See Something Say Something

This episode, we hear from Shias who are observing Muharram and Ashura — the commemoration of the death of the prophet’s grandson Hussein — and we talk about the power of grief to transform and empower. Plus: A conversation about what it’s like for Shia students to be in the minority in MSAs and other Muslim communities on college campuses. Follow Ahmed @radbrowndads Follow Zainab @zainabshah Follow Shereen @ShereenYousuf Follow Faiyaz @FaiyazJaffer Take the audience survey at survey.panoply.fm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump’s immigration policies have mucked up a lot of lives. In this episode, SSSS producer Megan Detrie shares some stories from her reporting in Michigan with the Iraqi Christian community. Specifically, the Chaldean Christian immigrants and community leaders who are dealing with the aftermath of an unexpected ICE raid this summer. Four months later, these folks are still in detention, and their lawyers are arguing that they can't be sent to Iraq because they are likely to face persecution by ISIS.  Also! Donald Trump signed a new travel ban this Sunday. So we talk to Baher Azmy from the Center for Constitutional Rights about why he thinks the ban will be struck down again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ghee is having a moment right now. People call it a magic food that will melt your fat away. Kourtney Kardashian swears by it. Whole Foods is selling it. And the marketing language always comes back to how “ancient,” “pure” and “authentic” it is. And Ahmed can’t stop thinking about it. So this week, we’re spending the whole episode tackling one question: Why is this happening to ghee? We do a taste test with the brain trust, chat with BuzzFeed Health editor Sally Tamarkin, NYU Food Studies Department chair Krishnendu Ray, and Ahmed’s aunt Naheed Usmani to chew on it. Follow Ahmed @radbrowndads Follow Zainab @zainabshah Follow Neena @neenpathak Follow Sally @sallyt Follow the show at @seesomething and facebook.com/seesomethingpodcast, Subscribe to our newsletter buzzfeed.com/seesomethingsaysomething/newsletter, Find more episodes at buzzfeed.com/seesomethingsaysomething, Email us at saysomething@buzzfeed.com. Our music is by The Kominas. Follow them at @TheRealKominas and kominas.bandcamp.com Learn more a

Abdurrahim Rashada has seen a lot in his life.  He served in the Navy during World War II. He survived and escaped the Jim Crow South. He worked in the GM factories of Michigan and saw their rise and fall. And then, he joined the Nation of Islam, attracted by their message of freedom, justice, and equality for black folks. And later, when the community moved towards Sunnism, he learned to adapt  to a broader community of immigrant Muslims. In 1988, he met Ahmed when he had his first aqiqah (first haircut) at the mosque in Saginaw. In this episode, Ahmed takes a step back and Khalila Rashada interviews her grandfather in the Saginaw house she grew up in. Follow Ahmed @radbrowndads Follow the show at @seesomething and facebook.com/seesomethingpodcast, Subscribe to our newsletter buzzfeed.com/seesomethingsaysomething/newsletter, Find more episodes at buzzfeed.com/seesomethingsaysomething, Email us at saysomething@buzzfeed.com. Our music is by The Kominas. Follow them at @TheRealKominas and kominas.bandcamp.c

