh Jamal ud-Deen Hysaw — From Chicago to Tarim: Finding the Sunnah Through Sacred Knowledge | Talking With Teachers

In this powerful episode of Talking With Teachers, we sit down with Shaykh Jamal ud-Deen Hysaw, a teacher of the Islamic sciences whose journey to sacred knowledge spans decades of study across Syria and Yemen.

Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Shaykh Jamal embraced Islam in 1992 after an early attraction shaped in part by the themes and messages of conscious rap music. His search for truth led him to Damascus, Syria, where he studied Arabic and Islamic studies at Abu Nur Institute and the University of Damascus. He later continued his studies in Tarim, Yemen at Dar al-Mustafa under the tutelage of the famed scholars of the Habā’ib, including Habib Umar bin Hafidh, Habib Abdur-Rahman bin Hafidh, Shaykh Umar al-Khatib, and Habib Ali al-Jifri. During this period, he received authorization to teach classical works in Shafi‘i fiqh, ‘aqidah, hadith, tafsir, and the sciences of the heart.

In this conversation, Shaykh Jamal reflects on:

• His personal journey into Islam and the unexpected influences that shaped his early path
• The role of conscious rap music in sparking his initial interest in Islam
• His difficult experiences with harsh approaches to religious practice and narrow understandings of the Sunnah
• How studying under Habib Umar bin Hafidh transformed his understanding of the Prophetic tradition and deepened his spiritual connection to the Sunnah
• The importance of balance, character, and spiritual refinement in practicing Islam today

Shaykh Jamal currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia, where he serves as an Arabic instructor at the Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam. He continues his studies under Shaykh Muhammad bin Yahya An-Ninowy and leads regular learning programs, seminars, retreats, and community initiatives.

This episode offers profound reflections on transformation, sacred learning, and the living tradition of the Sunnah in the modern world.

Shaykh Khalil Abdur-Rashid joins Talking With Teachers to discuss his new book Malcolm X and the Indigenizing of Islam in America. This conversation reflects on Malcolm X’s enduring influence, the formation of an authentic American Muslim identity, and the spiritual and social lessons his life continues to offer today.

📖 Book on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Malcolm-X-Indigenizing-Islam-America/dp/180011012X

#TalkingWithTeachers #KhalilAbdurRashid #MalcolmX #AmericanIslam #MuslimHistory #IslamInAmerica #LamppostEducation

In this powerful episode of Talking With Teachers, Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali interviews Imam Mujahid Abdus-Salaam, a Muslim chaplain working in the criminal justice system and longtime youth mentor with Garden State Youth.

Imam Mujahid offers a deeply personal reflection on:

• Growing up Christian in Philadelphia
• His conversion to Islam
• Mentoring at-risk youth
• The passing of his mother
• His relationship with his devout Christian father
• Lessons from the late Philadelphia Muslim elder Ali Subhan (rahimahullah)

This conversation explores grief, faith, identity, fatherhood, mentorship, and the responsibility of serving young Muslims in America. It is a rare and intimate look at a life shaped by devotion, struggle, and compassion.

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In this powerful episode of the Talking With Teachers Podcast, we are honored to welcome Imam Rasul Suluki, a longtime Muslim chaplain, teacher, and community leader serving in New Jersey and across the tri-state area.

Imam Suluki has dedicated decades of service to incarcerated Muslims, providing spiritual care, Islamic education, and moral guidance within correctional institutions. His work extends beyond prison chaplaincy to include teaching, counseling, and mentoring the wider Muslim community, with a deep commitment to rehabilitation, social justice, and faith-based transformation.

This episode offers rare insight into:

• Muslim prison chaplaincy

• Serving marginalized and incarcerated communities

• Faith, reform, and spiritual resilience

• The role of Islamic leadership in public institutions

🎙️ Hosted by Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with scholars, teachers, and community leaders shaping Muslim thought today.

#TalkingWithTeachers #ImamRasulSuluki #MuslimChaplain #PrisonChaplaincy #IslamicLeadership #MuslimCommunity #FaithAndJustice

In Season 6, Episode 6 of Talking With Teachers, Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali speaks with Shaykh Mohammad Akram Nadwi about the foundations of Islamic scholarly authority.

