Falafel Kimchi: From Catholic to Muslim, Comedy and Identity

Falafel kimchi. But why these two dishes specifically? What made the name falafel kimchi? Kimchi is a very famous Korean dish. Falafel is just I need another food item that represented Arab or Arab culture. Falafel kimchi just flows with the tongue. Very easy. >> Can you tell me and describe to me the character Haru before Islam? >> He was kind of a wild boy. wanted to fit in but didn't know how to fit in and got in with the wrong crowd. Very uh gangster-like type of people. >> Interesting. I would never guess that. >> This was very young. >> Why Islam? >> Why Islam? So, I was unaware that there was other religions other than Christianity and Judaism at the time. When I heard about Islam, I was very intrigued. I was inquisitive. I was asking a lot of questions about Islam. And then eventually I took my shahada. >> How did your family take it? M I remember I got in a fight with my brother. My dad was super angry at me cuz he just saw this the breaking of culture, right? For the majority of part he was happy, right? But this he's like answer me this question. What's more important to you? Your family or your religion? And obviously I said my my religion. That was like the breaking moment where they they knew this is the most important thing and he's never going to give it up. What's Harun/ Falafil Kimchi's mission? Create an army of non-Arab Arab speakers. What is your Baraka blueprint in one sentence? [Music] Assalamu alaykum. Welcome to the Baraka Blueprint podcast. This is the podcast for you who are driven to become the best version of yourself. This is the podcast for you who's looking for the perfect balance between faith and focus to achieve consistency to achieve a blessed path to success success that is truly lasting and a future where you can build to the best version of yourself and get closer to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. My name is Ibraim Sharif and I have had the privilege to had a wonderful episode with my friend and brother Harun, famously known as Falafel Kimchi. We talked about his journey to Islam. We talked about the idea behind falafil kimchi where I also got the priv privilege to ask some questions about other food combinations. And I'll tell you what, this is definitely an episode that you don't want to miss. So I am looking forward to hearing how much you've enjoyed this episode. So stick around and enjoy this fantastic production in Baraka style. Hello everyone and welcome to the Baraka where we talk about the ultimate way to reach success which is following the blueprint that Allah subhana t gave us and that from the instruction of the prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam. We talk about the balance between dean and dunya faith and focus and how you can build the optimal Muslim persona. And today I am joined and honored to be joined by a guest who promised to make me laugh throughout the entire episode. I'm actually not worried about me whether whether laughing or not, but I'm worried about laughing too much. So, we'll see. I'm I've taken on the challenge. I know I'm going to fail this miserably, but I want to present our wonderful brother Harun, also known as Falafil Kimchi. Uh, a brother who has not failed to make me fall off my chair from the content that he makes. uh from presenting himself as the non-Arab Arab the non-Arab Arab that speaks better Arabic than most Arabs that I know uh not only in terms of the lingo and the culture and the dialect and by the way he has a very special dialect as well someone that I look up to in terms of the journey to Islam in terms of learning a new language from scratch something that many people actually talk about and raise as a challenge our brother took with stride. Without any further ado, brother Harunam, welcome to the baraka blueprint. >> Thank you for having me. Quite the intro. Uh there's a lot of uh pressure now. like oh I got to make him laugh you know but uh I am so happy that you have joined brother Harun but this there's a question that I had in my head and I think from your case you're going to say if I had a penny for every time I got the question right but falafil kimchi so why these two dishes specifically what what made the name falafil kimchi >> kimchi I think it's an obvious one kimchi for For those that you don't know, kimchi is a very famous Korean dish, fermented uh pickled spicy cabbage. >> Mhm. >> Um, and it's a very famous Korean dish. So, I'm Korean. And then fafel is just I need another food item that represented Arab or Arab culture. And I was just thinking out names. Shaw kimchi doesn't work. You know, meni kimchi maybut, you know, but as soon as I thought of falafel kimchi, it just flows with the tongue. Very easy, very memorable. Falafa kimchi, I po put it out there. Everyone was like, "Yeah." I'm like, "Should I change my name?" Everyone was like, "Yeah, I changed your name." And then I changed my name to Falafimchi. >> So, there were some other dishes in the short list like for example. >> Yeah. Uh the the Iraqi blood in me is asking [Laughter] dolma is actually on my list. One of my favorite uh Arabic dishes is uh but I'll say dolma dolma is very is up there. Anything I like kusa you mahashi anything stuffed you know like uh zucchini stuffed or bell pepper stuffed or even potato stuffed. Amazing. >> But speaking of speaking of treasure, uh, brother Harun, I have a question for you. character Harun before Islam? >> Before Islam? Yes, sir. >> Oh, the character. >> Well, he was a young troubled man. Um, very hyper. uh sought attention for the wrong reasons and from the wrong people and genders. There's only two. Um he was kind of a wild boy. Wanted to fit in but didn't know how to fit in and um got got in with the wrong crowd. Very uh gangster-like type of people. >> This was very young. Very or just like wannabe gangster. But >> and then when you turned three, what happened? >> Oh yeah. >> Uh Mr. Noodles, I got burnt. My chest got burnt with Mr. Noodles. But uh that's a story for another time. >> Oh, okay. >> I'll tell you. I'll tell you. But yeah, I was like from basically essentially from uh pre-teens to early teens. Um I was a very like uh troubled kid. Not troubled kid, but in the sense of like I just wanted to make people laugh. Um I wanted brotherhood. I wanted uh respect. So it it it makes sense why I would join these type of groups. And um unfortunately but fortunately um those groups were many of them were Arab. So a lot of uh mixed races uh or mixed Arab. So like we have Palestinian, Lebanese uh you know Sudin and I was like the one Korean guy always in the group. >> I believe an apology on behalf of the Iraqis. Yes. We had a couple Iraqis, too. We had a couple. >> Yes. Yes. >> So, and and um uh the whole neighborhood was in our in our neighborhood was all Arab >> and um I saw like a like just polarizing between them and like my Korean church group, like kids at my Korean church group. The Korean church group. Um they were friends uh at the church, but then outside the church, they kind of just act a little bit weird. Um it's as if it's as if I don't know like when I was seeing them with their uh schoolmates outside of church they would act a different way as like they pretend that they didn't know me. I'm like bro I was just there with you at church bro like why are you acting so cold? So, and then but I didn't get this type of behavior or um like with Arabs, right? Growing up with them and uh um uh this is where I guess when it comes to like uh trying to fit in or like um uh wanting that sense of brotherhood u and respect, you see it amongst uh majority of them. They were Muslims and uh you see it like even in the family dynamic. Um yeah, essentially that's where I kind of got through um uh more about my troubled past. Yeah. So this whole gangster thing when I was just kind of joking but not really joking is I think there was an era like uh in teens everyone just kind of that rebellious phase phase. So um it was more so in high school it's either you're you're you're bullied or you're the one that's bullying. So, I decided to be obviously on the bullying