Dialogue with Nouman Ali Khan: Wisdom, Da’wah, Authenticity, Empathy & Lessons After Humiliation

Video Description

Dialogue with Nouman Ali Khan: Wisdom, Da’wah, Authenticity, Empathy & Lessons After Humiliation 00:00 - 01:23 Introduction 01:24 - 01:43 Hamza asks Ustaadh Nouman: “What is hikmah?” 01:44 - 02:39 Nouman explains the visual and linguistic context of the term ‘hikmah’ 02:40 - 03:08 The idea of not having a loose verdict or judgment; every part of one’s thought process is tightly bound together (hukm) 03:09 - 03:58 Some etymologists would say hikmah is beneficial knowledge you can act upon 03:59 - 04:16 Hamza comments and raises a question regarding: hikmah is distinct from ilm (knowledge) and it is connected to virtue 04:17 - 07:10 Nouman comments on the three components (hikmah, ilm and virtue) in the story of Yusuf (as) 07:11 - 08:32 Hamza comments on being Allah-centric and the framework of hikmah (having an Allah-pleasing goal in a particular context and applying knowledge (ilm) in that context to achieve that goal) 08:33 - 10:06 Nouman adds another dimension to the framework: pleasing Allah benefits you because it is good for you 10:07 - 11:48 Hamza unpack the idea of self-love in Islam and being committed to each other’s spiritual wellbeing (the sahabah are used as an example) 11:49 - 12:17 Hamza comments that we lack loving others in the da’wah scene 12:18 - 13:24 Hamza summarised the discussion so far and asks about the role of the intellect (‘aql) 13:25 - 14:26 Nouman on common sense and the ‘aql 14:27 - 16:34 There are two source of hikmah: revealed and experiential 16:35 - 20:56 The systematic elimination of reason, the ‘aql and unconditional obedience 20:57 - 22:00 Hamza on the Prophet’s (pbuh) and his advice to Muadh Ibn Jabal 22:01 - 23:10 Hamza on the dawah, ilm and the lack of hikmah 23:11 - 26:33 Nouman’s personal experiences regarding dawah and hikmah: synthesising and simplifying 26:34 - 29:00 Constructive criticism of the dawah scene & the seduction of the algorithm 29:01 - 30:24 Hamza on the relationship between hikmah and one’s internal state 30:25 - 35:27 Continuing the conversation regarding algorithm seduction & a note of leadership 35:28 - 37:34 Becoming people of hikmah and applying the framework to a Prophetic example 37:35 - 40:16 Nouman on how we can become people of hikmah: become sensitive to other human beings 40:17 - 41:53 Nouman on major sins a result of shaytaan manipulating someone’s pain 41:54 - 43:27 Norman on the concept of warning in Surah Al-Muddathir and the Qur’an’s choice of words 43:28 - 46:52 Nouman on the great tragedy of dawah in decontextualising narrations and dehumanising the context 46:53 - 48:25 The importance of understanding how scholars understand narrations 48:26 - 51:01 The principles of quoting scholarly statements 51:02 - 53:10 How do we develop empathy? 53:11 - 55:03 Hamza on listening, empathy & true self-love 55:04 - 57:27 Hamza on “finding yourself” & the Quranic perspective 57:28 - Nouman on authenticity & artificial connections 01:01:51 - 01:03:07 Hamza on inauthentic relationships 01:03:08 - 01:04:48 Nouman on friends not in the dawah space 01:04:49 - 01:08:11 Hamza on tests and humiliation in life & Divine wisdom behind them 01:08:12 - 01:15:07 Nouman on his experience with humiliation, isolation, self-hate & the lesson of empathy 01:15:28 - 01:18:53 Nouman on public figures not allowed to be human & when your own people turn against you 01:18:54 - 01:19:35 Hamza on the story of Yusuf, his brothers and the role of humiliation 01:19:36 - 01:22:59 Final question to Norman: what is your thinking behind the way you deliver your story night & story events? 01:23:00 - 01:25:12 Norman on the need to study Surah Al-Muddathir for the dawah 01:25:13 - Conclusion