Muslim Superdad and Wondermom Podcast

What is child sexual abuse, and how can families in the Muslim community take meaningful steps to protect, educate, and support their children? Though it is often considered a taboo subject, child sexual abuse is unfortunately prevalent in all communities, including the Muslim community, and addressing it openly is crucial for prevention and awareness. In this episode of the Muslim Superdad & Wondermom podcast, we are joined by Omar Shareef and Alaa Mohammad Shareef from the Community Education team at The Family and Youth Institute. Together, they discuss the cultural challenges of addressing this sensitive topic, how to recognize warning signs, and strategies for empowering children with age-appropriate knowledge. They also offer guidance on fostering an environment of trust and open communication, helping families break down barriers to address this critical issue compassionately and effectively.

With Ramadan less than one week away, I'm overjoyed to announce the launch of our “Digital Ramadan Camp,” an immersive and interactive daily program that brings the spirit of Ramadan into hearts and homes. The Noor Kids Digital Ramadan Camp begins on Wednesday, March 22nd 2023  and is an online platform filled with spiritually enriching lessons, interactive activities, and nonstop fun to make this Ramadan the best yet! We partnered with Islamic Relief, USHUB, Noor Vitamins + LaunchGood to provide: Daily Story Nights: Every night, we'll be hosting a live Zoom program featuring heartfelt stories to inspire 5-12 year olds.   Special Guest Speakers: We have world renowned guest speakers including nasheed artists like Omar Esa, scholars like Omar Suleiman, and comedians like Moses the Comic, who will be joining us throughout the month.    Game Show Nights: Each week, families will participate in an interactive game show night. Not only will kids learn by play - but they also have a chance to win over $5,000 worth of amazing gifts!   On-demand, Interactive Activities: We've developed a collection of high-quality Ramadan-themed DIY projects (e.g. lanterns, kaba charity boxes, etc). Additionally, we have an animated 30th Juz that allows children to memorize and share with our community.   Global-friendly Timing: We've created a calendar to allow families from around the world to participate! During weekdays (M-F) our programs are at 5:30pm CST, and during the weekends (Sat-Sun) our programs are at 12pm CST.  The Digital Ramadan Camp is $179. However, we've decided to make it free for members and for families who sign up today.

The life of the Prophet (S), in his Seerah, or life story and Hadith, or teachings, is the second source after the Holy Qur'an from which we derive our understanding of Allah's message. However, teaching our children to follow the footsteps of the Prophet (S) isn't easy if they don't fully understand who he is and love him truly. So, how can we teach our children to deeply love Rasulullah, the Prophet Muhammad (S), and what is the reality of our relationship with him in the past, present, and future?  In this episode of the Muslim Superdad & Wondermom podcast, we discuss fostering appreciation for the Prophet Muhammad (S) through learning about his life. We spoke with Shaykh Abdullah Anik Misra, a scholar popularly known for writing the “Seerah Song”. He shared the secrets to nurturing a deep love for the Prophet (S), which was the goal of his “Seerah Song”. Shaykh Abdullah also explained how the Prophet (S) himself contextualized and modeled his teachings in his day to day life.   

The beauty of Islam and the guidance of Allah (SWT) are capable of illuminating even the darkest places of our society, the prison system. And subhanAllah, there are many people who become Muslim in prisons around the country. Unfortunately, they are often overlooked by their local Muslim communities, who fail to give them the support they need.  What can we do for Muslims in prisons, and why does it matter that we support them? Joining us in conversation in the latest episode of the Muslim Superdad & Wondermom podcast is Br. Hakim Booker, a civil engineer who launched the Prison Quran Project. His passion lies in serving the underserved in our communities, particularly newly converted Muslims in prisons. He shares how he discovered the need for this cause, how he now serves Muslims in prisons around the country, and what we can do to get involved.

A matter of concern for many first and second generation immigrants is that of language. While we can easily and fluently speak English, we often let our mother tongues slide not just as an effort to fit in, but because its just easier. Does it matter if my kids only speak English, or is there value in preserving the languages of our parents and grandparents? In this episode of the Muslim Superdad & Wondermom podcast, Dr. Aria Razfar, a professor of education at the University of Illinois, explores the deep role that language plays in our lives, the benefits of being fluent in more than one language, and the dangers of losing your mother tongue. He draws upon his research into the sociocultural dimensions of language in the interview.

