Beyond The Shahada

"Is Islam compatible with the West?" It’s the question everyone is asking - and as a born-and-raised Australian revert who has also lived in a Muslim country (twice!), I’ve lived the answer.
Spoiler: The question itself is designed to make us feel like outsiders. In this episode, I'm flipping the script.
Forget the political debates and the headlines. This is a raw, personal conversation about what it actually means to build a vibrant, intentional Islamic life right here in the West. I share the shocking cultural dissonance I experienced in a Muslim-majority country and how it ultimately clarified my faith more than any debate ever could.
This episode is your guide if you’ve ever felt caught between two worlds. I cover:
The #1 Myth about Muslim Countries: Why the "Islamic utopia" can be the hardest place to nurture your faith, and how "Cultural Islam" threatens the soul of your deen.
A Revert's Blueprint for the West: How the very challenges here - the questions, the stares, the Christmas trees - force you to build a faith that is conscious, resilient, and unshakable.
Raising Muslim Kids Where Islam isn't the Norm: Practical strategies for when your child asks, "Why don't we celebrate Christmas?" How to build an Islamic home they’re proud of, without isolation or fear.
For New Muslims Feeling Lost: You are not alone. How to navigate family, find your community, and build a personal connection with Allah that doesn't depend on your postcode.
From Ritual to Relationship: How to transform your faith from a list of rules into a living, breathing relationship with Allah, whether you're in Sydney, London, or Toronto.
If you're a new Muslim seeking your tribe, a parent worried about your children's future, or any Muslim tired of defending your existence and ready to start living it with purpose - this episode is for you.
Your faith isn't just compatible with life in the West; it can be the very thing that makes you thrive.
 
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You see that old memory pop up on your phone… and for a second, you don't even recognize the person you used to be. If you feel a weird distance between who you were and who you're becoming, you're not alone.
On this powerful episode of Beyond The Shahada, Bree Shaaban is breaking the ultimate taboo: the internal civil war that leads women to take off the hijab. We're exposing the sneaky double standards you've definitely noticed (why is his awrah a 'suggestion' and hers a 'mandatory law'?) and the crushing guilt of the "Performance Trap", where your outfit tells a story of perfection your soul can't live up to, making you feel like a "fraud."
This isn't about rejecting faith. It's about the exhausting weight of everyone's expectations and the desperate search for an authentic identity. If you've ever felt the pressure of the "Modesty Police," wondered "where do I fit in?", or crumbled under the praise for a piety you don't feel, this conversation is your lifeline. You are seen, you are understood, and you are not a bad Muslim for struggling.
 
IN THIS EPISODE:
+ Shop the full range of home decor and accessories at: www.nestandnoor.com.au
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+ Please reach out to someone you trust if you're struggling with the hijab, or your journey in faith.
+ Contact me on all platforms @beyondtheshahada
 
#Hijab #Muslimah #IdentityCrisis #Modesty #Islam #FaithJourney #SpiritualBurnout #BeyondTheShahada

