On this week’s episode of Conflicted, we begin a multi episode exploration into the historical figures who function as antecedents to the modern jihadi movement, beginning with two episodes on one of its earliest examples: Ahmad Bin Hanbal.
When Islamic fundamentalists today look back in history, one of the earliest figures they will mention for inspiration ... Show More
Today
Paul Kenyon: 30 Years Under Fire as a BBC War Reporter
In this episode, Thomas talks to distinguished BBC journalist Paul Kenyon about his new podcast series Two Nottingham Lads. Paul recalls highlights from his remarkable career, which has taken him from Iran to Libya to Ukraine to Stockport —as he watched, in real time, America los ... Show More
58m 31s
Sep 2024
What We Get Wrong About Studying Muslim History With Dr Yakoob Ahmed
It is said a people without a past are a lost soul. And in today’s turbulent world, the Muslim ummah has come to realise that we have, in many cases, been taught a version of history that fails to appreciate what the late Shabbir Akhtar called Islam as a imperial faith.Dr Yakoob ... Show More
1h 12m
Jan 2018
Al Ghazali and Ibn Taymiyyah
In our last episode of the season we wrap up the intellectual history of Islam by examining how the orthodoxies that we discussed in the previous episode were popularized. We talk about the emerging class of legal scholars called the ulema, the madhabs of Hanafi, Maliki, Shaif, a ... Show More
51m 27s
Aug 2025
Qutham ibn Abbas (ra): The Prophet’s ﷺ Lookalike
<p>While Abdullah ibn Abbas (ra) became known for his knowledge and eloquence, his younger brother Qutham (ra) was known for something else: his striking resemblance to the Prophet ﷺ.<br/><br/>In this episode, discover how Qutham, who was raised alongside al-Husayn (ra), the last ... Show More
19m 14s
Jan 2025
S2 Ep 7: The World, According to Ibn Khaldun
Happy new year, friends, and welcome to our first episode of 2025! We are continuing Season Two with Ibn Khaldun, a medieval historian who was fascinated by the way societies function. Telling us his story is Professor Gabriel Martinez-Gros, one of France’s most renowned experts ... Show More
56m 55s
Jan 2024
Divided Loyalties: Exploring Shia Disunity
In this illuminating podcast episode featuring Sayed Jawad Qazwini, we embark on a journey through Islamic history, examining the seventh year of the Islamic calendar, marked by the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. Explore pivotal moments, including divine revelations emphasizing defensive ... Show More
1h 18m
Sep 2025
Welcome to the Crusades, Episode 3: Baghdad and Cairo, 1096
Danny and Derek recently reunited with Eleanor Janega and Luke Waters of We’re Not So Different for a special mailbag episode of their cross-pod collaboration, Welcome to the Crusades: The First Crusade. We have already posted Episode 1 and Episode 2 in the feed, so we fi ... Show More
1h 18m
Aug 2025
Ubaydullah ibn Abbas (ra): The Rich Little Brother
<p>He wasn’t a scholar like his brother, but he found his own way to serve.<br/><br/>While Abdullah ibn Abbas (ra) became one of the greatest scholars of Islam, his younger brother Ubaydullah (ra) chose a different path: business, generosity, and support.<br/><br/>In this episode ... Show More
21m 33s