The Podcast That Transformed Dawah in Sweden

Alhamdulillah and welcome to yet another episode of the baraka blueprint podcast. I am your host Ibrahim Sharif and Baraka Blueprint is honored to be uh in a collaboration today with a guest, a friend, austad, a mentor uh our brother Sal from Quran Poddan, the Swedish podcast that got me to appreciate podcasts to a very different level. Uh, brother Sal, I am so pleased to welcome you to the Baraka Blueprint as the first Swedish guest. It's an honor to be here to be a part of your podcast. I've been following it. I've been listening to it and I've seen your journey and you're doing a fantastic job. especially with all the video clips and the effects and most of all the message. >> It's clear, it's logical and uh it's it's really good and I think that your your audience are benefiting a lot from from your content. So, keep up the good work and it's an honor to be here together with you. These are the the these are very big words and I'll be honest, I am uh I'm still starruck. I'm still starruck from the 2019 moment we had with Quran PDAN. Uh >> we had I I I did have a podcast as you as you as you're familiar with in Swedish that was called Competence PDAN. >> Uh we um >> uh we had a couple of collaborations together six years ago in Swedish. >> That's true. Who would have thought six years later that we would have the exact same thing? We'd be having the exact same collaboration but in English. >> Yeah. >> Two Swedish speakaking dudes in the south in the southern part of Sweden. >> Having an English podcast. >> We're meeting halfway because you're from Goththingberg. I'm from Malmo. And u Yeah, it's a it's a great part between us. So we found the perfect city between us. It's called Hiling B. And we're here now. They just built their mosque here, >> which is fantastic. Fantastic. >> It was it's it's one of Sweden's, if not the biggest mosque. Uh and it's it's really beautiful. And we're not we're not sitting in inside the mosque. This is a building just beside the mosque. And uh this is where they where um companies can u rent an office. Yeah. >> And they can do their work here. and the mosque and the brothers here are so generous uh so humble that every time I I I ask about recording something here or visiting here they are always like opening their doors for me there's like no problem at all so I really really appreciate that they give us this platform here >> I'll be very honest I was positively surprised when I came here big Uh I am so impressed >> with everything that has gone on to this project. >> Every aspect to the development to the um community building that they so successfully executed. >> But you know on the way to the masid as you and I were chatting >> you were telling me something. you told me about this um uh this cloud space uh that they have with different offices that you could rent and the the whole concept >> is something that I actually was anticipating to see in the Swedish >> playground or the Swedish environment or the market >> but I didn't expect to see it this soon at least from a masid I think they have done it ex extremely well But one thing that I am so touched by is their generosity and their hospitality. I mean, I am so so grateful. Alhamdulillah. >> And I'll be honest with you, when I entered the masid, um because I've been here in Sweden now for a couple of weeks, for like what, five weeks? I'm in my sixth week right now. And I've been saying for the last couple of weeks, a I want to go back home. I want to go back home. But honestly, just entering this >> masid >> and especially seeing the wudoo area, >> I don't know. Like I I I had a tear of joy. >> I've never seen a and I know this sounds very weird, but I've never seen >> an area for wudoo that is so professional and clean >> for a very long time. We do have as well who's who's done a very nice job as well, but this one reminds me of uh back home. So that's nice. I mean uh for many years back back in the days you could say I used to visit Helimbo and I used to have lectures here and used to meet the youth here not in this mosque their old mosque and I was always like struck by Helim boy atmosphere the brothers here they're like >> so educated so motivated so humble and uh I was always like there's something special there and then they took on this project. They bought the land. They collected the money in Sweden to build a mosque. I don't know how many millions it is. They had like live record live uh sendings um through Instagram through you know different platforms and you know >> and everybody's doing it from their free time. So it's just amazing to see you know and this this gives you great joy and hope in the youth you know like there's so much to be negative about and see the you know oh how's this developing and how's it going to go with this and that but uh when you when you see what they did here uh it's it's amazing you know >> I completely agree no this this has been executed exquisite ly. >> And I I wish I was a greater part of this project. You know, they reached out to me and I wanted to help them more. I I just felt like I have my job. I'm a teacher and I'm doing podcasting. I have a family, you know. >> Do you have your bandwidth? >> Yeah, I have my bandwidth, you know, and you know, I've been close to the edge, you know. >> Close to the wall, as I say. Been very close there. Uh close to the wall, you know. And and it's very important to um to take care of yourself because uh you're in you're in it for the long run. >> Exactly. >> And you cannot just burst and just run like crazy and then understand that oh my god the the goal is down there. You know there's so much more. So you have to save some of your energy and know your limits and and tell the brothers, you know, like I would love to do this just I'm really busy and there's never been anybody that's like shamed me said like oh why don't you you were there or you know they're always like full of respect and they understand that we all have our limits and capacities for what we can do you know and that that's that's very very important >> but sub that is also A very interesting perspective here because out of the generosity and mercy and kindness from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala he multi multiplies rewards that are connected to any act of charity and not only charity from the financial aspect but charity from the effort aspect, charity from the time aspect. uh mankind was created in weakness. uh there there there is a great sense of weakness especially when you have a community like the uh Swedish Muslim community who unlike many areas has not been so how do you say I've not seen a Muslim community that has been so hard I mean fought against or marginalized or even alienated by >> uh the regional powers and the media outlets and whatnot like the Swedish community. Now, I'm not qualified enough to talk about other communities, but specifically the Swedish community. From what I have seen in my 27 years of living here, >> um I I I honestly respect the brothers for pulling off a project like this. >> Yeah, it's amazing. >> It's seriously, it was a it was awe inspiring. Allahbar may Allah bless them, multiply multiply their rewards, bless their wealth, and bless their health. >> Yeah. And also, you know, it was so amazing to see because when they had their, you know, they were collecting money, people donate, you know, they collected like millions in like one live event, you know, they collected like crazy amount of money. >> Yeah. One Tik Tok live. I remember that. That was crazy. >> And um you know before when we back in the days when they used to build mosques, the first mosque in Sweden, they were built by foreign countries, investors, you know, from >> that's what everybody says. Yeah, that that's the problem they have usually. I mean, Islamophobes, right? >> Exactly. That's how the argument was like we don't want these foreign mosques >> uh in Sweden. The thing is that most of them Yes. they were built by some Saudi crown prince or some, you know, rich crown prince, but they they just donated and then they just left it. It's not like they're running the mosque. >> Exactly. Has nothing to do with them. >> No. >> But that was their argument. But you know this is this with time you see the falsalseness in their argumentation because that was their argument and then okay the Muslims in Sweden said you know what let's collect it ourselves we don't need money we don't need help from outside >> we have >> because also the the self-image of Muslims in Sweden is like oh we are so poor we are weak we are divided we are so many different nationalities >> but once a group of young Muslims come together and they want to build a mosque and they they're transparent about the project and they show what they want to do and they put it out there to the Muslims