OnGuard - For the Ummah, For the Truth

Islam21c
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OnGuard is a brand new podcast hosted by Ustadh Hamza Tzortzis focusing on Islam21c's transformative campaigns.

  1. 4d ago

    "DON'T believe in yourself" | The strange power of admitting you're powerless (ft. Sh Mustafa Almansur)

    What if the biggest obstacle to your future isn't your circumstances, your resources, or your abilities — but the fact that you're relying on yourself? In this deeply moving episode of OnGuard, Dr Hamza Andreas Tzortzis sits down with Sh Mustafa Almansur to explore the true meaning of īmān, tawakkul (trust in Allah), and the extraordinary possibilities that open up when we stop depending solely on ourselves. Sh Mustafa shares the emotional story of his estrangement from his son, and the seemingly irrational decision to travel thousands of miles to Saudi Arabia without knowing whether his son would even agree to see him. Together, they challenge some of our deepest assumptions about self-belief, anxiety, control, success, and what it actually means to trust Allāh. Is īmān simply something we possess, or something we actively do? Does tawakkul mean expecting Allah to give us what we want? And how can accepting that we don't control the outcome actually liberate us to take action? Drawing on the Qur'an, the life of the Prophet ﷺ, and powerful personal experiences, this conversation explores how a genuine relationship with Allah can transform what we believe is possible. **Sometimes, the moment you stop relying on yourself is the moment everything changes.** Watch, reflect, and share with someone who needs this reminder. Chapters: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:03:00 Why are Muslims struggling with fear and anxiety? 00:06:10 Where is Allah in your calculations? 00:12:00 Are you limiting what Allah can do for you? 00:15:00 Changing ourselves and the Muslim Ummah 00:18:00 Is this just positive thinking or the prosperity gospel? 00:23:00 Does tawakkul guarantee worldly success? 00:30:00 Īmān is not just something you believe 00:35:00 Do you actually depend on Allāh? 00:37:40 My son thought I abandoned him 00:42:00 Why we demand guarantees before trusting Allāh 00:45:00 Lessons from the Prophet ﷺ at the Battle of the Trench 00:49:00 Knowing Allah versus experiencing His names 00:53:00 How to practise tawakkul when you're anxious 01:00:00 Why knowledge alone isn't enough 01:04:00 Taking action without controlling the outcome 01:09:00 Why a believer should never say 'impossible' 01:10:00 Practical advice for Muslims and the Ummah 01:14:00 Hamza's challenge: Does everything depend on Allāh? 01:18:40 Remembering that Allah is always with you Support the show 🌟 Support Our Mission 🌟   To extend the reach of our impactful content, kindly consider making a contribution (www.islam21c.com/guardians). Your support helps us make a difference.   👇 Stay Connected & Never Miss an Update 👇   1️⃣ Subscribe: Hit the 'Subscribe' button and don't forget to ring the 🔔 bell, ensuring you'll be the first to know when we upload fresh content.   2️⃣ Social Media: Stay up-to-date and join the conversation on our social media platforms:   📸 Instagram www.instagram.com/islam21c 👍 Facebook www.facebook.com/islam21c 🐦 Twitter www.twitter.com/islam21c 🗨️ Telegram t.me/islam21c   Thank you for your continued support and engagement.

  2. Oct 21

    Jesus' Muslim Followers Could Rewrite Christian History (ft. Paul Williams)