side. Uh um >> and I don't know why, but I just had this kind of like almost like self-hatred of being Asian >> in Canada. >> Well, raised in Canada, like always like grew up in areas where you're the minority, right? And everything is pro- English and pro-Canadian and pro- white. >> So, obvious So, it's like you you have you don't have that sense of belonging 100%. And even if like you would try to like share something that's uh uh different from your own culture, it would easily be dismissed or like handwave like ew, what does that smell? Like kimchi for example, it smells it's like it's fermented, right? >> Um tastes magnificent. >> It's very good. It's very good. It's delicious. But um but yeah, so like you would always anything anything that resembled you and your own culture, it was just uh it's considered inferior. So and then also too like from Hollywood and from movies and from the image that they portrayed uh about immigrants at large, not just Asian, >> but uh it was always the white man superior and then everyone else is kind of like, you know, inferior. So, um, they, so from those negative stereotypes, I'm like, yo, I'm not gonna I'm not gonna be a nerd. I'm not gonna be, you know, some weak kid. So, that that just I did everything opposite to what they're portraying on the media. >> Subhan Allah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Very, very troubled kid. >> Islam. Well, >> no. Um, Islam. So, so I grew up in a small town. Um, there was no Islam there. I grew up Catholic, Roman Catholic, baptized, went to church every Sunday. >> Okay. >> And then when I went moved to a bigger city there, it was much more diverse. That was the first time I met Arabs and met uh other than just white and handful of black families in the small town. Um, and then I was just curious, where are you guys from? like what? Well, uh first Muslim Arab I've ever met was he was Sudnis. And uh I'm like where are you from? He's like oh I'm from UAE but I'm from Sudan, right? And in my head I'm like Sudan? Is that somewhere in Africa? Like I had no idea. Um and he's like where are you from? Like I'm like I'm from this city. He's like where is that? Somewhere in China but it's like a Canadian city. Yeah. and he's like and then we just got to get we got along and uh like he introduced me to his whole family but that was the first introduction to like uh Arabs and Muslims at large and then I just started inquiring um go I'm getting back to your question why Islam so I was unaware that there was other religions other than like uh Christianity >> and perhaps Judaism at the time. >> Yeah. Um, and then when I heard about Islam, uh, I was very, uh, intrigued and I was inquisitive. I was asking a lot of questions about Islam and and, um, and it wasn't a, it wasn't a hard cell. Like, it wasn't a hard thing to accept that there is a continuation. And I was like, oh, I was just unaware. And then eventually I came to the conclusion like, okay, this is sounding way more convincing. and more truer than what I was told to believe in like being son of God, Jesus being son of God. And then eventually I I I I took the by shahada at 20. >> Yes. >> 20 >> 20. >> Yes. That was 70 16 years ago. So the thing is many of the and sorry for the cliche many of the revert convert stories um it sounds some of them are very like like they're finding Islam they're searching for the truth they're in your case and I don't know this is from my observation only it seems like Islam found you would you say that is the Islam found me. It's a interesting way of putting it. Um, elaborate. >> Elaborate. >> I mean, in many ways, especially from my background, I lived in Sweden almost my entire life before moving here. And one thing I've noticed is people usually feel this sense of hopelessness, confusion, being lost in the forest type of feeling. No pun intended. Sweden has a lot of forests. But um the more secular a society is and the further away from God a society gets, the more confusing its moral compass is. And the more confusing the moral compass is, the person in question who's holding a bunch of nothing with a side of nothing and a whole lot of nothing, they're going to try to find something >> in your case, the way you described it, and I am I'm inviting you to elaborate more on this as well. To me it sounded like so you had a way of life, you had a an understanding or a a belief and when this image was presented to you found that it made sense, hence Islam finding you. >> Ah >> what do you think about when you hear this? Yeah, like I it's just I I just never thought about the concept of Islam finding me. It was more it was I was always thought like you know I always believed in God at a young age and um I guess I I can see how me uh from that perspective like you know I just found something and then boom it makes sense and then Islam finding me in that in like an indirect way. Is that what you're meaning? >> Sort of. Yes. I'll put it this way. >> Have you ever felt the reason I'm asking this is because for me this is very fascinating. As a person who's born and raised among any practicing Muslim family and Muslim parents, >> there are certain struggles that I will never understand, >> you know, because I haven't experienced them >> and I won't experience them and also I'm I'm missing out on the reward. >> Allah chose other characters to go through that story. Right? Mhm. >> And that's why one thing I ask uh people who have converted to Islam, for example, brother Canyon, I asked them as well like what how did you find Islam? And I'm I'm trying as I'm following along. So every every brother and sister who accepted Islam for me, every single one of them is a very unique and interesting character. And the more I hear about their story, the more fascinating it is >> and I want to press on the fawad and the benefit and share it with as many people as I can. Uh so so hence the question so to to better understand your character and your persona would you say and I will try to simplify this tornado of words in in a simple question would you say that you were in a position where you weren't sure about like what is the purpose of life and what is this and am I following the right thing there must be a truth out there or do you feel that well actually that and I was convinced about this and suddenly this new idea is presented to me and I say okay >> yeah more so the latter I think I would say I would describe it as like it was the soil was fertile >> ah >> you know for growth >> the >> all of a sudden this sproutling came about and it was just it just blossomed you know like one thought um because I learned about Islam and Muslims at a very young age I'd say about 11 12 right and at that moment at 11 years old or 12 years old I'm not thinking about you know what's the meaning of life >> uh often and I'm not thinking about what what does Jesus being son of god mean or challenging these thoughts or these like beliefs that was taught to me in Catholic Catholic school >> so when I was presented a different idea or uh like it's like so this is how I describe it. There's the old testament there's the new testament Quran is the final testament >> right and when when I heard about Quran it was wasn't more so like defense defense like no no I I believe in this and you believe in that and this is where we're different. It only got defensive in a sense of like um maybe it hurt my ego at the time, right? But uh it was more so like hm what else? What what else is there to know? Um what else about Islam? And it it it was more so like from a I I was I was super fascinated cuz again I I it's like imagine eating apples and then boom oranges or boom pomegran or boom like I never knew. >> Yeah. There I didn't know there's this variety. Um and I was I was excited to know uh that oh okay you believe in God too. Cool. Cool. We're Oh yeah you believe in Jesus too. So I was more like that instead of >> like, oh, what's that? Oh, you guys are weird. You know, >> I get it. >> Um, so I would describe it as like, yeah, the the soil was was fertile for and ready for growth. Uh, and then and then like over time, um, I saw like the brotherhood, right? I