in Sweden. There's so many, you know, good people out there. They're ready to donate to support that uh uh investment. So that's beautiful to see. So it's not just that we have healthy young brothers and sisters that put down a lot of effort in organizing and collecting and building, but they're also supported by the common Muslim that is ready to donate that is ready to support the the different projects. So, so this is not just a a space to pray in. It's also a witness that we are a healthy community and that we can pull this off by ourselves. >> What happens with Islamophobes when they see that we build this with our own money? Do they stop and say, "Okay, this masjid is built by Swedish Muslims." You know, that's this is fine. >> Yeah. What's the next argument? Now, what else do you have? Now the argument is I don't know you know but still they're not happy. >> Of course they won't be happy. >> They try to they try to stop this project >> of course. >> So if it's not this argument they will just find another argument. So it becomes silly >> of course. So they they also the pride the mosque is also a witness to the falseeness of the accusations you know >> that they they accuse the Muslims of support from from foreign governments but actually >> uh Muslims can pull this off and in the end of the day haters will never be satisfied with you you know and that's that's what we learn from the Quran And that's the truth. >> They they just make up different arguments. >> If a good thing was to happen to you, it will anger them. It will irritate them. It will not make them happy. >> Yeah. But if something if a calamity was to hit hit you, oh Muslims, they would be joyous over it. >> The thing is, Subhan Allah, um I'm really happy that this project, I think this project was one of the biggest uno reverse cards for Swedish Muslims >> against the haters, against the Islamophobes. And I'll be honest with you, there's one thing that I kept saying, this is, by the way, my first Ramadan that I have not experienced in Sweden. M >> this is the very first Ramadan that I've never spent a single day in Sweden. >> I I haven't done that before. Like last year I spent I think a week or two in in Dubai and then I went and visit the I visited the family uh and the local Quran school that I go to which usually happens in Ramadan when I'm in the country. Um, and for many reasons, I have said that this is, I think, my happiest Ramadan because I've I spent all of it in a Muslim country, but it just so coincides with the most special Ramadan in Sweden. >> And I'll tell you why I think that. Because every single time I went in, I saw these Tik Tok lives with the massagid that were collecting charity. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Bro, I was so impressed. >> The massaged in Stockholm, the massaged in Helsing Bi >> and it was such healthy competition that they started visiting each other and collecting for each other. >> And that for me was so inspiring. >> Yeah. So, and I had a lot to say about the um the waters being polluted here because we're so fought against, right? >> But I'm happy that I wasn't too right on that one because I mean, >> people gathering together and competing for good and forming alliances for good and it will always triumph everything else. Brother, I we were speaking about and you did mention uh your dawa endeavors uh or at least touched on that in the beginning. What I wanted to ask you specifically because I I want to introduce this profile uh the man behind Quran Pudden, the man behind the podcast that hit the Swedish billboards and that is connected to the Quran. I want to ask who is who is in the Swedish Dawine? >> You know that that's one of the questions that I ask my guests. You know, it's interesting that you uh tell me that you ask me um who am I? Well, I'm born and raised in in Sweden. My parents came from Turkey in the 60s and um when I was young I was seeking the purpose of life and I found Islam and the more the time goes the more I fall in love with Islam >> and the Muslims I see so many beautiful beautiful people I see how Islam beautifies people's character makes them generous makes them loving that I don't see anywhere else you know and um I I want to show that I want to show the beauty of Islam so back in the days I used to give lectures and uh I don't know what happened on the way I stopped for a little while but switched over to podcasting pretty quickly and uh the podcast just took over from the lectures like mosques used to call me and I was like I'm sorry I'm just doing podcasting now nowadays except once a year I make an exception you can maybe guess we have been touching on the subjects Ramadan >> Ramadan all the mosques uh call and um me and brother Salee uh very dear brother to me >> yeah he's a he's just one of those amazing beautiful people is a legend. Mah >> and uh him and we both of us we have this Quran conversations we have on on our podcast we call in Swedish Quran Sam I didn't coin that term some people that were listening to it so what we do is we take the short suras he studies one short surah I study the same short surah we read different mu you know interpretations and then we get together >> and then we court. This is because Quran put in there's so many different guests, so many different subjects, you know, but one of the most beloved subject to me is our Quran conversations. >> Why? >> Because the Quran is the Quran, you know, >> so we sit together and we we go verse by verse. So we say the first verse, we give the translation and then he he tells me what he has found from his mufasid. I tell him what I read from my mufasine and then we reflect on it. What does that mean for our contemporary life in Sweden? How can we live this ayah in our life? I mean most of the part I'm just listening to Salem because subhan Allah he's just natural you know I have my notes you know I'm like okay inb cir said this and he's just flowing natural man he he doesn't have any notes I mean sometimes he has notes it's just more for in front of him >> but I just I just love listening to him and I when I leave those conversations it's like I'm walking on moon on on the clouds it's like I'm walking on the clouds I I leave those convers conversations so uplifted in my spirit. It It's just amazing. And we say that that like this is not something that's just unique for me in Salem that we have some special gift or anything like this is this is something anybody could start with a dear friend just get together. You don't need a microphone. No, >> just to have some habit of studying the Quran because once you delve into the Quran and you start to reflect on the Quran, there's so much wisdom. >> So much wisdom. And what if I can just share one you know uh lesson I learned in my conversation with Salem >> is like we were talking about a verse I forgot what the verse was so we were talking about a specific verse and then he asks me oh what's your interpretation like what what did you find out I'm like okay I read this verse I read different sh and there's different interpretations of this ayah right there's different interpretations Okay. And um you know, out of all of these interpretations, I think this is the strongest one, you know, the most authentic, I guess. >> Mhm. >> And he was like, but maybe they correct all of them, you know, maybe all the interpretations are correct or many interpretations. >> Meaning that we shouldn't limit an ayah to authoritative. You understand? Okay, I get it. >> So like this is Allah's word >> and we are human beings. We try to understand it. >> This he understood it in this way. >> Yes. >> This other she understood it in this way and they don't clash with each other. They complement each other. And that that that's like maybe for some people is just like oh that's very obvious. I've heard that from other shakes. But when you live it, when you're like talking live with Salem and you have this conversation and he says that that that for me that was like that that that struck me even if I knew it before you know you know what I mean that that that sometimes many many taps many interpretations can be correct. >> Correct. >> Of course. >> And we don't have a you know a pope that's going to say this interpretation is the correct one and that one is the wrong one. >> Yeah. There's no um there's no necessary contradiction. There can be overlap. >> Yeah, exactly. >> I get it. >> So uh I that that was that was beautiful. But uh yeah. So so the Quran conversations and that's what makes Kuran Puddin unique also. >> When did it start Kuran Puddin? >> It's been almost eight years now. >> It's been eight years. >> Yeah. I'm on episode uh actually I'm working on a during the summer I take a break >> but I'm working on a bonus episode that I'm going to drop now >> and uh that will be episode 299 >> and my new season will start