What is positive psychology, and what does the study of positive psychology tell us about how we should live our lives? The study of positive psychology concerns both the psychology of happiness and subjective well-being, and the psychology of virtue or character strength. With the study of positive psychology comes the importance of forgiveness, optimism, and hope.  In this episode of the Muslim Superdad & Wondermom podcast, we are joined by Dr. Everett Worthington, a pioneer in the field of positive psychology and the author of numerous books on humility, forgiveness, and child-rearing. Dr. Worthington talks about his lifelong study of positive psychology and discusses the benefits of being optimistic, the power of hope, and the value of learning to forgive.

What is the secret behind the success of the great Muslim scholars before us? Abu Zayd Al-Balkhi to Abu Ali Ibn Sina are just two demonstrations of innovation in the Muslim world. Their upbringing and education in Islam made them encyclopedic scholars from whom we still learn today. What was the nature of the kind of education these scholars received? How can we provide the tarbiyah that our children need to become innovators and achieve great things? Dr. Rania Awaad, a nationally-recognized leader in Muslim mental health and award-winning researcher in both Islamic and medical sciences, recently shared the secrets behind the success of the great Muslim scholars of our past. She also discussed the most pressing Muslim health issues found in the Muslim American community.

In a society where life is all about careers and earning a living, creativity is often put on a back burner, if it receives any attention at all. However, nurturing creativity in your kids is crucial. What exact role should creativity play in our kids' lives, and what practical ways can we direct these efforts for the better? Justin Mashouf, an award winning Muslim director and producer based in Los Angeles, shares his journey with creativity, his career in film, and practical ways parents can nurture creativity in their children's everyday lives

How do Muslim Americans see their identity? In the melting pot of the Western world, no one person can truly say they have just one identity. Each and every individual attributes more than one identity to their own, be it religious, ethnic, cultural, or even chosen attributions based on interests and aspirations. The link between understanding who we are and our mental health lies in two key factors- identity centrality and belonging.  So how do Muslim Americans experience their identity in the West, and just how confident are they as Muslims? Dr. Hanan Hashem, researcher and community educator at the Family Youth Institue and Teaching Fellow at William James College, recently shared her groundbreaking research titled “Identity, Discrimination, and Belonging: The Arab American Muslim Experience.” She also explored the impact of such experiences on mental health outcomes and overall wellness.

It's back-to-school, season, once again! It's natural for parents to have fears about their children “belonging” and fitting in. But can our children feel comfortable about being in school if we as parents don't feel the same? We are joined by Kalyan Ali Balaven, Head of the Dunn School in Los Olivos, California, who shares his story as a convert and the reasons he chose to embrace the role of an educator. Through his experience raising Muslim kids and students, you will learn how you can overcome your fears in sending your kids to school and better help your kids fit in, feel like they belong, and find the courage to express themselves and their cultural beliefs.

Many people assume that pornography is not a serious concern among the Muslim community. In reality, youth and adults alike are faced with the struggle to overcome porn addiction. The Muslim community's inattention and refusal to talk about pornography addiction, alongside the lack of relevant Islamic resources to understand and tackle the problem, inspired Br Zeyad to create Purify your Gaze. Purify Your Gaze is a global e-therapy platform that helped hundreds of thousands of Muslims around the world overcome pornography addiction.  In today's episode, he shares his insights into the negative impacts of porn consumption and addiction on a marriage, and how Purify Your Gaze can help.

Islam recognizes the individual rights of every Muslim and gives high regard to the preservation of one's dignity. That's a fact that cannot be disregarded. But for a long time now, the Muslim community has tiptoed around the topic of homosexuality. The materials available are either outdated or too generic which results in further confusion and misinterpretation. Is homosexuality a sin? Is it an act against one's faith? How do Muslim parents teach their kids about these various identities if they, themselves, are conflicted in their understanding of homosexuality in the Islamic context? We are joined by Dr. Mobeen Vaid, a Muslim public intellectual and writer whose current focus revolves around the modern concept of gender identity and Islamic sexual norms. He shares valuable insights from his research explaining sexual identity and homosexuality from an Islamic perspective. He defines the boundaries of what is morally sinful based from the words of Allah and provides an insight into how we should face the issue as Muslims.

Do Muslims also watch pornography? The answer sadly is yes. The reality that Muslim youth do consume pornography has become one of the most concerning things Muslim parents have to deal with and most parents struggle with knowing what steps they can take to address this problem. Dr. Madiha Tehseen joins us in this episode to help Muslim parents understand why watching porn is a serious concern that needs immediate attention. Dr. Madiha is a Research Fellow and a Community Educator at The Family and Youth Institute, with a Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology. 