Umi says shine your light on the world, so in this episode, we explore why for so many Black American Muslims, hip-hop feels like home. Ahmed invites Dr. Su’ad Abdul-Khabeer and musician Salima Ra, into the studio to share one album, one song, and one lyric that they’re listening to right now. Then, we talk about Dr. Su’ad’s book, “Muslim Cool — Race, Religion, and Hip Hop in the United States.”  Afterwards, we call up Al-Taw’am, the badass twin dancers you may have seen in a Brother Ali or Mona Haydar video. The two 19-year-olds talk about how they respond to folks who say dancing is unIslamic and why it’s important to build spaces for Black Muslims to express their culture. Follow Dr. Suad @DrSuad Follow Salima @salimasound Follow Al-Taw’am on Instagram @Iman_and_khadijah Find “Muslim Cool” wherever books are sold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ahmed has a lot to process in this busy week of Eid Al-Adha and Hajj — he went to a halal butcher and zabiha slaughtered a lamb for the first time, so he calls up friend of the show (and Kominas singer) Basim Usmani to help digest his conflicting feelings. Before that, we catch up with Siraj Datoo, journalist and host of “The Pilgrimage” podcast, right before he rushes out the door for his flight to his first-ever pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. We’re making duah that Siraj’s ihram stays tightened! Plus an extra special audio postcard from the Kaaba. Follow Ahmed @radbrowndads Follow Basim @basiroti Follow Siraj @dats Follow the show at @seesomething and facebook.com/seesomethingpodcast, Subscribe to our newsletter buzzfeed.com/seesomethingsaysomething/newsletter, Find more episodes at buzzfeed.com/seesomethingsaysomething, Email us at saysomething@buzzfeed.com. Our music is by The Kominas. Follow them at @TheRealKominas and kominas.bandcamp.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 3 of See Something Say Something debuts next week, but before that, a little taste of what we've been doing during our summer break — we recently brought all your favorite things to the stage in Dearborn, Michigan: comics, advice to Hollywood execs, and the true beauty of Dearborn restaurants (Hint: always order the platter). Co-presented with the Arab American National Museum, the show features poet, Hugo-nominated author of Throne of the Crescent Moon and writer for Marvel’s Black Bolt series Saladin Ahmed, Asha Noor from CAIR-MI, Evelyn Alsultany an associate professor at U-Mich; and Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative (MuslimARC) Namira Islam. Plus: Live music by BigOMuziq Follow Ahmed @RadBrownDads Follow Asha @RajooWeyn Follow Namira @namirari Follow Saladin @saladinahmed Follow BigOMuziq @bigOmuziq Follow AANM @ArabAmericanMus Check out Evelyn @ http://evelynalsultany.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey Michiganders, we’re headed your way with a great live show — co-presented with the Arab American National Museum — featuring stories and conversation about politics and pop culture. Not in Michigan? Well, listen anyway for a sneak peek at Season 3. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Something Say Something is going on a little break to get ready for season 3. We’ll be working on new episodes, lots of videos, and even a Michigan live show.  We’ll miss you on the podcast, but we’ll still be out here on Facebook, on twitter at @seesomething, and in our newsletter! And, if you have any ideas about stories or interviews you want to hear in season 3, tell us! We’d love to hear from you at saysomething@buzzfeed.com. Eid Mubarak and see ya soon! P.S. Send us your memes.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this last episode of our Ramadan series, we hear from friends of the show about the Night of Power and what it’s like to pray all night. Ahmed talks with BuzzFeed’s Nabiha Syed and Zainab Shah about imagining God when they were kids, counting prayers, heaven and hell, and what souls are like. Then, Ahmed calls up a special guest. Follow Ahmed at @radbrowndads,  Follow Nabiha at @nabihasyed,   Follow Zainab at @zainabshah Follow the show at @seesomething and watch our new videos at facebook.com/seesomethingpodcast Find more episodes at buzzfeed.com/seesomethingsaysomething Email us at saysomething@buzzfeed.com. Our music is by The Kominas. Follow them at @TheRealKominas and kominas.bandcamp.com Subscribe to our newsletter at buzzfeed.com/seesomethingsaysomething/newsletter Read Farihas essay at https://www.buzzfeed.com/fariharoisin/i-have-the-audacity-to-be-both-things-at-once (edited) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the fourth episode of the Ramadan series, Ahmed talks to converts about the struggles and joys of finding community in immigrant Muslim masjids. First, we listen to some of the thoughts Chris St. Louis and Cassandra Villarreal recorded throughout the first few weeks of Ramadan. Then, we check in with them about cultural authenticity, losing pork but gaining biryani, and why it’s frustrating to be introduced as a convert. Then, Ahmed talks to poet Kima Jones about converting when she was full of wild teenage hormones, living in a mixed religious family, and anti-blackness in the masjid. Plus! Kima reads from her piece, The Aqiqa. Follow Ahmed at @radbrowndads. Follow Kima at @kima_jones Follow the show at @seesomething and watch our new videos at facebook.com/seesomethingpodcast Find more episodes at buzzfeed.com/seesomethingsaysomething Email us at saysomething@buzzfeed.com. Our music is by The Kominas. Follow them at @TheRealKominas and kominas.bandcamp.com Subscribe to our newsletter at buzzfeed.com/se

