Rising in the West

About Rising in the West

"Rising in the West" features intimate conversations exploring identity, faith, and culture in Western society. Hosts Haroon and Omar share authentic stories that challenge perspectives and foster dialogue across communities, reflecting our journey through tradition and transformation.

Publisher

Haroon and Omar

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Jul 2025

Latest episode

11 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

14 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   11 Jul 2026

   BRIDGING THE IVORY TOWER & THE STREETS 🕌

   BRIDGING THE IVORY TOWER & THE STREETS 🕌 | Muslim Chaplain at Columbia University, Ebad What does it actually look like to lead a spiritual community inside the Ivy League? In this powerful episode of Rising in the West, we sit down with Ebad Rahman, Muslim Chaplain at Columbia University to talk about faith, service, and showing up for students in the heart of NYC. From organizing massive Eid prayers to advocating for students behind the scenes, we get real about the highs, the lows, and the spiritual weight of this work.I n this episode, we dive into: ✨ The journey from memorizing the Quran at 15 to earning a PhD ✨ What it really feels like to fight imposter syndrome ✨ Why every student needs to know the history right outside their door (including Malcolm X’s final speech at Barnard in 1965) ✨ The danger of staying inside the "Ivory Tower" and why we must stay connected to the streets ✨ Spiritual survival tips for the "always-on" student life Ebad's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/i_baad Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 02:15 - Memorizing the Quran to an Ivy League PhD 08:40 - Behind the Scenes: Muslim Life at Columbia 14:10 - Battling Imposter Syndrome & Finding Mentors 21:05 - Local History: Malcolm X’s Final Speech at Barnard (1965) 27:35 - The Ivory Tower vs. The Streets: Using Knowledge Against Oppression3 5:50 - Spiritual Self-Care: Finding Peace Through Dhikr "You are more than your grades, you are more than your degrees... You are a human being. You are a soul." 🔗 Connect With Us: Subscribe to the Channel Follow "Rising in the West" on Instagram: @risinginthewest Listen on Spotify / Apple Podcasts: Rising in the West Support our work: https://www.patreon.com/cw/RisingintheWest If this conversation brought you value, please leave a Like, Comment with your biggest takeaway, and Share it with someone who needs to hear this reminder today.

2. 

   19 Apr 2026

   A vision for Muslims

   The group comes together to debate Omar's article, The Muhammadan Presence: an American Vision. It is a vision for Muslims in the United States and what to do. It starts off slow, but then suddenly spikes in a passionate talk about how to go about integrating with the world. What are Islamic values? How do we cultivate them? What is the plan to see it through? Let us know what you think!Article: https://www.omarb.com/p/the-muhammadan-presence-an-american (https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/2Ty8pa0oGvwtvK0pq63bqh/episode/5rdQ7i4bKqVBcuMggBcDbH/The%20group%20comes%20together%20to%20debate%20Omar)

3. 

   30 Mar 2026

   Iran. Now what?

   Haroon and Omar go at it on Iran. What's happening? Why? Religious? What? Iran strikes coincided with Purim. Intentional? Who knows? The point is innocent people die regardless of what "old flesh bags" decide. This is a passionate one for Omar, who wants to do right and struggles in the rubble to do so. Check this stop in his journey for a Free Palestine. The interview with Dr. Ali Ataie: https://youtu.be/rsUeh0bKAes (https://youtu.be/rsUeh0bKAes)

4. 

   15 Mar 2026

   Ramadan Pod

   The "Plateau" Experience Haroon and Nadir get vulnerable about their personal struggles this Ramadan. Haroon discusses the "flatline" he experienced after a strong start and the difficulty of maintaining a "spiritual mode" while managing the daily grind of work and a lack of weekday community. How was your Ramadan?

5. 

