Shows / The Islamic Mary
The Islamic Mary
A podcast about Maryam in the Qur'an, Islamic tradition, and Christian-Muslim relations. It is a journey into my book on the Islamic Mary and my interest in Biblical and Qur'anic figures and Islam and Interreligious Studies.
Episodes
- The Islamic Mary
You Were Not There Part II - The Story of Moses/Musa
Modern Qur'anic Studies often focuses on "echos" or phrases that connect particular stories, figures and prophets. In this episode, I look at the phrase "you…
- The Islamic Mary
Reflections on 25 years after 9-11 - an Interview with Jordan Denari Duffner
9-11 had a tremendous impact on my life and career, as I was a sophomore in college, and it led me to a life of researching, teaching and understanding. I…
- The Islamic Mary
The Chapter of Constellations and the Christians of Najran (throwback)
In the Chapter of Constellations (Surat al-Buruj), there is a debate on who it refers to: the Christians of Najran, the Disbelievers in the Hellfire or the…
- The Islamic Mary
The Faith of Muslim Political Prisoners - An Interview with Walaa Quisay (Throwback)
In many Biblical and Qur'anic stories, the protagonist isolates themselves and, at times, even go to prison. In this interview, I chat with Walaa' Qusaiy about…
- The Islamic Mary
You Were Not There - Echos Between Biblical and Qur'anic Figures
Modern Qur'anic Studies often focuses on "echos" or phrases that connect particular stories, figures and prophets. In this episode, I look at the phrase "you…
- The Islamic Mary
Solomon and the Ant (Throwback)
One of the most fascinating stories in the Qur'an is the Story of Solomon/Sulyaman and the ant. An ant see Solomon/Sulyman's army approaching and warns her…
- The Islamic Mary
Reflecting on the 25th Year Anniversary of 9/11
This month marks the 25 year anniversary of 9/11, an event that had a profound impact on global politics, religion and relations. I reflect on the anniversary…
- The Islamic Mary
Can the Story of Joseph Be Made Into a Play?
As I write the second edition of my book "The Bible and the Qur'an: Biblical Figures in the Islamic Tradition", I came across an article by Shawkat Toorawa…
- The Islamic Mary
Maryam as Model (Throwback)
I discuss how the Qur'an presents Maryam as a model, not just for women and the wives of the Prophet Muhammad but for men as well. She also plays an important…
- The Islamic Mary
Zechariah - The Caretaker Prophet
In this episode, I do a deep dive into the Stories of the Prophets literature on Zechariah/Zakariyya. The commentators focus on his Qur'anic prayer, birth of…
- The Islamic Mary
Maryam and Intimacy (Throwback)
I speak about how the Qur'an speaks directly to Maryam as well as other Qur'anic women and addresses their hopes, aspirations and fears. The direct…
- The Islamic Mary
On the Passing of John Esposito
I reflect on the Passing on John Esposito, who was a scholar, academic, friend and mentor. I met him when I was an undergraduate at Georgetown University, and…
- The Islamic Mary
The Opening - Verse 1 of the Chapter of Mary (Surat Maryam) (Throwback)
The Chapter of Mary (Surat Maryam) is unique with a special rhyme scheme, opening letters and emphasis on love and mercy. I speak about its context…
- The Islamic Mary
Emotions In Islam - An Interview with Paul Heck
As I look closely at Qur'anic figures, I am struck in how they speak about their emotions. They are open about their fears, upfront about their sadness and…
- The Islamic Mary
Interview with Asma Afsaruddin, Editor of the Oxford Handbook on Islam and Women (Throwback)
Join me for this throwback interview with Asma Afsaruddin, which was one of our most popular episodes of the podcast. When writing my forthcoming book the…
- The Islamic Mary
Joseph's Dream Between the Qur'an and Bible
As I work on the second edition of my book The Bible and Qur'an: Biblical Figures in the Islamic Tradition, I am look at new sources, from modern scholarship…
- The Islamic Mary
Zulaykha - Seducing Joseph and the Repentance (Throwback)
Zulaykha is often seen in the Islamic tradition as a temptress and someone who tries to seduce the prophet Joseph/Yusuf. However, minority readings focus on…
- The Islamic Mary
Islamic Mary Book Panel in Bosnia
In my recent trip to Sarajevo, I was honored to be part of a panel of Christian and Muslim scholars who discussed the new translation of my book “The Islamic…
- The Islamic Mary
Islamic Mary Book Talk at George Mason University (Throwback)
I got the opportunity to do a book talk at the AbuSulayman Center at George Mason University. The Center focuses on Global Islamic Studies and is a leader in…
- The Islamic Mary
David and Bathsheba (Throwback)
David/Dawud is represented in the Islamic tradition as a righteous ruler who combines worship and kingship, piety and authority. One story that emerges in the…
- The Islamic Mary
Top 5 of 2025: Reflecting on the Last Year of Podcasting (Throwback)
I go through the Top 5 episodes of 2025. The top 5 were a mix of interviews, reflections and commentary and touched on various subjects from Christian-Muslim…
- The Islamic Mary
Adam's Connection to Maryam (Throwback)
As I revise my second edition of my book "The Bible and the Qur'an: Biblical Figures in the Islamic Tradition", I continue to read new articles and research…
- The Islamic Mary
Is Maryam More Jewish or Christian?