For the third episode in our Ramadan series, we focus on a community that isn’t often centered during Ramadan — black Muslims. First up, Ahmed talks with Sarah Hagi, who writes for Vice, about the glory of  #BlackMuslimRamadan and #BlackoutEid. Then, a longer conversation with Ikhlas Saleem, who co-hosts the Identity Politics podcast, about moving away from, and back to, the black Muslim community she grew up in. Plus — why she joined the international students association in college despite being 100% American. Finally, Ikhlas calls her mom to ask her a few questions about her first Ramadan. Follow Ahmed at @radbrowndads, Follow Sarah at @geekylonglegs, Follow Ikhlas at @i_saleem, and check out her podcast Identity Politics, Read Ikhlas’s essay here: https://www.buzzfeed.com/ikhlassaleem/the-hybrid?utm_term=.uyegP0K3Dg#.yew067vR30 Follow all our Ramadan posts here: buzzfeed.com/ramadan Watch the video “Why I Converted To Islam” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCVlytKoMLE, Follow the show at @seesome

In the second part of our Ramadan miniseries, Ahmed talks about the mosque and the challenges around building community. He’s joined by Hind Makki, creator of Side Entrance, and Margari Aziza, a writer and co-founder of The Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative, to talk about how the mosque can exclude women and black American Muslims, and why third spaces have popped up to serve communities. Then, Ahmed calls El-Farouk Khaki, the founder and Imam of the Toronto Unity Mosque, to hear about radical tawhid and creating inclusive spaces. Follow Ahmed at @radbrowndads, Follow Margari at @Margari_Aziza and @MuslimARC, Follow Hind at @HindMakki and @SideEntrance, Follow El Farouk on FB at @El-Farouk-Khaki-61420577540. Read Randa’s essay and more at buzzfeed.com/ramadan Follow the show at @seesomething and facebook.com/seesomethingpodcast, Subscribe to our newsletter buzzfeed.com/seesomethingsaysomething/newsletter, Find more episodes at buzzfeed.com/seesomethingsaysomething, Email us at saysomething@buzzfeed.com. Ou

Ramadan Mubarak folks! It’s that magical 30 days where we’re all hungry and sleepy and trying to be a better person. See Something Say Something is celebrating this Ramadan with a mini-series. And this first episode is all about fasting. Ahmed talks to Kamelya Omayma Youssef, who grew up in Dearborn, MI, with parents who didn’t fast. At a certain point as a teenager, she had to figure out what she wanted to do. Then, Ahmed is joined by comedian Aman Ali to talk about how he drove across the country six years ago, breaking his fast in a new state and a new mosque every night. And finally, we hear from former competitive Olympic weightlifter Kulsoom Abdullah, about how professional athletes train during Ramadan.  Follow Ahmed at @radbrowndads,  Follow Kamelya on instagram at @kamelya.omayma,  Follow Aman at @amanali, Follow Kulsoom at @liftingcovered.  Find more Sally's articles and more at buzzfeed.com/ramadan Follow the show at @seesomething and facebook.com/seesomethingpodcast,  Subscribe to our newsletter

Here’s a sneak peek at the first episode in our Ramadan series — it’s all about fasting, and it’s coming out on Monday. In the meantime, we want to know how you’re feeling about and getting ready for Ramadan. Let us know at saysomething@buzzfeed.com. And, of course, Ramadan Mubarak! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[Spoiler Alert] Master of None: Season 2 is out, and we’re just as excited as you are. From the romance between Dev and Francesca, to confronting racist Tinder dates (post-sex), the season takes on a lot. So, we wanted to talk about it! Ahmed is joined by BuzzFeed Senior Culture Writer Bim Adewunmi and ‎Senior Social Media Editor Abid Anwar to dissect one of the most talked-about episodes in the series, “Religion.” They dig into why Navid's sudden pork addiction isn't believable, moments that remind them of their own family, and whether Dev knows he’s an asshole. And be warned: There are a ton of spoilers for this one episode, and light spoilers for the rest of the season. Follow Ahmed at @radbrowndads,  Follow Bim at @bimadew,  Don't follow Abid.  Follow the show at @seesomething and facebook.com/seesomethingpodcast,  Subscribe to our newsletter buzzfeed.com/seesomethingsaysomething/newsletter,  Find more episodes at buzzfeed.com/seesomethingsaysomething,  Email us at saysomething@buzzfeed.com.  Our music i

