logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2018
54m 59s

The Songhai Empire: Sunni Ali And Askia ...

ISLAMIC HISTORY PODCAST
About this episode
This is the third and final episode on the series about Islam in West Africa. As the Mali Empire declines, another is on the rise. In the forgotten city of Gao, the Sunni Dynasty emerges to make the Songhay Empire the dominant force in West Africa. This is done by two very different men. Sunni Ali is a brutal conqueror who strikes fear in the people he conq ... Show More
Up next
Jun 8
The Last Umayyad Caliph | IHP 11-3
The military doctrine of Marwan II reshaped the final years of the Umayyad Dynasty as he attempted to stabilize a rapidly fracturing empire. In this episode of the Islamic History Podcast, we explore the chaotic period leading to the end of the Umayyad Caliphate, starting with th ... Show More
2h 19m
Mar 2026
The Caliphate in Chaos | IHP 11-2
The Assassination of Caliph Walid II serves as the violent climax to an era of mounting tension, marking the definitive start of the Third Fitna civil war. This episode explores the roots of this collapse, beginning with the Early History and Passive Protest of Sufism, where figu ... Show More
2h 22m
Feb 2026
America’s ICE Crackdown: Raids, Killings and Public Outcry
Host Majid and guest Muttaqi Ismail discuss recent US enforcement actions—ICE and Border Patrol raids, the killing in Minneapolis, and community reactions—placing these events in the context of immigrant communities, politics, and public protest. They also cover how social media, ... Show More
1h 8m
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2024
The Fake Sunni-Shia Politics!
<p>In this episode of the After Maghrib Podcast, hosts Ahmed and Sayed Ali dive into the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Beirut, exploring how external forces are attempting to exploit sectarian divisions between Sunnis and Shias. They discuss the dangerous "divide and conquer" tact ... Show More
54m 53s
Oct 2025
Rise of Islam
In the 7th century, a new empire rose from the sands of Arabia - united by faith, driven by conquest, and destined to change history forever.In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Khododad Rezakhani to explore the emergence of Islam from the ashes of Rome ... Show More
1h 4m
Jun 2017
Sunnism, Shi’ism & the Umayyads
This episode covers the schism betweeen Sunnism and Shi’ism, detailing how historical circumstances and experiences are overlaid with theological significance. Focusing on the experience of the Muslim community during the early fitnas we discuss how political movements about legi ... Show More
40m 13s
Oct 2025
Vol 4 Ep 95 - The Mali Empire
700 - 1610 - In this episode, we journey to the Sahel — the narrow frontier between desert and savanna where the fortunes of empires were made and lost. From its shifting landscapes emerged the Mali Empire, a realm of immense wealth and faith. Discover how geography, trade, and p ... Show More
41m 24s
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
Dec 2023
106. The Rise of Islam
With the Sassanian Empire defeated and the Byzantine Empire exhausted, there is a power vacuum in the centre of the world. Both of these superpowers have drained their resources fighting each other over the past 30 years, consuming many of the great cities of antiquity. To the so ... Show More
44m 55s
Jun 2018
Maghreb and Islam in Africa
Islam expanded first into Africa before anywhere else. In this episode we trace the history of Islam in Africa. Starting with the hijra to Axum/Aksum by the early Muslim community, we trace the political conquests of the Rashidun and the Umayyad. We examine the importance of trad ... Show More
39m 56s
Jul 2011
Ramadan 2011 Stories of the Prophets Day 12
Ibraheem (as) and Ismail (as) – Part 3 
46m 37s
Jan 2024
The Golden Age of Islam?
<p>In this episode, Glenn gives a quick history of Islam’s Golden Age in Spain and its role in spreading Greek thought into Europe. The guys talk about the impact of Aristotelian texts coming out of Spain, the roots of nominalism and voluntarism in Islamic thought, and the end of ... Show More
1h 2m