At a recent book talk, somebody asked me: Is Maryam more Christian or Jewish? I discuss how this question is connected to a larger debate about whether Islam…
- The Islamic Mary
Bilqis - The Queen of Sheeba (Throwback)
One of the questions that Maryam raises is the level of agency and power of women in religion, especially within scriptures such as the Qur'an and Bible. In…
- The Islamic Mary
Maryam the Devout and Gender Equity
One of the questions regarding the Qur'an is whether it is a scripture that supports gender hierarchy or equality. I examine a new article that touches on the…
- The Islamic Mary
Islam in Southeast Asia - An Interview with Khairudin Aljunied (Throwback)
When I first started my graduate education, I was attracted to the framework of Abrahamic Religions or the idea that Jews, Christians and Muslims should return…
- The Islamic Mary
Islamic Mary Book Talk at Shenandoah University
We had a great book talk at Shenandoah University's library on my book "The Islamic Mary: Maryam Through the Centuries"! I enjoyed speaking about the origins…
- The Islamic Mary
Aaron - The Helper and Sibling Prophet
Various Biblical and Qur'anic prophets play different roles, ranging from parents to children. Aaron/Harun plays the role of a sibling, helping his brother…
- The Islamic Mary
The Chapter of Constellations and the Christians of Najran
In the Chapter of Constellations (Surat al-Buruj), there is a debate on who it refers to: the Christians of Najran, the Disbelievers in the Hellfire or the…
- The Islamic Mary
Why I am Starting This Podcast? (Throwback)
In this podcast, we go back into time and share the first podcast of the show. I discuss why I am starting the Islamic Mary podcast, my personal connection to…
- The Islamic Mary
Luqman - The Wise Father
When we think of fathers, the stereotypical image of somebody who is stern, domineering and even coercive may come up. In the stereotypical image of Islam…
- The Islamic Mary
The Eid of Jesus - Inclusivity, Signs and Sustenance
Muslims around the world are celebrating "Eid", in particular "the Eid of the Breaking of the Fast". I examine how the word "Eid" is used in the Qur'an…
- The Islamic Mary
The Faith of Muslim Political Prisoners - An Interview with Walaa Quisay
In many Biblical and Qur'anic stories, the protagonist isolates themselves and, at times, even go to prison. In this interview, I chat with Walaa' Qusaiy about…
- The Islamic Mary
Commentary on Nostra Aetate: Shared Spirituality, Figures and Social Justice (Throwback)
Here I present a short commentary on Nostra Aetate, a Catholic document on the church's relationship with other religions. Specifically, I focus on the…
- The Islamic Mary
Jacob - The Emotional and Spiritual Father
I have been thinking about fathers recently: what do they do? What is their function? How are they effectively? Today, I dive into the Biblical and Qur'anic…
- The Islamic Mary
Understanding Salafism - An Interview with Yasir Qadhi (Throwback)
One of the reasons I became interested in Biblical and Qur'anic figures is because I did my dissertation and initial research on the medieval Ibn Kathir (d…
- The Islamic Mary
Inner Dimensions of Fasting
In this episode, I join Roshan Iqbal, Celene Ibrahim, and Oludamini Ogunnaike to explore distinct fasting practices and their inner and outer dimensions in…
- The Islamic Mary
Maryam's Fast - Silence, Spirituality and Miracles (Throwback)
As the month of Ramadan approaches, I wanted to explore the word "fasting" (sawm) in the story of Maryam. While most Muslims understand the word "fasting" as…
- The Islamic Mary
Zulaykha - Seducing Joseph and the Repentance
Zulaykha is often seen in the Islamic tradition as a temptress and someone who tries to seduce the prophet Joseph/Yusuf. However, minority readings focus on…
- The Islamic Mary
Reinventing Islam - An Interview with Deanna Womack
I have always wondered about the roots of modern day Islamophobia? When did it start? How did it develop? How was it formed? In this interview, Deanna Womack…
- The Islamic Mary
Top 5 of 2025: Reflecting on the Last Year of Podcasting
I go through the Top 5 episodes of 2025. The top 5 were a mix of interviews, reflections and commentary and touched on various subjects from Christian-Muslim…
- The Islamic Mary
David and Bathsheba
David/Dawud is represented in the Islamic tradition as a righteous ruler who combines worship and kingship, piety and authority. One story that emerges in the…
- The Islamic Mary
Solomon and the Ant
One of the most fascinating stories in the Qur'an is the Story of Solomon/Sulyaman and the ant. An ant see Solomon/Sulyman's army approaching and warns her…
- The Islamic Mary
Islamic Mary Book Talk at George Mason University
I got the opportunity to do a book talk at the AbuSulayman Center at George Mason University. The Center focuses on Global Islamic Studies and is a leader in…
- The Islamic Mary
Author Series with Younus Mirza hosted by Matthew Taylor
I had the opportunity to do a program with the Institute for Islamic, Christian Jewish Studies, especially with my good friend Mathew Taylor. We discuss issues…
- The Islamic Mary
What Can Maryam Do?
