Rising in the West

Haroon and Omar

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SOCIETY & CULTURE

"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.

APR 19

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

1h 12m
MAR 30

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

57 min
MAR 15

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?

39 min
FEB 8

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 Muslims and AI CFR - Ai and 2026 CNBC - MIT Job Study TIME - Jobs and AI The Guardian - Novelists’ Concern with AI NPR - AI in Schools Business Insider - Professors Assigns ChatGPT Decoder - AI and the Education Crisis

1h 7m
JAN 30

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. * Omar's Bluesky conversation

56 min
JAN 24

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".

24 min
JAN 17

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 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

1h 6m
JAN 10

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.

53 min

"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.

Creator

Haroon and Omar
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

13
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Haroon and Omar
Show Website

Rising in the West