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Boys In The Cave: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Boys In The Cave
Reviving Islamic Discourse.A Muslim Podcast Facilitating Intellectual Discourse & Dialogue with Academics, Activists, Shaykhs & Influencers from all around the world.
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- 3 weeks ago55 min
Ep 141 - "Drones Are Buzzing Around As We Speak": Live From the Flotilla Boat with Kaleem Bullivant
In this unreal episode, we were joined by Kaleem Bullivant, who spoke to us while literally being on the flotilla boat. This was not a normal studio conversation. Kaleem joined us from the sea, in the middle of a real journey, giving us a raw and personal insight into what it is like to be part of the flotilla, why he chose to be there, and what the experience meant to him on a human, spiritual and emotional level. We discuss the reality of life onboard, the motivation behind the mission, the emotions that come with being part of something bigger than yourself, and the courage it takes to physically put yourself in that position. A truly unique conversation, recorded in a moment that felt bigger than just a podcast. Kaleem was not just talking about the flotilla. He was on it. Follow his journey at sea here: https://globalsumudflotilla.org/tracker/ Don't forget to like, comment and subscribe for more deep conversations.
- Feb 14, 20262h 13m
Ep 140 - Dr. Yakoob Ahmed on How Modernity Rewired the Muslim Mind & The Myth of Modern History
We sit down with Dr Yakoob Ahmed for a deep conversation on how modernity quietly reshaped the Muslim mind, and why so much of what we call "modern history" is built on myths, assumptions, and power. We explore how colonisation and the nation state rewired Muslim memory, identity, and imagination, how the idea of "objective history" can become a trap, and what it takes to recover a more honest, grounded way of understanding our past without nostalgia, propaganda, or performative outrage. We discuss: - How modernity changed the way Muslims see themselves and their history - The nation state, colonisation, and the editing of collective memory - The myth of "neutral" history, and who gets to define what is true - Why progress narratives can distort the Muslim past - How to study history with adab, humility, and intellectual honesty - Practical ways to rebuild historical consciousness today Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:10 Welcome, meeting Dr Yakoob Ahmed 01:23 Why this conversation matters, Muslim historians, background 04:15 Studying history in the West, "leaving God outside the classroom" 09:39 "History from above", centering Allah, hidden assumptions in academia 15:37 What is history, memory, identity, lived experience 23:14 Man orientated vs iman orientated history, nuance, darkness, realism 26:49 Romantic visions of the past, hero narratives, Salahuddin, Mahdi 29:32 Can we write history about recent events, Palestine and living memory 32:41 Erased local Muslim histories, Far East examples (Philippines etc) 35:12 Fiction, film, propaganda, and myth making (Padmavati example) 41:47 Moral lesson stories vs history, how we read Umar narratives 43:20 The trap of "objective" modern history 45:52 Gatekeepers, language, and how historians judge sources 51:14 How Muslims tend to read history, moral lessons vs fiqh vs patterns 54:15 Progress myths and teleology, Rasulullah as the compass 56:58 Modernity and time, clocks, industrial time vs sacred time 1:12:07 Can Muslims imagine again, beyond inferiority and apology 1:17:03 "The human" category, who counts as human in modern narratives 1:21:29 Linking stories across the Ummah, Ottoman, Mughal connections 1:29:49 Japanese "fake Muslims", spies, and forgotten interconnections 1:41:48 Colonial apologetics, language barriers, and modern history framing 1:45:05 The internet changed everything, publishing outside the academy 1:52:47 Writing the book post Gazza, emotion, hope, agency 1:57:59 Ottoman archery, craft, discipline, lived tradition 2:07:08 The cave question, 3 people you would hang out with 2:12:13 Wrap up and outro
