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On this episode of the Raw Islam podcast, Imam Azhar and B.C. Dodge talk about the last ten days and what they mean and why they are so important. Both agree that while this Ramadan has seemed peaceful, it has been a busy one. Imam Azhar points out that in Ramadan, some will receive blessings from praying and reading the Quran, and others will receive their blessings from doing acts of service. Some are behind the scenes maintaining the upkeep of the mosques, making sure that everyone that needs food gets food and all the other little things that we sometimes either don’t think about or take for granted. And while Ramadan is departing from our lives for this year, it is essential to remember the feelings and emotions that Ramadan elitists from us, and to carry that with us throughout the year. It is also important to remember any habits that we might have picked up, like reading the Quran before bed or praying on time, and to carry those throughout the year as well. As Ramadan leaves us, what will you be missing? Make sure to subscribe to this Venn Network production – Raw Islam with Imam Azhar Subedar. Raw Islam is one of the best podcasts to subscribeto if you are looking for facts about Islam, and if you want to know what Islam is all about. The Raw Islam Podcast delivers important information about Islam to you weekly, so make sure to subscribe to this Muslim Talk show that isn’t just for Muslims! And introducing the Venn Network t-shirt and other cool swag, which you can own by heading over to our Swag section. When you buy one of these shirts, you help not only support the network, but you also help support the hosts. The Venn Network is growing, and it is only with support from listeners – like you – that we can reach those in need of hearing our message!   Do you have questions for the Imam or thoughtson the show? Drop us an email at rawislam@vennnetwork.org Or leave us a voicemail by calling 202.930.5175 The post Raw Islam 87: The Last 10 Days of Ramadan appeared first on Welcome to the Venn Network.

On this, halfway through Ramadan episode of the Raw Islam Podcast, the listeners voted in the Twitter poll, and Imam Azhar and B.C. Dodge talk about the all-female mosques. Yet, before we can get into the meat of the episode, something is bothering Imam Azhar that he needs to get off his chest – people arming themselves to attend prayers in the mosque. There have been shootings in other religious venues, such as synagogues and churches, and there was not much conversation around the topic of worshipers arming themselves to attend services. But there was an altercation in a mosque in Florida where a man was killed, and the reaction was that attendees should start carrying firearms. Somehow the Govern of Florida was able to pass a law allowing teachers in schools to carry weapons. This is not what the students, parents, or faculty of the students wanted; they wanted common-sense gun laws. And the idea of arming those attending a religious service does not seem to have much common sense. This leads to the question – would you, or would you allow your family to attend a religious service where you knew people were armed? Make sure to subscribe to this Venn Network production – Raw Islam with Imam Azhar Subedar. Raw Islam is one of the best podcasts to subscribe to if you are looking for facts about Islam, and if you want to know what Islam is all about. The Raw Islam Podcast delivers important information about Islam to you weekly, so make sure to subscribe to this Muslim Talk show that isn’t just for Muslims! And introducing the Venn Network t-shirt and other cool swag, which you can own by heading over to our Swag section. When you buy one of these shirts, you help not only support the network, but you also help support the hosts. The Venn Network is growing, and it is only with support from listeners – like you – that we can reach those in need of hearing our message! Do you have questions for the Imam or thoughts on the show? Drop us an email at rawislam@vennnetwork.org Or leave us a voicemail by calling 202.930.5175 The post Raw Islam 86: The All-Female Mosque appeared first on Welcome to the Venn Network.