with episode 300 and that will be conversation Quran conversation with Salem and I'm you know I never you know celebrate great uh goals or you know accomplishments but episode 300 I feel is a little bit like special should be some >> little bit is very undermining by the way but okay yeah sure definitely it is special that we can agree on >> yeah so I I was thinking like uh get some brothers together buy some cake you know and just uh have some you know it's it's important you know not just like anything you do in life >> where you're trying to accomplish something you know don't forget to celebrate ate uh you know make something nice um you know at least you get brothers together you you don't meet so often so if you release episode 300 get together share a cake you know why not so that's giving me some ideas actually even though I am I just finished my first season for Baka blueprint as we're recording uh so this is for season True, >> obviously. Um, but yeah, um, I have so many questions. Where do I where do I even begin? Um, I want to tap into your podcast Quran because your podcast played a pivotal role in my podcasting journey both in Sweden but also as I was setting the frameworks for Baraka Blueprint because my why for Baraka Blueprint is that whoever builds their a a a healthy strong continuous relationship with the Quran, Allah subhana wa ta will preserve and protect that person >> and basically you'll be consuming a blueprint for worldly and spiritual success. Now with that I want to ask you could you please elaborate on the why >> behind Quran. >> That's a great question and the why is so important because if you know what your why is when the work gets difficult um the why will keep you going. And the and the why for me is this is my heritage, you know, like and um this is something that I want to leave for the world, you know, this is what I accomplished or for for Allah's sake, you know, >> like a legacy like what's your legacy? What what are you going to leave behind when you leave the this world >> and we have the concept of you know to plant something that gives continuous uh baraka if you can use that word >> exactly >> so I I I felt like with the Quran Quran then you know I left lecturing because for me I'm just talking personally I felt like giving lectures where I'm a speaker and I speak to an audience and I tell them how things are going to be. I just for me personally I just didn't feel so comfortable with that with time, you know, like I just felt like I'm not the authority. I just feel like I'm up here. People are just listening to me. That's not who I really want to be. Even if I'm a teacher, I do that professionally every day. I get get into a classroom, I'm standing there and people listen to me. But >> what subject do you teach, by the way? Sorry. >> Social sciences. >> Social sciences. Okay. my least favorite subject. But I would I would love to have you as a teacher is what I'm trying to say. >> But uh but the podcast was like a conversation and the the conversation was not about me. I was not in the focus. You understand what I mean? When you're giving a lecture and you're in a mosque, you're like the audience looks up to you and then they put questions and all of a sudden you're like a sheh or an imam. you know, I didn't feel comfortable with that. Uh, but with the conversation, I could lift my guests. All of a sudden, we could have a conversation, you know, and I I I feel like a conversation can be more beneficial than a lecture. >> I don't know. I I heard this report from from a scholar called Rahimah that that he had said that the best part of his teaching was when he taught like onetoone or him in a small group where he could have a discussion. Um so I'm not against giving lectures. Absolutely has this you know uh role important role of educating people and all that. >> Y >> but for me I just fell in love with the podcasting where I could meet different people. Yes. >> I could learn from them. I could listen to them. >> And I you know there's so many beautiful people out there. Muslim authors, Muslim movie directors, you know, on and on and on. And like you when you met me, you know, you're like, "Oh, we can talk about podcast. I want to learn so much from you." >> Oh, I remember that. >> That's how I feel with all the guests I met meet, you know, like an Muslim author. Like, how did you become successful? How's your workflow? What do you write about? What inspires where where do you find your energy to move on? So, I'm I'm just out there meeting these beautiful people and just learning from them, you know, and I I do I I'm I'm trying my best not to be like, "Oh, I need to get this guest because if I get this guest, they're going to get a lot of clicks and a lot of likes because this guest has a big platform, you know, like I want to reach all guests. Like, if they don't even have to have a platform, I'm just, you know, if they have something special, something unique, I want to listen. and I want to learn. So I'm just out there as soon as I meet somebody that's interesting that you know it interests me which a lot of people people are interesting you know if you love people >> Yeah. Exactly. >> You know like the lady saying this >> the lady that you met outside. >> You helped her up. >> I'm like subhan Allah. Why didn't I see that? Why didn't I move? You know and you went there and you helped her and then all of a sudden you had a conversation which is kind of unusual in Sweden you know. It is. >> Yeah. And then you're like, "Have a great day." And then she's like, >> "May God bless you." >> You know, and I don't think she's a Muslim, but I'm like, "Subhan Allah, Ibrahim Sharif just got a dua from a non-Muslim. Made a, you know, dua for him." You know, >> I should have told her about the baraka blueprint. No, but that that's that's the beautiful thing that that's how we should spread Islam, you know. Like I was listening to a uh to a Swedish podcast, Muslim podcast. Uh and he he was like, "Oh, there's people Swedish Muslim." >> He's like, "Yeah, you know, out in the streets there's some Muslims that are giving out flyers about Islam, but these these flyers are just flyers." Yeah. You know, is Islam for you a flyer? No. >> Okay, that is a very intriguing question. Okay, go on. >> But helping a elderly lady to go up that step and she said, "God bless you." And you didn't make a big deal of you, by the way, I'm a Muslim. Do you want to take shahada now and then? >> But see it from the long run. You're showing something beautiful. Maybe Allah will put her in your life later on or you know something else will happen. We don't always have to be like upfront with you know the da like you know shove up a flyer in the face of somebody you know >> here. I get you. I get you. >> Yeah. So so um and the podin is I'm trying to emulate that in a podcast format. It's not like this da in your face. It's very like hey we have a conversation listen come and listen we have some beautiful conversations here that even if you are a non-Muslim you can benefit from it you can leave the conversation and just feel I benefited and you know like there's there is a group of non-Muslims listen to the Quran they might not be as big as the Muslim audience >> but I'm still counting on it though because I mean the the the content you're producing Allahabic is something that definitely touches uh non-Muslims and Muslims alike. And the reason why is you don't speak in a way that only affects the Muslim demographic or in a lingo that is only understood by the Muslim demographic in Sweden. Yeah. >> Um, and I'm sure you're familiar with what I mean here because I mean we have our terminologies, we have our slang, >> and I've noticed for example in the um I've noticed in the lecturing sphere >> how how much of a variation there is in this and okay, why am I going in on a on a tornado tangent here? Why? because you gave me an aha moment. >> Actually, I got many aha moments from from what you said, but and good God, it's so difficult to prioritize an agenda with such limited time, but I'll try my best. Mhm. >> One thing that I realized I have an issue with and I'm getting around it is the fact that I haven't in one entire season I haven't addressed the Baraka blueprint as a conversation. >> Because I mean for forget the video, forget imagery, forget studio, forget all of these fancy things. At the end of the day, if you're not authentic enough and if you're not providing tangible value, what are you providing? >> Right. So, you said something as an you have it as a conversation. I feel like for a certain time I've actually addressed Baraka Blueprint as as a guy who's sharing a stage or giving a lecture in a hall. Mhm. >> And these are two very different things. And subhan Allah, you also gave the example of uh what is effective and what is not effective. Okay. Okay. You can have the