This podcast is based on a series of face-to-face and online lectures presented to Muslim women with the goal of developing competence in understanding and navigating our way through the social, cultural and political challenges of our contemporary times. By looking at the world through the Straight Path metaphor, we engage with contemporary right wing (status quo) and left wing (conflict theory) ideologies to understand, analyse and critique them from their origins and development into their current forms. We take a critical approach to BOTH conservative and Marxist-based theories, with a particular focus on neo-conservatism, neo-colonialism, feminism and gender-related issues, the impact these ideologies are having on Muslim women and societies today and how to overcome the many challenges we face personally, in our families and in the wider community. We also present a complementary podcast on textual competency - Imam al-Ghazali's Beginning of Guidance (Bidayat al-Hidayat) for Muslim women, where we study the text via the commentary of Imam al-Jawi entitled "Maraqi al-'Ubudiyyah". The entire text with commentary has been completed in 34 episodes and is available on the following link: https://beginning-of-guidance.captivate.fm *Please note: MISK Women has a fascinating new podcast called Women on the Straight Path, in which the lives and legacies of a wide range of women from our sacred Islamic history are studied and discussed in light of contemporary times. Please join us on https://women-on-the-straight-path.captivate.fm Subscription to all three podcasts is available from your preferred podcast distribution platform. Links are provided on the website for each show. If you wish to contact us for questions, comments, discussion or anything else, please find us on the following: Instagram: @miskwomen Email: miskwomen@gmail.com Facebook: Our private, women only group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/miskwomenhalaqa Telegram: Please contact for the private group link. Jazakum Allahu khairan.