This episode of the Raw Islam podcast opens on a very somber note, as Imam Azhar addresses the arson attack on a mosque in the United States. While he wanted to talk more on this topic, as you know, the concept of the show is that you, the listeners get to pick the issue that we talk about in our weekly Twitter poll, and the winner this week was “Religion on Death Row.” There have been court cases where an inmate on death row has requested that an Imam prays with him before his execution. The request went as far up as the Supreme Court. If the Constitution of the United States guarantees us the freedom of religion, doesn’t that mean that someone on death row has the right to have an Imam or Buddhist Priest with them in their final moments? The same week that this news broke, Omar Suleiman gave the opening prayer in the House of Representatives. After he gave this prayer, he was targeted online as being anti-Semitic for his personal on Palestine and Gaza. The bigger question then becomes, is it religion in America on death row, or is it just Islam? Make sure to subscribe to this Venn Network production – Raw Islam with Imam Azhar Subedar. Raw Islam is one of the best podcasts to subscribe to if you are looking for facts about Islam, and if you want to know what Islam is all about. The Raw Islam Podcast delivers important information about Islam to you weekly, so make sure to subscribe to this Muslim Talk show that isn’t just for Muslims! And introducing the Venn Network t-shirt and other cool swag, which you can own by heading over to our Swag section. When you buy one of these shirts, you help not only support the network, but you also help support the hosts. The Venn Network is growing, and it is only with support from listeners – like you – that we can reach those in need of hearing our message! Do you have questions for the Imam or thoughts on the show? Drop us an email at rawislam@vennnetwork.org Or leave us a voicemail by calling 202.930.5175 The post Raw Islam 85: Religion on Death Row appeared first on Welcome to the Venn Network.

This episode of the Raw Islam podcast recorded at the start of Ramadan, and the picks from this week’s poll were “How was your first fast?” and “What’s on your Iftar plate?” As B.C. Dodge turns the mic back over to Imam Azhar, he realizes that it isn’t iftar time in Texas yet. But have no fear, Imam Azhar is always prepared, and he knows what will be on his plate in an hour or so – it was a salad. Why was it a salad? Many Muslims make up for fasting in Ramadan by having large feasts. But is that in the spirit of Ramadan? And how much of that food goes to waste after the large iftars? One of the aspects of Ramadan is that we try and understand those that have less than us, but does having a large breakfast and abundant dinner, some of which will go to waste, really teach us what it is like to have less? Does it teach us what it means to be in need? At one point, Imam Azhar is even offered food at the mosque, and he turns it down, yes the person offering it was delivered, but the food didn’t go to waste. Make sure to subscribe to this Venn Network production – Raw Islam with Imam Azhar Subedar. Raw Islam is one of the best podcasts to subscribe to if you are looking for facts about Islam, and if you want to know what Islam is all about. The Raw Islam Podcast delivers important information about Islam to you weekly, so make sure to subscribe to this Muslim Talk show that isn’t just for Muslims! And introducing the Venn Network t-shirt and other cool swag, which you can own by heading over to our Swag section. When you buy one of these shirts, you help not only support the network, but you also help support the hosts. The Venn Network is growing, and it is only with support from listeners – like you – that we can reach those in need of hearing our message! Do you have questions for the Imam or thoughts on the show? Drop us an email at rawislam@vennnetwork.org Or leave us a voicemail by calling 202.930.5175 The post Raw Islam 84: How Was Your First Ramadan Fast? appeared first on Welcome to the Venn Network.

On this episode of the Raw Islam Podcast Imam Azhar talks about the real Ramadan, what it really means to Muslims and to non-Muslims. With Ramadan only six days away it is time to start preparing all the meal plans and the iftars you’re going to attend, but in the case of B.C. Dodge – make sure the dates are in the fridge (he tends to forget every year). But before we dive head into all that, the Imam takes a moment of silence for all the lives that have been lost, around the globe – from Africa, to Ohio, to California, to North Carolina – in just the last week. In taking this moment, the Imam uses the word “normalization.” Imam Azhar expresses concern over the normalization and acceptance of these murders as, of these souls forcibly removed from this earth, and it being treated as just another day. As B.C. returns the show back to the topic of Ramadan, he asks the Imam about his work as an Imam and a community leader in regard to fact vs fiction around Ramadan “traditions.” Make sure to subscribe to this Venn Network production – Raw Islam with Imam Azhar Subedar. This is surely one of the best podcasts to subscribe to if you are looking for facts about Islam and if you want to know what Islam is all about. The Raw Islam Podcast delivers important information about Islam to you weekly, so make sure to subscribe to this Muslim Talk show that isn’t just for Muslims! And introducing the Venn Network t-shirt and other cool swag, which you can own by heading over to our Swag section. When you buy one of these shirts you help, not only support the network, but you also help support the hosts. The Venn Network is growing, and it is only with support from listeners – like you – that we can reach those in need of hearing our message! Do you have questions for the Imam or thoughts on the show? Drop us an email at rawislam@vennnetwork.org Or leave us a voicemail by calling 202.930.5175 The post Raw Islam 83: The Real Ramadan – Fact vs Fiction appeared first on Welcome to the Venn Network.