conversation. Go ahead. Or you can have the lecture. That's fine. What are you saying in your lecture? And what are you saying in those conversations? And then later later, of course, how are you acting? >> Subhan Allah. You know, the more I talk with you, the more I realize that um I've picked the right person to ask my first podcasting questions to honestly because you've you've you've hit the nail on the head so many times. Honestly, so many times. >> One thing I kept telling the students in the Quran school is at the end of the day, you guys are memorizing Quran. You guys, and I see them as the future AMO of Sweden. They're memorizing hadith. They're many of them later go up to be uh students of knowledge overseas. And I told all of them, subhan Allah, none of this will matter if your character is trash. >> And I'm really, really sorry for being so blunt and so unfiltered, but if you are unpleasant. >> Yeah. Because trash is unpleasant. The odor is unpleasant. If you don't take the trash out of your house for some time, it's going to smell. >> That's true. >> It's very unpleasant. >> Why do you want to be unpleasant? >> Nobody wants to. So make sure that the character that learns Quran, >> the character that memorizes hadith, the character that preaches Islam, this should be the most pleasant character to be around. now and um of course and feel free to always and keep butting in and each moment I'm thinking I know when he's going to but in there's going to be something so subh this is this this is no fixed teams meeting agenda even though yes as a project manager I am used to this jargon but >> I do want to ask you about something and feel free to elaborate on it as much as you want Um, you and I have had very different experiences when it comes to the da scene in Sweden. >> I have taken the street dawa approach mainly and I've touched on the podcasting. I have been given some platforms to give lectures, givea Friday sermons. Yeah. And I've I've been quite a generalist. I've I've uh I've I've touched on things a few times here and there, but mostly it's been uh comp conversations in comparative religion, speaking with atheists, with uh with Christians out in the street and just having raw unfiltered dialogue. >> Now, you've had Quran put down for a very long time. Alhamdulillah. >> Your podcast and way before that, your da journey in Sweden, you have seen and I can imagine you've seen so many faces of the Swedish Muslim scene. >> I mean, Quran Putan has seen an an era where the Quran was being distributed and then the translations were being distributed to an era where people were burning them. >> Yeah. Yeah, that's true. So what I guess what I want to ask you is could you please take me and the Baraka blueprint listeners through this journey >> to whichever extent to whichever detail >> I just want to hear about it like >> how was it what like how was this journey tell us >> I mean I've also had my moments of I mean I've also done street da'a you know I've had my lectures Uh but with time you know you you think about things and um reflect. One very important thing for me has been Islam should feel authentic in Sweden. You know how can we how can Islam be an authentic part of Sweden? Okay. What do you mean by that? So because when when my parents moved here, you know, they had a baggage with >> A lot of parents moving from another country coming to Sweden, you have a baggage. >> And I jumping from one thing just to explain the baggage thing. There's there's one >> phrase I've been thinking about deeply and I've >> criticized it. I want to share with you. Let's see what your viewpoint is on it. >> Tell me. Have you heard the expression Muslim ambassador? You are a ambassador for Islam. >> Yeah. 100%. You are. Of course. >> It's very widely spread expression among Muslims like you're an ambassador for Islam. You should think about how you act and behave >> because people look at you. And I I thought about that ambassador. That's a meta metaphor, right? Nobody of us is ambassador. But what is an ambassador? Okay. >> It's a rep is it's a representative for a foreign country, right? You live in Sweden. You have ambassadors from Denmark, UK, United States, Muslim countries. >> Ambassador, >> Swedish ambassador goes to other countries. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, if you're an ambassador for Islam in Sweden, >> what you're putting forward is that Islam is not a natural part of of Sweden. Interesting. You're like a I'm an ambassador for Islam. Something coming from there and I'm ambassador here for a while. I'm going to be working around here. I'm going to represent Islam which is not part of this. Then I'm going to go back again. Okay. So, I'm I've moved from being a Muslim ambassador to becoming a Muslim neighbor. Very interesting terminology. >> Um, I don't want to be an ambassador for Islam. I want to be your Muslim neighbor. I'm born here. >> I'm Swedish >> and I'm Muslim and I'm your neighbor and we have same challenges. I remember back in the day when when I was in the mode of ambassador for Islam, what you what did we used to do in our street da'ah? Oh, have you looked at the suicide rate in Sweden? It's so high. Why are people not feeling so good in Sweden? People have people are depressed. >> People commit suicide. They don't feel good. All this stuff, you know. But Islam has the solution. I'm ambassador >> Well, now the Muslims have similar problems. >> Yes, >> we have Muslims that are have health mental health issues that are depressed. There are these >> we have the same challenges. >> Or we have crime, you know, >> we do. >> And and that affects me like it affects my Christian neighbor or atheist neighbor. So for me it has been this is my personal journey. I don't want this to be for anybody else or anything like that. This is my personal reflection I've done and that has been how do I move from becoming a from being an ambassador for Islam which puts a pressure on you you know like I cannot be ambassador for Islam. Do you do you know what what kind of a response >> be ambassador right? Do you know what kind of you know or how should I express it? Like >> the pressure that you have on your shoulders on my shoulders. >> Like I'm a human being, bro. I have my issues. I have struggling. I cannot be ambassador for Islam. >> But I can be a neighbor, you know, >> and a neighbor can be pleasant. >> You can love your neighbor. You I mean, you can have a nightmare of a neighbor as well. I agree. >> Exactly. Yeah. and um and a neighbor's part of the country is a natural part and it's like we have our you know we we live in the same country we enjoy the same things and we help each other through the society and and if I look at prophet Muhammad's life when he was born in Mecca and he lived there he was a neighbor he was not an ambassador you know he was a natural part of the Meccan society you know, he had his neighbors. He was dressed like them, So, for me, it's been, you know, going through my life, the message and everything and like what is authentic Islam and how can we live that, you know, naturally in Sweden? I'm not I don't have all the answers. I'm not finished with my journey. I might be wrong, but this is what I've been uh thinking about lately. And so, so Quran Putin has been like this is your Muslim neighbor podcast, Swedish podcast, you know, this is your Muslim neighbors having a conversation. you can tap into that because maybe you don't have so many Muslim neighbors where you live or in you know get in contact with them but through the podcast you can listen to Muslims having a conversation because on the media all right TV radio etc. Muslims always have to defend themselves. What do you Muslims think about this? What do you think about that? Defend yourself. you have one minute then we're going to have a break and you know and you so so for me it was like you know when I had my podcast you know some newspaper reporters reached out to me when things were happening the Quran burning is an example >> okay >> oh well do you want to come we want to interview about the Quran burning no thank you I don't want to do it maybe somebody else wanted to do it I drew my line there and it was all about defending my podcast it was all about building the podcast. People were like, "But you can be on their platform and you can reach like thousands of people and you can say a beautiful message. You you know how to speak Swedish." >> I'm like, "No, I draw my line because I think that's so important to know when you're going to say no, when you have to pull your line to build what you're building." So this is I think where I'm going to be asking you a bit more because I am thinking from my from my point of view >> I would have definitely said yes like if I if I was in if I was I'm not okay I'm not going to say if I was in your shoes but if I was to