Zara and Zirrar talk to author and Arabist Diana Darke about her most recent book Stealing From The Saracens: How Islamic Architecture Shaped Europe. Diana explains how cultural exchanges between Europe and Islamic Syria shaped Gothic architecture, and why this has become a point of controversy in Europe today.

Sacred Footsteps - The Podcast

034 How Islamic Architecture Shaped Europe

Sana Gilani visits the tombs of her ancestors: the parents of the influential scholar and saint, Shaykh Abdul Qadir al-Gilani, in Iran. 

KHAYAL DIARIES | My Ancestral Past: Visiting the Gilanis in Iran

Abdullah Sattar explores the roots of Sufism in Punjab, which spread, in large part, through the words of poets that are still recited and resonate today.

KHAYAL DIARIES | Divine Love & Sufi Poetry of Punjab

Alex Reynolds from lostwithpurpose shares her experiences/conclusions/insights from more than four years of full time travel. 

KHAYAL DIARIES | Lessons From Life on the Road

The Sacred Footsteps core team share their reflections on the journeys, challenges and successes of a year that was...unusual.

KHAYAL DIARIES | Reflections

Sacred Footsteps presents, Khayal Diaries, a series of personal accounts, narratives and critical reflections on topics like Islamic history, culture and travel.   Zara Choudhary revisits her journey to Adam’s Peak, a mountain in Sri Lanka visited by Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and Christians for its association with several religious figures, including the Prophet Adam. 

KHAYAL DIARIES: Adam's Peak: In Search of a Prophet

Muazzam speaks to Saaleh Baseer and Momodou Taal about their respective journeys as students of knowledge- with Saaleh travelling from California to South Africa, and Momodou from Birmingham, England to Egypt. Both tell us about their respective experiences, motivations and daily lives as students of sacred knowledge, far from home.

028 Travelling For Knowledge

Omar, Yasmine and Shahroze discuss the history, evolution and spiritual significance of qawwali. Qawwali incorporates music, poetry and story-telling in to a celebration of Love. The singing of qawwali in Sufi shrines and mausoleums is a practice of samaa, a devotional practice that involves singing, dancing, playing musical instruments, praying, reciting poetry and participating in rituals in order to achieve a higher spiritual state.  

027 Qawwali

Mustafa Briggs speaks to Professor Rudolph Ware, author of the 'Walking Quran', about models of liberation in West Africa. They talk about the West African approach towards power and religion, and consider the diverse response of the ulama to the challenges presented by the transatlantic slave trade and European colonialism. They also discuss how racist colonial policies had the unintended effect of preserving sufism and traditional Islam in the region.

026 Models of Liberation in West Africa

Zara and Zirrar talk to poet Baraka Blue about the life, work and legacy of Jalal al-Din Rumi. Baraka tells us about the era in which he lived and how he came to be the great poet we know him as. They discuss his most famous work, the Masnavi, which is often referred to as the 'Persian Quran.’ Zirrar and Baraka share their somewhat differing views on the controversy surrounding English translations of his work, and the claim that Islam has deliberately been ‘erased’ from his poetry. We consider how Rumi was received in the West and the East, and how his poetry, or perceptions of his poetry differ accordingly.

025 Which Rumi are you Reading?

For our first ever crossover episode, Zara speaks to Imran Ali Malik, host of the American Submitter podcast. They discuss the concept of travel as a 'mutual unveiling' and share 'transformative' travel experiences. Imran talks about his time in Guinea Bissau, where tribes were converting to Islam after an elder dreamt of the Prophet Muhammad (saw), and tells us about the Wali Songo, the 'Nine Saints' of Indonesia.

024 Travel as 'Mutual Unveiling' | Visiting the 'Wali Songo' Nine Saints of Indonesia

Muazzam is joined by journalist, producer and avid traveller, Salahuddin Mazhary. Salahuddin tells us about the history of Islam in the Caucasus, with a focus on Chechnya and Dagestan. He talks about the Sufi tariqas in the region and the role dhikr played in resisting the Russians. He also tells us about notable figures such as Imam Shamil and Kunta-haji and their legacies.

023 Islam in the Caucasus: Sufi Tariqahs, Imam Shamil and Resistance Through Dhikr

A few years ago, Zirrar, poet, photographer and key member of the Sacred Footsteps team, went on an incredible journey. Having already spent considerable time in Iran, he decided to set out alone, in search of the tomb of Imam Ghazali. In this episode, Zirrar reads his beautiful article recounting that journey. You can also read his words on sacredfootsteps.org. 

022 Searching for the Tomb of Imam Ghazali: The Personal Journey of a Lost Pilgrim

Omar Rais and Zirrar speak to Alex Reynolds (Lost With Purpose) on how is travel political. They discuss the pressures of travel blogging while travelling in politically charged countries and the intentional and deliberate steps needed to challenge passive neutrality. Alex also sheds light on how politics factors in to the female solo traveller experience.

021 Travel is Political

Zara and Muazzam speak to Mohammed Isaaq about 'finding' or 'knowing' yourself and ultimately, God, through travel. Isaaq explains how this desire has always been a reality for humans, and the ways in which it has evolved in the modern day. He talks about the importance of intention and introspection when travelling, and the essential quality that traveller's must possess: courage.

020 'Knowing Yourself' Through Travel: Intention, Introspection & Courage

Sacred Footsteps is dedicated to travel, history and culture from a Muslim perspective. We talk to writers, historians, artists and others, about travel as a spiritual practice, and discuss aspects of Muslim culture and history that are often overlooked.

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Sacred Footsteps - The Podcast

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