never really felt that before. Like, oh, sn what? Whoa. Like your oldest brother is acknowledging the youngest brother. Like it was it was such a crazy idea. Like when I went to the Mo, the Sudanese guy's house, oldest one, he's like I think it was like 20some at the time, acknowledging the youngest one, which is like maybe seven. Hey, what's up, man? How you doing? How's school? All right, cool. Good. Okay, cool. That's it. And I'm like, whoa. And I'm going to try that. And I go home like, hey, what's up, man? I'm like my It's like literally like, what the heck are you doing, man? Get out of here. like, you know, it was it was such a weird concept. So, like growing up as a young Korean kid, I'm like, I want brotherhood. I'm the youngest out of three. Since I didn't get it for my own brothers, I'm like, okay, then I'm just going to search for others like uh search somewhere else for that brotherhood. Um, and that was an appealing thing for me as well, right? Um, and then I guess early on I just knew like uh I I needed to be around people that like one uh there's that respect uh factor and then two they're not going to act a certain way uh if they're with certain other people. It's just like what you see is what you get, >> you know? >> Um yeah. >> What was the Oh snap moment? The oh snap moment the oh snap moment um there was a couple there's a couple I think um I heard this story I'm not sure if it's true but it's a famous story right um Mo's older brother he's like he's like you know one time there's Three gunmen approached the masid. Three gunmen, right? And then uh they're like, "Everyone who's willing to take a bullet for Allah, stay here." A lot of people left and some remained. And then he's like, "Now the has left continued to pray." I don't know if this is very Yeah, >> this is very interesting. >> Yeah, I remember I I I don't I don't The thing is all these old stories and all these old things like I rechecked them and revised them as I when I became Muslim and started learning but the con it's whether it be true or false the concept of dying and belief in God I never had that concept before. >> Interesting. >> And I was like that is faith. I'm like, "Oh, snap. That's faith. Wow." I'm like, "Imagine they did that at the church, bro. The priest would be the first one running out, running over people." But the concept of dying or believing in something to that extent that, you know, like no, this is I that never existed. So, that was like an early moment of wow, like these guys are sincere, right? Again, whether it be true or false. Um, another one was just hearing like uh ayat of Quran. Um, like and it I can't reme it's such a long time ago I can't remember like I can't pinpoint certain verses but it amazed me or it like shook me in a way where um it felt real like uh that was from actually from Allah. So when we do like Bible studies and we do Bible studies in in school, it wasn't like u it was just kind of like stories like oh yeah okay you know it was just like story time. >> Um it didn't shake the heart. So when he would tell me like uh certain things verses from Quran and I was fairly young it really had an impact you know I felt it. I felt the the the power of it. >> The recitation in Arabic or the translation? the translation, just the meaning behind it. >> I didn't hear the recitation until like later. and then the moment of where I became Muslim or took my shahada was I was in a very uh very negative spot in my life. Um I I yeah bad bad like very negative spot in my life. Bad relationship with my parents. Um and I I made dua one night and like I didn't pray in a very very long time like sincerely and then I prayed uh that night. I remember I prayed that night. I was like 19 turning 20 uh sincerely and it was like the first time I cried in prayer >> you know sincerely cried uh asking for guidance >> and the next day uh the next morning of I felt um I felt some form of relief like my tobo was accepted or something like I felt some form of relief >> and then um yeah I went to the masid And around that time the the group of friends some of them were becoming more religious or at least more practicing taking it more seriously >> and uh uh I uh went to the masid took my shahada there and then from 20 on Yeah. >> Yeah. May Allah subh hold you steadfast and firm on the path of truth and righteousness. >> How did your family take it? They had they didn't know they didn't know what to think, you know? They're like, "Islam, what's that?" Like, "Yeah." Yeah. So, like I remember I'm like, "Oh, should I tell them now? Should I tell them later?" It's a funny story. I'm like, "Ah, I'm just going to tell them now, you know, like just get it out of the way." And I was afraid like, "Oh, I'm hearing all these like stories of like uh you know, kids getting kicked out of the house and I'm just like, "All right, whatever." And I I remember I go upstairs and I'm like I'm like kind of like I muster up the courage to tell them, you know, I'm like, you know, >> by the way, like I step in the room and they're both like just on the computer just watching YouTube, you know, in their own world. And I'm like, uh, you know, I have something important to tell you. Like they don't even look up. They're just like whatever, you know. And I'm like, uh, I'm Muslim. There just no reaction. It's a like no I'm Muslim. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Like it was like whatever. Like they it didn't it didn't it didn't like process like no no no. I had to get their attention. What? What? What? Like pause. Like I paused the video. What? What do you want? What do you want? You know. No. I'm actually I became Muslim. What is Islam? Tell me. What is Islam? Right. I don't know why, but I said these three things to my dad. I said, you know, you can't drink, you know, you can't uh uh smoke, okay? >> And you can have more than one wife. And my dad's like, you can't drink, can't smoke more than one wife. I like this religion. I like first of all, I was like, what the heck? It was wasn't the reaction. I was u Yeah. you got support? >> And then once they started seeing the uh the good side of Islam, they started seeing me like you know doing like cuz now now like the the relationship was very bad before. Now it's being mended through like after me become Muslim is being mended. I'm trying very hard uh to to build a relationship with them. >> Yes. And then it kicked in like wait a minute what happened bro what what are you doing like why are you clean the house and I didn't tell you to clean the house why are you you know doing these things right uh offering help just small things and that's when it clicked in like oh okay so and then I told them I can't eat pork you know and then they're like all right but pork is good I'm like I know and then they the first time I first meal they eat why you eat and the pork I'm like I told you I any poor like a like all right and so they stop eating poor like again like they're just it's like it was like a test one after the other like I'll tell them I can't do this but then when time comes they'll do it right in front of me and they're like whoa what are you talking about like you know and you're Korean bro don't worry you know like God will forgive you know that type of uh first time fasting same thing my mom was like it's okay God is merciful just just drink water you know and like every single time Every single time I fast, she's always like, "You're so misky. You're hungry." You know, but um it it took a it took a while. Took at least like a solid year of mending. Solid year, two years to build like a very very good relationship now. Alhamdulillah, I have a great relationship with them all the time. >> Uh I am their favorite child. >> Ah. >> Yes. Alhamdulillah. Um, yeah. It >> You're not even the eldest son? >> I'm the youngest. >> You're the youngest. And you managed to be the favorite child? >> Respect. >> What do you mean? Youngest isn't mostly >> It's the eldest. Isn't it always the maybe in different cultures? I don't know. >> Is it? >> I don't know. In Arab culture, firstborn because I'm first born. That's why. >> I know. I