On this episode of the Raw Islam podcast, Imam Azhar address the current and ongoing desecrations of houses of worship. While we know this show tends to focus on Islam, when we say houses of worship, we mean Churches, Synagogues, Mosques, and everything in between. Before the Imam dives into this topic, he does take a moment to denounce the cowardly acts that took place in Sri Lanka on Easter. Imam Azhar goes on to say to that this podcast isn’t supposed to be about responding to things like Sri Lanka, or Churches and Synagogues burning, it is supposed to be about getting to understand each other better. He would rather hold every Muslim listening, and in this world, responsible for what has happened in Sri Lanka. He quotes from the Quran “Those who have been driven from their homes unjustly only because they said: Our Lord is Allah – For had it not been for Allah’s repelling some men by means of others, cloisters and churches and oratories and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is oft mentioned, would assuredly have been pulled down. Verily Allah helpeth one who helpeth Him. Lo! Allah is Strong, Almighty – “ Make sure to subscribe to this Venn Network production – Raw Islam with Imam Azhar Subedar. This is surely one of the best podcasts to subscribe to if you are looking for facts about Islam and if you want to know what Islam is all about. The Raw Islam Podcast delivers important information about Islam to you weekly, so make sure to subscribe to this Muslim Talk show that isn’t just for Muslims! And introducing the Venn Network t-shirt and other cool swag, which you can own by heading over to our Swag section. When you buy one of these shirts you help, not only support the network, but you also help support the hosts. The Venn Network is growing, and it is only with support from listeners – like you – that we can reach those in need of hearing our message! Do you have questions for the Imam or thoughts on the show? Drop us an email at rawislam@vennnetwork.org Or leave us a voicemail by calling 202.930.5175 The post Raw Islam 82: Desecrations of Houses of Worship appeared first on Welcome to the Venn Network.

On this episode of the Raw Islam Podcast Imam Azhar has just returned from his trip to University of West Virginia, where he spoke at on an interfaith panel. The point behind this panel was to find a common space to bridge the gap in the communities and bring people together. In our neighborhoods across the United States the divide between religious lines, ethnic lines, and political lines are getting deeper, and it is causing damage to this nation. And it is only through conversation that we will gain a deeper understanding of one another. Which will, alimentally, bring us together. Imam Azhar admits that for years he thought of Morgantown as nothing more than simply a “College Town,” but what he didn’t know was that the mosque he was praying jummah in was the mosque that Asra Nomani, author of Standing Alone in Mecca: An American Woman’s Struggle for the Soul of Islam, had spoken in. And oh yeah, they also talked about California! Make sure to subscribe to this Venn Network production – Raw Islam with Imam Azhar Subedar. This is surely one of the best podcasts to subscribe to if you are looking for facts about Islam and if you want to know what Islam is all about. The Raw Islam Podcast delivers important information about Islam to you weekly, so make sure to subscribe to this Muslim Talk show that isn’t just for Muslims! And introducing the Venn Network t-shirt and other cool swag, which you can own by heading over to our Swag section. When you buy one of these shirts you help, not only support the network, but you also help support the hosts. The Venn Network is growing, and it is only with support from listeners – like you – that we can reach those in need of hearing our message! Do you have questions for the Imam or thoughts on the show? Drop us an email at rawislam@vennnetwork.org Or leave us a voicemail by calling 202.930.5175 The post Raw Islam 81: Imam Azhar’s Trip to Morgantown, WV appeared first on Welcome to the Venn Network.

