"Islam is basically decolonization on crack."
That is how this conversation opens — and what follows is the history
lesson most of us never got.
Palestinian life and purpose coach Meha Siyam joins Dr. Sarah Nasir for
Part 2 of a conversation that travels from the Crusades to your kitchen
counter. Meha grew up in a village northeast of Al Quds. She spent years
as a human rights attorney in Palestine before becoming a coach for
Muslim women. She knows this story from the inside.
She walks us through the chapters that get skipped. That Palestinians
were a predominantly Christian population when 'Umar bin al-Khattab took
Jerusalem without spilling a single drop of blood. That they still had
not converted when the Crusaders arrived and killed them anyway — same
faith, wrong ethnicity. That mass conversion only came generations later,
after Salahuddin. And why she calls what is happening now phase three.
Then Sarah pulls a thread from her own linguistics background: there are
three Semitic languages — Hebrew, Aramaic, and Arabic. Three sister
languages. So who exactly are the Semitic people? And what happens to the
word "antisemitism" when we look at it honestly?
Two Muslim women connecting the Aryan myth, the Holocaust, colorism in
South Asian homes, Shakespeare's Shylock, and the headlines you scrolled
past this morning. Not a political problem, Sarah argues. A man versus
Shaytan problem.
And then, because this is Masala Muslima — a salad.
Meha teaches us Fattoush. Cucumbers, tomatoes, stale pita fried in olive
oil, and a dash of sumac. The sumac comes with its own story. An
Indigenous researcher found that it processes differently in colonizer
bodies than in Indigenous ones. It grows on Turtle Island too. It just is
not popular here, because as Meha puts it, what we consume in America is
colonizer flavors.
The land always shows itself.
Meha's parting reminder: even if the world is falling apart, if you have
a seedling, plant it anyway.
FATTOUSH SALAD — Meha's recipe
Salad: cucumbers cut into small cubes, tomatoes in small cubes, onions
sliced very thin, and stale pita bread broken into squares and fried in
olive oil.
Dressing: salt, black pepper, fresh lemon juice, olive oil, and a dash of
sumac.
Method: fry the pita squares and set them aside. Mix the dressing in a
cup with a spoon. Pour it over the vegetables, toss the fried bread in
last, and eat quickly. That is how you keep the crunch.
IN THIS EPISODE
02:24 Meet Meha Siyam
03:56 Clay vs. fire: the genesis story behind every supremacy movement
05:09 Why Islam spread — removing oppression, not forcing conversion
06:52 'Umar takes Al Quds without a drop of blood
08:04 The Crusades: when Christians killed Christian Palestinians
09:54 "Israel is just phase three"
13:42 The three Semitic languages
15:03 Decolonizing the word "antisemitism"
19:23 Fitra: the natural instinct Shaytan hijacks
21:39 Fattoush salad
23:01 The sumac study
26:56 "If you have a little plant, plant it anyway"
CONNECT WITH MEHA SIYAM
Life and purpose coach for Muslim women, former human rights attorney.
She offers free consultations as her way of giving back.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mehasiyam
LISTEN AND WATCH EVERY EPISODE
https://transcendantyou.com/masala-muslima
Masala Muslima: Faith Flavored Living — conversations with Muslim women
about how they flavor their lives, their work, and everything they love
with faith. Real stories, real recipes, new episodes.
00:20:21
Welcome to Masala Muslima: Faith Flavored Living - Our Very First Show! (Part 1)
Introducing the premiere episode of Masala Muslima: Faith Flavored Living! Hosts Sarah Nasir and Nida Shaikh kick off their show filled with fun, energy, and engaging conversations. In this episode, they share their long-awaited journey to starting the podcast, discuss the importance of community, and dive into the significance of family and faith. Plus, they reveal a special 'Masala Chai' recipe from the kitchen. Join Sarah and Nida as they blend daily experiences with their faith, bringing a flavorful twist to your life. Stay tuned for more episodes where they'll continue to masala your life with wisdom, recipes, and spirited discussions! This is part 1 as the first episode is being split into 2 parts.
00:00 Welcome to Masala Muslim: Faith Flavored Living
00:40 The Journey to Starting Our Podcast
02:29 The Story Behind the Podcast Mic
04:52 Embracing Life's Chaos and Joys
09:08 The Beauty of Creation and Life's Journey
15:31 Masala Chai Recipe and Cultural Reflections
19:32 Wrapping Up: Bringing Our Flavors Together
00:22:55
Join Sarah Nasir for the episode of her journey of wearing hijab. It is not one of easy, peasy, lemon squeezy - but one of persistence. The result being one of confidence, epiphanies and further reliance on Allah. And to top it off, discover Sarah's favorite juicy hamburger recipe.