One of the questions that I have gotten on the book tour is "What Can Maryam Do?" I discuss how Maryam can bring unique audiences together, from Middle Eastern…
- The Islamic Mary
Islam in Southeast Asia - An Interview with Khairudin Aljunied
When I first started my graduate education, I was attracted to the framework of Abrahamic Religions or the idea that Jews, Christians and Muslims should return…
- The Islamic Mary
The Call - Verse 3 and 4 of the Chapter of Mary (Surat Maryam) (Throwback)
My father passed away this week so I reshare an older episode of Zechariah/Zakariyya who resembled my father in his age, spirituality and caretaking. Verse 3…
- The Islamic Mary
Adam's Connection to Maryam
As I revise my second edition of my book "The Bible and the Qur'an: Biblical Figures in the Islamic Tradition", I continue to read new articles and research…
- The Islamic Mary
Bilqis - The Queen of Sheeba
One of the questions that Maryam raises is the level of agency and power of women in religion, especially within scriptures such as the Qur'an and Bible. In…
- The Islamic Mary
Why is Maryam Silent? Analyzing Maryam's Speech in the Qur'an
One of the questions I received in presenting on The Islamic Mary is why is Maryam silent? This question is connected to a larger question about women and…
- The Islamic Mary
How is the Islamic Mary Different? Reviewing the Books on Maryam from the Last Ten Years
As I speak about the book The Islamic Mary: Maryam Through the Centuries, I keep getting the question: how is your book different? In this show, I review the…
- The Islamic Mary
The Lament - Verse 23 in the Chapter of Mary (Surat Maryam) (Throwback)
In the climax of the story, Maryam makes a remarkable statement: "I wish I had died before this and been a thing forgotten". Qur'anic commentators understood…
- The Islamic Mary
Commentary on Nostra Aetate: Shared Spirituality, Figures and Social Justice
Here I present a short commentary on Nostra Aetate, a Catholic document on the church's relationship with other religions. Specifically, I focus on the…
- The Islamic Mary
One God and Two Religions - An Interview with Amir Hussain (Throwback)
When I was writing The Islamic Mary, I became further interested in the field of Christian and Muslim dialogue and its relevancy today and in the future. This…
- The Islamic Mary
The Opening - Verse 1 of the Chapter of Mary (Surat Maryam) (Throwback)
Today, we revisit the first episode of my commentary of the chapter of Mary (Surat Maryam). I have now done commentaries of over 30 of the first verses of the…
- The Islamic Mary
Nostra Aetate and Islam
I had the opportunity to speak at Georgetown University on the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, a Catholic document on the church's relationship with other…
- The Islamic Mary
A Devotional Qur'an - An Interview with Shawkat Toorawa (Throwback)
When I started writing my book The Islamic Mary: Maryam Through the Centuries, I was drawn to the Qur'anic chapter of Mary or Surat Maryam. As I started to…
- The Islamic Mary
Understanding Salafism - An Interview with Yasir Qadhi
One of the reasons I became interested in Biblical and Qur'anic figures is because I did my dissertation and initial research on the medieval Ibn Kathir (d…
- The Islamic Mary
Christians, Muslims and Mary - An Interview with Rita George-Tvrtkovic (Throwback)
When I started my career, I was interested in the figure of Abraham/Ibrahim and how he could be a bridge figure between Christians, Jews and Muslims. However…