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Assistant Director of Research

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Dr. Tesneem Alkiek

Overwhelmed by the Quran: A Common Struggle

Understanding God Before His Book

The Impact of Parenting on God Image

Rebuilding a Positive Image of God

Engaging with the Quran in Daily Life

Practical Benefits of Memorizing the Quran

Staying Motivated and Connected

Series

Video

Build Your Relationship With the Qur’an Before Ramadan | Real Talk ft. Dr. Tesneem Alkiek

The supreme deity in Islam, Allah is the One and Only God, creator and sustainer of the universe. He possesses all attributes of perfection, including mercy, justice, and omnipotence.

Allah

This section covers the core articles of faith (Īmān), namely faith in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and the divine decree (qadr). Other related topics, often found in classical theological works, are also found in this section.

Faith

This section includes theoretical and empirical research on parenting, education, culture, marriage, and other content related to social interactions.

Family & Community

This category provides guidance on the sacred bond of marriage, addressing spousal rights, responsibilities, and conflict resolution. It offers insights from the Quran and Sunnah to help couples build strong, tranquil, and loving relationships.

Marriage

In this conversation, Dr. Tesneem Alkiek addresses common challenges Muslims face when trying to build a relationship with the Qur'an, particularly before Ramadan. She begins by introducing the concept of a 'God image' — how one perceives Allah — explaining that it is shaped both by explicit religious teachings (the mind) and by early attachment experiences with parents (the heart). A negative God image can make engaging with the Qur'an feel overwhelming, but Dr. Alkiek offers practical remedies: seeking righteous companionship, learning about the Prophet's (ﷺ) character, and most importantly, studying Allah's names and attributes as He describes Himself in the Qur'an, including who He loves. She addresses difficult verses about punishment by contextualizing them through real-world injustice, arguing that Allah's justice is something to appreciate, not fear. She shares personal examples from her research on divorce verses and Surah At-Tawbah, showing how paying attention to the divine names mentioned at the end of legal verses reveals Allah's presence, care, and awareness. On building a practical relationship with the Qur'an, Dr. Alkiek strongly advises against the 'all-or-nothing' approach of dropping everything to memorize, instead advocating for starting small — even two pages a day — and gradually building a consistent daily habit. She memorized the Qur'an herself over several years using this incremental method. She also highlights worldly benefits of Qur'anic engagement, including improved memory, focus, discipline, and emotional self-regulation, drawing on the book 'Deep Work' to illustrate how memorization trains the brain. A personal story about forgiving a friend illustrates how knowing Allah's attributes — such as al-Halim (the Forbearing) and al-Ghafur (the Forgiving) — transforms one's character and interactions. She concludes by citing a hadith that each verse recited earns a rank in paradise, and another that entire communities are uplifted or brought low based on their relationship with the Qur'an.

Introduction: The Voice of Women in Islam

Exploring Hadith: Asma bint Yazid's Story

Scientific Evidence and Hadith Interpretation

Contextualizing Hadith: Women and Hellfire

Self-Reflection and Differentiation

Understanding Context in Religious Texts

Gender and Misinterpretation in Hadith

Practical Takeaways and Building Resilience

When You Feel Conflicted About a Hadith | Real Talk ft. Dr. Tesneem Alkiek

Struggling with Faith and Identity

College: A Turning Point

Questioning and Rediscovering Islam

Embracing Imperfection in Faith

Inspiration and Life Advice

Striving in Faith

Embracing Individual Strengths

The Value of Community

Tips for When You're Struggling With Your Faith | Real Talk ft. Dr. Tesneem Alkiek

Introduction: The Mental Health Puzzle

The Workout Class Metaphor

Societal Sentiments and Moral Relativism

Historical Context: From Reformation to Enlightenment

The Impact of Moral Relativism Today

The Power of Forgiveness

Conclusion: Putting God at the Center

Are We Becoming Too Self-Centered? | Real Talk ft. Tesneem Alkiek

Introduction: The Feminist Debate

Defining Feminism and Its Challenges

Islam and Feminism: Are They Compatible?

Gender Antagonism and Power Dynamics

Personal Experiences and Attitudes

Solutions and Optimism

Conclusion: Building Community and Sisterhood

The Healthy Way to Think About Feminism | Real Talk ft. Tesneem Alkiek

Introduction: Feeling Anxious About Ibadah

The Trap of Hustle Culture in Worship

The Anxiety of Spiritual Highs and Crashes

The Hadith That Changed Everything

Moving the Branch: Small Acts, Big Rewards

Finding Balance: Goals vs. Moderation

The Woman Who Prayed Too Much

Consistency Over Intensity

The Companions Who Wanted to Do More

Sleep and Breaks as Acts of Worship

Pushing Yourself vs. Bare Minimum

What to Do When You're Spiritually Burnt Out

Missing Your Night Prayer: Keep Pushing

Conclusion

Spiritual Burnout is Real | Real Talk ft. Dr. Tesneem Alkiek

Introduction: The Social Media Dilemma

Personal Experiences with Social Media

The Distortion of Reality

The Addictive Design of Social Media

Social Media's Impact on Self-Perception

Islamic Perspective on Social Media

Practical Steps to Reevaluate Social Media Use

The Social Media Spiral | Real Talk ft. Dr. Tesneem Alkiek

Introduction to Hustle Culture

The Pressure of Productivity

The Elusive American Dream

Finding Purpose Beyond Success

The Impact of Faith and Reflection

Reevaluating Legacy and Impact

Conclusion and Call to Action

The Problem With Hustle Culture | Real Talk ft. Dr. Tesneem Alkiek

Introduction: Questioning Gender Roles in Islam

Historical Perspectives: Women in Islamic Scholarship

Challenging Misogyny: Contextualizing Hadiths

Modern Reflections: Correcting Misinterpretations

Vision Beyond Gender

Standpoint Theory and Gendered Experiences

Challenging Misogynistic Perceptions

Empowerment and Attitude Shift

What if it's Not a Gender War? | Real Talk ft. Dr. Tesneem Alkiek

Why is Marriage So Complicated? | SERIES PREMIERE | Real Talk ft. Dr. Tesneem Alkiek

Meeting Expectations vs. Reality

The Challenges of Filming

First Impressions and Surprises

Discussing the Series and Favorite Episodes

Reflections on Social Media and Personal Growth

High School Moments and Confidence

Journey with Hijab in Journalism

Challenges and Resilience

Reflections on Gaza and Syria

The Power of Knowledge and Reflection

LET’S CHAT | First impressions, Hijab, Highschool Awkwardness | New Series with Dr Tesneem Alkiek

Trailer | Real Talk with Dr. Tesneem Alkiek and Qaanitah Hunter

Real Talk Series