hypothetically build a scenario where baraka blueprint was approached in this situation now Ibrahim Sharif would be the kind of person that would >> go into it right Yeah. >> Now, hearing this is of course making me question, okay, would this be me going in head blindly without understanding the temperature of the water, right? >> So, I I I guess I want to ask you, could you could you elaborate why this was a no moment for you >> if you can? >> Yeah, absolutely. You know, and I still have that no moment. Um because if you look into history like in the beginning in the end of the 19th century okay >> Europe when you had people laboring in the factories >> working class >> they didn't have any rights do you know the military was shooting them they had a massacre in Sweden where the labors were demonstrating and Swedish military came and you know busted them up and killed raised to Sweden This is the first time I hear about it. >> Yeah, it's it's famous. And uh what did the workers do? They got together. They started their own newspapers. They started their own, you know, platforms. And so we Muslim have been without any platforms for so many years and been used by the media, you know, and they they put the narrative. They're like Quran burning is the most important subject now and for like five years ahead because some you know person that wants to get citizenship in Sweden. That's why you know some of them have said that they they burn the Quran so they can't send them back to their home country. >> Because of risking to be in jail or whatever. >> And um well that's the narrative. We want to hear your position on burning the Quran and freedom of expression, you know, and it's just bogus. It's just made up fake news, you know, that's not that has nothing to do with me. The Quran is beyond that. It's a beautiful message. I don't want to give my attention to this sick person, you know, that's burning the Quran. So I stayed so much out of that you know and um okay they they they contacted me and I said no and um I don't regret it and that that is you know because the dunya will pull you away from what's important. >> It does. >> It'san's work. He wants you to get bugged down with that ridiculous argumentation if it's freedom of expression or not. And now in Sweden has come new laws. You cannot tell a police officer that some dirty words to a police officer. You don't have that freedom of expression anymore. You know, there's new laws coming up. Yeah. >> But burning the Quran, burning the Quran, it was all about freedom of expression. Now comes new laws. You cannot call the police uh dirty word, you know, or or insult the police officer. >> Yeah, I read an article about that. Police officers. >> Yeah, I read about because the article mentioned a specific slang that we used as children. >> Remember we used that in the schools as well. >> Exactly. You know, >> and children are children. They're going to say funny stuff. >> You cannot take that as a police officer, >> but a child should take it if they want to burn my holy scripture. You should just be quiet, happy, have a big fat smile on your face, and let them burn the Quran stamp on it. Put bacon. Yeah. >> So, they just >> expose themselves for who they really are. It's not about freedom of expression. >> It's just about >> insulting the Muslims. >> Yep. you know, insult you, push you down, and you should just smile. You shouldn't even protest because then you're against freedom of now. There's demonstration about Gaza, right? >> I'm sorry. I I You're saying you can't So, okay. You can't protest because then you'll be against freedom of speech. You can't use freedom of speech because then you'll be against freedom of speech. Okay. Sure. Fair enough. Yeah. Yeah. Sure. Go ahead. Absolutely. You're fine. You You're going on about the Palestine demonstrations. Yeah. There was one guy, he dressed like uh the prime minister of >> Yep. And I saw all the drama about it. >> It became a big big drama cuz a dude dresses like the prime minister. He wants to make a in a demonstration. He is using his freedom of expression. >> Yep. But drawing images of a historical figure >> exactly is not >> doing unspeakable things. >> That's okay. >> Yeah. So it's it's double standards of >> course. And they have exposed themselves. And the disaster which is happening in in Gaza is also exposing double standards of >> human rights of never happening again of never seeing a war and you know killing babies and >> you know ethnic cleansing and all that coming back again. Yeah. >> And uh Swedish politicians being quiet about it and u so subhan Allah all these trials just exposes uh the falseeness in their argumentation. So I'm just like I don't want to be on your platform your narrative >> because you're contributing to a power that already pollutes the waters. >> Yeah. I want to I want to build something that is beautiful that I want people to listen to. And so, so that that's where I drew my line. I respect that, but I totally respect the brothers and sisters that go into that debate because some people have to take that debate that's going on on the newspapers and on TV and stuff like that. But I'm just saying my personal, you know, thoughts on it. >> No, of course. I mean, uh, and you're very right in saying that because at the end of the day, what you're saying is 100% true. We don't have media power. >> I mean, as as Muslims globally, we're getting that back with social media. It is still an uphill battle uphills battle, but it's it's an ongoing struggle. >> Your brothers can't write Palestine on Facebook. You know, I'm on the old platform Facebook. They they can't write Palestine. Can't write Gaza. They have to put like different symbols. >> Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. and then the emojis and stuff >> because they know the algorithm will you know uh identify the post and will downgrade and so >> it's a borrowed platform at the end of the day it's never going to be yours. >> Exactly. And you know we're on their platform and um so like I can just say something that when I when I've been building Kuan and I'm thinking about my audience and I have a Facebook page for Kuen. Yep. I'm like no the most important platform will be the newsletter. So I have a newsletter connected ku puran. So people who want to get the news behind the scenes wants to follow the kuan puran behind the scenes and the development of them of the different season and what's coming up and stuff like that. I I tell them please join the newsletter. There is a guy who's going to listen to this who's going to be so happy. >> Yeah. So, my my most important advice to any Muslim content creator is be out there on Tik Tok and Instagram and all the platforms that are existing and that will come. But uh right now one of the platforms that you can build and where you don't have the algorithms you know uh affecting or you know they could just ban you what are you going to do with your like 30,000 followers on Facebook if they overnight just bans you what you going to do so that's why more and more people are like going into newsletter email and uh in that way and you know co and I was also when I built it I was It has to have an economic foundation because there will be expenses. I as a private content creator, I cannot bear all those costs. I need economic support. And you there's so many different ways of building that. I built it through the listeners. >> Okay. >> My content is free, but if you like it, if you have some pennies over, if you want to donate, you can donate. And there is sisters, brothers and sisters in Sweden that donate, even non-Muslims donating. >> And um so they're donating, you know, and I got their contact information and I was it just hit me. I got this from a YouTuber. I was uh influenced and I'm like, "Okay, they donate, you know, and they believe in this." >> Some of them I just call them up cuz they're swishing. So I get their switch number. So I'm just calling them up. I'm like this is co and I just call you just to personally thank you >> and they're just >> you know what the number one reply is always? What? This is so little I'm doing this is so little. This is nothing. This support I'm giving you all brothers and sisters. Oh >> wow. >> All of them are humble like that. >> What a community. >> What a community. Allah. Some of them, many of them, they're like, "I'm so busy, Salah. I can't listen to your podcast, but I know there's other people listening and I want to this to continue. That's why I'm donating." So, they're they're donating for something that they don't themselves take part of, but they know that other people are taking part of >> And so, so I was calling them, you know, just spontaneously, not asking them for anything, just want to thank them. And then I'm like, how can I take this to the next level? We're living a digital