- Feb 2, 20262h 25m
Ep 139 - Sunnah-Centred Manhood vs Online Masculinity Culture, Dawah Bros & Feminism | Habeeb Akande
Habeeb Akande, British-Nigerian writer, historian, and sex educator, joins us to unpack topics many Muslims argue about loudly, but rarely discuss with depth, nuance, and real principles. We talk about the modern crisis of masculinity in Muslim spaces, why "Red Pill vs feminist" has become a rigid false binary, and how figures like Andrew Tate and Jordan Peterson slot into a deeper identity struggle for some Muslim men. We also explore how Islamic terms get weaponised in online discourse, including misusing concepts like fitrah to baptise personal opinions as "Islam", and flattening ghayrah into coercive control rather than principled, loving boundaries. Throughout the conversation, we return to a core theme, prophetic masculinity is not a performance, it is integrity, responsibility, and protecting the vulnerable, not exploiting religious language to justify manipulation or abuse. Topics that we cover: - The "tribal" pull of sport, and why it bonds men so intensely - Why the manosphere appeals to Muslim men, identity, insecurity, and performative masculinity - "Red Pill vs feminist" as a trap, and how Islam pushes a more mature middle path - Ghayrah, translation, boundaries, and how language can mislead - Fitrah being used like a debate weapon, and why that's dangerous - Intimacy in the Islamic tradition, and why we turned it into a taboo topic Timestamps: 0:00 Football banter, sports as the male soap opera 11:42 Intimacy in Islam, why it became a taboo topic 15:20 Polygyny, ethics, and exploitation 36:13 Calling out hypocrisy, double standards with women vs men 37:17 Who we "expose" vs who we excuse 39:26 Platforming "reformed" gangsters, ignoring sisters 49:24 Minivan drug dealers debating aqeedah, the problem is control 58:00 Prophetic sexual ethics, the cave hadith, and euphemisms 1:05:51 "Protective jealousy" translation, what ghayrah actually means 1:08:14 Fitrah in manosphere debates, why it gets weaponised 1:10:10 Polygamy and fitrah claims, where the logic goes wrong 1:13:32 Haya and translation problems, how language traps people 1:14:34 "Sexual discipline" vs desire, framing that resonates today 1:19:58 Ramadan clarity, food, drink, and intercourse (not vague euphemisms) 1:24:27 What traits define healthy masculinity 1:26:15 Hijab, beard, and optics vs real akhlaq 1:40:12 Red pill thinking, religious language used as loopholes 1:44:09 Tarbiyah gap, knowledge without character formation 1:46:50 Protector and provider, stepping up not posturing 1:51:11 "Dawah bros" image, culture war performance, self branding 1:55:31 Dayuth and ghayrah, meaning vs misuse 1:56:26 "Providing" as status aesthetics, entitlement, control 2:02:56 Marriage "expertise", divorce rates, and what wisdom actually is 2:23:23 Final reflections, wrap up
- Jan 19, 20262h 39m
Ep 139 - Professor Joel Hayward on The Ghatafān, Sawiq Raids & Banū Qurayẓah
In this deep-dive conversation, Professor Joel Hayward returns to unpack one of the most misunderstood periods of the Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ life, the politics of Medina under pressure. We explore the Ghatafān confederation and their leader ʿUyaynah ibn Ḥiṣn, how tribal power actually worked in the Ḥijāz, and why the Prophet ﷺ practiced diplomacy even with deeply unreliable figures. The discussion moves through the Battle of the Trench, coalition warfare, and how the Prophet deliberately fractured enemy alliances without unnecessary bloodshed. A major focus is the Sawiq raid, a small but decisive event after Badr that exposed internal vulnerabilities within Medina. Professor Hayward explains why Banū al-Naḍīr's role in the raid marked a permanent rupture, how insider knowledge mattered more than battlefield force, and why this episode leads directly into their later expulsion. The episode also challenges common assumptions about "polytheists," Jews, and alliances in early Islam. Drawing on sīrah criticism, archaeology, and