With Ramadan less than one week away, I'm overjoyed to announce the launch of our “Digital Ramadan Camp,” an immersive and interactive daily program that brings the spirit of Ramadan into hearts and homes. The Noor Kids Digital Ramadan Camp begins on Monday, April 4th and is an online platform filled with spiritually enriching lessons, interactive activities, and nonstop fun to make this Ramadan the best yet! We partnered with Islamic Relief, USHUB, Noor Vitamins + LaunchGood to provide: Daily Story Nights: Every night, we'll be hosting a live Zoom program featuring heartfelt stories to inspire 5-12 year olds.   Special Guest Speakers: We have world renowned guest speakers including nasheed artists like Zain Bhikha, scholars like Omar Suleiman, and politicians like Keith Ellison, who will be joining us throughout the month.    Game Show Nights: Each week, families will participate in an interactive game show night. Not only will kids learn by play - but they also have a chance to win over $5,000 worth of amazing gifts!   On-demand, Interactive Activities: We've developed a collection of high-quality Ramadan-themed DIY projects (e.g. lanterns, kaba charity boxes, etc). Additionally, we have an animated 30th Juz that allows children to memorize and share with our community.   Global-friendly Timing: We've created a calendar to allow families from around the world to participate! During weekdays (M-F) our programs are at 5:30pm CST, and during the weekends (Sat-Sun) our programs are at 12pm CST.  The Digital Ramadan Camp is $179. However, we've decided to make it free for members and for families who sign up today. Sign up -- http://www.noorkids.com/ramadan

As parents, we all want our children to grow up to be good Muslims. We see inspiring people who turned out wonderfully as adults, and dream of raising our kids the same way they were raised. But, we also want our children to succeed in worldly things - good careers, nice homes, and material possessions. Where do we draw the line and balance both, so that our children can have the best of both worlds? We are joined by Hina Khan-Mukhtar, a mother of 3 boys and the founder of ILM Tree Homeschooling Cooperative. ILM Tree is a community of families with shared values and beliefs, and are bounded by the same goal: raising children into “good” Muslims. She shares her groundbreaking research on the steps parents took to raise good Muslims- who succeeded in both worldly and otherworldly affairs

In the middle of a busy day, do we as parents, take a pause to reflect how much of our parenting is influenced by how we were brought up by our parents? When we listen to the way our kids talk, watch their expressions and gestures, or simply do activities together, do we notice how they're emulating us and how much we have become role models for our kids? That shouldn't be a problem- if only they could filter the positive and the negative themselves. Joining us in this episode is a common household name, Dr. Suzy Ismail. She's the founding director of Cornerstone Counseling, an author, and speaker at ISNA/ICNA conventions, and provides international counseling online. She explains what generational cycles are and how our behaviors are impacted by our parents' when they were raising us.

There's a lot of decisions parents have to make for their children until such time that they are old enough to make decisions for themselves. One of the most important ones is choosing which school to send their children to. This is a HUGE decision that poses so much stress on most Muslim parents. Dr, Amaarah DeCuir joins Amin in today's episode to talk about the challenges in choosing a school model for Muslim students. Dr. Amaarah has spent a lifelong career in education and is currently a Professional Lecturer at the American University. She has a wide range of insights on the differences between public schools and private schools gathered from years of experience. If your current struggle revolves around deciding to send your kids to public school or not, which school works best for your children that cater to their unique talents, and how they can thrive in the public school setting, this episode is for you!

Parenthood is a challenge in itself, but single parenting presents a whole new set of challenges that require extraordinary strength, courage, and wisdom to overcome. What every parent has to face- from child-rearing, to rent and errands, to self care and even community pressure- a single parent faces tenfold. We are joined by Asmaa Hussein, the Founder and CEO of Ruqaya's Bookshelf, and a single mom to her daughter, Ruqaya, to share the pains and challenges she has to conquer as a single parent. She touches on many important aspects of single parenting in today's modern world with valuable advice that both single parents, and parents with partners, can benefit from.

Islam is a guidebook for our life - it gives us clear guidelines and wisdom on how to navigate life's many, many components. Parenthood being one. At times parents can feel lost on how to navigate this journey - after all we all want the same thing: to be the best parents to our children. Throughout history, Islam has examples of parenting models and virtues that parents can look to to truly be the best mothers and fathers in Allah's eyes. We are joined by Gulnaz Ahsan, who will discuss the Islamic guidance on parenthood and how we can draw from examples of our beloved prophets to model positive parenting.. to help parents, like myself, learn how we can be better parents to our children. She is the founder and editor-in-chief of the Halal Parenting Magazine and a certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator. With her guidance, she shares how to navigate the journey towards positive parenting using examples from Islamic teachings.