   8 Feb 2026

   The Death of the Essay

   Sam Altman wants to create a ‘Digital God,’ but we’re just trying to get students to think for themselves. Is generative AI the end of critical thinking? This week on Rising in the West, Haroon reports from the “English trenches,” where the “Death of the Essay” looms as students trade deep analysis for polished AI outputs. Omar explains the technical reality—why AI doesn’t “think,” but instead makes connections of human knowledge with an authoritative and lots of times “hallucinatory,” tone. Nadir raises a vital concern for the Ummah: the danger of youth seeking fatwas and spiritual guidance from biased algorithms. We explore a provocative “power play”—applying the rigorous standards of Hadith science to verify the reliability of AI information. From strategic chip wars in Taiwan to “Dead Internet Theory,” we discuss how these machines are re-wiring our world. In an era where liars are viewed as truth-tellers, how do we protect our spiritual foundations? Readings and more... Yaqeen Institute on AI (https://yaqeeninstitute.org/read/post/how-yaqeen-institute-approaches-ai-integrating-technology-with-islamic-ethics) Muslims and AI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7opfbjHoB1E) CFR - Ai and 2026 (https://www.cfr.org/articles/how-2026-could-decide-future-artificial-intelligence) CNBC - MIT Job Study (https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/26/mit-study-finds-ai-can-already-replace-11point7percent-of-us-workforce.html) TIME - Jobs and AI (https://time.com/7357476/economics-of-ai-and-jobs/) The Guardian - Novelists’ Concern with AI (https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/nov/20/more-than-half-of-uk-novelists-believe-ai-will-replace-their-work) NPR - AI in Schools (https://www.npr.org/2026/01/14/nx-s1-5674741/ai-schools-education) Business Insider - Professors Assigns ChatGPT (https://www.businessinsider.com/wharton-mba-professor-requires-students-to-use-chatgpt-ai-cheating-2023-1) Decoder - AI and the Education Crisis (https://www.theverge.com/podcast/815434/ai-education-schools-research-cheating-chatgpt-jobs-grades)

6. 

   30 Jan 2026

   Cruelty is the Point

   “If you can get someone to believe in absurdities, they will commit atrocities.” Is the chaos we are witnessing a bug in the system, or is it a feature? This week on Rising in the West, Haroon and Omar are joined by Nadir, unpacking a heavy news cycle, starting with the escalation of immigration enforcement. Haroon argues that the “lethality and harshness” aren’t accidental byproducts—they are the mandate. Nadir calls out the “hired goon” mentality of officers hiding behind masks and sunglasses , while Omar poses the ultimate philosophical dilemma: Do the ends ever justify the means when the entire “forest is on fire”? We then zoom out to the global stage to analyze Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum and what it signals about the rupture of the US-led global order. Are we watching America isolate itself in real-time through tariffs and protectionism while the rest of the world moves on? Finally, we explore “intrusive thoughts”—is history repeating itself, or is it scripted? And in a world of Machiavellian power plays and elite maneuvering , we remember that while they plan, Allah is the best of planners. Notes: * Fareed Zakaria's article. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/01/15/us-global-order-shift-allies/) * Omar's Bluesky conversation (https://bsky.app/profile/jkxz.bsky.social/post/3mddzsous622v)

7. 

   24 Jan 2026

   Habermas and Haagen-Dazs

   How do we push back against a world of "pure excess"? In this episode, Haroon and Omar are rejoined by Nadir and Abu Hamza and dive into the "Knowledge of the Self" to find freedom in an age of AI and surveillance. We explore the necessity of a "Third Space"—a social environment that isn't quite home and isn't quite the mosque—and why most third space projects "fizzle out".

8. 

   17 Jan 2026

   David, Goliath, and Big Brother

   Join hosts Haroon and Omar with special guest Nadir as they connect the dots between modern geopolitics, the surveillance state, and the timeless power of faith. Is history repeating itself? We dive into the crisis in Venezuela and the cyclic nature of foreign intervention before shifting to the digital world. Does the convenience of Big Tech outweigh the harms of mass surveillance and addiction loops? Finally, we explore the "David and Goliath" mindset: how a small, principled group can overcome overwhelming odds, and why it's vital for Muslims to lead in media and technology rather than just going with the flow. Show notes: The Center for Humane Technology (https://www.humanetech.com/) has lots of resources for families trying to navigate the technospehere. They had a hand in The Social Dilemma on Netflix. Here is the book Haroon kept mentioning: https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/XGYkAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 (https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/XGYkAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 )

9. 