figured, bro. Yeah. Alhamdulillah. Alhamdulillah. It was a long long journey. Yeah. >> Did you have to go through any cultural backlash? Any cultural resistance there? >> For sure. 100%. Uh the bowing. >> The what? >> The bowing. >> The bowing. Is it in Korea as well? I thought it was Japan. >> Japan is prevalent. Uh I think in Chinese culture there's some form of bowing. >> Uh and prostrating too. in karate we did this sorry they did >> yeah uh I remember the first it was like Korean new year or Chinese new year >> okay >> and you have to like you say a saying and then you go down in prostration like you make sjud all fours you say something and you go on all fours and then they give you this like red envelope of money and I remember used to doing it when I was like young. >> And you do it just to your elders, your your parents, your uncles, and then you would get like a stack, right, of red envelopes with a lot of money. >> Idea. >> It's kind of like idea. Yeah. And then the first year comes around and I'm like, "Oh, shoot. I can't." Then they're like, they're like both sitting there like waiting like I'm like, "I can't do that. What do you mean?" I call my brother and he does it. about to say oh he goes in all fours to see he did it go why don't you I'm like I'm sorry I can't do it and I'm just like I I had stick to my guns I'm like I can't do it they're like what they're so shocked like what you're not Korean come on man like like what's wrong with you and like that was like kind of a big thing but I think it was more so when they saw like the good of all everything that I was doing >> no >> and then that one moment they're like h even with the pork moment like it built up like first time no pork then like they see this then like the whole bowing um yeah I don't bow or or make sjud I completely like took that out of my out of my uh cultural practices >> but that was the first major thing I remember yeah it's very awkward when you have your parents' friends come over And I'm like trying not to bow. I'm like, "Oh, yeah." And like when you bow, it's like when they're older, you bow like lower, right? To show more respect. >> Oh, okay. Okay. >> But like it's not like it's not so stiff, right? And it they take it as disrespect if you do if you don't bow like proper. But uh I don't know. I don't know. It's going to be an interesting time when I go to Korea. That's all I got to say. >> When was the last time you were in Korea? >> 6 years old. Allahbar has been a long time. You you have me on my toes now and I'm I'm curious to see what's going to happen in that journey. >> It fits to the next question I was going to ask you is regarding this incident with the Boeing. Would you say this would be the most awkward situation that you had where there has been like a cultural clash and if not what would be the most awkward situation and how did you deal with it is the most important >> I haven't shared this story but the first I will share it on here chills literal chills okay okay okay >> yeah so I don't really tell this story much but uh I remember I got in a fight with my uh like physical altercation. Yeah. Physical fight. >> And then my dad was super angry at me. So it's culturally you the youngest is like you're slave boy, the oldest is emperor, right? It's you have no say. >> To the eldest. >> Yeah. Exactly. Uh it's like literally and my dad was he was pissed. He was so pissed cuz he just saw this like the the the breaking of culture, right? Um, throughout the years, but for the majority of art, he was he was happy, right? But this was like it was he's like, "Listen, he he's kicking me out, right? He's just like, you're not leaving here." And he's like, "Answer me this question. what's more important to you, your family or your religion? >> Allahbar. >> And I was like, you know what I'm going to say? He's like, no, no, no, no, no, no. He's like, you're not leaving it. Like, you have to tell me now. He's like, what's more important, your family or religion? I'm like, ah. Like, you know my answer. He's like, no, I want to hear it. I want to hear I want you to say it right now. And obviously I said my my religion and he's like he's like you you're not Korean. You're you're them. You're not Korean. >> And then I got kicked out for like a couple days a week or something like that. >> But like we mended things. >> Yeah. That was the most like probably the most that was like the breaking moment where they they knew like oh okay he's not like this is the most important thing and he's never going to give it up. >> Can I ask sorry how far away was that from you saying your shahada timeline wise? >> Uh I'd say about maybe uh two three years two years three years two and a half three years. Okay, I can imagine again I'm speaking out of ignorance. I can imagine that many people in that situation would think say this just to you know say my family like this and just to just to keep the situation calm >> but you went on full truth. >> What gave you the courage? I think because I started with full courage like I just had to go through it all the way like it's like it's like I started from like no I'm not going to hide this from my family I'm going to tell them right away to like telling them like directly I can't eat pork sorry but I can't drink with you like when it's whatever to no bowing to like throughout I was very very direct and very very honest with them because I just I felt disingenuous If I wasn't all right, I just I don't know if it was I don't know. It's Allah obviously from courage, but from myself it's just I can't I can't do something or explain something to my parents knowingly that that's not the truth and I'm like almost lying to them and it's being disingenuous to my core self. >> Okay. Um, and then also too, I would always remind myself of stories of the Sahaba, right? They had it much much worse than me >> and all of us or any of us, >> right? So, I mean, they're not they're not I'm not being persecuted by byesh. I'm not being, you know, like I'm not being starved to death or, you know, uh it's it's I always try to compare that made that comparison. But, but it's like if I started strong, I got to keep continue on. Like if I started early on being direct and honest with them, I have to continue that. I can't just hide from them and not tell them anything. Um but uh but yeah that's uh it was a very very awkward moment that's for sure. >> Subhan Allah. And I I really want to thank you for sharing this because this to me is very motivational because again as a person who was born and raised with the religion as a person who grew up with a practicing family uh this is definitely not a challenge that I would ever imagine and Allah how I would have acted in a similar situation the area that I'm from the city that I'm from the country that I'm from as in like resident Why Sweden? I have seen negligence and sacrificing of identity multiple occasions for a smaller gain >> work-wise, career-wise, study-wise, partywise, whatever it is. So, I'm used to seeing the sacrificial part or the um hiding part of your identity. And and that's why a story like this where you're basically put against all odds uh pressure from your family and cultural backlash and having to go through all of that and going through all of that alone with Allah subhana wa ta'ala aiding and and guiding you through this. So definitely this is very inspirational and I really want to thank you for that. But there's a reason why I ask you all of these questions. The reason is this. The vision of the baraka blueprint is that I'm trying to call people to become friends with the Quran. If you are friends with the Quran, Allah subhana wa tala will befriend you. And if Allah subhana t befriends you, there is nothing that can stand in your way in any in any way, shape or form. If you befriend the Quran, you will maximize your potential of success and I I even had a series on YouTube called the undeniable Quran which I aired during Ramadan both in long form and short form and I went through the description of the Quran, the uh testimonial truths, everything right and the purpose was to call people to memorize the Quran. Usually the comments I