    What if the greatest challenge to modern Christianity comes not from Islam — but from Christianity's own forgotten history? Who really followed the teachings of Jesus (ʿĪsā عليه السلام)? His 'brother' James and the original disciples who knew him personally, or Paul, whose teachings came to dominate Christianity despite never meeting Jesus? In this fascinating episode of OnGuard, Dr Hamza Andreas Tzortzis sits down with Paul Williams of @BloggingTheology to uncover a largely forgotten chapter of Christian history — one with potentially revolutionary implications for how we understand the religion of Jesus. They explore the beliefs of the earliest followers of Jesus, the extraordinary significance of James, the rise of Pauline Christianity, and why the original Jesus movement may have had far more in common with Islam today than most people realise. But this conversation goes beyond Christian origins. Paul also challenges conventional Muslim approaches to daʿwah, reflects on his journey with Blogging Theology, and shares insights from his engagement with leading Christian academics. As Paul puts it, the implications could amount to a “Copernican revolution” in how we understand Christianity. Was the original religion of Jesus forgotten? And what happened to those who followed it? Watch the full conversation and decide for yourself. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:31 Are Muslims debating the wrong Christians? 02:27 Is Christianity really declining? 09:04 Should Muslims prioritise Christian daʿwah? 13:17 A better way to invite Christians to Islam 19:01 Dialogue, debates and finding common ground 24:08 What's wrong with Christianity today? 29:25 James: The forgotten brother of Jesus 33:09 What religion did Jesus' first followers practise? 38:49 James vs Paul: Two different religions? 41:56 Who truly represented Jesus? 47:46 The religion of Jesus vs the religion about Jesus 51:02 Were Jesus' earliest followers Muslim? 52:01 How Christians explain the differences 55:00 The forgotten diversity of early Christianity 01:08:01 Why the original disciples matter more than Paul 01:15:22 Books that could change this debate 01:19:27 How Blogging Theology began 01:24:00 Christian scholars and the prophethood of Muhammad ﷺ 01:25:33 Sincerity and the dangers of online daʿwah 01:31:10 Final advice: Be more prophetic, less pathetic Subscribe to Islam21c for more thought-provoking conversations on Islam, history, theology and the challenges facing Muslims today. Share this episode with someone interested in the historical Jesus, early Christianity or Muslim-Christian dialogue. #OnGuard #BloggingTheology #Christianity Support the show 🌟 Support Our Mission 🌟   To extend the reach of our impactful content, kindly consider making a contribution (www.islam21c.com/guardians). Your support helps us make a difference.   👇 Stay Connected & Never Miss an Update 👇   1️⃣ Subscribe: Hit the 'Subscribe' button and don't forget to ring the 🔔 bell, ensuring you'll be the first to know when we upload fresh content.   2️⃣ Social Media: Stay up-to-date and join the conversation on our social media platforms:   📸 Instagram www.instagram.com/islam21c 👍 Facebook www.facebook.com/islam21c 🐦 Twitter www.twitter.com/islam21c 🗨️ Telegram t.me/islam21c   Thank you for your continued support and engagement.

  3. Oct 15

    How DAWAH could become a SIN (ft. Sh Shaqur Rehman)

