ISRA Academy Podcast

What drives our thoughts, emotions, habits, and behaviours? In this new series, Prof Mehmet Ozalp and Dr Zuleyha Keskin explore the classical Islamic concept of the seven levels of the nafs (self), beginning with the first and lowest level: Nafs al-Ammarah (the Commanding Self).
Drawing on Islamic scholarship, spirituality, and practical examples from everyday life, this discussion examines how the nafs influences our actions, why we struggle with certain habits, and how spiritual growth begins.
📌 Timestamps
00:00 Introduction00:58 What is the nafs?02:36 Introduction to Nafs al-Ammarah08:30 Habit change and the different levels of the nafs09:38 Signs of Nafs al-Ammarah17:43 Hadith on anger and emotional dysregulation21:22 The relationship between iman and Nafs al-Ammarah25:28 How do you recognise that you are coming out of Nafs al-Ammarah?
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.

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 Introduction03:15 Why it was called Yathrib07:38 Population breakdown of Yathrib when the Prophet ﷺ arrived11:23 Aws and Khazraj: Two brothers from the same mother and father20:32 The Buʿāth Wars30:46 The search for an external person to resolve conflict in Yathrib43:17 Islam comes into the picture44:15 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 Introduction00:31 Introduction to the series02:10 Does the Qur'an say the entire universe was created just for us?05:47 We are not alone09:34 Qur'an 17:70: Favouring humans over most, not all of creation14:24 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 Hijrah04:25 Mosque, Brotherhood and Education in Madinah12:40 Declaring Madinah a Sacred Sanctuary19:40 Establishing an Independent Marketplace46:00 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 Introduction01:10 Moment of breast cancer diagnosis08:00 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 gift18:02 Dealing with the challenges of being a convert23:30 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 – Introduction00:26 – Why talk about proofs of the afterlife?03:57 – Why classical scholars focused less on rational proofs06:19 – Proof 116:12 – Proof 218:53 – Proof 322:20 – Proof 426:43 – Proof 5

In this episode, Dr Suleyman Sertkaya explores the powerful moment in Madinah when the Prophet ﷺ established mu’ākhāt, pairing the Muhājirūn and Anṣār in a bond of true brotherhood. Discover how strangers became family overnight—and what this profound model of unity, sacrifice, and care means for us today.