get and the reactions I get face to face or digitally is yeah but I don't speak Arabic right or it's difficult for me I get it from Arabs from non-Arabs from people that are close to Arab culture for example I mean from certain regions right that mean they have a similar structure or syntax of language right >> so I tried the best in the best of my abilities through the questions to to present Harun the character before taking on Arabic. >> Have you had experience with Arabic before Islam? Anything? >> Yeah, just alhamdulillah. >> Okay, >> that's >> surface level some words. >> Now I trust you. Okay. Then tell us your story about learning Arabic. So after I became Muslim, uh I I saw the need early on to learn Arabic. Um I saw the gap within the understanding and uh understanding of like just from from Quran and from hadith and from from the books to also from uh from thebas from Friday prayers from u I just knew like oh I need to learn I I need to um I need to learn this and not be so h like um I was at the mercy of someone else's translation always. So like my friend >> we had hakas at the time but there were a lot of them were in Arabic and then I would ask him what's he saying what's the translator and he would translate for me amazing but it's just it I always had to hold his hand which I didn't like and then another time I remember um some imam he was saying like this word in Arabic means this in English and then I'm like, if I didn't know any better, which I didn't at the time, you could say whatever and I'd have to believe you, you know, >> like I I don't know. I can't I can't even think on my own, you know? Excuse me. So, I had this strong uh desire to learn. Um, and then I was weighing out my options. Saudi Arabia, I'm like, "Okay, oh, long process to get in." Medina University or whatever. And then, uh, Egypt, I didn't know anyone. Um, uh, Syria at that time, they're just starting their, uh, malahar protesting. Um, so Yemen, there was trouble and I was just like, oh, where shopping around, you know, where can I go? Looking online. >> Um, and then someone suggested Mortania. I was like, what's Mortania? And then I looked it up. I was like, "Oh, okay. There's actually people that study there." Um, and uh I met I knew someone that from that someone gave me uh somebody's number there that used to study there. >> Or his friend that that used to study there and then he he has a colleague that still studies there. And that's how I got introduced to learning Arabic and choosing Moritania. When I went to Moritania, it was like I I went back in time like or I went back like 50 to 100 years because I've never seen such like uh we're we're used to like you know urban life uh the city life. But then when you go toward it's just nothing but like uh the outskirts just desert barren land even in the city it was just it was very uh extremely underdeveloped but that wasn't really my thing I was just I was there on a mission like I have to learn Arabic. Uh and then we met like uh uh uh from other countries from Europe, France, UK, some from America. Um and then there's this there's this culture of you know there >> uh and then then you can either study in the cities or in the Quran >> and I met students that I met from both but then I first time I met students that studied in the villages their learning was accelerated and they're like pro village like yo man there's no there's no uh uh distraction actions like you're just there. You have to I'm like, "Oh, okay. Let me try that out." And then that's that's uh I went there in a tent. They gave me your own tent and eventually I got upgraded to like a room, but like it was like tin uh you know, the roofing was like tint. >> So you're boiling in the summer. >> Yes. Were you there in the summer? >> Yeah. A lot of the summers. So summertime like during Ramadan you would go back to the city. Uh many of them do cuz there's classes just they stop. It's just Quran. You just memorize Quran or just re revise Quran. Um but yeah I remember the first summer during Ramadan in the desert in a tent. I was melting. I was dying. I was dying. >> You became fried kimchi. Oh my god. I was I was just like laying there. I just like and I just see these kids. They're like like playing and like reciting Quran. I'm like, "Oh man, I don't know how these guys are doing it." But then eventually you just get used to it. Uh >> okay. >> Used to it meaning acceptance. That's all. You just got to accept it. Yeah. Um Yeah. And about two two years, three years. Uh obviously you just go back and forth. to go to the city whenever you need stuff, food, clothes, books. Um, and then when I came back, I realized of how so when you study Arabic, you study the regional dialect, right? I realized how useless the regional dialect was because nobody speaks Mortanian, right? If I said >> to me it sounds like how do you say a modified patched version of out of ignorance I'm saying this? >> Yeah. So it's it's it's extremely useless outside of >> I never knew there was a more Italian dialect. >> It's a very strong dialect. Even more Moroccans they don't understand them. So it's like it's a so so when I came back I'm like ah like people are looking at me funny like I can understand certain words from me and then I would speak fuss and then people like aha you're speaking fa you know uh >> captain majid or space tune you know >> wait they they pulled the captain mag on >> Yeah. Yeah. So so basically now I sound like a anime character. Um space tunes you know. Um, >> exactly. Exactly. Uh, like it's just so like >> that was so good. >> Yeah. And then and then I'm like, okay. Then I started to learn uh Palestinian, Lebanese, more so Palestinian, Jordanian. And then um there was quite some time passed. I finished up my schooling. Um I was working a bunch of odd jobs. I started a couple startups. And then I realized like I was losing my Arabic. I was feeling it. I was like I was losing it. Um I would try to practice obviously every single time with Arabs and then also just like with my books, but you need to be in that environment. Um or at least forcibly put yourself in that environment. Uh and then Corona hit which we should segue >> Allah. >> Yes. Segue to falafel kimchi. >> Tell me about that. >> Corona hit. Uh I was laid off. I downloaded Tik Tok a long time ago before before Corona or around Corona time. Yeah. >> But I just knew it was it was like the new hot thing and it's going to be uh the new hot uh app place to be. And I was just kind of figuring out how to use the app and how how I can um have a channel that's viral or whatever that's just pumping out content, but not me. I didn't want to put myself out there. >> Yeah, I get it. >> And so the first channel was like it was just like a cat. It was just a bunch of my cat like it was just a bunch of cat videos, but I was learning how to, >> you know, oh, okay, put there's sound here and then text here, blah blah blah blah. Then I'm like, "All right, let me try some different things." Nothing worked. Nothing worked because I'm like, "All right, I can do the but let me just see if I can go viral without it." Nothing was working cuz I was trying to be someone. I'm trying to be not me, you know? I'm trying to be something else other than myself. Then I was like, "All right, screw this. I'm I'mma do this." Uh, and then that day, uh, I posted like five, seven Tik Toks that day. One of them went viral of me speaking Arabic. Um, and then that's just took off. I remember I woke up and I saw myself going viral. I was, "Oh, snap. Going viral. Followed up with another one. Another one live. Keep going. Keep going. Keep going. Keep going." >> And I just rode the wave. Now I'm here in Dubai. >> You see >> Baraka? Yes. >> Yeah. Look at that. >> This is very interesting for me because >> he said Baraka blueprint, guys. Okay. Uh it's very interesting for me because as a person who's trying to grow his personal brand, I think I'm still in the discovery phase. Yes, I've learned that authenticity is definitely the way to go. But >> just be yourself. >> Yes, just be yourself. Huh? But it's it's the verality part that I'm trying to unlock and crack. as