comparative history, Professor Hayward shows why later narratives often oversimplified seventh-century belief, tribal identity, and treaty structures. This is a conversation about statecraft, realism, and moral restraint, and why the Prophet ﷺ governed with strategy rather than slogans. If you want a serious rethinking of Medina's covenants, treaties, and power dynamics, this episode is essential listening. Professor Joel Hayward is the Dean of the Sycamore Leadership Academy in Istanbul, and repeatedly listed in The Muslim 500. Al Khaleej called him a world authority on conflict and strategy, and Kirkus says he is one of academia's most visible Islamic thinkers. He has ijazat in Islamic sciences, focuses on ʿaqidah and sirah, and has led major programs at King's College London and the Royal Air Force College, as well as serving as chief executive of Cambridge Muslim College. His 18 books include The Leadership of Muhammad, which won the 2021 Sharjah award, and The Warrior Prophet. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction, framing the episode 00:19:46 Ghatafan at the Trench, Uyaynah, the date deal discussion 00:39:59 Ghatafan and Jews around Khaybar, identity and alliances 00:59:48 Sawiq raid setup, Abu Sufyan's motive and the raid begins <span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir= "a
- Dec 29, 20251h 31m
Ep 137 - How We Got IDF Soldiers Detained in Europe | Haroon Raza Shares Legal Blueprint
In this episode of Boys in the Cave, we sit down with Haroon Raza, a Dutch criminal defence lawyer and human rights advocate based in Rotterdam. We unpack the legal strategy behind pursuing accountability for Gaza, the rise of state overreach across Europe, and how activism shifts when the "rules" stop protecting people. Haroon shares how investigators gathered open source evidence and compiled an indictment covering 1,000 IDF soldiers across multiple nationalities, based largely on what was posted publicly online, and how that work fed into efforts taken toward international accountability. We also discuss a major "first" moment, the arrest and interrogation of two IDF soldiers in Belgium and what it reveals about the shifting legal landscape in Europe. Plus, we get into the darker side of modern "rule of law", secret evidence, surveillance, infiltration, profiling Muslims in local municipalities, and why Haroon warns that if law fails to protect legitimate advocacy, societies head into dangerous territory. Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Human Appeal Australia, supporting Palestinians with hot meals and vegetable baskets: https://my.humanappeal.org.au/donate Timestamps 0:00 Sponsor, Human Appeal Australia 1:04 Who is Haroon Raza, and what this episode is about 3:55 Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo, activism roots (and the first wake up calls) 9:49 Netherlands Islamophobia, politics, and early racism 16:06 Protest crackdowns in Europe, policing, intimidation 20:31 Protest bans, "terror" labels, civil disobedience 30:34 Secret evidence, surveillance, and the limits of "rule of law" 38:24 Profiling Muslims, infiltration, municipality databases, legal pushback 43:20 Adversity, faith, and staying firm under pressure 47:48 Tomorrowland (Belgium), the detention story, what happened 54:26 Investigative unit, turning open source content into case files 55:30 The "1,000 soldiers" indictment, Instagram as evidence 56:17 ICC and embassies, long game, ripple effects beyond Europe 1:06:43 Why "Hind Rajab", impunity, impact, backlash 1:29:44 Closing reflections and duas
- Nov 28, 20251h 18m
Ep 136 - From Morocco To Senegal: How Spiritual Travel Transforms Your Faith With Filmmaker Zoheb
