Muhammad is the director of advocacy for Hikma Public Affairs Council, a local public affairs group that focuses on combating Islamophobia. Muslims across the country have a decision to make. We are still watching a genocide unfold in Gaza. For months, we have been emailing, calling, and meeting with our MPs so that they can do something to stop it. Some of them have stepped up to the plate, but many have not. Now is the time to hold them accountable for their actions. Coast to coast, we have the numbers and the resources to do it. Organizations like NCCM, CMPAC, and Hikma are working hard to provide Muslims with the resources they need to make an informed decision.0:00 - Introduction1:55 - Why is this election so important?9:20 - London West19:25 - London Center (previously London North)26:26 - London Fanshawe35:18 - Elgin St. Thomas London South36:45 - London North37:22 - WE NEED YOUR HELP

Imam Aarij Anwer previously served as Director of Religious Affairs at the London Muslim Mosque. Currently, he sits on the board at the London Muslim Mosque and on the board of SPFunds (North America’s largest family of Sharia-Compliant funds). He also serves as a Zakat advisor for National Zakat Foundation. He has a background in Computer Science and Education, and has studied Islamic Sciences at Al Madinah University in Malaysia.Link to Imam Aarij's zakat calculator: https://bit.ly/zakat4canadians To use the zakat calculator, make a copy of the original and customize it.0:00 - Introduction2:23 - What is Zakat?9:17 - How should we view Zakat?13:54 - Omar ibn Abdul Aziz18:50 - What if Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos paid zakat?28:05 - Who is eligible to receive zakat?40:23 - What is the most effective use of our zakat?46:40 - Zakat as Dawn50:19 - Due Diligence54:11 - Resources for Calculating Zakat

Rashed Hourani is a member of Al Asala, Canada's first dabke group. This is our first episode in Arabic! We discussed Rashed's experiences delivering aid with Al Asala dabke group and the impact that their group has on Palestinians living in the West.

Ziad Mohamed is the lead drummer of Al Asala, Canada's first dabke group. He has delivered aid with Human Appeal four times already.

Three times in his home country of Lebanon and once in Kenya. He is will known online for his incredible dabble and drumming skills, but most importantly, for his close relationship with his grandparents.0:00 - Introduction3:42 - Good Friendship7:37 - Using Social Media for Good9:26 - You Don't Take Anything with You12:08 - Taking Care of Yourself

Omar Khan is the co-founder and CEO of Ruh Care. Ruh is a Muslim-led mental wellness brand that aims to help improve the mental and spiritual well-being of the world. They offer three resources to support your mental health journey: Ruh Care Online Therapy Platform: An online therapy platform offering accessible, culturally, and faith-responsive mental health care. Ruh Care Directory: The largest global directory of Muslim therapists, aiming to help clients find therapists nearby who share their values. Ruh Mindfulness App: An Islamic mindfulness & contemplation app that integrates psychology and Islam, designed to improve mental and spiritual well-being. 0:00 - Introduction 2:40 - Why do we need Muslim therapists? 4:05 - What kind of struggles are we facing? 6:40 - Breaking through the stigma 10:33 - Does talking to a therapist mean something is wrong with me? 11:52 - Will people find out I am talking to a therapist? 13:27 - What about the cost? 14:50 - Dealing with addiction 19:45 - What about cultural sensitivities? 20:55 - Finding your intention 22:09 - The cost of inaction can be massive 23:29 - Is my iman weak? 26:10 - Asking Omar about non-profit fulfilment

Ousama Alshurafa is the founder of Muslim Hub and author of The Afterlife Manual. His energetic delivery, combined with his deep understanding of the human psyche, enable him to give jolts of eman to listeners. We met with Ousama at the RIS Convention in Toronto in December 2024. Just days before he launched his newest project "The Rizq Framework". This conversation takes many twists and turns and requires subsequent discussions for sure! Enjoy! 0:00 - Introduction 1:11 - Ousama redefines Caretakers 10:05 - Advice for being "in-tune" with Allah 15:00 - Intention, Intention, Intention 22:15 - Sincerity (Ikhlas) 28:04 - Perception of the Ruh 33:22 - A quick Quantum Computing tangent 38:30 - Rizq: the Human Equation and the Divine Formula

We sat down with Sarah (known as SarahDoses online) to discuss her humanitarian work with the Human Appeal REACH Program. This episode was filmed at the RIS Convention 2024 in the Human Appeal booth.

Yipeng Ge is a Chinese-Canadian, first-generation immigrant, and a humble and grateful guest of this land. He grew up in Waterloo, Ontario, and completed his undergraduate studies at McMaster University in Health Sciences (Honours) with a specialization in Global Health. Yipeng Ge is a family medicine physician also trained in public health in Ottawa. He received a Master of Public Health degree (Health and Social Behaviour) at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Yipeng is a member of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Public Health Association and Canadian Doctors for Medicare. Yipeng is passionate about tackling health and social inequities by addressing the social and broader determinants of health, including anti-racism work and practice in medical education. He was a member of the CIHR (Canadian Institutes of Health Research) Anti-Racism Advisory Committee, tasked with helping to shape and develop CIHR’s anti-racism action plan. Yipeng has worked for various global health organizations including the World Health Organization (Headquarters) in Geneva, Switzerland, and the Population Health Research Institute in Hamilton, Ontario. He has also been involved in various student-led initiatives including, co-founding the McMaster Indigenous Health Conference in 2016 and chairing the Canadian Global Health Students and Young Professionals Summit in 2018. He was the first student/young professional co-chair for the 25th annual Canadian Conference on Global Health in 2019. In 2020, he was Canada’s official youth delegate to the 73rd World Health Assembly and the 58th Pan American Health Organization Directing Council. 0:00 - Welcome Back! 2:12 - Health Equity 8:08 - I don't view myself as a settler, am I? 14:40 - What is collective liberation? 29:15 - Medicine is Political 39:30 - How to deal with a lack of action from others? 46:43 - Dr. Ge's time in Gaza 57:19 - Postal Code Mortality