    What if your daʿwah is successful in the eyes of people — but rejected by Allāh? In this powerful episode of OnGuard, Shaykh Shaqur Rehman joins us for a deep and unusually candid discussion about ikhlāṣ: sincerity for the sake of Allāh. But this isn't simply a reminder to “check your intentions”. What happens when the algorithm rewards you for being seen? When daʿwah becomes a personal brand? When views, followers, praise and influence begin affecting how you speak, what you post — and even why you post it? Could an outwardly good Islamic video earn no reward at all? Could the very likes and shares we celebrate become evidence against us? Shaykh Shaqur explores riyāʾ (showing off), sumʿah (seeking to be heard), the danger of celebrity daʿwah and “one-man shows”, why accountability matters, and how an intention can change even while performing a good deed. Most importantly, the discussion turns practical: how do we actually protect our hearts while doing public work for Islam? Through lessons from the Qurʾān and Sunnah, personal experiences, and remarkable examples from the Salaf, this is an urgent conversation for every Muslim who teaches, posts, speaks, campaigns, creates content — or simply wants their good deeds to be accepted by Allāh. Chapters 00:00 Can your daʿwah become a sin? 01:12 Ikhlāṣ in the age of algorithms 05:10 How Shayṭān targets our intentions 12:49 What does ikhlāṣ actually mean? 18:52 The crunch moment: sincerity when it hurts 25:18 Riyāʾ, public deeds and “faking it” 34:25 “Build the ʿabd first” 37:43 The problem with one-man daʿwah 43:32 Lesser shirk and speaking for an audience 51:58 When a good deed becomes sinful 58:22 Riyāʾ and sumʿah in the social-media age 01:05:18 Why does it have to be a “big deed”? 01:09:41 Protecting your intention as an online daee 01:21:11 Why your private worship matters 01:30:19 Extraordinary examples of ikhlāṣ from the Salaf 01:38:37 A final warning for the digital age 🌟 Support Our Mission 🌟   To extend the reach of our impactful content, kindly consider making a contribution (https://islam21c.com/guardians). Your support helps us make a difference. Support the show 🌟 Support Our Mission 🌟   To extend the reach of our impactful content, kindly consider making a contribution (www.islam21c.com/guardians). Your support helps us make a difference.   👇 Stay Connected & Never Miss an Update 👇   1️⃣ Subscribe: Hit the 'Subscribe' button and don't forget to ring the 🔔 bell, ensuring you'll be the first to know when we upload fresh content.   2️⃣ Social Media: Stay up-to-date and join the conversation on our social media platforms:   📸 Instagram www.instagram.com/islam21c 👍 Facebook www.facebook.com/islam21c 🐦 Twitter www.twitter.com/islam21c 🗨️ Telegram t.me/islam21c   Thank you for your continued support and engagement.

  4. Aug 26

    MEN DON'T TALK - A Muslim Therapist on What’s Really Happening to Men

    Muslim men are struggling with anxiety, depression, loneliness, addiction and pressures that often remain completely hidden from the people around them. But why do so many men suffer in silence — and what should Muslims actually do about it? In this episode of OnGuard, Dr Hamza Andreas Tzortzis sits down with Ahmed Tomal of Tawfiq Therapy for a frank discussion about the mental health challenges facing Muslim men today. They explore anxiety, depression, loneliness, addiction, relationships, suicidal thoughts, emotional suppression and the difficulty many men have in asking for help. Ahmed also breaks down what therapy can genuinely offer — while warning against uncritically importing assumptions and ideologies from modern therapeutic culture into an Islamic framework. Can a man be strong and still admit he is struggling? How should husbands communicate when stress begins damaging their marriages? What does useful therapy actually look like? And how can Islam, family, community and professional support work together before somebody reaches breaking point? A candid and practical conversation about what Muslim men may be going through behind closed doors — and why simply saying “I’m fine” may not be enough. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:30 Meet Ahmed Tomal 03:39 Can mental-health language be weaponised? 06:34 Why focus on Muslim men? 07:12 What Muslim men are struggling with 09:33 Depression and suicidal ideation 10:44 How anxiety is treated 15:55 Exposure-response prevention and Prophet Musa 22:06 Hamza’s experience with boxing anxiety 27:32 Childhood experiences and coping mechanisms 34:39 Suppressed emotions, anger and relationships 47:53 Understanding depression 59:19 Responding directly to suicidal thoughts 1:00:08 What happens during therapy? 1:08:00 Therapy, ideology and Islamic values 1:12:42 Suicide rates in Muslim communities 1:16:59 Is “toxic masculinity” the right term? 1:24:46 Islamic guidance on emotions and grief 1:30:52 Why Muslim men avoid seeking help 1:37:48 Final advice: hold on and seek support Support the show 🌟 Support Our Mission 🌟   To extend the reach of our impactful content, kindly consider making a contribution (www.islam21c.com/guardians). Your support helps us make a difference.   👇 Stay Connected & Never Miss an Update 👇   1️⃣ Subscribe: Hit the 'Subscribe' button and don't forget to ring the 🔔 bell, ensuring you'll be the first to know when we upload fresh content.   2️⃣ Social Media: Stay up-to-date and join the conversation on our social media platforms:   📸 Instagram www.instagram.com/islam21c 👍 Facebook www.facebook.com/islam21c 🐦 Twitter www.twitter.com/islam21c 🗨️ Telegram t.me/islam21c   Thank you for your continued support and engagement.