On this episode of the Raw Islam Podcast, Imam Azhar address the horrific events that took place in Christchurch, New Zealand, where fifty Muslims were killed while attending Friday prayer, or Jummah. Before the conversation turned to the events in Christchurch, the Imam took a moment to address the suicides that were happening around the country as well. Some of the students that survived the Parkland shooting, as well as a parent, took their own life, which stemmed from Survivor’s Guilt. Imam Azhar shares that when he attends the mosque for prayer, until now, his biggest worry was his children running around the parking lot and how people drive. He never gave a thought about what happens after the doors close behind him. Now, that is no longer the case. We are then reminded of the hadith that says, “If one part of the body aches, the whole body aches.” This means that when our brothers and sisters in humanity are in pain, as good Muslims, we should be in pain too.      Make sure to subscribe to this Venn Network production – Raw Islam with Imam Azhar Subedar. This is surely one of the best podcasts to subscribe to if you are looking for facts about Islam and if you want to know what Islam is all about. The Raw Islam Podcast delivers important information about Islam to you weekly, so make sure to subscribe to this Muslim Talk show that isn’t just for Muslims! And introducing the Venn Network t-shirt and other cool swag, which you can own by heading over to our Swag section. When you buy one of these shirts you help, not only support the network, but you also help support the hosts. The Venn Network is growing, and it is only with support from listeners – like you – that we can reach those in need of hearing our message! Do you have questions for the Imam or thoughts on the show? Drop us an email at rawislam@vennnetwork.org Or leave us a voicemail by calling 202.930.5175 The post Raw Islam 80: The New Zealand Christchurch Attack appeared first on Welcome to the Venn Network.

On this episode of the Raw Islam Podcast with Imam Azhar the guys sit down to talk about the real Ramadan and what it means to Muslims and Non-Muslims. The Imam talks about Lent, Lent is a season which is observed by Catholics around the world where they typically give up a type of food or a habit for 40 days and it culminates on Ash Wednesday. This every much parallels the concept of Ramadan. To lots of Non-Muslims, and to some Muslims, Ramadan means 29 to 30 days of fasting. That fasting means no food or water from sunrise to sunset. It is also filled with complaints about the not having water for long periods of time in the hot summer months, which also makes the fasting longer. In the winter months, in the northern hemisphere, the sunset is around 7 or 8 o’clock. But, in the summer it can set around 9pm or later. This means Muslims can be fasting for up to 16 hours or more. But is this what Ramadan is really about? Is this what we should honestly be focusing on before we enter the month of Ramadan? Make sure to subscribe to this Venn Network production – Raw Islam with Imam Azhar Subedar. This is surely one of the best podcasts to subscribe to if you are looking for facts about Islam and if you want to know what Islam is all about. The Raw Islam Podcast delivers important information about Islam to you weekly, so make sure to subscribe to this Muslim Talk show that isn’t just for Muslims! And introducing the Venn Network t-shirt and other cool swag, which you can own by heading over to our Swag section. When you buy one of these shirts you help, not only support the network, but you also help support the hosts. The Venn Network is growing, and it is only with support from listeners – like you – that we can reach those in need of hearing our message! Do you have questions for the Imam or thoughts on the show? Drop us an email at rawislam@vennnetwork.org Or leave us a voicemail by calling 202.930.5175 The post Raw Islam 79: Let’s talk about Ramadan! appeared first on Welcome to the Venn Network.

On this Raw Islam Podcast Imam Azhar address the issues surrounding the hashtag #IStandWithIlhan and the related Islamophobia around the topic. Ihan Omar seems to be in the news on the regular as of late. From tweets to public statements to relationships with organizations, she can’t seem to escape public scrutiny. Is all of this simply because she is Muslim, or is there something bigger at paly here? Imam Azhar starts the conversation by addressing the common misconception that all Muslims hate all Jews, all the time. And if you think they do, you must be new to the show – and we welcome you! Anyone who suggests or thinks or preaches hate towards Jewish people, or anyone, is not practicing true Islam. That is not what is taught, these types of people do not speak for the majority. However – the people who invented Breakfast Hummus are the real evil people.   Make sure to subscribe to this Venn Network production – Raw Islam with Imam Azhar Subedar. This is surely one of the best podcasts to subscribe to if you are looking for facts about Islam and if you want to know what Islam is all about. The Raw Islam Podcast delivers important information about Islam to you weekly, so make sure to subscribe to this Muslim Talk show that isn’t just for Muslims! And introducing the Venn Network t-shirt and other cool swag, which you can own by heading over to our Swag section. When you buy one of these shirts you help, not only support the network, but you also help support the hosts. The Venn Network is growing, and it is only with support from listeners – like you – that we can reach those in need of hearing our message! Do you have questions for the Imam or thoughts on the show? Drop us an email at rawislam@vennnetwork.org Or leave us a voicemail by calling 202.930.5175 The post Raw Islam 78: #IStandWithIlhan and The Related Islamophobia appeared first on Welcome to the Venn Network.