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Dr. Assal Rad is a Middle East historian known as the “headline fixer” for her viral media corrections. Her new book, Don’t Say Palestine: How the Media Manufactured Consent for Genocide, examines how outlets including The New York Times and the BBC helped manufacture consent for Israel’s genocide in Gaza through language, framing and omission.

In this conversation, Assal joins Muhammad Jalal to examine how Western media has reported on Palestine, Israel and Gaza, and what that reporting reveals about the relationship between journalism, political power and public consent.

From passive language around Palestinian deaths to the treatment of Israeli military claims, the discussion looks at how headlines and editorial choices can shape the way audiences understand war.

As tensions involving the United States, Iran and the wider Middle East remain at the centre of global politics, we also ask whether Western media can still manufacture support for war in the way it did before the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

The conversation explores Gaza, the killing of Palestinian journalists, declining trust in mainstream media, the rise of social media and citizen journalism, and the different ways the Biden and Trump administrations have approached Israel and the Middle East.

Has Gaza permanently changed the way people consume the news? And what happens when audiences can compare what they see on their phones with what appears in the headlines?

Dr. Assal Rad is the author of The State of Resistance: Politics, Culture, and Identity in Modern Iran and Don’t Say Palestine: How the Media Manufactured Consent for Genocide.

Find Assal Rad here:

X: https://x.com/AssalRad?lang=en

IG: https://www.instagram.com/assalrad_/

Find her Book 'Don't Say Palestine' here: https://atlantic-books.co.uk/book/dont-say-palestine/

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Disclaimer:

The views expressed in this video are those of the individual speaker(s) and do not represent the views of the host, producers, platform, or any affiliated organisation. This content is provided for lawful, informational, and analytical purposes only, and should not be taken as professional advice. Viewer discretion is advised.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:15 - Meet Assal Rad

02:09 - Media Manufactured Consent

06:08 - Thinking Muslim Conference

06:52 - Headlines Hide Israel

12:02 - Western Media Complicity

14:10 - Liberal Media Bias

18:36 - Fox News vs Liberals

20:56 - Donate to Baitulmaal

21:31 - Palestinian Journalists Silenced

27:36 - Why Journalists Stayed

34:53 Who Controls Gaza History

38:20 Social Media Censorship

39:28 The Headline Fixer

44:02 Right Turns on Israel

47:54 Gaza’s Media Future

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Norman Finkelstein returns to The Thinking Muslim to examine how Israel’s war on Gaza has reshaped American and British politics.

From Tucker Carlson and the rise of “America First” opposition to Israel, to Zohran Mamdani, democratic socialism and growing anger among young Americans, Finkelstein asks whether this political realignment is driven by principle or opportunity. He explains why Gaza has resonated so deeply with a generation facing economic insecurity and argues that changing public opinion means little without an organised movement capable of challenging political power.

Muhammad Jalal and Norman Finkelstein also discuss Israel’s loss of support among younger Americans, the dehumanisation of Palestinians, Britain’s changing position on Israel, the role of international law and the pressure created by the pro-Palestine movement. Finally, they consider the response of cultural figures including Ed Sheeran and Macklemore, and whether artists can claim neutrality in the face of genocide.

Find Norman Finkelstein here:

X: https://x.com/normfinkelstein?lang=en

IG: https://www.instagram.com/norm_finkelstein/?hl=en

Find his Book here - Gaza's Gravediggers, An Inquiry into Corruption in High Places, available to purchase at: https://orbooks.com/catalog/gazas-gravediggers

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In this wide-ranging conversation, Sami Hamdi joins Muhammad Jalal to examine the rapidly shifting politics of the Muslim world, from the emerging Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan defence pact to the war with Iran, changing US influence and the future of regional power.

They ask whether the so-called “Muslim NATO” could become a serious political force, why traditional US allies are searching for new security arrangements, and what this could mean for Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Pakistan, Egypt and the wider Muslim world.

The discussion also turns to American politics, the growing backlash against Israel and AIPAC within the Democratic Party, Israel’s tensions with Türkiye over Syria, and whether Muslims have more political agency than they often assume.