  5. Aug 15

    What Muslim Mental Health Gurus Aren’t Telling You (ft. Imam Abdullah Hasan)

    Is modern therapy really neutral? Imam Abdullah Hasan argues that beneath many popular approaches to psychology, counselling and psychotherapy lie assumptions about what a human being is, what suffering means, what constitutes illness, and what healing should look like. And when Muslims adopt those frameworks wholesale — then simply add Qur’anic verses, hadith or Islamic terminology — are we actually producing “Islamic psychology”? Or are we importing an entirely different worldview into Islam? In this fascinating OnGuard conversation, Dr Hamza Andreas Tzortzis sits down with Imam Abdullah Hasan, who combines traditional Islamic scholarship with formal study in psychology, counselling and psychotherapy. They explore the philosophical foundations of Freud, Carl Rogers and modern therapy; why Imam Abdullah believes Muslims must build from an Islamic understanding of the qalb, nafs, rūḥ and fiṭrah; the development and criticism of psychiatric diagnosis; the “chemical imbalance” narrative around depression; pharmaceutical influence; grief and human suffering; trauma culture and self-diagnosis; the effect therapeutic language can have on families; and what an authentically Islamic approach to human flourishing might look like. Imam Abdullah also shares the deeply personal experience of losing his mother, and explains why Islam does not promise us a life without pain — but gives suffering meaning, purpose and a path through it. This is not an argument to ignore genuine suffering or deny people support. It is a challenge to Muslims to examine the assumptions underneath the solutions we are being offered — and to rediscover the extraordinarily rich understanding of the human being already contained within our own tradition. Chapters 00:00 Coming up 02:44 Meet Imam Abdullah Hasan 04:47 Is modern psychology harming Muslims? 14:00 Building psychology from an Islamic worldview 28:52 What’s wrong with “Islamic CBT”? 31:46 Who decides what counts as mental illness? 43:11 The chemical imbalance theory and antidepressants 50:46 Can secular psychology really be “Islamised”? 65:00 Grief, depression and the meaning of suffering 75:51 Trauma, suicide and turning back to Allāh 84:10 Has therapy culture made us more fragile? 86:16 Should Muslims study psychology? 90:48 What is actually causing the mental health crisis? 95:05 Where to learn more from Imam Abdullah Hasan 99:54 A final warning to the Muslim community Support the show 🌟 Support Our Mission 🌟   To extend the reach of our impactful content, kindly consider making a contribution (www.islam21c.com/guardians). Your support helps us make a difference.   👇 Stay Connected & Never Miss an Update 👇   1️⃣ Subscribe: Hit the 'Subscribe' button and don't forget to ring the 🔔 bell, ensuring you'll be the first to know when we upload fresh content.   2️⃣ Social Media: Stay up-to-date and join the conversation on our social media platforms:   📸 Instagram www.instagram.com/islam21c 👍 Facebook www.facebook.com/islam21c 🐦 Twitter www.twitter.com/islam21c 🗨️ Telegram t.me/islam21c   Thank you for your continued support and engagement.

  6. Jul 26

    Is the West civilised? This is why "right' and "wrong" keep changing (ft. Sh Dr Haitham al-Haddad)