age. Everything is like zeros and ones, digital stuff. Newsletter is digital, nothing analog. >> I'm going to write them a letter. I'm going to write them a thank you letter. I'm not going to be able to reach all the the ones that donate, but I'm going to start writing letters. Bro, I've never felt such a, you know, gratitude of something, you >> like an authentic connection. >> Authentic connection >> just like I'm I sent them a message like and I asked in a very humble way. >> Could you could I have your address? I would just want to send you something. >> And then I I have a letter I have a page and I just start writing and I add some Palestinian stickers there. You know, we talked on the bus. >> Wow. Okay. Okay. >> I add some goodies. >> Add some Palestinian stickers. I add a I have a folder information about the KO and I add that in there. >> Mashallah. >> And I write my letter, thank you letter. And you know, write some stuff there. And I get an envelope. I buy a stamp. I mean, you know, I don't remember when I bought a stamp last time. I buy stamps and I put them I have like four four letters at a time, three letters at a time. I take them to a post office. I just dump them in there. >> You know, up until I had this podcast episode, I forgot about the existence of postal stamps. >> But you know, also one thing, >> it's not just packages. You can actually >> It isn't really. Okay. >> So, I mean, back in your day, did you guys carry these big phones on your pockets or No, I'm just kidding. How could you download Tik Tok on them? No, I'm kidding. But jokes aside, um you've been telling me on the way to the to the masid that you were this oldtimer, this dinosaur, and while it's partially true. No, I'm joking. While it's while it is the case that your experience in the da field by far surpasses mine and even though I will not I can't believe that I'm talking to somebody who's still on Facebook, you know, and I can't believe that someone would spend their time on Facebook or making content for Facebook. But I guess I mean it's okay to be wrong. >> Um >> you know I Excuse me for for cutting off their people tell me like s if you just did this on Tik Tok you would reach like 10 times the audience that you're reaching on your >> realizing what I'm about to tell you but good okay >> you know but uh and then there is this part in me that I'm like you know I've looked at Tik Tok and you know Instagram and Facebook they're copying Tik Tok and they put elements of the Tik Tok thing. Yeah. Yeah. Of course. Obvious. Obvious. >> And I've experienced it. I'm like, "Oh my god, I get hooked up." >> YouTube. >> Exactly. Every Everybody Exactly. Everybody has copied it. >> LinkedIn as well. >> And I experienced it and I'm like, "Yo, if I download TikTok on my phone, I'm going to get hooked up." So, so I've been hesitating and um maybe maybe I'll find some brother or sister that can put some stuff on on TikTok. >> Other than that, I'm just going with podcast. But >> the letters just going back to the letters. I sent out the letters and the people that got the letter, some of them, not all, but some of them, they take a picture of the letter and everything, the Palestinian stickers, my letter, the envelope. They take a picture and they send it to me and they're like, "Thank you so much. This meant so much to me that I got this from you." And I'm just like, there's so many beautiful brothers and sisters in Islam and even non-Muslims that are donating to to Ku and that believe in it, you know, and they put their hard-earned money to donate to support it. And I'm just, you know, if I could just give something back with a physical handwritten letter thinking, I think that's that's something beautiful. >> I think it's magnificent. And uh I actually wanted to continue to this. >> Do you know why? Because >> however much you kept telling me on the road here this thing about what that you're sticking to old platforms. You know what you've done? You've said the most advanced thing >> which is that you've realized something that this content creator has a long way to go is that we are always or so far we're on borrowed platforms. >> Your letters be it the email newsletters or even the handwritten one bro there's no algorithm that can stop that. literally is so authentic and it's you and >> this is your chance to take this this conversation that we were talking about you know Quran being a conversation and >> I actually want Baraka blueprint to be more conversational and this is inshallah and I'm happy that the listeners and the viewers are are a part of this journey and even the the Baraka base camp those who know the know they know the telegram group that's it's still free to join and the link is going to be in the bio. >> Um, >> I've realized that this should be much more of a conversation and I think you've you've hit the nail on the head, brother. And to not go way off topic, there is actually one topic that I want to talk to you about before closing and it is particularly hijra. >> Yeah. Yeah. Um because while it is still a fresh topic from our earlier Swedish recording, >> um it is also a fresh topic on a conversational matter >> for people in Sweden or so I have seen because I've only seen the Tik Tok side of things and unfortunately the Tik Tok sphere that I have seen has been very like like cancel culture has been very like uh people trying to best one another I mean I've I've ended up in in conversations and in in in spheres with Muslims that I absolutely never want to be in again which is very shame it's very shameful and embarrassing to say but this is this is reality right >> uh I guess this brain rot toxic culture doesn't have any you know specific targets it targets everybody >> but um what I'm trying to say with this is that I I don't I don't know how the conversation has been in real life on the on the I've talked to my family. I' I'm hearing that people are more positive towards the hijra concept specifically because hijra is so multifaceted and it can mean so many things to so many people but specifically leaving this country and moving to a Muslim country. So that particular paradigm how often is this a conversational topic that you're observing be it immediately or through your mediums of usage have if you're comfortable sharing that of course how where have you landed conclusion-wise? >> Yeah, it's a really great great uh question. just to finish off the conversation we had just here about >> yeah please >> conversation because when I started kuturo and when I used to reach my guests I used to tell them I would like to interview you and for me there's a big difference between interview and a conversation so now I've moved over to ask my guests I would like to have a conversation with you okay wait hold up hold up step back step back because this is something let's let's let's back this up a little bit because this is something that I have heard being mentioned so many times and I'm still trying to understand it. I'm I I'm I'll be honest with you. I don't >> I don't think I don't think I fully comprehend it but slightly because I mean you're saying interview and then you're saying conversation. >> Can you um can you try to press on the difference between the two? >> Yeah. So interview for me is I prepare a bunch of questions. and you are the expert and I just tick off my questions, you know. >> And uh I go from question to question to question and that's that's an interview for me. >> Yes. Of course, >> a conversation is more like a dialogue. >> Between two people >> and my guest is always the the center of focus. Yes. That's the one that's going to have the most say. I'm going to, you know, pull the conversation in a direction. I always tell my guest how, you know, but a conversation is I never write down any questions. It's a conversation for me is live. I have some topics in my head. I know like where I want to navigate, >> but it's it's never like I tick off boxes and they're like what >> I let the I let it go with the flow, you know. And after doing uh many conversations or interviews, you start to learn and get the craft, you know, it's a craft. >> Have you started an episode as an interview and then let it go into a conversation and vice versa as well? >> Yeah, but I mean I I left interviews a long time ago, but I use the vocabulary. I was always saying I want to interview you and I'm like I don't feel that interview is there something different there from conversation and interview >> Do you know what I feel like when someone says interview >> I feel like there's one mic like this >> and there's a backdrop. >> Yeah. And then somebody holding the mic out. >> Interview is like I talk to the mic and then I give you the mic. >> But a conversation is we have two mics. >> And I don't cut you off and we we have a dialogue. And I also have something to contribute to the to the topic. Yes. >> So