Finally, a series that gets honest about the struggles of Muslim women.
From college to marriage, hijab to feminism, Real Talk reflects on women’s real experiences while reframing them through the lenses of faith and personal empowerment.
Join Yaqeen scholar Dr. Tesneem Alkiek and a special co-host every season!
Quran 4:34: Did the Islamic Tradition Allow Domestic Violence? | Real Talk | Dr. Tesneem Alkiek and Cadar Mohamud
"Does Islam permit a man to hit his wife?" Islam condemns domestic violence, and a woman is never required to stay silent in the face of abuse. So how do we make sense of Quran 4:34, the verse Muslim women often wrestle with? Yaqeen scholar Dr. Tesneem Alkiek and host Cadar Mohamud start with a key principle in the Islamic legal tradition: marriage never erased a woman’s independent legal identity. She owns property, enters contracts, and can take her husband to court when she is harmed. Dr...
24 Sept 2026
Ep. 2 Sexual Rights in Islam (Men AND Women) | Real Talk S2 | Dr. Tesneem Alkiek and Cadar Mohamud
"The angels curse her until morning." Yaqeen scholar Dr. Tesneem Alkiek and host Cadar Mohamud discuss a hadith that has been used to make Muslim women feel that intimacy is a debt they owe rather than something mutually built. Dr. Alkiek reads the narration alongside the tradition's own record of a wife's sexual rights, including the case of Abu al-Darda (ra) and the men called home from campaign for their wives' sake, and explains the classical legal principle of ta'assuf fi istiʿmal al-ha...
5 Feb 2026
Build Your Relationship With the Qur’an Before Ramadan | Real Talk ft. Dr. Tesneem Alkiek
“It’s a fact: the Qur’an will make you a better person, spiritually and mentally. Understanding the words of Allah will bring you closer to Him and inspire good within you. Memorizing ayat will improve your memory and make you a sharp student. Reading every day will build good habits into your routine. In this episode, Dr. Tesneem highlights how—and why—to build the Qur’an into your life, no matter how busy you are.
29 Jan 2026
When You Feel Conflicted About a Hadith | Real Talk ft. Dr. Tesneem Alkiek
The Prophet ﷺ communicated with compassion, and that alone should be enough to know that his words were never meant to belittle or degrade others. So how do we react to statements attributed to the Prophet ﷺ that appear to do just that—especially when they seem to target women? In this episode of Real Talk, Dr. Tesneem Alkiek unpacks that tension, offering case studies from the Qur’an and Sunnah that have been misunderstood or misused, and shares how we can all feel more confident and e...
15 Jan 2026
Are We Becoming Too Self-Centered? | Real Talk ft. Tesneem Alkiek
"Live your truth.” “You do you.” Culture relentlessly pushes us to put ourselves and our happiness above all else. But if that’s the key to fulfillment, why are we more miserable than ever? In this episode, Dr. Tesneem Alkiek unpacks the rise of individualism and moral relativism, the impact of anger on mental health, and how forgiveness and re-centering God can help us move from bitter to better.
14 Jan 2026
Spiritual Burnout is Real | Real Talk ft. Dr. Tesneem Alkiek
Between school, family, friends, health, and a hundred other obligations, how could you not feel burnt out? Is there any realistic way to juggle everything and stop feeling like you have to constantly push for more? In this episode, Dr. Tesneem Alkiek and host Qaanitah Hunter reflect on how to build a healthier rhythm rooted in consistency and balance. Because Allah loves small and steady deeds.
8 Jan 2026
The Healthy Way to Think About Feminism | Real Talk ft. Tesneem Alkiek
The truth is that women face difficulties—sometimes even discrimination—in many areas of life. We cannot deny that, but at the same time, we cannot wallow in it. So how do we acknowledge these realities without letting them define or derail us? In this episode of Real Talk, Dr. Tesneem Alkiek answers this question, shares how she navigates gendered challenges, and reveals whether or not she identifies as a feminist.
25 Dec 2025
The Social Media Spiral | Real Talk ft. Dr. Tesneem Alkiek
Social media is built to be addictive. It harms our mental health and damages our self-worth. We all know this...but it's still so hard to disconnect. Join Dr. Tesneem Alkiek and host Qaanitah Hunter to explore the dangers (and some of the benefits) that social media adds to our lives and learn practical ways to build a healthier relationship with it
18 Dec 2025
The Problem With Hustle Culture | Real Talk ft. Dr. Tesneem Alkiek
Is hustle culture toxic? Like so much else, it’s a confusing mix of good and bad. Ambition, hard work, and high aspirations are noble, but they need to be kept in perspective. When our goals for the dunya start to outweigh our efforts for the akhirah, or when we push ourselves so hard we burn out, it’s time to stop and ask: Why? In this episode of Real Talk, reflect with Dr. Tesneem Alkiek on why culture pushes us to work so hard and whether that’s really the best way forward.
11 Dec 2025
What if it's Not a Gender War? | Real Talk ft. Dr. Tesneem Alkiek
Is Islam defined by men? It’s a question many Muslim women wrestle with—but maybe it’s the wrong question to begin with. Women have played an indispensable role in shaping the Islamic tradition. From hadith transmitters and legal scholars to the teachers of imams, Muslim women were never sidelined by the religion itself—even if some voices have drowned them out. In this episode, Dr. Tesneem Alkiek and host Qaanitah Hunter reframe the conversation, reminding us that while the path forward may ...
4 Dec 2025
Why is Marriage So Complicated? | SERIES PREMIERE | Real Talk ft. Dr. Tesneem Alkiek
Marriage is weighed down by so many expectations. His rights, your rights, cultural norms, social pressure, mahr debates, Islamic rulings… how do you even begin the conversation without getting overwhelmed? In this episode, Dr. Tesneem Alkiek and host Qaanitah Hunter unpack the topic of marriage through examples from the Seerah, showing how Islam gives us breathing room to approach marriage with calm and clarity.
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