A study revealed that having extended family is a common set up in Muslim homes. Some say, the more, the merrier. Although that might be true at times, it only works when every member of the household is living harmoniously together. On the other hand, living with the in-laws and extended families can be chaotic and difficult to manage. We are joined by Rabab Alma who is a highly skilled marriage and relationship counselor and therapist. She's been a great help to individuals struggling with depression and anxiety in their careers, in their personal lives, and their relationships with their families. She understands how husbands and wives can sometimes drift apart when there's a rift between a spouse and an in-law. How can families learn to establish boundaries and navigate the extended family model?

Sibling rivalry is a common struggle families face, even throughout Islamic history. Children fight. And sometimes those fights can escalate so much, parents are at a loss of what to do. Sibling rivalry is a natural part of childhood development. But learning how to navigate those cumbersome squabbles can be an enormous challenge. What causes this rivalry and what are strategies to help mitigate the struggles to avoid any type of long-term issues? We are joined by Najwa Awad, a child psychotherapist who shares strategies to help mitigate sibling rivalry, and the pressing issues on self-esteem that can develop if the rivalry is left unchecked.

The teenage years are a crucial time for kids. It's a time for independence, curiosity, self-awareness, and conflict. Parents with teens often find themselves having to navigate this new developmental milestone -  with some rebellion. But teenagers are going through a world that can seem chaotic - daily peer struggles, college prep, and blossoming into an adult. Today, we are joined by Munira Ezzeldine to share valuable insights and strategies into raising teens.  She is a college and career counselor who helps young adults gain self-awareness to prepare for higher education and beyond.

Learning the Quran is an incredible feat for children and adults, alike. It is an undeniable fact, however, that the earlier one begins to invest in reading and learning our Holy Book, the easier the journey through the Quran will become as an adult. But teaching our children to learn, appreciate and understand the Quran is a challenge that many face. How do I start? When do I start? How do we get children excited about the Quran? What about the language barrier? We are joined by Imam Wisam Sharief who is a specialist in teaching Quran recitation and retention to help guide us on how to teach our children the Quran. He is the founder and director of AQL (Advocating Quranic Lifestyle). He is also a Quran teacher, and the creator of Quran Revolution, an interactive program designed to teach the Quran to students of different levels.

Parenthood is a two-way game. If a child is blessed with two parents, there is a dual advantage of tapping into the blessings that each parent can bring to the upbringing of the child. Cultural barriers, language challenges, societal and environmental obstacles may pose a difficulty for fathers in creating a healthy relationship with their children. What is the role of the father? What can we pull from Islam, from prophetic lessons on building a strong fatherhood presence in the Muslim home? Our guest will take us on a journey of why fatherhood matters. We are joined by Mohammad Elshinawy, a father and a fellow in the Yaqeen Institute. He has done research specifically on the role of the Muslim father. In this episode, he shares what he discovered from his research with the hope to shed light on the importance of fatherhood in the Muslim home.

The pandemic has unleashed a world many find challenging and daunting. Isolation and the drastic change of life, routine, finances, etc have caused mental health rates to increase worldwide. Marriages are also seeing a deep impact due to the crushing pandemic. We are joined by psychologist Dr. Sarah Syed from the Khalil Center. She will share some useful strategies and best practices to better identify and manage our mental health challenges to ensure we are coping personally and within our family structure.

In today's modern world, our days are incredibly busy. Maybe even chaotic. Between attending to the children, schoolwork, working from home, schooling from home, maintaining the household, connecting with family - and everything in between - the burnout is inevitable. Oftentimes, taking care of yourself is a distant afterthought. But how do we find the power in parenthood if our power reserve is running on empty? Did you know that Islam emphasizes the importance of self care?  What can parents do to realize the importance of self care in our everyday life? How does Islam promote self care? We are joined by Dr. Abdallah Rothman. He heads the Muslim College at the University of Cambridge in the U.K. He is also the founder of Shifa Counseling - a practice that works on the intersection of Islamic spirituality and mental health.  

Welcome to the Muslim Superdad &  Wondermom Podcast hosted by Amin Aaser, CEO of Noor Kids. This podcast is for Muslim parents who want to boost their superpowers and navigate Islamic parenting in the modern era. Listen and learn from subject-matter experts who share valuable insights and strategies to make parenthood a little less chaotic. For the parents who struggle to balance between saving the world by day, and being a mechanic, comedian, coach, and cook, by night - tune in to this journey through parenthood! This podcast is affiliated and produced by Noor Kids, a Harvard-supported educational services organization that seeks to build confidence in the identity of young Muslims.