that that was but you you asked me a very important question. >> Can you take me back to that because I always almost always almost forgot it. >> The problem is I never ask important questions. I just talk but yeah. No but there's I'll I'll tell you what though. This is I think one of the central questions of Baka blueprint and it's about the hij concept. Yes. >> Just um >> what I'm thinking about is >> where where I landed. What's my take on it or thought? >> Yeah. So partial so partially what your conclusion is but also how what have you observed? What is it is it talked about often? Is it is it something that people are are people thinking in that direction? >> I think many Muslims think about hijra. >> Many have double citizenship. >> Yes. And the politicians, they're sending signals now that you should not have double citizenship. We should not allow that because they have double loyalties all of a sudden, you know. >> Oh, really? It's to that level. >> That's the latest. Yeah. Yeah. We want you just to have loyalty to one country. >> Do you have double loyalty? >> I have double citizenship, but I have one loyalty. >> That's to Allah. >> Allahbar. >> So, I have two citizenships. I have Swedish citizenship and I have Turkish. >> Really? And I have no loyalty to Turkey and I have no loyalty to Sweden. Exactly. From from a state perspective. >> Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. You should. >> But I have I have loyalty to Allah and I have loyalty to my neighbors. >> And I'm living in Sweden. So my loyalty loyalty is to my neighbors in Sweden. If I would move to Turkey, my loyalty would be to my neighbors there. >> But state has never been something that I'm going to have a loyalty. >> There's responsibility. There's a big difference between responsibility and loyalty. >> I pay my taxes. I follow the law, all that stuff, you know, but I'm not going to worship the state. I'm not going to wave a Turkish flag and be all proud of it. Nationalism has never >> been something that uh that has attracted me. >> It's not it's not part of a brand that you want. >> So, um but back to hijra. So, there's many Muslims think about it and the politicians are always, you know, these microaggressions, the signals is always you're not welcome, you're different. You know, and so many Muslims they start thinking like I'm not part of this, you know, and they totally racist or like you don't belong to this country. You should move back to your home. Exactly, bro. I'm born here. This is my home, you know. >> So, but but Muslims, you know, hear that language and also, you know, you strongly try to practice your religion. So I understand that the feelings that you have and um I'm I'm thinking about myself also but when you're working to be a neighbor and not to be hijra concept be becomes a little bit like last effort. It's not the the forefront thing. >> So so I'm I'm trying like I want to live my Islam here. I want to help the Muslims to practice their religion here and it should not be any problem. We should have our rights to practice our religion. >> It's it's tough sometimes you know but I think it's a very individual thing and it should be up to the individual to think about it and go through it in their uh in their life. >> Okay. You know, so for some people, hij is very important. They have to leave their city because the city that they're living in is pulling them to networks that they should not be part of. They maybe need to move from one city in Sweden to another city in Sweden. That's their hijra. >> Some people needs to make because the first hij is the hij of the heart. >> Yes. Correct. >> Before the physical hijra. >> Yes. For some people, you know, they're in a situation in their life that they have tried that they need to move to a Muslim country. >> And they feel comfortable about that that feels right for them and that's their hij and they call it their hij and I'm fine. That's your hij may Allah reward you for that and that's your hij blank you know like all Muslims in Europe have to make hijra now or There's not many voices like that, but uh it's easy that the question can turn into that that it becomes like a general advice and um you know back in the 90s it was like you're not allowed to live in Sweden. You have to make hij you know the only way you can live in Sweden or a non-Muslim country is that you make da or something like that. >> Yeah. Yeah. And that one was conditioned as well. >> Yeah. And then you have this, you know, darl har and darl Islam >> and you know correct. And it's it's also it's not so black and white in a globalized world, you know. >> Okay. Sure. >> I'm thinking like this is a thought that came to me before we were going to have this interview. Okay. >> I was like or conversation >> convers. Thank you for correcting me. You know, I'm still struggling with that interview. >> No, but you know what? I'm happy that you said that and I'm not going to I'm not going to take too deep of a tangent from because you're you're you're in a flow here. Um because I' I've been giving from from you you were asking me earlier about feedback that I was receiving and um >> the one of the one of the points of feedback that I received was that they asked me are you an interviewer or a conversational podcaster and I couldn't answer the question. So I've I've realized that I have taken the role of an interviewer in my previous uh works and uh recordings and for some reason I feel like hm what what happens if I move into the other lane and see how that goes. >> I think we have had a great conversation here. >> I think we've had an amazing conversation. As a matter of fact, you and I always have amazing conversations. Cameras on or off. >> Yeah. But there's always has to be one person that's that's pulling it forward that you know puts the question but >> mashallah you have a lot of experience and want to take part of that too you >> but I I was thinking about before coming to this interview I was thinking about the hij concept and then I was like >> you know one of the greatest hijra could be just to move out to the countryside you know out to nature out to Allah's creation and there's beautiful spots in Sweden. Leave the busy city life. >> Okay, >> you know, and just move out to the country, be be close to the nature. >> that could be a hij also. >> But then I was like, now when I'm talking to is like it doesn't always have to be a permanent hij. >> It can also be a limited time period hijra. >> The hij to Abbisinia was temporary as >> Temporary. Exactly. And also like I don't know if I'm coining a new term here weekly hijra. I mean you know like for me it's very important to go out to nature. >> Beautiful. >> Yeah. Because you know in the city and you're busy and all the stress and all that stuff and then you come out to the nature you come to Allah's creation >> and you see the sunset or you see a big tree and you you see all these you just take a deep breath. You just feel this beautiful air and you just like subhan Allah, you know, now all of a sudden you you feel a special connection with Allahhana. >> I actually just imagine myself being in the forest or something. It's I I understand what you mean. >> I had a friend, you know, I had a friend that visited Norway, the mountains, you know, it's incredible. >> Oh, yeah. And I I read these Muslim converts like Danish convert, >> you know, traveled to North Africa and he went through the desert. >> There's another convert called Isabella Ibrahhat. >> Uh originally Russian, moved to uh let me get it right, Switzerland. and then also traveled to to North Africa and fell in love with the Bedwins, learned Arabic, wrote in Arabic, knew many parts of the Quran and traveled the desert and just fell in love with the desert and she she's a writer and she wrote beautiful uh sceneries of the desert and what meant you know >> I'm looking at the time brother and I don't want to take more time than we had in our interview. But I go ahead but uh you know I want it to be equal. I don't want my interview to be very long and yours were short. I want them to be equal in reaching that uh that >> that is completely fine. Uh I have absolute respect for that. Um is it okay if I ask you just a two questions? >> Absolutely. >> Absolutely. Then in this case, I'll keep them to the most two the two most important questions. before we before we close and before I give you my final question, we've talked about legacy. >> We've talked about Hijra. We've talked about um the role that plays both for us individually wherever we are as well as in a societal context. So this question is if if this was your last recording, this is your last podcast, be it if this is a Quran pod podcast or if this is your last appearance and if you're thinking about Quran, if you're thinking about Kuran Puddin's impact, Kuramudden's legacy, you think