00:33:18
Embark on a heartfelt journey of faith, fear, and growth in the second part of our first podcast episode, "Struggle, Strength & Masala Chai."
Join hosts Sarah Nasir and Nida Shaikh as they dive into the beauty of life’s challenges, the power of community, and the spiritual connection that helps us transcend. From overcoming imposter syndrome to finding joy in the mundane, we explore how faith guides us through life's ebbs and flows. Discover personal stories, discovering Allah in our lives, and actionable insights to enrich your spiritual path. Whether you're seeking inspiration, empowerment, or just a moment of connection, this episode is filled with warmth, wisdom, and masala-flavored discussions. Tune in and let’s grow together!
CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
03:24 - Allah Al-Khaliq and Al-Musawwir
10:57 - Imposter Syndrome and Riyaa
15:47 - Humility in Faith
18:11 - Quran 4:34 - Gender Roles in Islam
22:19 - Personal Responsibility in Life
27:10 - Authentic Masala Chai Recipe
30:13 - Final Thoughts on Discussion
33:00 - Outro
#fear #motivationalvideo #anxiety #mentalhealth #personaldevelopment
#quran #podcast #podcastmuslim #dawah #community #cooking #womeninislam #muslimwomen #muslimah #lifestyle #masala #masalamuslima
Sarah Nasir Sarah Nasir
"Islam is basically decolonization on crack."
That is how this conversation opens — and what follows is the history
lesson most of us never got.
Palestinian life and purpose coach Meha Siyam joins Dr. Sarah Nasir for
Part 2 of a conversation that travels from the Crusades to your kitchen
counter. Meha grew up in a village northeast of Al Quds. She spent years
as a human rights attorney in Palestine before becoming a coach for
Muslim women. She knows this story from the inside.
She walks us through the chapters that get skipped. That Palestinians
were a predominantly Christian population when 'Umar bin al-Khattab took
Jerusalem without spilling a single drop of blood. That they still had
not converted when the Crusaders arrived and killed them anyway — same
faith, wrong ethnicity. That mass conversion only came generations later,
after Salahuddin. And why she calls what is happening now phase three.
Then Sarah pulls a thread from her own linguistics background: there are
three Semitic languages — Hebrew, Aramaic, and Arabic. Three sister
languages. So who exactly are the Semitic people? And what happens to the
word "antisemitism" when we look at it honestly?
Two Muslim women connecting the Aryan myth, the Holocaust, colorism in
South Asian homes, Shakespeare's Shylock, and the headlines you scrolled
past this morning. Not a political problem, Sarah argues. A man versus
Shaytan problem.
And then, because this is Masala Muslima — a salad.
Meha teaches us Fattoush. Cucumbers, tomatoes, stale pita fried in olive
oil, and a dash of sumac. The sumac comes with its own story. An
Indigenous researcher found that it processes differently in colonizer
bodies than in Indigenous ones. It grows on Turtle Island too. It just is
not popular here, because as Meha puts it, what we consume in America is
colonizer flavors.
The land always shows itself.
Meha's parting reminder: even if the world is falling apart, if you have
a seedling, plant it anyway.
FATTOUSH SALAD — Meha's recipe
Salad: cucumbers cut into small cubes, tomatoes in small cubes, onions
sliced very thin, and stale pita bread broken into squares and fried in
olive oil.
Dressing: salt, black pepper, fresh lemon juice, olive oil, and a dash of
sumac.
Method: fry the pita squares and set them aside. Mix the dressing in a
cup with a spoon. Pour it over the vegetables, toss the fried bread in
last, and eat quickly. That is how you keep the crunch.
IN THIS EPISODE
02:24 Meet Meha Siyam
03:56 Clay vs. fire: the genesis story behind every supremacy movement
05:09 Why Islam spread — removing oppression, not forcing conversion
06:52 'Umar takes Al Quds without a drop of blood
08:04 The Crusades: when Christians killed Christian Palestinians
09:54 "Israel is just phase three"
13:42 The three Semitic languages
15:03 Decolonizing the word "antisemitism"
19:23 Fitra: the natural instinct Shaytan hijacks
21:39 Fattoush salad
23:01 The sumac study
26:56 "If you have a little plant, plant it anyway"
CONNECT WITH MEHA SIYAM
Life and purpose coach for Muslim women, former human rights attorney.
She offers free consultations as her way of giving back.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mehasiyam
LISTEN AND WATCH EVERY EPISODE
https://transcendantyou.com/masala-muslima
Masala Muslima: Faith Flavored Living — conversations with Muslim women
about how they flavor their lives, their work, and everything they love
with faith. Real stories, real recipes, new episodes.