Asma Zaghloul is a Certified Heroic Life Coach and Certified UESCA Running Coach. When she was 41 years old, she started running for the first time. The mom of four children (with asthma by the way) went from her first steps to completing her first marathon at 44 years old! Her story is an absolute inspiration to all of us.

Dr. Ahmed Hankir has lectured at some of the most prestigious universities in the world including Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Dartmouth, McGill, Toronto, Cambridge, Oxford, Padua and Coimbra Universities. In recognition for his contributions for advancing global health, he received the 2022 World Health Organization Director General Award for Global Health which was personally presented to him by Dr Tedros at the WHO World Health Assembly in Geneva. Dr Hankir has advised the World Health Organization on human rights and mental health and the New Zealand Government on the psychological consequences of the Christchurch Mosque Terror Attacks. Professor Hankir pioneered the Wounded Healer, an innovative anti stigma programme that blends the power of the performing arts and storytelling with psychiatry. Professor Hankir has been fortunate to deliver the Wounded Healer to over 150,000 people in 25 countries in five continents worldwide. His recent book ‘Breakthrough’ is incredibly honest and vulnerable.

Abdelrahman Kouta (known online as Abdelkouta) is a Palestinian-Canadian who has lived in Gaza since 2015. He is father of two girls, one of which was born in Northern Gaza during the genocide. While in Gaza, Abdel used his English language skills to showcase to the world the situation on the ground. His videos on TikTok and Instagram became very popular along with his brothers Mahmoud and Ahmed (Prince) Kouta. The Kouta brothers (as they are affectionately known) are using their platforms to inform people about what is happening in Gaza.

Dr. Munir El-Kassem is a retired dentist and professor of dentistry here in London, Ontario He has been in Imam, a leader in the city longer than I have been alive. He has been a part of this community in every stage of our lives, I have seen him speaking at aqiqas which are the celebration of a child’s birth and I have seen him speaking at countless burials, and everything in between He has married hundreds of couples, he has guided thousands through their pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, he has counselled couples facings difficulties in their marriage, youth having trouble with their parents, and again, everything in between. He is my childhood Imam, for as long as I can remember, he has been leading the way in London, for me and many others

Muhammad Awawdeh is currently a policy analyst in the Government of Canada, he is also the advocacy coordinator for Hikma Public Affairs Council, a local public affairs group in London, Ontario in Canada, that focuses on combating Islamophobia. Muhammad has previously worked as a humanitarian and political affairs advisor at the Palestinian Mission to the United Nations in New York City. He completed his Bachelor’s degree double majoring in accounting and international relations, and double minoring in refugee and migrant studies and transitional justice. He also completed his Master’s degree in political science. His master’s research was focused on the role of UN specialized agencies in the protection of civilians in armed conflict. Support HIKMA at Hikma.ca

Abd Alfatah Twakkal is an Imam, a teacher, a resource at the Muslim Resource Centre and a well-respected member of the Calgary and London community. In this episode, we discussed the role of spiritual health in our overall health. We talked about assessing one's spiritual well-being and taking steps to improve it. We also touched on his role at the Muslim Resource Centre and the services that are offered there.

Michael Lynk is a highly-regarded Canadian lawyer who is often cited for his work on labour and human rights law. In March 2016, the United Nations Human Rights Council appointed Professor Lynk as the 7th Special Rapporteur for the human rights situation in the Palestinian Territories occupied since 1967.

During his six years as Special Rapporteur, he regularly addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva and the 3rd Committee of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. His UN reports have been widely cited, he has frequently spoken to UN, academic and institutional conferences in North America, Europe and the Middle East and he has regularly published opinion pieces on the role of international law respecting the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory.

Nazima Qureshi is a Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist with a Masters of Public Health. She is a two time author, a food journal entitled Eat Better, Feel Better, Live Better, and The Healthy Ramadan Guide. She has been featured in CNN, CBC, Canadian Living, Self Magazine, Globe and Mail, and NY times.

Rob Dufour is a Muslim YouTuber of European descent. His YouTube Channel called @Islam4Europeans aims to bridge the gap between the Muslim world and the Western world. Our conversation was centered around supporting new Muslims as a community by understanding their struggles and doing our best to alleviate them.

Dr. Adnan Rajeh is a medical oncologist and the Chairman of the Muslim Wellness Network. You can listen to The Caretakers Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Runda is a mother of two children and a paediatric Occupational Therapist. Runda currently works with children with various needs -sensory, emotional, developmental and physical needs in schools and has a private practice where she supports children and their families. Runda is very passionate about the mental health and well-being of children and mothers and has an online platform dedicated to writing about these topics. Runda is currently in the process of becoming a psychotherapist. You can read more of Runda's writing on her Instagram page @MotherCareJourney