    What makes a society truly civilised? Is civilisation measured by wealth, military strength and global influence—or by the moral principles that restrain power and protect human dignity? In this extended OnGuard conversation, Dr Hamza Andreas Tzortzis sits down with Shaykh Dr Haitham al-Haddad to explore akhlāq: the Islamic understanding of character, morality and the way human beings relate to Allah, themselves, one another and the world around them. They examine who has the authority to define right and wrong, why secular moral frameworks can produce radically different conclusions over time, and whether human reason and desire can ever provide a stable foundation for ethics. The discussion then moves from the individual to the civilisational. Can a society flourish without morality? What happens when pleasure, greed, ribā, family breakdown and the pursuit of power become embedded within a nation? And why do powerful countries so often begin to resemble the very forces they once claimed to oppose? Shaykh Haitham also explains why Muslims should aspire to civilisational strength—not for domination or oppression, but to protect justice, resist tyranny and prevent the weak from being exploited by those with greater power. Drawing upon the Qur’an, the Prophetic mission and examples from Islamic history, this conversation presents akhlāq not merely as good manners or private spirituality, but as the moral foundation upon which individuals, families, communities and entire civilisations must be built. A wide-ranging discussion on morality, power, justice, trust, ʿaqīdah, tawakkul, barakah—and what it really means to be civilised. Support the show 🌟 Support Our Mission 🌟   To extend the reach of our impactful content, kindly consider making a contribution (www.islam21c.com/guardians). Your support helps us make a difference.   👇 Stay Connected & Never Miss an Update 👇   1️⃣ Subscribe: Hit the 'Subscribe' button and don't forget to ring the 🔔 bell, ensuring you'll be the first to know when we upload fresh content.   2️⃣ Social Media: Stay up-to-date and join the conversation on our social media platforms:   📸 Instagram www.instagram.com/islam21c 👍 Facebook www.facebook.com/islam21c 🐦 Twitter www.twitter.com/islam21c 🗨️ Telegram t.me/islam21c   Thank you for your continued support and engagement.

  7. Jun 23

    Hamza Tzortzis asked a real scholar for candid advice. This was the answer. (ft. Sh Dr Mostafa al-Shaybani)

    In this special episode of OnGuard, Hamza Andreas Tzortzis sits with the world-renowned Mauritanian scholar Shaykh Dr Mostafa al-Shaybani for a deeply personal conversation on da‘wah, sincerity, fame, the Qur’an, family, and the crisis of Muslim online influence. Hamza asks the Shaykh to advise him directly — as someone involved in leadership, public da‘wah, online work, and mentoring others — on how Muslim speakers, activists, influencers and students should protect themselves from ego, ostentation, fame, algorithm-chasing and losing sight of the real purpose of calling people to Allāh. The Shaykh’s answer is a powerful reminder: before public da‘wah must come private worship; before chasing followers must come sincerity; and before trying to “win” arguments must come a heart shaped by the Qur’an. This is essential viewing for anyone involved in da‘wah, Islamic content, community work, teaching, activism, or public Muslim discourse. Chapters: 00:00 Hamza asks for sincere mentorship 02:44 Private worship and the weight of da‘wah 06:37 Why are you calling people to Allāh? 08:10 The Qur’an is guidance, not just barakah 12:10 Surah al-Baqarah and reshaping the Muslim mind 17:18 Tadabbur: the Qur’an as transformation 21:22 Reading sīrah as Qur’anic guidance 22:40 Your da‘wah starts at home 24:47 Fame: the enemy of the da‘i 29:40 Basīrah, hikmah and long-term da‘wah 36:10 Qur’an, marriage and the da‘i’s inner life 42:29 Let the Qur’an choose your da‘wah priorities 44:11 Followers, hearts and success from Allāh 46:38 Hamza’s journey back to the Qur’an Subscribe to Islam21c for more conversations on faith, family, da‘wah, politics, society and the challenges facing Muslims today. Share this episode with anyone involved in da‘wah, Islamic content, community leadership or Muslim public discourse. 🌟 Support Our Mission 🌟   To extend the reach of our impactful content, kindly consider making a contribution (https://islam21c.com/guardians). Your support helps us make a difference.   👇 Stay Connected & Never Miss an Update 👇   1️⃣ Subscribe: Hit the 'Subscribe' button and don't forget to ring the 🔔 bell, ensuring you'll be the first to know when we upload fresh content.   2️⃣ Social Media: Stay up-to-date and join the conversation on our social media platforms:   📸 Instagram https://instagram.com/islam21c 👍 Facebook https://facebook.com/islam21c 𝕏  X https://twitter.com/islam21c 🗨️ Telegram https://t.me/islam21c   Thank you for your continued support and engagement. Support the show 🌟 Support Our Mission 🌟   To extend the reach of our impactful content, kindly consider making a contribution (www.islam21c.com/guardians). Your support helps us make a difference.   👇 Stay Connected & Never Miss an Update 👇   1️⃣ Subscribe: Hit the 'Subscribe' button and don't forget to ring the 🔔 bell, ensuring you'll be the first to know when we upload fresh content.   2️⃣ Social Media: Stay up-to-date and join the conversation on our social media platforms:   📸 Instagram www.instagram.com/islam21c 👍 Facebook www.facebook.com/islam21c 🐦 Twitter www.twitter.com/islam21c 🗨️ Telegram t.me/islam21c   Thank you for your continued support and engagement.

