I'm your host, Sekina Yakub, and in this episode of The Hearts Connect Podcast, I sit down with Rumaanah Rameez for a heartfelt conversation about faith, identity, representation, purpose, love, and navigating life as a young Muslim woman in the West.

Rumaanah shares her journey from studying law and politics into policing, while pursuing her passion for writing and storytelling. We explore connection through faith, the Qur’an, prayer, reflection, and the importance of creating representation for Muslim women and ethnic minorities.

We also talk about the ups and downs of faith, comparison, hijab, cultural identity, giving yourself grace, and finding your way back to Allah when life feels overwhelming. Rumaanah shares the inspiration behind her book Not Your Expected Hijabi and reflects on love, identity, culture, and the experiences that shape us.

At the heart of this conversation is a reminder that faith is a journey — and whenever we lose our way, we can always return to Allah.

Takeaways

• Finding connection through faith, relationships, and self-reflection
• Using storytelling to create representation and challenge stereotypes
• Finding purpose through your career, creativity, and passions
• Staying grounded through salah, the Qur’an, journaling, and reflection
• Navigating the ups and downs of faith with grace and patience
• Letting go of comparison and the pressure to be “perfect”
• Balancing faith, culture, identity, and personal goals
• Navigating life as a Muslim woman in the West
• Understanding love beyond romance — including love for Allah, ourselves, family, and others
• Remembering that faith is a journey and we can always return to Allah

Chapters

00:11 Introduction to Unique Journeys

01:22 Romana's Background and Passion for Writing

03:40 The Meaning of Connection

08:02 Defining Moments and Personal Growth

11:06 Misunderstandings and Societal Expectations

15:27 Daily Rituals and Productivity

20:42 Challenges in Faith and Purpose

23:51 The Journey of Self-Reflection and Growth

30:21 Navigating Identity and Spirituality

37:57 Understanding Love in Its Many Forms

About the Podcast

The Hearts Connect Podcast is rooted in authentic storytelling and spiritually grounded self-development. Inspired by the book Hearts Connect, which documents the lived experiences of African and Afro-Caribbean converts to Islam in the UK, this podcast continues meaningful conversations around faith, healing, identity, and building healthy relationships — with ourselves, with Allah, and with others.

If this episode resonated with you, share your reflections below.

Subscribe for more conversations on faith, identity, healing, spiritual growth, intentional living, relationships, and the many journeys that bring our hearts closer to Allah.

#HeartsConnect #HeartsConnectPodcast #MuslimPodcast #FaithJourney #MuslimWomen #Hijabi #Islam #MuslimCommunity #RepresentationMatters #MuslimAuthors #WritingCommunity #SelfReflection #Salah #Prayer #Tawakkul #SpiritualGrowth #Identity #MuslimIdentity #YoungMuslims #Love #SelfDiscovery #PersonalGrowth #Quran #FaithAndCulture #NotYourExpectedHijabi

I'm your host, Sekina Yakub, and in this episode of The Hearts Connect Podcast, I sit down with Diana Alghoul for a powerful conversation about self-knowledge, faith, identity, healing, emotions, the subconscious mind, tawakkul, and love. Diana shares her journey from journalism into hypnotherapy, reflecting on how her experiences shaped her understanding of herself, her faith, and the deeper beliefs that influence how we show up in the world. She explores what it means to truly know yourself, let go of identities that no longer serve you, and trust what is already within you. We also talk about emotional healing, learning to listen to the body, creating safe spaces to process difficult emotions, and moving beyond “good vibes only.” Diana reflects on her journey back to Islam, the importance of seeking knowledge, daily spiritual practices, solitude, self-love, people-pleasing, and learning to trust yourself.

Throughout the conversation, we return to the importance of keeping Allah at the centre — and remembering that whatever we face, Allahu Akbar.

Takeaways

• Understanding what it means to truly know yourself
• Letting go of identities and beliefs that no longer serve you
• The relationship between the subconscious mind, beliefs, and behaviour
• Faith, questioning, seeking knowledge, and returning to Allah
• The importance of emotional awareness and healthy emotional processing
• Listening to your body and learning to trust yourself
• Creating safe spaces for healing and self-reflection
• Solitude, introversion, and reconnecting with yourself
• Self-love, people-pleasing, rejection, and healthy boundaries
• Balancing personal goals with spiritual values
• Understanding hypnotherapy and the subconscious mind
• Keeping Allah at the centre through tawakkul and surrender