Shaykh Nadwi explains the enduring significance of isnād and ijāzah, illuminating how knowledge was authenticated and preserved across generations. He also shares remarkable insights from his groundbreaking research on female Hadith scholars, offering a richer and more accurate understanding of Islamic intellectual history.

A must-listen episode for anyone interested in Hadith, Islamic tradition, and the transmission of knowledge.

Talking With Teachers – Season 6, Episode 5
Dr. Joseph Lumbard

In this episode of Talking With Teachers, host Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali welcomes distinguished scholar Dr. Joseph E. B. Lumbard for a wide-ranging and deeply reflective conversation on Islam, spirituality, and the challenges of the modern world.

Dr. Lumbard—editor of The Study Quran and a leading voice in contemporary Islamic thought—shares his intellectual journey into Islamic studies and explores the enduring relevance of tasawwuf (Sufism), perennial philosophy, and classical Islamic scholarship in today’s rapidly changing global landscape.

The discussion addresses major themes such as:

• The spiritual and intellectual roots of Islamic tradition

• The effects of modernity and colonialism on Muslim societies

• Faith, reason, and the challenges posed by technology and artificial intelligence

• The role of sacred knowledge in an age of political and cultural uncertainty

This episode offers profound insights for students of Islam, seekers of spiritual depth, and anyone interested in thoughtful conversations on religion, philosophy, and modern life.

🎙 Guest: Dr. Joseph E. B. Lumbard
🎧 Host: Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali
📌 Series: Talking With Teachers – Season 6

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In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Talking With Teachers, we sit down with Imam Qasim Khan to explore his remarkable spiritual journey and lifelong commitment to faith, justice, and community leadership.

Imam Qasim reflects on his early religious experiences, including his involvement in major Black social and religious movements such as the Nation of Islam and the Black Panther Party, and how these formative years shaped his worldview and moral compass. He also shares a lesser-known chapter of his life—his time as a gospel singer—and how music, spirituality, and devotion intersected long before his embrace of Islam.

The conversation then turns to one of the most controversial periods of his public life, when Imam Qasim faced media attacks in Houston, Texas, accusing him of attempting to impose “shari‘ah law.” He responds directly to these claims, clarifying that his efforts were rooted not in coercion, but in encouraging Muslims to respect their own religious values, particularly through peaceful protest against Muslims selling alcohol within their communities.

This episode offers rare insight into:

• The evolution of Black religious consciousness in America

• Islam, social justice, and grassroots activism

• Media misrepresentation of Muslim leadership

• Faith-based moral reform versus political fear-mongering

A candid, thought-provoking discussion that challenges stereotypes and highlights the complexities of Muslim leadership in America today.

In this powerful episode of Talking With Teachers, Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali sits down with Dr. Zachary Wright, an esteemed scholar of Islam and African Muslim intellectual history, for a rich and illuminating conversation on spirituality, scholarship, and tradition.

Dr. Wright reflects on his early influences in Islam, the scholars and teachers who shaped his spiritual and intellectual journey, and his path within the Tijani Tariqah. The discussion explores the importance of maintaining the wird, its role in spiritual discipline, and how structured remembrance of Allah cultivates consistency, humility, and presence of heart.

This episode also highlights the often-overlooked legacy of African Islamic scholarship, emphasizing Africa’s central role in preserving, transmitting, and enriching Islamic knowledge across generations. Dr. Wright sheds light on the depth of West African scholarly traditions, Sufi lineages, and the enduring relevance of African Muslim contributions to global Islam.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into:

• The spiritual foundations of the Tijani Sufi path

• The significance of regular dhikr and wird

• The continuity of African Muslim scholarship

• The relationship between spiritual practice and intellectual rigor

• Lessons for contemporary Muslims seeking rooted, authentic tradition

This conversation is essential listening for anyone interested in Islamic spirituality, Sufism, African Islamic history, and living scholarly traditions.

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Dr. Zachary Wright, Talking With Teachers Podcast, Tijani Tariqah, Wird in Islam, African Islamic Scholarship, Sufism, Islamic Spirituality, West African Islam, Dhikr, Sufi Orders, Lamppost Education Initiative