about Kuran Puddin's brand, >> and I'm talking much more about the the conversations that ensued. What would your final episode be like? >> Oh, that that would be a Quran conversation without a doubt. >> I was going to guess with with >> Subhan Allah. I was Well, you know why? Because I I have my reflection buddy. I have my Khal. >> And uh >> and he and he who listens to this, he's going to know. >> Yeah. I would also want a final conversation to be with him. Subhan Allah. And he and I haven't invited him to Baraka Blueprint yet and I'm actually ashamed of that. >> So that should be the case. >> There there is always there is um when you have a best friend, you know. >> It's just just a blessing from Allah. And uh uh Saleem has become that friend for me and I I hope that we can keep that relationship for a long time. and uh Kuran put in, you know, 300 episodes during 8 years. It's a journey and you're not always going to be on, you know, the same topic all the time. you know it's going to come changes and you're going to have different thoughts and so it's you know it has evolved a lot and there's so many different subjects >> and people couple of people have reached out to me and they were like your name Kuruen you know it sounds like you have grown out of your name because you have some episodes where you talk about business you have some episodes you talk about something else and you never even quote a Quran verse or anything you Oh, okay. >> So, maybe you should change the name to something else that that incorporates or that that includes the the vast topics you have. >> How dare you name it Quran? How dare you? >> What do you say if someone was to say that to you, right? >> No, nobody has questioned me like this. >> Really? Sorry. Sorry. There's been one one time one person critiqued who are you to have a Quran put actually there's been one person and that was in the beginning >> okay who are you to have a Quran then just to come back to the first one just to come back to the first one it's like I thought about it and I'm like no I don't want to change the name >> of course as you shouldn't yeah >> because I always want to have that foundation I always want to have that connection to the Quran. So even if I have different subjects some sometimes feels like oh it's not connected to the Quran which you could argue it is connected to the Quran because the Quran is so vast but if you have the argument that it's not connected at least when I'm off track the name reminds me s don't forget and the people who listen you know there's people who listen sometimes and then you have hardcore fans that listen to every episodes >> alhamdulillah Yeah. >> Uh you have hardcore fans and I' I've tried to reach that audience that that listens to all the episodes and I'm like which are your favorite episodes and their favorite episodes is the Quran >> So so just to keep me grounded is the Quran and you know I I talked to Salee about it. I'm like sim these Quran conversations that we have that so many people like we have to keep going on that because if you want to leave a legacy if you want to leave something that's going to make an impact if you can connect your work to the Quran uh you cannot lose you cannot lose Allah abar and it's it's about it's coming back to the nia you know uh in the end of the day if it's not accepted by Allah it was for nothing >> so we we pray to Allah that uh he will accept and to have conversation about his word is something beautiful >> coming back to the name of ku there was only one person that uh that had an issue with that you know who are you to have this you're not you have not gone to a to the university or been to Al Azhal or Medina University. >> You haven't even gone to the Quran Podan University. So like how dare you, man. But um I hope in my conversations that I've never as they say in Swedish, how can you find a >> And I'm now trying to think how am I going to translate that? I haven't what come across >> come across or portrayed yourself. portrayed myself as an imam or authority on the Quran, >> okay? >> But just as a person that that sees the beauty of the Quran, loves it and wants to reflect upon its meaning as the Quran encourages its readers to do. The Quran has never said uh oh you who have uh uh studied at this university or have this akal or have have this conditions y >> please reflect. >> It talks to the reader. Think about this. Think about that. And the reader is everybody. It could be a mother in Tunisia. It could be a >> a farmer in Pakistan. Anybody that reads the Quran, the Quran wants you to >> be an intellectual and could be an addict. Everyone, >> anybody that that reads the Quran. So, and so, so I'm I'm like, listen, you can share what you reflect upon the Quran. Just let it come across not as an authority. Just let it come across like this is my experience. This is my reflection, you know. And um you know we are not some angels. Maybe sometimes we say something that's wrong but then it was my opinion and I've never I try to the best of my ability never put forward an opinion I have on other people like this is the opinion and you should follow it. This is this is what I have come to my this is my conclusion because there is sheh there is there is knowledgeable people that you know that has that authority. I don't have that but I I have the conversation. >> All right. Well, uh I im and authority of Quran may Allah may Allah bless you and protect you. Well, you know what? Even if I was even if I portrayed this in a in a slight sarcasm, I am going to say that I see you as a mentor of mine. Uh I am truly truly happy to have you in the Baraka Blueprint podcast which brings me to my final question. >> What is your Baraka blueprint? >> My Baraka blueprint it is uh it's the Quran. It's the it's the beauty of it. Uh the beautiful message. It's it's Allah's words that he has uh revealed to us and I'm a humble slave that is um you know uh with my uh little knowledge that I have try to understand it but I see the beautiful impact he has done in different human beings you know like the Quran just changed the world Like every historian, non-Muslim historian when they studied the Arabs, the tribes, they were just small tribes, they didn't they were fighting. Yes, they had beautiful poetry, you know, but they were fighting. They were just But then came the Quran >> and it just re re made a revolution. It just spreads civilization just spread this beauty technical innovations you know civilization and it's changed human beings lives since it revealed and um I I hope that has impacted me and you know you see the beauty like Malcolm X impacted his life Isabella Kio Um all the guests on Kuo then they have you know they have talked to they have mentioned that they read the Quran and he changed them you know actually I'm just I'm just going to say this also I started something called free Quran so if you get on >> tell me about it >> if you get on ku puddin's website you can order a free copy of the Quran >> in Swedish translation and I've been going on for a long time with that I don't know how many Qurans I've sent out some People just write their name, address, they pay for the shipping and then I ship it out and I was in Stockholm in a Muslim gathering. >> Yes. Me and Mujahed was there >> of course >> and they had organized the dinner and people were there and then a sister came up to me. It's like I just want to thank you because when I was interested in Islam, I ordered a free Quran from you and I ordered and I read it and I converted to Islam. Mashallah. >> So um yeah, may Allah accept yin. Uh are there any final points you want to add, brother? any I mean where people can find you uh your free Quran project for example uh your ongoing content where can we find you we'll have you in the show notes of course >> I have actually tagged all the English conversations >> okay beautiful >> so uh I I will give you the link so when they click the link they will just get all the English conversations like I have a conversation with Yasmin >> Mujahi >> but also other Muslims in in the English >> that's Just a couple of introductory words are in Swedish but the conversation is in English. >> That is fantastic. >> So that that link is is enough and just uh make dua for me. Uh pray for for us and um yeah may Allah >> I thank you because you have you have asked excellent questions. >> I appreciate that >> you're an excellent conversationist and you have asked all the best questions. So, I feel like I've uh uh said everything I can say. >> Yeah, you heard it here, folks. And as a matter of fact, I'm going to migrate quickly to the other camera because the first camera died. But you know what? That's not going to stop us. May Allah subh bless you. Honor has been all mine. May Allah bless you and multiply your success and bless your wealth and bless your health.