In the final part of the episode, Sami reflects on his recent visit to Bangladesh and the Rohingya refugee camps. He discusses the failure to resolve the Rohingya crisis, the role Bangladesh, Malaysia and other Muslim countries could play, and why the plight of the Rohingya must remain a concern for the wider Ummah.

An extensive conversation on Muslim geopolitics, Gaza, Iran, Syria, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, US politics and the Rohingya crisis.

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What does Syria look like after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, and has the country truly secured its independence?

Muhammad Jalal speaks with Qutaiba Idlibi about the political realities facing the new Syria, from relations with the United States, Turkey and the Gulf to the challenge of rebuilding state institutions after years of war and dictatorship.

They discuss Syria’s economic recovery, foreign influence, Israel, transitional justice, the Kurdish question, minority communities and the danger of replacing one form of authoritarianism with another.

Can Syria rebuild on its own terms, or will the pressures of regional and global powers shape what comes next?

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Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

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What if our obsession with productivity, efficiency and “making the most of every minute” is actually taking us further away from a truly Islamic way of living?

In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, Muhammad Jalal is joined by Mohammed Faris, author of The Barakah Effect and founder of Productive Muslim, to explore how modern hustle culture and the capitalist understanding of time have shaped the way Muslims work, worship and live.

They discuss the “tyranny of the clock”, why salah should anchor our day rather than simply fit into our schedules, and how the Islamic concept of barakah offers a radically different understanding of productivity. Mohammed Faris explains why being constantly busy does not necessarily mean being productive, how modern work culture contributes to burnout and time anxiety, and what the Prophetic model can teach us about work, rest, family, worship and purpose.

Can Muslims build a healthier relationship with time without becoming unambitious? What would productivity look like if our primary goal was not economic output, but worshipping Allah and serving His creation? And could recovering barakah transform not only our personal lives, but the way Muslim communities, businesses and institutions operate?

You can find out more about Mohammed Faris here:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/mohammed.a.faris

X: https://x.com/MohammedAFaris

The Productive Muslim Company: https://productivemuslim.com/author/mohammed-faris/

Find His Book Here: https://shop.productivemuslim.com/products/the-barakah-effect-book

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Dr Nazir Khan joins The Thinking Muslim to discuss **Islamic worldview, secularism, liberalism, colonialism and the modern Muslim mind**. In this episode, we explore how modern ideologies can shape the way Muslims understand Islam, freedom, morality and society, and why political colonialism may have ended while intellectual colonialism remains.

Dr Nazir explains what it means for Muslims to “self-secularise”, how liberal ideas of freedom differ from an Islamic understanding of freedom, and why desire, consumerism and individualism can become powerful forces shaping our worldview. We also discuss how the Qur’an, particularly **Surah Al-Fatiha**, can provide Muslims with a framework for understanding truth, ethics and the world around them.

This is a wide-ranging conversation on **Islam and secularism, Islam and liberalism, decolonising the Muslim mind, Islamic philosophy, Muslim identity, Qur’anic worldview and modern ideology**.

You can find out more about Dr Nazir Khan here:

Centre of Islamic Knowledge: https://www.cikedu.org/nazirkhan.html

Yaqeen Institute: https://yaqeeninstitute.org/team/nazir-khan

Find His Book Here: https://www.kubepublishing.com/blogs/news/the-straight-path-nazir-khan

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Murtaza Hussain joins The Thinking Muslim to examine the deepening relationship between the UAE and Israel and what it means for the wider Muslim world.

From leaked documents revealing military cooperation and the role of Jeffrey Epstein in cultivating ties between Emirati and Israeli elites, to the UAE’s influence in Sudan, Yemen, Syria and Somaliland, we explore how this alliance is reshaping power across the Middle East and beyond.

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World-renowned architect Abdel Wahed El-Wakil joins The Thinking Muslim to discuss Islamic architecture, modern architecture and what traditional Muslim cities understood about the way we live.

We explore sacred spaces, mosque design, urban planning, the loss of traditional Islamic architecture and whether modern cities have made us more anxious, isolated and disconnected from beauty and spirituality.

What can Islamic architecture teach us about building better cities today?

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