  8. Jun 3

    "Go after their women" - How a Civilisation Was Hijacked (ft. Sheikh Shaqur Rehman)

    What happens when Muslim men and women are separated from their fitrah, their roles, their families — and each other? In this OnGuard podcast, Shaykh Shaqur Rehman joins us for a deep discussion on the Power of a Muslim Woman, the role of motherhood and wifehood in Islamic civilisation, the crisis facing Muslim families, and how modern society has reshaped the way men and women see themselves. This is not just a discussion about feminism, university, marriage, or gender roles. It is about the heart of the Muslim home, the future of the Ummah, and the urgent need to rebuild men, women, families, and communities upon submission to Allāh. We discuss how colonialism, liberal modernity, materialism, online discourse, broken family structures, and schooling from a young age have shaped Muslim men and women — and what it takes to undo that damage through tarbiyah, leadership, sisterhood, brotherhood, haya, family, and community. Chapters: 00:00 Reclaiming the Power of a Muslim Woman 12:06 How the Muslim family was hijacked 20:38 Real Islamic masculinity and male leadership 34:04 How society reprogrammed men and women 49:11 Muslim women, media and da’wah 01:00:10 Motherhood, wifehood and the path to Jannah 01:06:17 University, apostasy and protecting the dīn 01:22:38 Rebuilding families, tribes and communities 🌟 Support Our Mission 🌟   To extend the reach of our impactful content, kindly consider making a contribution (https://islam21c.com/guardians). Your support helps us make a difference.   👇 Stay Connected & Never Miss an Update 👇   1️⃣ Subscribe: Hit the 'Subscribe' button and don't forget to ring the 🔔 bell, ensuring you'll be the first to know when we upload fresh content.   2️⃣ Social Media: Stay up-to-date and join the conversation on our social media platforms:   📸 Instagram https://instagram.com/islam21c 👍 Facebook https://facebook.com/islam21c 𝕏  X https://twitter.com/islam21c 🗨️ Telegram https://t.me/islam21c   Thank you for your continued support and engagement. Support the show 🌟 Support Our Mission 🌟   To extend the reach of our impactful content, kindly consider making a contribution (www.islam21c.com/guardians). Your support helps us make a difference.   👇 Stay Connected & Never Miss an Update 👇   1️⃣ Subscribe: Hit the 'Subscribe' button and don't forget to ring the 🔔 bell, ensuring you'll be the first to know when we upload fresh content.   2️⃣ Social Media: Stay up-to-date and join the conversation on our social media platforms:   📸 Instagram www.instagram.com/islam21c 👍 Facebook www.facebook.com/islam21c 🐦 Twitter www.twitter.com/islam21c 🗨️ Telegram t.me/islam21c   Thank you for your continued support and engagement.

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OnGuard is a brand new podcast hosted by Ustadh Hamza Tzortzis focusing on Islam21c's transformative campaigns.

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