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. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. May 21

    How to Deal With That Voice in Your Head (ft. Imran Hussein)

    What happens when you know Islam is true… but still feel empty inside? In this powerful episode of OnGuard, Hamza Tzortzis speaks to Imran Hussein about anxiety, intrusive thoughts, depression, nihilism, and the search for meaning in a world full of distractions. Imran shares his deeply personal journey through an existential crisis, describing the moment life seemed to lose its meaning — and how turning back to Allah transformed darkness into clarity. But this is not just a story about “mental health”. It is a conversation about iman, purpose, knowledge, the heart, and why intellectual certainty alone is not always enough to keep a person grounded. Why do so many Muslims feel spiritually disconnected despite believing in Islam? How should we understand anxiety, OCD, intrusive thoughts and depression through an Islamic lens? What does it mean to seek help without shame? And how can we hold on to hope when everything feels dark? This episode is for anyone who has ever felt lost, numb, anxious, overwhelmed, or distant from Allah — and for anyone trying to support someone who is. This podcast is part of our broader anti-suicide campaign, Hold On. Hold on to life. Hold on to hope. Hold on to the mercy of Allāh. Subscribe to Islam21c for more conversations on Islam, society, belief, family, mental health, and the challenges facing Muslims today. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:08 Introducing Imran Hussein and the Hold On campaign 02:36 Losing meaning: the questions that would not go away 06:37 Anxiety, derealisation, and the search for answers 11:53 The desperate du’a and the Qur’an moment 16:07 From relief to da’wah 18:15 When anxiety returned: why knowledge alone is not enough 25:47 Understanding anxiety, doubts, and obsessive cycles 30:23 Practical and spiritual tools for anxiety 37:42 Getting help, letting thoughts pass, and prophetic guidance 48:17 Reframing anxiety as a test from Allāh 52:12 Grief, hope, and never despairing of Allah’s mercy 55:49 How family, friends, and brotherhood can help 01:03:27 Hold on to hope and Allah’s mercy 01:05:16 Final reflections 🌟 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.

  7. Apr 24

    DON'T Misunderstand What’s Happening Right Now (Shaykh Haitham & Hamza Tzortzis)

    The world is changing — fast. From escalating global conflicts to shifting political powers, it feels like history is unfolding in front of us. But here’s the real question: Are we actually understanding what’s happening? In this episode of OnGuard, Hamza Tzortzis sits down with Shaykh Dr Haitham al-Haddad to unpack a perspective many Muslims are missing. Because if we misunderstand the nature of this world — its purpose, its struggles, its conflicts — then everything else starts to feel confusing. This isn’t just about geopolitics. It’s about how a Muslim should see the world. And if we get that wrong… the consequences are bigger than we think. 🧠 What you’ll learn in this episode: Why confusion about world events is increasing The Islamic framework for understanding conflict and change What most people misunderstand about the nature of this life Why clarity starts with the right foundations How Muslims should respond in times of global uncertainty 📌 Watch till the end: Because the final insight reframes everything — and gives you a completely different way of looking at what’s happening right now. Chapters: 0:00 The World Is Changing 0:25 Why Most People Misunderstand What’s Happening 2:10 A Rapidly Changing World & Competing Powers 5:05 Why Muslims Feel Confused Today 8:30 Different Reactions: Agreement, Doubt & Conflict 12:15 The Missing Foundation in Understanding Reality 16:40 This Life Is a Test — Not What You Think 21:10 Why Conflict Is Part of the Design of Life 26:05 The Danger of Expecting Comfort & Stability 31:20 Islamic Framework vs Modern Worldview 36:45 How Muslims Should Interpret Global Events 42:10 Where the Ummah Is Getting It Wrong 47:30 Reframing Success, Struggle & Change 53:15 Intellectual & Spiritual Confusion Explained 58:40 The Consequences of Getting This Wrong 1:04:10 What Needs to Change in the Muslim Mindset 1:09:30 Real Change Starts With This 1:14:50 Practical Takeaways for Muslims Today 1:19:30 Final Reflections — Understanding the World Properly 🌟 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. Feb 11

    The War on Muslim Womanhood (ft. Imam Tom Facchine)

    What does it really mean to speak about the power of a Muslim woman in a world already saturated with assumptions about gender, autonomy, success, and value? In this thought-provoking OnGuard conversation, Hamza Tzortzis is joined by Imam Tom Facchine (Yaqeen Institute) for a wide-ranging discussion sparked by Islam21c’s Power of a Muslim Woman campaign. But this is not the conversation many might expect. Together, they explore: • Why modern society subtly reshaped how we think about women and “empowerment” • The quiet pressure many women feel to justify or even apologise for following their fitrah and divine guidance • How homemaking, motherhood, and femininity became culturally devalued • The liberal assumptions that influence how all of us — men and women — see the world • Why debates around feminism often miss the deeper questions entirely • The "crisis of Islamic scholarship" that leads to many sisters not getting the support they deserve • And more This episode isn’t about slogans or culture-war soundbites. It’s about stepping back and asking: ❓ Who defines value? ❓ What counts as power? ❓ And why do so many feel conflicted about answers Islam has long provided? Whether you’re navigating these questions personally, as a parent, or simply trying to understand the world we inhabit, this discussion offers clarity, nuance, and reflection. For more information about the Power of a Muslim Woman campaign and to sign up for updates, visit https://pomw.org Chapters: 00:00 — Intro 03:57 — Why this conversation can’t be avoided 07:04 — How “empowerment” gets defined 10:45 — You’re swimming in liberal waters 14:21 — Why feminism feels persuasive 18:08 — Feminism vs Islam: different starting points 22:17 — Who actually defines value? 26:31 — Homemaking and cultural status 30:43 — “Pretend I’m a sister…” 34:55 — The pressure to justify choices 39:14 — When Islam is reframed in liberal terms 43:36 — Masculinity, femininity, and discomfort 48:00 — Strength vs stereotype 51:51 — The quiet belittling of homemaking 56:09 — The apology trap 1:00:13 — The crisis of Islamic scholarship 1:04:38 — Authority, trust, and confusion 1:09:01 — Internal tensions within Muslim spaces 1:13:43 — Disagreement without defensiveness 1:18:35 — Confidence without apology 1:23:47 — Noticing the water we’re swimming in 1:29:13 — Imagine I’m a sister… 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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