um I think if I understand correctly how it's it's about finding the unique selling point, right? >> Yeah. Well, I mean it's um yeah, it it's it's like >> tell it to me like I'm a musty uncle. How would you describe going viral? >> Yeah, I'm was in Tik Tok. Um how do I describe it? Uh well, vi virus is just a weird concept, right? It's just it's just you put something out there and then maybe something it's not you don't deem it to be viral worthy. >> But the whole audience does. You know what I mean? So sometimes sometimes you can get lucky. >> Okay. Okay. >> Or sometimes when you post something, you don't think it's that great, but everybody likes it for whatever reasons, so it goes viral or semiviral. Um, yes, it it is unique selling points or proposition, but it's like how many unique selling propositions are there? If there's more than one, then it's more more there's a higher chance of you going viral. >> Okay. Um I mean your story right Swedish >> growing up in uh Sweden right >> um learning Quran at a very very young age it's very very interesting um but sometimes also too it's it's the way you present the message as well right >> um but uh you have the consistency you have the scheduling down. >> No. >> Um I would try different formats. >> Like and uh yeah, it's kind of weird to talk about this like on your part, but uh yeah. >> No, no, no. This is exactly what I need. This is the thing the the the purpose is to generate as much F as possible. >> And as a person who's very selfish, by the way, I want the fight for myself. >> I got you. Um what else would you like to know? I'm being interviewed on my own podium. >> Like for example, did you have you considered someone being a a guest that's non-Muslim but thinking about Islam? >> Of course. The thing is I mean my my background in Sweden is I have done a lot of da. It's both unorganized and organized. >> Unorganized in terms of street wise uh like you see in much of the UK US content these days. uh but also organized. I've had organized debates uh instit institution debates and everything. Uh it's been both with people that have a lot of similarities for example either believe in God or have a a predefined moral compass or what mostly was the case was with secular atheists. So >> and I've learned through all of that is that the best way is conversation at the end of the day. The best way is dialogue because Allahh tells We we ought to be taking care of ourselves and the misguided bunch won't affect the person who is guided as long as he stays on his compass. Similarly, he says so and Allah commands us to protect ourselves and the families from the hellfire. So we h we have our responsibility. I'm not very much in the game or in the mood of trying to convince people or over trying to convince. I will present the message of Islam. For whoever wants to believe will believe and whoever wants to disbelieve will disbelieve. And I'm thinking more from um from a selfish mindset. I want to have a person who I heavily disagree with on all aspects of life and get that and try to give. So yeah, of course I want to have anybody. I mean anyone who anyone who can sorry I'm going to correct myself. I'm not going to have anybody on the podcast. I want to have the person who can generate fa for me and for the the greater good. So of course I would have an all Muslim. >> Okay, I'll bring those people. Actually I I'll I'll go through my my ruler decks and see >> ladic. >> Yeah, it's I don't see myself well with the whole when it comes to like personal branding right it's it's also like what's the >> like your niche? Yes. And then how big is that pool? Right. I went I went I casted my net a bit wide. >> Right. I didn't I didn't zero in on giving da uh uh learning Arabic as a reverb giving da in that sense. It was more so I was I was I did it more of a comedic way and more of a uh uh a wider net. >> Yes. and not even saying I'm Muslim in the beginning. >> Yeah, that's I'll be very honest with >> Yeah, >> it took me a while to figure it out. >> Not a lot of people think I am Muslim, which is kind of strange. >> it's not that strange, but it's it's it's interesting. I I'll tell you the own story. Tell me. >> And he was Iraqi, by the way. I won't hold it against you. Okay. But >> that's why I told you I belated apologies. >> No, it's okay. But this guy Yeah. We're in a meas. were having barbecue and and uh most of them were Arabs, right? And they're like, "Oh, yeah. Yeah, tell them how to be quiet. Oh, tell him how to be quiet." Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Okay, cool. And then like, "Oh, yeah." The guy's like, "He's Muslim." "Oh, yeah. I've been Yeah." I'm like, "Yeah, I've been Muslim for a long time, you know, over 10 years." D. And he's like, "Sulli?" He's like, "Do you pray?" I'm like, "Bro, what do you think I've been doing for?" And everyone laughed. Like, everyone's like, "Oh my god." Like, "What do you think?" You know? And I'm like, "Yes, bro. >> Oh my god." >> But like the thing is is like if you're a Muslim for like more almost two decades, >> wouldn't you assume that that person pray two decades? Like why would I go through, learn Arabic, do all these hurdles, almost die in a desert, and then be like, "No, I don't pray. That doesn't make sense." >> But um but yeah, we're veering off. But what was you're saying about the the what the personal brand was like I'm I cast my net wide, right? And then see and I didn't say I was Muslim in the beginning. >> The reason why I didn't say say I was Muslim in the beginning, >> there's a couple of things. One, >> okay, >> I didn't like the status of um of Islam on TikTok. It was kind of a weird >> It was kind of a weird thing when people are like, "I'm Muslim." And everyone's like, "Yeah." And it was like, "Holy this guy's, you know, getting all this clout from being Muslim." I get it. That was a weird concept for me cuz remember if you Well, I was telling you there was a lot of struggle. >> It's not just with my family, but outside my family, there was a lot of struggle. Like I' i'd always have to explain my existence to people. You're what? You're Muslim. You're Asian. How are you? How are you Muslim, aren't you? You're not. You're Asian. Like Like it was so many back and forth. Um uh and and it wasn't like I was I was still learning as I go as well. Um, a lot of like back like uh arguments, a lot of like debate, a lot of like um yeah, educating, tons of educating, you know, and it's not as strong when I'm like no. Well, but there's majority of Muslims are Asian in Asian country, Indonesia, but I'm Asian saying that, you know, versus someone else that's not Asian saying that. I guess it's more has a more of an impact, >> of course. Yeah. Uh yeah, I forgot I was why I was going to bring it back to >> But it's very interesting. Subha because I want to relate that to when I first found your content. >> Uh because I was hooked immediately. Uh I don't remember the first video I saw, but it was definitely one of those reaction videos >> where you spoke Arabic. I believe it was a I believe it was someone else's POV and then you were you were there >> and I remember my surprise >> and I was in my head I was thinking I was like saw I would have that would have been a a crazy reaction >> uh because I was very surprised at first because uh again I say this about people who are born into Muslim families. These days, for example, with a beard, it is very difficult to assume who is the apparent Muslim. With the women, it is easier because our sisters, those who have hijab, for example, that immediately is is the passport. You can see the passport. You can see that the person is is a Muslim. But with men I have seen people with with the have the beard and everything unless it is combined with the or with with difficult to assume a person's Islam. >> So in your case I thought this was a person who really mastered Duolingo or something like this the assumption >> but then again your phrases would have been very generic if it was Duolingo with all due respect to Duolingo Yan. But I think when I when I entered your page, I didn't pay attention to the name. It said, I believe it said later somewhere. That's when I was like, >> um, but I remember how how I was. It was very very interesting. Um, what's what has the overall uh reaction to your your type of content been? And has it been as you expected? >> The reaction is the it's it's been quite positive. Uh to the extent no like I didn't I would never expect me doing silly Tik Toks. I would do an interview with Al Jazer. You know what I mean? Like what the heck? You you watch my Tik Toks Al Jazzer, you know? or like like just these like like these moments where I never expected to happen surreal moments and I'm like whoa >> I'm being flown out to >> uh staying at like you know fivestar hotel speaking and and being part of like an interview in in this university >> like what the heck bro like you know and I've never went to university by the way >> subhan allah >> just college but it's just like these are very very ser so I never expect to be that Uh um the reception will be that that end quickly as well. >> Uh what was the other question? >> Uh no just uh how how it was versus like how uh how your expectation is versus what actually transpired and happened. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And it was Yeah. So it was much more than what I expected. And then also uh the potential and the future, right? just there's so much more to be done. >> Would you have done anything differently >> for probably? I guess knowing now what I don't know like it's it I I would have probably been more um pragmat pragmatic or organized about it because I didn't think I would get the reception that quick. So to have that system in place to uh receive everything and um there was a lot of moving parts >> um setting up a team all these things. >> Hello. >> Yeah. Yeah. I definitely do like things like this to help manage the whole process. >> Make things smoother. But um but uh I think you already know it's it's a it's it's a lot of it's a lot of work. It's very very heavy team. can't do everything by yourself. >> I noticed that. Subh like and and by the way the the volume of content that I'm doing is not comparable to yours. So and I'm telling you I'm almost drowning. >> So I can imagine your end of the table you're still going on. You're still you're still you're still doing what you're doing. >> You're putting smiles on people's faces. uh and you are in a way I'll tell you what in many in many many days you've been the positivity to the to the day that I had just seeing that video seeing that one reaction I've seen like some some crazy reactions that you've had uh from people to who have heard you speak Arabic like the one for example outside of the restaurant I believe there was a Moroccan uh uh sister there as well and you spoke da and that shocked me again. It was another shock factor for me. >> It leads me to ask you what was the craziest reaction that you've had? what was the craziest reaction? There's just so many. Um, like I got some reactions that were they were just they were so shocked and disbelief like they were to the point they got scared. >> And they're like, "Please, please stop, stop." They literally begged me to stop speaking Arabic cuz I was speaking English. Then I switched to Arabic and they're like, "What the heck?" And I kept going in Arabic. They're like, "Oh my god, it's they it's like their brain registers like, "Oh, he's he knows Arabic." Then as I continuously speak, he's like, "Oh, he he actually knows Arabic." Not just one, two sentences, saying it, practicing it in the mirror. Yeah. >> You know what I mean? >> Because that's very obvious if someone was to do that. >> Right. Cuz anyone can say, you know, >> you know, say it nicely. Oh, okay. But then once I kept going, he was like, "Oh my god." And then as I kept going, he's like, "Please, please, please stop. I can't handle it. I can't handle it." Um, yeah. He and I had to stop. But, uh, there's just so many I can't pinpoint. There's so many ones that were, um, that the facial reactions. >> It cannot be, it never gets old. Yeah. >> You know, like wideeyed, jaw-dropped, every type of reaction. Confused. Where where are you from? you know, um I can't pinpoint what's one of the craziest. >> Have you ever been in a situation where somebody talked smack about you in Arabic >> in your presence not knowing that you speak Arabic? >> Akid for sure 100%. >> That was like an everyday thing. And >> how did it feel? I don't know. Like I'm not a very vengeful person. So it wasn't like aha I got you, you know, but it was more so like uh so so so it's like in in Egypt it's like it's like you have to pick your battles and you have to choose when you want to go to war or not. And when you do it's like it's it's usually I'm I'm at my tipping point. >> Yeah. you know, my HP status bar is like >> and then you you hit me with the knee sliy now it's like so >> it's a pretty bad story actually. I can't say what I said >> exactly >> but you can use your imagination. >> Oh yes. Okay. Yeah. >> And I was walking it was in downtown uh I was very very bad not one of those good days just bad days. >> I get it >> beginning to end. And then uh like these bunch of kids passing by um and then they're like s and again I was just so livid. I was so angry um throughout the day and at night time they said but they just said at the wrong time god >> and I just went off. They went off not the most cleanest words >> I can imagine. And they're just jaw dropped like, "Oh my god." They didn't know what to do. They didn't know what to do. And they were actually very scared. >> And I was like I was like, "Come here." >> Okay. I was literally like I was telling them like yelling at them, "Come here. I'll kill you all." >> Um and uh >> those those like those those moments are very very far and few in between. They're very rare. Like it's takes a lot for me to like get angry and lose lose like lose my control. Um, but yes, of course it does happen. It does happen. >> And the thing is too, it's like it's not like what people think or, oh, now you have this Arab. Now you can tell if people are talking crap about you, but it's like, >> do you really want to expose it every single time? Do you want to go to war every single time? No, you don't. You have >> so many things you got to do. You got to pick your battles, right? >> Um, is it worth it? you know um uh yeah is it is it is it is it worth it you know and then how then how much is your HP how much is your endurance your your your your health your HP bar right it's usually high then I'll just let a lot of things slide >> but then when it's like low and again angry bad day this is that and you catch me on a bad day you're going to get it >> subhan Allah H before moving to the final section uh I wanted to ask you what's Harun/falafil Kimchi's mission >> my mission >> yes your mission >> my mission is to create an army >> of non-Arab Arab speakers >> international yeah I want to create I want to have I want to uh uh like uh make it so that it's a like family friendly house name brand. >> Okay. But it's the symbol uh of learning uh the non-Muslim or sorry the the Muslim the new Muslim learning Arabic that journey or the idea of non non-Arab learning Arabic because this has been happening throughout uh since the beginning of Islam really. Um >> and uh it's nothing new but it's it's shocking to see online. >> Okay. And there's a lot of Asians, a lot of non-Arab Arab speakers that are 10 times better than me. Um, and I just want to grow that. I want to I want to make because the whole I don't know if you I'm sure you heard this before, but we hear this all the time. Oh, as soon as a brother becomes a Muslim or just Muslims in general. >> Yeah, man. I want to learn Arabic. I want to learn Arabic. I want to learn Arabic. They say this all the time, right? So I want to get that to to actually motivate every single person that wants to actually learn but to to to actually learn. >> And then show them the path. >> Um I can imagine the reward for you. >> Or do you have that in the works? >> In the works. In the works. >> I will be very excited. I'm very excited. Okay. And people can find you on Tik Tok, on Instagram, on YouTube. Uh, is there