"Is Islam compatible with the West?" It’s the question everyone is asking - and as a born-and-raised Australian revert who has also lived in a Muslim country (twice!), I’ve lived the answer.

Spoiler: The question itself is designed to make us feel like outsiders. In this episode, I'm flipping the script.

Forget the political debates and the headlines. This is a raw, personal conversation about what it actually means to build a vibrant, intentional Islamic life right here in the West. I share the shocking cultural dissonance I experienced in a Muslim-majority country and how it ultimately clarified my faith more than any debate ever could.

This episode is your guide if you’ve ever felt caught between two worlds. I cover:

The #1 Myth about Muslim Countries: Why the "Islamic utopia" can be the hardest place to nurture your faith, and how "Cultural Islam" threatens the soul of your deen.

A Revert's Blueprint for the West: How the very challenges here - the questions, the stares, the Christmas trees - force you to build a faith that is conscious, resilient, and unshakable.

Raising Muslim Kids Where Islam isn't the Norm: Practical strategies for when your child asks, "Why don't we celebrate Christmas?" How to build an Islamic home they’re proud of, without isolation or fear.

For New Muslims Feeling Lost: You are not alone. How to navigate family, find your community, and build a personal connection with Allah that doesn't depend on your postcode.

From Ritual to Relationship: How to transform your faith from a list of rules into a living, breathing relationship with Allah, whether you're in Sydney, London, or Toronto.

If you're a new Muslim seeking your tribe, a parent worried about your children's future, or any Muslim tired of defending your existence and ready to start living it with purpose - this episode is for you.

Your faith isn't just compatible with life in the West; it can be the very thing that makes you thrive.

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You see that old memory pop up on your phone… and for a second, you don't even recognize the person you used to be. If you feel a weird distance between who you were and who you're becoming, you're not alone.

On this powerful episode of Beyond The Shahada, Bree Shaaban is breaking the ultimate taboo: the internal civil war that leads women to take off the hijab. We're exposing the sneaky double standards you've definitely noticed (why is his awrah a 'suggestion' and hers a 'mandatory law'?) and the crushing guilt of the "Performance Trap", where your outfit tells a story of perfection your soul can't live up to, making you feel like a "fraud."

This isn't about rejecting faith. It's about the exhausting weight of everyone's expectations and the desperate search for an authentic identity. If you've ever felt the pressure of the "Modesty Police," wondered "where do I fit in?", or crumbled under the praise for a piety you don't feel, this conversation is your lifeline. You are seen, you are understood, and you are not a bad Muslim for struggling.

IN THIS EPISODE:

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+ Please reach out to someone you trust if you're struggling with the hijab, or your journey in faith.

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#Hijab #Muslimah #IdentityCrisis #Modesty #Islam #FaithJourney #SpiritualBurnout #BeyondTheShahada

Think you know Islam? In this longer deep-dive, Bree Shaaban (ex-Christian, now Muslim) unpacks 15 things most people don’t know, perfect for curious Christians, new/revert Muslims, and anyone who wants clear, evidence-based explanations without the fluff.

What you’ll learn (fast):

• It started in a cave: Why the first command was “Read” and how the Quran was revealed over 23 years and not “all at once.”

• Seal of Prophethood (Q 33:40): Why Muhammad ﷺ is the final messenger with no sequels, no “new revelations.”

• Hadith = receipts: How isnaad (chains of narration) and hadith science authenticated what the Prophet said and did.

• Angels & the unseen realm: Jibril (Gabriel), Mika'il (Michael), and why angels are not Cupid.

• Jinn explained: Who they are, what they can/can’t do, and the chapter in Quran named after them.

• Barzakh: The “in-between” state from death to Resurrection and why it matters for accountability and hope.

• Quran & science: Embryology stages, mountains as stabilizers, ocean layers, and an expanding universe, all verses that invite reflection, not blind faith.

• Islam = a way of life: Prayer, charity, ethics in business, family rights, community care, and stewardship of the earth.

• Seeking knowledge is mandatory (for men & women): From Fatima al-Fihri (founder of the world’s first university) to your daily study routine.

• All the Companions were reverts: A diverse first community that preserved the message.

• Khadijah (RA): First to accept Islam, a powerhouse businesswoman, and a 25-year monogamous marriage with the Prophet ﷺ.

• Aisha (RA): Scholar, leader, and yes, she loved pink/saffron.

• Prohibitions = protections: Why bans on alcohol, gambling, usury, and backbiting guard hearts and societies.

• Polygyny, clarified: Limits, justice conditions (“marry only one” if you can’t be fair), and the social-welfare context.

• Charity multiplies wealth: How giving brings barakah and real-world benefits.

Who this is for:

• Christians exploring what Muslims actually believe

• New/revert Muslims building a solid foundation

• Anyone comparing faith claims with history and sources

Why listen: Warm and relatable explanations you can share, and a clear path to dig deeper without feeling talked down to.

New schedule: Longer episodes every other week. If this helped, please follow/subscribe, rate the show, and share it with someone who’s curious about Islam. Clips & extras on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, al @beyondtheshahada.