Chapters

• 00:12 Introduction to Diana's Journey
• 01:21 The Deep Connection Between Subconscious and Faith
• 03:01 Memory and Its Impact on Behavior
• 04:18 Defining Self: Spirituality, Rationality, and Lightheartedness
• 04:41 Knowing Yourself to Know Allah
• 07:12 The Facets of Self and Contextual Behavior
• 07:49 A Defining Moment During COVID
• 09:15 Letting Go and Trusting Allah
• 11:09 The Expanding Universe and Self-Development
• 12:04 Light Within: Bringing Out Inner Potential
• 14:51 Misunderstandings About Diana’s Practice
• 18:29 Daily Practices for Spiritual and Mental Well-being
• 25:22 Rediscovering Faith and the Power of Allah
• 33:52 The Role of Solitude and Reflection
• 39:13 Love, Self-Love, and Conditioning
• 43:25 Final Words and Advice from Diana

About the Podcast

The Hearts Connect Podcast is rooted in authentic storytelling and spiritually grounded self-development. Inspired by the book Hearts Connect, which documents the lived experiences of African and Afro-Caribbean converts to Islam in the UK, this podcast continues meaningful conversations around faith, healing, identity, and building healthy relationships — with ourselves, with Allah, and with others.

If this episode resonated with you, share your reflections below.

Subscribe for more conversations on faith, identity, healing, spiritual growth, and intentional living.

#HeartsConnect #HeartsConnectPodcast #MuslimPodcast #FaithJourney #SelfKnowledge #HealingJourney #Hypnotherapy #Tawakkul #Islam #MuslimCommunity #SpiritualGrowth #SelfDiscovery #SelfAwareness #SelfLove #InnerWork #PersonalGrowth #EmotionalHealing #Love

I'm your host, Sekina Yakub, and in this episode of The Hearts Connect Podcast, I sit down with Rukayat Yakub for a powerful conversation about belonging, faith, identity, community, anti-blackness, heart work, and love. Rukayat shares her journey between the UK, Nigeria, and the US, reflecting on how different communities, mentors, unexpected encounters, and periods of solitude shaped her relationship with Islam. She discusses the difference between fitting in and truly belonging, and the importance of creating spaces where people feel safe to be their authentic selves. Rukayat also explores her work around anti-blackness and the Islamic concept of tazkiyah — purifying the heart and examining the beliefs and biases we carry. She reflects on history, systems of oppression, asking who benefits, and approaching difficult conversations with curiosity rather than blame. We also talk about loneliness, spiritual growth, aligning personal goals with faith, and the transformative power of love.

Takeaways

• The difference between belonging and simply fitting in
• Creating safe spaces where people can be authentic
• The role of community and connection in strengthening faith
• Migration, identity, loneliness, and finding belonging
• Understanding anti-blackness and the systems that uphold it
• Tazkiyah and the importance of heart work and self-reflection
• Challenging inherited beliefs with curiosity
• Aligning personal goals with spiritual values
• The transformative power of love and its role in building community

Chapters

00:12 Introduction to Hearts Connect

• 01:56 The Meaning of Connection
• 04:51 Defining Moments and Belonging
• 07:50 Creating Safe Spaces
• 09:15 Understanding Anti-Blackness and Belonging
• 11:15 Misunderstandings and Stereotypes
• 12:48 Daily Habits and Spiritual Practices
• 14:27 Rediscovering Faith and Purpose
• 21:29 Navigating Disconnection and Solitude
• 23:53 Heart Work and Spiritual Growth
• 24:45 Aligning Personal Goals with Spiritual Values
• 25:20 Understanding Heart Work and Anti-Blackness
• 30:54 The Impact of Anti-Blackness on Society
• 37:26 Recognizing the Powers That Be
• 42:24 The Essence of Love in Life

About the Podcast

The Hearts Connect Podcast is rooted in authentic storytelling and spiritually grounded self-development. Inspired by the book Hearts Connect, which documents the lived experiences of African and Afro-Caribbean converts to Islam in the UK, this podcast continues meaningful conversations around faith, healing, identity, and building healthy relationships — with ourselves, with Allah, and with others.

If this episode resonated with you, share your reflections below.

Subscribe for more conversations on faith, identity, healing, spiritual growth, and intentional living.

#HeartsConnect #HeartsConnectPodcast #MuslimPodcast #FaithJourney #Belonging #Community #Tazkiyah #HeartWork #AntiBlackness #Islam #MuslimCommunity #SpiritualGrowth #HealingJourney #SelfDiscovery #Identity #SelfAwareness #Love #PersonalGrowth #InnerWork