ISRA Academy Podcast

In this episode, part of our Risale-i Nur Series with Dr Omer Atilla Ergi, we explore The First Flash from Said Nursi’s The Flashes, centred on the powerful supplication of Prophet Yunus (Jonah):
“There is no deity except You; glory be to You. Indeed, I have been among the wrongdoers.”(Qur’an 21:87)
Drawing on Nursi’s reflections, Dr Ergi explores what the story of Prophet Yunus teaches us about helplessness, hardship, tawḥīd, repentance and reliance upon Allah. When circumstances seem overwhelming and there appears to be no way out, the First Flash reminds us that our difficulties are never beyond the mercy and power of Allah.

In this conversation, Dr Zuleyha Keskin speaks with Dr Omer Atilla Ergi, who offers four recommendations for atheists and those questioning belief in God.
Rather than approaching the topic as a debate, Dr Ergi encourages a more reflective and open-minded approach: being objective, examining the emotional dimension of disbelief, considering Pascal’s Wager, and applying Occam’s Razor when thinking about competing explanations for existence.
00:00 Introduction00:39 Recommendation 1: Be objective07:45 Recommendation 2: Don’t fight with a God that you think doesn’t exist14:01 Recommendation 3: Consider Pascal’s Wager23:47 Recommendation 4: Consider Occam’s Razor

In this conversation, Zeynep Yuksel speaks with Dr Zuleyha Keskin about the label “part-time Muslim.” Why we use it, what we actually mean by it, and whether it is a helpful or healthy way to speak about people’s faith.
Timestamps:
00:00 Why do people use the term “part-time” Muslim?04:26 How faith and practice play out06:54 Everyone can see someone else as a “part-time” Muslim11:48 Labels impact people14:25 Committing sins does not take you outside the religion

Raising daughters in a Western context comes with challenges that are not always immediately visible. In this conversation, Zeynep speaks with Dr Zuleyha Keskin about how parents can help Muslim girls develop the confidence, resilience and inner strength needed to remain grounded in their faith.
00:00 Introduction00:30 One of the biggest challenges04:36 Being Muslim requires a lot of strength07:58 The challenges are socially more subtle13:55 Your daughter should be able to come to you for anything

In this follow-up discussion, Dr Zuleyha Keskin and Dr Omer Atilla Ergi respond to Neil deGrasse Tyson’s arguments about God, particularly in light of the many questions and comments raised after the first episode.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction00:25 Summary of Neil deGrasse Tyson’s main argument01:19 Why Neil deGrasse Tyson’s belief — or lack of belief — matters05:12 Why the question of God and suffering comes up so often07:15 How agnosticism leaves the door open to dialogue11:18 Why is there suffering?16:08 Why do humans experience pain and hardship?21:39 Does God create evil?24:32 The biggest mistake in deGrasse Tyson’s argument

What changes when doing good no longer feels like a constant battle, but begins to come from within? In this episode of our series on The 7 Levels of the Nafs, Prof Mehmet Ozalp and Dr Zuleyha Keskin explore Nafs al-Mulhamah — the Inspired Self.
📌 Timestamps00:00 Introduction03:20 The Qur’anic basis for Nafs al-Mulhamah07:45 Intrinsic motivation at this level10:36 Weight training analogy14:22 Salah at this level20:12 Is Nafs al-Mulhamah explicitly mentioned in the Qur’an?22:35 Why is Nafs al-Mulhamah so important?24:35 The impact of society on reaching higher levels31:30 Why knowledge is so important at this level
This episode is part of our series on The 7 Levels of the Nafs, exploring the journey of spiritual purification and inner transformation in Islam.

Dr Zuleyha Keskin speaks with Dr Omer Atilla Ergi about the scientific, philosophical, and theological questions surrounding the beginning of the universe. The conversation explores the limits of current cosmological theories and what the universe’s beginning may imply for deeper questions about creation, causation, and the possibility of something coming from nothing.
Timestamps:00:00 Introduction05:43 Scientific answer about before the Big Bang12:02 Theories about the universe are speculative17:01 Stephen Hawking’s discomfort with the Big Bang singularity23:52 Nothing pops into existence from nothingness

Can destiny and free will coexist? If everything is already known and determined by Allah, are we truly free to make our own choices?
In this episode of the Risale-i Nur Series, Dr Omer Atilla Ergi explores these questions through Said Nursi’s 26th Word (Treatise on Divine Determining), examining the relationship between divine destiny (qadar), human free will and personal responsibility.

In this episode of our Risale-i Nur Series, Dr Omer Atilla Ergi reads and explains the Second Flash, reflecting on the story of Prophet Ayyub (AS) and the deeper wisdom behind illness, hardship and patience. A powerful reminder that illness can become a means of spiritual growth, reflection and drawing closer to Allah.

What happens when we begin to recognise our faults, question our behaviour, and hold ourselves accountable?
In this episode of our series on The 7 Levels of the Nafs, Prof Mehmet Ozalp and Dr Zuleyha Keskin explore Nafs al-Lawwamah — the Self-Reproaching Self.
 
📌 Timestamps00:00 Introduction02:52 Three things that bring us into Nafs al-Lawwamah06:28 Why Allah swears by this level of the nafs12:20 Low self-worth and muhasabah14:20 Traps of this level21:46 Three key strategies for dealing with sin24:33 Feeling hypocrisy at this level36:50 If we lapse at this level, there’s still hope41:55 Key take-home messages
This episode is part of our series on The 7 Levels of the Nafs, exploring the journey of spiritual purification and inner transformation in Islam.