Beyond The Shahada

What does it actually feel like to convert to Islam? Not the debates.Not the arguments.Not the theology breakdowns. The reality. In this episode of Beyond The Shahada, Bree Shaaban shares the honest, unfiltered experience of becoming Muslim - from questioning Christianity, to privately researching Islam, to taking the shahada, to navigating family reactions, mockery, loneliness, and the unexpected clarity that follows. Becoming Muslim isn’t emotional hype.It’s not a magical life upgrade.It’s not constant happiness. It’s alignment.It’s clarity.It’s waking up. If you’re:• Questioning Christianity• Researching Islam in secret• Afraid of what your family might say• A recent revert feeling isolated• Or curious about what converting to Islam really changes This episode is for you. Connect with Beyond The Shahada 🌐 Website: https://beyondtheshahada.com📱 TikTok: @beyondtheshahada📸 Instagram: beyondtheshahada▶ YouTube: @beyondtheshahada📰 Upscrolled: @beyondtheshahada Leave a review if this resonated - it helps others to find these conversations!

"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. Is Islam Compatible with the West, New Muslim, Convert to Islam, Revert Muslim, Muslim Convert Story, Raising Muslims in the West, Muslim Parenting, Islamic Identity, Cultural Islam, Muslim in Western Society, Building Islamic Home, Muslimah Podcast, Spiritual Journey, Finding Islam, Western Muslim, Beyond the Shahada.

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, 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

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

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

Today’s episode is a little different, because I’m not alone. I sat down with the legendary Aussie Niqabi - Alexis: Campbelltown-born, single mum of three, founder of eco-business The Bin Chicken, and the woman who’s been making waves (and causing trolls to melt down) on TikTok with her niqab and razor-sharp Aussie humour. But behind the viral videos? There’s a deeper story: a promise to Allah SWT after a brutal custody battle, a life of balancing faith and family, and the reality of facing Islamophobia in Australia - sometimes funny, sometimes scary. 👉 Important note: This conversation originally ran almost 2 hours, and has been edited to the best bits. You may also hear her adorable 10-month-old baby in the background, because #MumLife never stops, and there are a few moments where the audio isn’t perfect. But this conversation was too important not to share. We talk about:✅ Choosing to wear the niqab in Australia✅ Facing Islamophobia in everyday life (and Kmart!)✅ Navigating co-parenting with a non-Muslim✅ Building community on TikTok✅ Balancing faith and culture✅ Dismantling stereotypes about Muslim women 🎧 Whether you’re a revert, a Muslim mum, or just curious about life behind the niqab, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. 📌 Links:🔗 Project Quran: projectquran.com.au🔗 The Aussie Niqabi TikTok: tiktok.com/@theaussieniqabi🔗 The Bin Chicken: thebinchicken.au🔗 My links: lnk.bio ✨ Like the show? Follow @beyondtheshahada on Instagram and TikTok. DM me your thoughts, I’d love to hear your stories. #BeyondTheShahada #TheAussieNiqabi #MuslimWomen #IslamInAustralia #Islamophobia #MuslimMums #RevertMuslim #ProjectQuran #NiqabInAustralia #MuslimBusiness #MuslimPodcast

In this raw and personal episode, Bree Shaaban shares how studying the Bible led her to question her faith—and how discovering the Quran changed her life. Bree recounts her journey from Christianity to Islam, the fears she faced, and the peace she found in embracing the truth of Islam. A powerful story of spiritual awakening and seeking truth.

What do you do when your own family treats your Islam like a phase - or worse, a betrayal? This week, Bree Shaaban gets real about the messy, painful, and sometimes darkly hilarious struggles of being the only Muslim in a non-Muslim family. From bacon-laced pasta (‘Just pick it out!’) to ‘non-alcoholic’ beer traps, she shares her most cringe-worthy stories, plus hard-won advice on: Setting boundaries without burning bridges Responding to relatives who call the Prophet ﷺ ‘false’ Finding your real tribe when blood isn’t enough If your family gatherings feel like spiritual warfare, this episode is your battle plan. Because at the end of the day? Allah’s love is the only approval that matters. Follow Bree: @BreeShaaban | Podcast IG: @BeyondTheShahadaTag a revert who needs this! #BeyondTheShahada

Muslims revere Jesus (Isa) as a top prophet - born miraculously, performing miracles, and returning before Judgment Day. So why does this shock people? #BeyondTheShahada

Get real with me, Bree Shaaban about the struggles of the last 10 nights of Ramadan as a burnt-out mum. Learn how to focus on sincerity, clear out bad habits, and connect with Allah, even when life feels overwhelming.

Parenting during Ramadan is tough, but you’re not alone. In this episode, we talk about the struggles, the wins, and how to navigate this beautiful but challenging time as mothers.