Think you know Islam? In this longer deep-dive, Bree Shaaban (ex-Christian, now Muslim) unpacks 15 things most people don’t know, perfect for curious Christians, new/revert Muslims, and anyone who wants clear, evidence-based explanations without the fluff.
What you’ll learn (fast):
It started in a cave: Why the first command was “Read” and how the Quran was revealed over 23 years and not “all at once.”
Seal of Prophethood (Q 33:40): Why Muhammad ﷺ is the final messenger with no sequels, no “new revelations.”
Hadith = receipts: How isnaad (chains of narration) and hadith science authenticated what the Prophet said and did.
Angels & the unseen realm: Jibril (Gabriel), Mika'il (Michael), and why angels are not Cupid.
Jinn explained: Who they are, what they can/can’t do, and the chapter in Quran named after them.
Barzakh: The “in-between” state from death to Resurrection and why it matters for accountability and hope.
Quran & science: Embryology stages, mountains as stabilizers, ocean layers, and an expanding universe, all verses that invite reflection, not blind faith.
Islam = a way of life: Prayer, charity, ethics in business, family rights, community care, and stewardship of the earth.
Seeking knowledge is mandatory (for men & women): From Fatima al-Fihri (founder of the world’s first university) to your daily study routine.
All the Companions were reverts: A diverse first community that preserved the message.
Khadijah (RA): First to accept Islam, a powerhouse businesswoman, and a 25-year monogamous marriage with the Prophet ﷺ.
Aisha (RA): Scholar, leader, and yes, she loved pink/saffron.
Prohibitions = protections: Why bans on alcohol, gambling, usury, and backbiting guard hearts and societies.
Polygyny, clarified: Limits, justice conditions (“marry only one” if you can’t be fair), and the social-welfare context.
Charity multiplies wealth: How giving brings barakah and real-world benefits.
Who this is for:
Christians exploring what Muslims actually believe
New/revert Muslims building a solid foundation
Anyone comparing faith claims with history and sources
Why listen:Warm and relatable explanations you can share, and a clear path to dig deeper without feeling talked down to.
New schedule: Longer episodes every other week.If this helped, please follow/subscribe, rate the show, and share it with someone who’s curious about Islam. Clips & extras on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, al @beyondtheshahada.

In this episode of Beyond the Shahada, Bree walks you through the emotional roller-coaster of sharing your new faith with family and friends. Whether you’re a fresh revert wrestling with midnight panic or riding the post-shahada honeymoon high, you’ll discover how to:
Break through fear and rehearse the “headline” - not a ten-minute speech
Anchor your confidence in quick, heart-centered duas
Turn potential conflict into genuine connection with non-preachy conversation moves
Show compassion for loved ones as they process your transformation
Ground your strength
Packed with real-life examples, “Curiosity First” prompts, and relatable analogies, this episode is your roadmap from anxiety to authentic, anchored faith. Tune in, share with a fellow revert, and learn how to keep your relationships strong as you live Islam, one calm conversation at a time.

In this episode, I share how my relationship with God transformed after walking away from Christianity and, later, embracing Islam.
I didn’t leave Christianity for Islam. I left because something felt wrong. The worship felt like performance. The Trinity never made sense. And the emotional highs of church didn’t bring lasting connection with God.
Years later, Islam gave me the clarity I had been searching for: one God, no middlemen, no confusion - just real worship.
In this episode, I talk about:• Why my “faith” in Christianity felt emotionally charged but spiritually disconnected• The difference between church worship and Islamic worship• How sujood (prostration) humbled me and brought real closeness to God• Why Christians say “you were never really saved” when you question their beliefs• And what I discovered when I stopped performing and started submitting
This is for anyone questioning their connection to God, stuck between confusion and clarity.
 
🎧 Subscribe to Beyond the Shahada and follow my journey on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram @BeyondTheShahada📲 Resources, links & episode notes: link in bio.
 
#muslimrevert #exchristian #relationshipwithgod #trinitydebunked #worshipgodalone #spiritualawakening #beyondtheshahada #islamicpodcast

In this episode of Beyond The Shahada, I sit down with Crystal, a Muslim content creator and UK healthcare professional who’s made a name for herself on TikTok by turning hate comments into dawah, clapbacks into clarity, and stereotypes into strength.
We talk about:
How she handles online hate with grace and sarcasm
What it's really like being a visibly Muslim woman on the internet
The pressure of being seen as the “perfect Muslim”
Why she started creating content and how her job in intensive care shaped her voice
The serious threats she’s faced and why she refuses to be silenced
How content creation has deepened her connection with Islam
This conversation is raw, witty, empowering and a must-listen for anyone navigating faith, identity, and visibility in today’s world.
✨ Don’t forget to follow the podcast and connect with us on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram @beyondtheshahada.
✨ Find Crystal on TikTok: @sister..crystal
🎙 New episodes weekly.📲 Listen anywhere you get your podcasts.

