What was Madinah like before the arrival of Islam?

In this insightful lecture, Dr Suleyman Sertkaya explores the history of Yathrib (later known as Madinah) before the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ migrated there. Discover the tribal dynamics, longstanding conflicts, and social conditions that shaped the city and prepared it for one of the most significant transformations in human history.

Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:15 Why it was called Yathrib 07:38 Population breakdown of Yathrib when the Prophet ﷺ arrived 11:23 Aws and Khazraj: Two brothers from the same mother and father 20:32 The Buʿāth Wars 30:46 The search for an external person to resolve conflict in Yathrib 43:17 Islam comes into the picture 44:15 Factors contributing to the people of Madinah accepting Islam

In this first episode of Response to Atheists, Dr Zuleyha Keskin speaks with Dr Omer Atilla Ergi about humanity's place in creation, the possibility of other intelligent beings, and what the Qur'an says about the vast universe around us.

📌 In this episode: 00:00 Introduction 00:31 Introduction to the series 02:10 Does the Qur'an say the entire universe was created just for us? 05:47 We are not alone 09:34 Qur'an 17:70: Favouring humans over most, not all of creation 14:24 Qur'an 65:12: Many earths? 19:31 Why I'm a strong believer in other creations like humans

Both Dr Omer Atilla Ergi and Dr Zuleyha Keskin teach in the Islamic Studies courses offered by ISRA Academy. For more info: https://www.isra.org.au/uni-courses/

Most parents love their children deeply. However, children need more than love. Drawing on examples from the life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and stories from the Qur'an, this talk offers practical insights for parents who want to raise children who feel secure, guided, resilient, and spiritually grounded.

Dr Suleyman Sertkaya explores the foundational steps taken by the Prophet ﷺ after the Hijrah, showing how Madinah was shaped through faith, community, education, economic independence, social responsibility and ethical leadership. This talk offers powerful lessons for Muslims today on how prophetic guidance can shape not only individual character, but also families, communities and society.

Timestamps: 00:00 Foundational Steps After the Hijrah 04:25 Mosque, Brotherhood and Education in Madinah 12:40 Declaring Madinah a Sacred Sanctuary 19:40 Establishing an Independent Marketplace 46:00 Laying the Foundations of Civilisation

Can we stop time and ageing? In this thought-provoking conversation, Dr Zuleyha Keskin and Dr Omer Atilla Ergi explore one of humanity's deepest questions, weaving together modern science and Islamic wisdom to uncover what time truly means, and what our faith teaches us about its inevitable passage.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction 01:00 Time cannot be defined 07:49 Theoretically you can go forward in time 10:17 Two reasons why ageing occurs 12:05 Nothing is eternal 14:11 Death is a blessing

Astrophysics accepts the existence of unseen realities through their observable effects. Dark matter, gravity, black holes and many cosmic phenomena are not directly seen, yet their impact is measurable and scientifically accepted.

If this method of reasoning is considered valid in physics, then on what grounds is the existence of God rejected?

In this thought-provoking discussion, Dr Zuleyha Keskin speaks with Dr Omer Atilla Ergi about science, metaphysics, causality, and the rational basis for belief in God.

In this deeply moving conversation, Dr Zuleyha Keskin sits down with Angelica-Hazel, a women’s health and fertility nutritionist, mother, and breast cancer survivor, to explore her journey through illness, faith, and healing.

From the moment of her diagnosis to navigating life as a convert, Angelica shares a powerful and honest reflection on what it means to face one of life’s greatest tests. We speak about loss, resilience, family, and the unexpected gifts that can emerge through hardship.

Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:10 Moment of breast cancer diagnosis 08:00 How did being a convert impact how you dealt with cancer? 15:10 “I lost my mum to breast cancer a few months ago” 15:54 The beautiful gift 18:02 Dealing with the challenges of being a convert 23:30 Your relationship with your husband and children post-cancer

In this podcast, Prof Mehmet Ozalp and Dr Zuleyha Keskin explore five Qur’anic proofs for the existence of the afterlife. While many assume belief in the Hereafter is purely based on faith, the Qur’an repeatedly invites us to reflect, question, and recognise the signs that point to life after death. What are these proofs? And how do they strengthen conviction in the unseen?

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction 00:26 – Why talk about proofs of the afterlife? 03:57 – Why classical scholars focused less on rational proofs 06:19 – Proof 1 16:12 – Proof 2 18:53 – Proof 3 22:20 – Proof 4 26:43 – Proof 5