What does it mean to travel for Allah and not just for content or vibes In this episode of Boys In The Cave, Tanzim sits down with filmmaker and Revival Retreats founder Zoheb to unpack how spiritual travel reshapes the heart. From his first work trip to Morocco, to documenting floods in Pakistan, to walking in the streets of Istanbul and the zawiyas of West Africa, Zoheb shares how travel became a mirror that showed him who he really was before Allah. They discuss the ethics of charity media, not romanticising poverty, how to hold Palestinian and global suffering in your heart, and why sohbah and righteous companions may be the most important part of any journey. Along the way, you will hear stories of hidden Moroccan homes, bustling Senegalese streets, and the teachers and scholars who quietly keep the light of the ummah alive. If you have ever felt the urge to pack a suitcase for Umrah, retreats, or a trip that is more than tourism, this conversation will help you make your journeys intentional and rooted in love of Allah, His Messenger and His awliya. What we talk about in this episode • Why "your suitcase is a mirror" is the perfect metaphor for spiritual travel • How filmmaking and faith came together in Zoheb's life • Pakistan, Lebanon, Palestine and the ethics of charity campaigns • How Revival Retreats began and what makes a retreat truly transformative • Istanbul, Morocco and Senegal as lived expressions of Islamic civilisation • Colonisation, travel etiquette and leaving your privilege at the door • Sohbah, righteous companions and making every journey a journey to Allah https://www.humanappeal.org.au/ Zoheb is a UK born filmmaker now based between Cairo and the UK, with a an Hons in Digital Media and Film Production. He has filmed faith centred travel and cultural projects and humanitarian relief projects across the Muslim world, as well as events and music videos. He now leads Revival Retreats, a platform hosting Islamic heritage travel and spiritual retreats. Timestamps 00:11 Salaam intro, Gaza and global suffering 00:49 Who is Zoheb, filmmaker and Revival Retreats founder 01:39 "Your suitcase is a mirror" travel quote 03:52 Zoheb's background and discovering filmmaking 04:54 Why filmmaking became a path of service for the ummah 06:09 First work trip to Morocco and first time in a Muslim country 07:12 Humanitarian travel in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey 08:25 The birth of Revival Retreats and reconnecting Muslims to heritage 09:52 Pakistan trip in depth and what impacted him most 12:12 Listening to Syrian and Palestinian struggles on the ground 18:14 Not romanticising poverty and witnessing tragedy up close 20:29 The ummah as one body and what that really means 27:38 Living in Istanbul and walking in the footsteps of the sahaba 30:25 Zawiyas, scholars and why you must see Islamic civilisation for yourself 35:29 Senegal, West Africa and a lived experience of Islam 43:31 Countries that deepened his faith and the highlights of his travels 44:26 Why Morocco feels like home and a spiritual sanctuary 48:21 Hidden Moroccan homes and the lesson of inner beauty 52:34 Outward aesthetics, barakah and how we have been shaped by modernity 53:06 Teachers and scholars who shaped him on the road 59:57 Why traveling with like hearted people matters 1:02:30 Sohbah and the friendships that form on retreat 1:06:38 Quranic reminders about righteous companions 1:12:19 Fun Boys In The Cave question, three people to share a cave with 1:15:44 Where to find Revival Retreats and how to join 1:16:03 Where to follow Zoheb and his work online 1:16:48 Final reminder about Revival Retreats and Gaza projects 1:17:09 Outro, how to support Boys In The Cave
- Oct 24, 20252h 25m
Ep 135 - Misyar, Secret Wives, Polygamy, Mut'ah: Halal or Haram? | Habeeb Akande
Habeeb Akande joins BITC to talk misyar, secret wives, polygamy, passport wives, sex negative culture, and the nafs. We unpack how some men cherry pick fiqh to justify secrecy, how praiseworthy aims differ from loophole hunting, and what real justice and consent look like in practice. We also ask the question, have Muslims adopted a Christian style suspicion of pleasure and projected it onto Islam. Habeeb speaks from classical learning and lived research, Maliki fiqh, usul, erotology, African and Muslim cultures. We cover consent, maintenance, time rotation, publicity, and the harm rule, then end with a practical justice audit couples can use today. Key topics • Misyar, valid form versus wise practice, rights that are commonly waived, housing, maintenance, scheduled nights, publicity • Secret nikah and ghosted maintenance, predictable harm patterns, how to prevent them • Polygamy, justice in time and spending, financial readiness, disclosure, consent, children and custody • Sex negative culture, what Islam actually says about pleasure, reciprocity, privacy • The harm rule and maqasid, when legal form must give way to justice • Online masculinity scripts, cherry picked texts, how to read responsibly https://www.humanappeal.org.au/ Timestamps 0:00 Intro and sponsor, Human Appeal Australia 6:20 Sham marriages and travel examples, Morocco and Indonesia 22:12 Secrecy and first wife, why that is wild 33:30 Utopia myth, gender tension is not new 47:40 Legal versus ethical, muhallil and misuse 1:07:26 Misyar defined, two types in practice 1:08:39 Rights waived, Sauda example and scholar logic 1:26:25 Legalism versus spirituality, closing reflections 1:28:39 Polygamy basics and justice 1:36:39 Misyar and secret marriage 1:46:39 Rights versus responsibilities 1:56:39 Secrecy and predictable harm 2:06:39 Ethics over loopholes 2:16:39 Practical safeguards and consent 2:24:39 Closing counsel and outro
- Oct 5, 20252h 8m
Ep 134 - Professor Joel Hayward on Rethinking Medina's Covenant, Treaties & Statecraft
Professor Joel Hayward unpacks how Medina actually worked, the Sahifat al Madinah, parallel pacts by clan, covenant enforcement, and the Prophet's statecraft in moments like the Sawiq raid, the Qaynuqa crisis, the Nadir siege, and the Trench. We dig into source criticism, what the early texts really say, and why the dominant narrative needs a rethink. What we cover: • Sahifat al Madinah, what the charter says and how it functioned inside a web of bilateral pacts • The Prophet's statecraft, treaties, arbitration, measured enforcement, generosity in terms • Banu Qaynuqa, cause of the confrontation, order to depart, who stayed under protection and why • Banu al Nadir, the meeting about blood money, the alleged assassination plot, the short siege, relocation to Khaybar • Banu Qurayza, covenant breach during the Trench, arbitration by Sad ibn Muadh • Sawiq raid at al Uraiyd, why it mattered, possible local complicity, stress test for the covenant • Kaab ibn al Ashraf, incitement, poetry as power, targeted security response • Al Mukhayriq at Uhud, a reminder that alliances cut in unexpected ways • Abdullah ibn Ubayy, promises to the Nadir, hypocrisy in belief versus action • How historians weigh isnad, matn, and hindsight bias when reading seerah reports Professor Joel Hayward, dean at Sycamore Leadership Academy in Istanbul, award winning author of The Leadership of Muhammad and The Warrior Prophet, listed in The Muslim 500, scholar of sirah, strategy, and leadership. https://www.humanappeal.org.au/ Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction 00:06:16 Sahifat al Madinah focus 00:15:17 Bilateral pacts and who was named 00:24:30 Ibn Ubayy politics and leadership 00:33:03 Separate pacts versus one charter 00:38:06 Renew your pact, Banu Nadir example 00:48:52 Numbers on arrival, wealth balance, Ibn Ubayy still the premier leader 00:52:02 Minority status and oasis power map 00:56:24 Upper and lower Medina, early pact geography 01:03:03 Kinship politics, Khazraj links and acceptance 01:07:51 Qaynuqa reappraised, cause and corporate penalty 01:13:47 Expulsion accounts versus later returns and traces 01:25:46 How the sources work, scarcity and overlap 01:33:37 Method and edits, reading Ibn Hisham critically 01:43:51 Nadir stone plot, revelation or prudence 01:48:15 Weighing possibilities, cautionary analogies 01:52:58 Kaab and Abu Sufyan, hospitality and timeline 01:57:09 Response as realpolitik, proportion and restraint 02:04:26 Historiography wrap, assembling the mosaic
About Boys In The Cave
Reviving Islamic Discourse.A Muslim Podcast Facilitating Intellectual Discourse & Dialogue with Academics, Activists, Shaykhs & Influencers from all around the world.
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