anything out about this upcoming army that you're maybe it's going to be out by the time the episode is out, but is there anything out that people can join or it's a wait a wait list or anything that I can? >> Inshallah, we'll plug it in. I'll plug it in. >> Stay posted then, guys. >> Plug it in. I I'll give you I'll give you I'll let you know about it. Maybe work out a deal. >> Please. I would I I I would love to subh because I know many people who are have that intention and have that and this can bring a lot of and I especially someone someone with your charisma with your humor with with your presentation skills and the way you present content I think you're the perfect man for the role. So, uh, I'm curious to see your journey. >> See where it's headed. May Allah put on your journey. >> Yeah. I mean, I mean, the final section here is going to be some quickfire questions. >> Rapid fire. >> Rapid fire questions. In a previous podcast that I had in Swedish called competence. We used to say it means quick questions but not necessarily quick answers. So, it's up to you. If it's quick, you get more points. >> points are not counted and not structured and there's no reward. Anyway, um please do accept my sincerest apologies if I am not able to pronounce this correctly. Bulgogi or shawarma bulgogi? >> Oh, I Okay. >> The reason being is because I had sha for a very very long time and it's been a while since I had bulgogi and bulgogi is really good. Yeah, I uh we we have when we when we have Korean barbecue for me it's like eight. >> If you ask me a year ago I would say maybe six months ago I would say >> but right now I'm craving Korean food >> when I'm talking to Kimchi. I have a very important question. >> How is Falafel Kimchiar? What does he choose >> enjoying Ramadan? Oh Arabi. >> It's going to be it's going to be a mix of both, but it's not always uh Korean. >> So, I break my fast with uh some water, some dates, >> some fruit. Keep it light. Maybe tea, maybe coffee. A little bit, but not too much cuz it's going to dry you out uh or dehydrate you. Coconut water, some form of electrolytes. >> Then go pray. and then go either uh continue eating the fruits something light eat after or wait and then eat >> before the meal usually consists of this Ramad past Ramadan it was actually kind of mixed there's a lot of at times I had biryani at times I had Korean food at times I had Filipino food times I had Arabi food as well >> but I think I feel like Arabi food that I'm what I mean by Arabi food is it's like Homemade stuff, bro. >> Yeah, that stuff is homemade stuff. So, >> have you been to by the way in I think so. >> You have amazing stuff. You're a real one. Um, you call yourself and please people excuse me for this question. Have you ever had falafel with kimchi? >> Really? How is it? Tell me. >> Very good. It's very good. So the falafel usually falaf falafel sandwiches it comes with pickles. Uh pickles in the sandwich or like you know a lot of times you have falaf and you have a small uh plate of pickles >> or like mixed mix. >> Um let's just imagine that but spicy. Imagine something that's pickled but spicy. It's like and I'm sorry it's like >> toshi is like uh >> toshi is pickled like pickled everything cucumber carrots. >> Yeah. Yeah. So they pickled not just cabbage. It's like uh they do other uh vegetables as well. Okay. Radish. And >> so I've tried it. I had the falafa with the kimchi. >> I It's a good combination. It's very >> I'm going to try it. Mah. >> Yeah. It's very good. On that note, um if you if you if you if you were not to have salty food in your name, but were to have sweet food, a fusion, so instead of falafel kimchi, if you were to go on the sweeter side, >> what would your tagline be? >> Oh man. Uh maybe be like um I don't know kunafa kimchi. Okay. Kafa cuz kimchi's got to be >> it has to be there. But kafa kafa kimchi or this I'm thinking this desert's going to be dessert's going to be guli >> maybe some maybe sometime your evil twin is going to pop up on Tik Tok and he's going to be called >> he's going to stitch your videos >> like why not do kimchi why not do you know kimchi they always try to make variations right >> you've heard that a lot I can see Which Quranic verse describes your journey? >> Can I ask why? I've been in many many situations where uh uh Allah tested Allah tests those who believe. Um, and I remember I was I've been through I've been through many many tests, but I remember one one one incident and I used to read that ayah all the time, right? But it was the first moment where uh I thought about that ayah and that time of hardship, you know. Mhm. >> It was it it came and then it really I really sat I really like that that that part of the ayat really sunk in and I I I felt it because you know a lot of times we recite and we recite this ayat uh suras very often >> hundreds and hundreds even for h >> but the meaning of it doesn't sink into the heart >> in that moment I was in very very hardship it came. >> And that just Oh, it made me, you know. Um, but yeah, I would say that's Yeah, I would say that would be the one. >> Name one underrated Korean dish. >> Underrated Korean dish. >> Yes, sir. >> Underrated Korean dish. Oh, uh, BBin Bop. >> Well, I was going to say I love BBop. >> Lot not a lot of people know it. It used to be my lunch at work in Sweden. We had a Korean place next to us. We got it in a like tub and the rice was at the bottom and everything. I don't know. I don't know if if you'd give them a jaza or not, but amazing. Okay. I feel so proud now. Okay. one Muslim content creator that you love. >> One Muslim content creator. speaker. This was not trained. >> Oh, you're buying my dinner after this. >> The only question is it going to be and the last question for this section is what is your baraka blueprint in one sentence? be authentically you without compromising your dean. Subhan Allah. And the right person to say this, brother Har before I let you go, he who doesn't thank the people has not thanked the creator of the people. So I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for blessing and honoring the Baraka Blueprint with your presence. Uh, this is your camera. I want you to look at your camera and tell the audience of the Baraka Blueprint podcast your final words of advice >> to those that are watching the Baraka Blueprint podcast. Go like, share, follow, subscribe. Um, final words, put your trust in Allah. um whatever that you're going through, there's a lot more people that are going through much worse. Um remember try to remember the blessings that you have in this life and remember this life is only temporary and the is forever heart bless you and bless your journey and may bless your success bless your wealth and bless your health brother thank you so much for a wonderful podcast episode. If you like what you've seen, make sure to leave this video a like. Make sure to subscribe and follow the Baraka Blueprint podcast. And before I go, I need to give a very, very special shout out to my brother and friend Harun and podcast guest who talked about this army of non-Arab Arabs. And during the time of recording and where we are right now, Harun has a school community where he teaches Arabic. He also has exclusive events where he takes his students to uh to particular trips. So I recommend following his page and I recommend checking out his school community. very very worthy uh opportunity to learn Arabic if you are serious about learning That being said, thank you so very much for tuning in to the Baraka Blueprint podcast. You can reach out to me on Instagram, Tik Tok, YouTube, um even there on LinkedIn if uh that's more your speed. Uh I also have my free school community, the Hijra Hackers, that is still available for free. So, if you're interested, make sure to join in my school community. I also have my free education course in startyouhra.com. I repeat, it's startyourra.com. That being said, remember to stay faithful and focused and be consistent. 1% every day is that which matters. And may Allah subhana ta ease your path to success, bless your wealth, and bless your health. And until next time, Baraka style.