This week, I had to take a breath. As a mum, a revert, a creator, sometimes it all becomes a little too connecting and draining. So I’m taking my own advice, and hitting pause.
In this special re-upload, I’m sharing one of my earliest episodes that feels even more relevant today: the difference between feeling connected to Allah and actually being connected. It’s a reminder that stillness isn’t distance. And that taking time for your mental health, your deen, and your family is part of the connection.
If you’re new to the podcast, welcome, this episode will give you a strong foundation. If you’ve heard it before, may it reach you with new clarity.
Next week, I’ll be back with a brand new episode featuring a special guest!
 
Until then, you can find me on:🔹 TikTok: @beyondtheshahada🔹 YouTube: @beyondtheshahada🔹 UpScrolled: @beyondtheshahada

What if the hardest part of converting to Islam wasn’t letting go of your old beliefs - but the way people treated you after?
In this deeply personal episode, I open up about what it really felt like to leave behind my life as a Christian and embrace Islam. I talk about the backlash, the accusations, the grief and the surprising peace I found through it all.
➡️ Why some Christians turn hateful after you leave their religion➡️ What Islam taught me about real peace, healing, and self-worth➡️ How I navigated losing friends, family, and my old identity➡️ Why the approval of others isn’t worth your soul➡️ And how Allah replaced what I lost with something so much greater
Whether you’re a revert trying to heal, a Muslim struggling to move forward, or someone on the edge of faith - this episode is for you.
🎧 LISTEN NOW if you've ever felt alone on your path to truth.
🔗 Full short-form content on TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels - link in bio.
#IslamicPodcast #RevertToIslam #HealingInIslam #LeavingChristianity #MuslimConvert #SpiritualHealing #FaithJourney #IslamicReminder #AllahKnows #ChristianToMuslim #MuslimPodcast

If you’re a Christian who’s ever wondered what Islam actually teaches without the media filters, without the politics, and without the cultural confusion - this episode is for you.
I’m not here to debate. I’m not here to convert you.
I’m just here to share the truths I never heard as a Christian. Truths about the Quran, Jesus, Mary, women’s rights, and the very God you already believe in.
Because Islam isn’t a new religion.It’s the final message in the same chain that includes Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, peace be upon them all.It’s not a rejection. It’s a continuation.
In this episode, we talk about:
The real meaning of “Allah”
Whether Islam has been changed or preserved
The difference between the Quran, Hadith, and the Bible
Women’s rights in Islam vs cultural misconceptions
How Muslims view Jesus and Mary
Why we don’t worship the Kaaba
And why there’s no pastor or racial hierarchy in Islam
This is the episode I wish someone had made for me when I was still searching.
📌 Share this with someone curious.🎧 Follow the podcast for more real, honest conversations about Islam.
 
💬 Let’s connect:TikTok | YouTube | Instagram: @BeyondTheShahadaWebsite: beyondtheshahada.com

What happens when you grow up deeply rooted in Christianity, but your questions go unanswered? In this episode of Beyond the Shahada, I take you through my personal journey, from Lutheran beginnings, Catholic school, and Pentecostal revivals… to reading the Bible cover to cover, discovering shocking truths about Paul, and ultimately, finding Islam.
This wasn’t an emotional decision. It wasn’t a rebellion. It was years of research, reflection, and sincere prayer and what I found in Islam filled in the blanks that had never made sense to me in the church.
Whether you're a new revert, a curious Christian, or a born Muslim wondering how people come to Islam, this episode is for you.
🕊️ Truth doesn't fear your questions. Keep seeking.
 
🔗 Mentioned in This Episode:
📘 A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam: https://www.islam-guide.com
📺 Eslimah on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Eslimah
 
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TikTok: @beyondtheshahada
Instagram: @beyondtheshahada
YouTube: Beyond the Shahada
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#ChristianToMuslim #ConvertToIslam #RevertStory #IslamicPodcast #BeyondTheShahada #QuranAndBible #JesusInIslam #SpiritualJourney #ExChristian #IslamForChristians #IslamIsTheTruth #SeekingTruth #AskQuestions #FaithJourney