   10 Jan 2026

   Creeping Shariah in Your Hotel

   In this episode, Haroon and Omar analyze the legal and moral contradictions of Western democracy through the theoretical candidacy of Zohran Mamdani. They examine the "Natural Born Citizen" requirement of Article II, questioning how "blood and soil" barriers in the U.S. Constitution exclude naturalized citizens from the highest office . The hosts discuss the potential for such a candidacy to serve as a "rhetorical masterpiece" that challenges the American political imagination, even while facing legal barriers. The conversation also addresses shifting geopolitical power, the extraction of Nicolás Maduro. The imperial mask is off, and the influence of figures like Peter Thiel and JD Vance on the future of the West.

10. 

    31 Dec 2025

    Socrates on the Corner: Dialectics, Diogenes, and Divine Law

    In this caffeinated deep dive, hosts Haroon and Omar are joined by guests Abu Hamza and Nadir to ask: Is the Ummah settling for "good enough"? They explore the disconnect between traditional scholarship and a Western community distracted by Fortnite and the Metaverse, debating whether we’ve lost the "genius-level" ambition of our predecessors. From the "heresy" of Keurig coffee to the philosophy of Diogenes, the brothers discuss authentic integration and why we must be "rattled" out of our comfort zones to fulfill our Prophetic duties. -- The two sources mentioned in this episode is the talks by Imam Zaid Shakir (https://www.newislamicdirections.com/) and Dr. Caner Dagli (https://canerdagli.com/) on YouTube (https://youtu.be/_BgsSRzlfLE) and Dr. Sherman Jackson's article on Lamppost Productions (https://lamppostedu.org/politically-speaking/). To hear more, visit www.omarb.com (https://www.omarb.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=show-notes-spotify-open-access)

11. 

    16 Dec 2025

    The Dunya is Dystopic

    Is the world actually ending, or does it just feel that way? Haroon and Omar compare the chaos of middle school classrooms to the chaos of American politics. They discuss why billionaires are building bunkers in New Zealand, why common sense isn’t so common anymore, and why—despite the “dystopic” nature of the dunya—we can’t just run for the hills. Plus, a look back at their time at Zaytuna and why community is the only asset that doesn’t depreciate. To hear more, visit www.omarb.com (https://www.omarb.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=show-notes-spotify-open-access)

12. 

    10 Aug 2025

    Marriage

    Greetings, I recently penned an article about marriage. It was an outpouring of love to my wife. A few days before this recording, I disposed of a kidney stone. God that was a long ten days. Somewhere in there, I decided to talk about love. Here it is. To hear more, visit www.omarb.com (https://www.omarb.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=show-notes-spotify-open-access)

13. 

    23 Jul 2025

    Lines

    I recently had no idea what to write looking at the blank Notion box. So, I wrote about that struggle: https://open.substack.com/pub/omarbayramoglu/p/a-blank-page?r=5m0h7o&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false (https://open.substack.com/pub/omarbayramoglu/p/a-blank-page?r=5m0h7o&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false) In speaking about it, I had a revelation when speaking about my wife and her Islamic geometric art class. Bam! A solution. Thanks, wife! Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. To hear more, visit www.omarb.com (https://www.omarb.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=show-notes-spotify-open-access)

14. 

    19 Jul 2025

    Trailer

    Trailer episode. I forgot to mention the fourth reason. I met a professor down here in Southern Florida. we were talking about public speaking and how I don't really record myself. he smiled and told me. "Oh, so you can only speak in front of people." I thought to myself, wow I'm arrogant. So here I am trying to break this and hopefully attain some humility. Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. To hear more, visit www.omarb.com (https://www.omarb.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=show-notes-spotify-open-access)