The studio is decorated. The corsages are fastened. Someone even came to the episode taping in their high school prom dress. That’s right, it’s the See Something Say Something senior prom. Prom committee co-chairs Ahmed Ali Akbar and Tabir Akhter read our listener stories about praying Maghrib in the limo and rocking traditional clothing. Then they chat with two whip-smart high school seniors — Rahat Huda and Noshin Chowdhury — about choreographed promposals, negotiating with parents, and why prom probably isn’t the most important night of your life. Finally we get tips from BuzzFeed fashion icon Nabiha Syed on halal-ifying your prom look. Follow Ahmed at @radbrowndads. Follow Tabir at @tabir. Follow Nabiha @nabihasyed. Follow the show at @seesomething and facebook.com/seesomethingpodcast, Subscribe to our newsletter buzzfeed.com/seesomethingsaysomething/newsletter, Find more episodes at buzzfeed.com/seesomethingsaysomething, Email us at saysomething@buzzfeed.com. Our music is by The Kominas. Follow them

In 2014, things were looking up for Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir. She held scoring records in Massachusetts for basketball and had a successful run in the NCAA which she hoped to turn into a professional career. Then, her dreams were put on hold when she realized that wearing the hijab is banned by FIBA, basketball's international governing body. Since then, she’s been fighting to change the rule. This week, FIBA finally decided to overturn the ban and players can now wear hijab. Earlier in the week, before the decision came down, Ahmed invited Bilqis and sports writer Shireen Ahmed to talk about FIBA, football, basketball, and encouraging Muslim girls to play sports. Then, sports superfan Rawan Eewshah joined the show to talk about Muslim sports icons and why Kareem Abdul-Jabbar may have actually been the GOAT. Follow Bilqis on Instagram @qis_mo, Follow Shireen @_shreenahmed_, Follow Rawan @rawan, Read about FIBA’s rule and the decision to overturn it here: https://www.buzzfeed.com/aishagani/muslim-athletes-will-s

Ahmed reveals his nerdy side in this special video game themed episode. In Level 1, Ahmed talks to his cousins, siblings Nyle and Basim (of the Kominas!) Usmani, about how video games bring them together and why killing brown folks in Call of Duty makes them feel nauseous. In Level 2, Ahmed calls up Rami Ismail, co-founder of Dutch indie game studio Vlambeer, to get an insider’s take on the cultural insensitivity of first-person shooter games set in the Middle East and how being Muslim affects the way he designs his games. Level 3 is not in the podcast at all — IT’S AN ESSAY. Ahmed writes about playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare for the first time. Read it at bzfd.it/2pF5ox5. Follow Ahmed at @radbrowndads, Follow Nyle at @RBDTheNZA, Follow Basim at @BasiRoti, Follow Rami Ismail at @tha_rami and find his games at ridiculousfishing.com and nuclearthrone.com. Follow the show: @seesomething and facebook.com/seesomethingpodcast, Subscribe to our newsletter buzzfeed.com/seesomethingsaysomething/newsletter, Rea

Ahmed talks with Arnesa Buljusmic-Kustura—an analyst, organizer, and author of Letters from Diaspora: Stories of War and its Aftermath—about drinking culture in Bosnian Muslim communities. They talk about that one uncle who would always let you try his beer, the double standard for men and women who drink, and Alcoholism and PTSD. Plus, all of the social pressure to drink or not drink as you get older. Follow Ahmed at @radbrowndads,  Follow Arnesa at @Rrrrnessa, You can pick up a copy of Letters from Diaspora: Stories of War and its Aftermath at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AK7OZOY, Follow the show at @seesomething and facebook.com/seesomethingpodcast, Subscribe to our newsletter buzzfeed.com/seesomethingsaysomething/newsletter, Find more episodes at buzzfeed.com/seesomethingsaysomething, Email us at saysomething@buzzfeed.com. Our music is by The Kominas. Follow them at @TheRealKominas and kominas.bandcamp.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices