Is This the Muslim Lord of the Rings? | Peter Gould

This episode is sponsored by Musletter, a free, five-minute newsletter sharing news and insights from Muslims around the world. Subscribe at: https://musletter.comGet a Ticket for The Thinking Muslim Conference: http://www.thinkingmuslim.com/conferenceDonate to our charity partner Baitulmaal here:http://btml.us/thinkingmuslimHelp us expand our Muslim media project here: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/membershipWhat would a Muslim world of fantasy look like? Tolkien gave us Middle-earth. C.S. Lewis gave us Narnia. Could Islamic storytelling create fictional worlds that capture the imagination of a generation?Peter Gould joins Muhammad Jalal on The Thinking Muslim to discuss **Tales of Khayal**, a fantasy universe he co-created with author Rehan Khan, inspired by Islamic spirituality and the rich heritage of Muslim civilisation. With a novel series and plans for animation and a video game, the project explores how faith can shape the stories young Muslims grow up with.Recorded in Istanbul, this conversation examines the Islamic understanding of imagination, or *khayal*, and its relationship to the heart. Gould shares how embracing Islam changed his approach to design, and how Islamic art and architecture continue to inform his work.They discuss the concerns parents have about gaming and screen time, alongside the possibilities for immersive storytelling that encourages remembrance of Allah. Gould explains how Tales of Khayal draws on sacred knowledge and the history of colonialism, weaving questions about power and technological change into an adventure story.The episode also explores why some Muslim professionals put aside their artistic ambitions, how they can return to creative work, and what artificial intelligence could mean for the future of design. Gould offers practical advice for anyone hoping to begin writing or rediscover their creativity.Subscribe to The Thinking Muslim for more conversations on Islam and the ideas shaping Muslim life.#PeterGould #TalesOfKhayal #TheThinkingMuslim #IslamicStorytelling #MuslimCreativesFind Peter Gould here:IG: https://www.instagram.com/petergouldartX: https://x.com/petergouldartFind Peter Gould here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petergouldart/IG: https://www.instagram.com/petergouldart/Find Art of Design here: https://theheartofdesign.com/IG: https://www.instagram.com/theheartofdesign Find Tales of Khayaal here: https://khayaal.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/talesofkhayaalFind Tales of Khayaal here:https://khayaal.comBecome a member here:https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/membershipOr give your one-off donation here:https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/donateListen to the audio version of the podcast:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vXiAjVFnhNI3T9Gkw636aApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-thinking-muslim/id1471798762Purchase our Thinking Muslim mug: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/merchFind us on:WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbDYCfV5PO199ImLqZ34X: https://x.com/thinking_muslimLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-thinking-muslim/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Thinking-Muslim-Podcast-105790781361490Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkingmuslimpodcast/Telegram: https://t.me/thinkingmuslimBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thinkingmuslim.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.com/@thinkingmuslimpodcastFind Muhammad Jalal here:X: https://twitter.com/jalalaynInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jalalayns/Sign up to Muhammad Jalal's newsletter: https://jalalayn.substack.comWebsite Archive: https://www.thinkingmuslim.comDisclaimer:The views expressed in this video are those of the individual speaker(s) and do not represent the views of the host, producers, platform, or any affiliated organisation. This content is provided for lawful, informational, and analytical purposes only, and should not be taken as professional advice. Viewer discretion is advised. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.