EP20: Why Knowing Islam Isn’t Changing Your Life | Mohammed Al-Ubaidy & Shahrez Hayder
Hey everyone, Umer here!
You can know the truth… and still not live it.
That was the tension at the heart of this conversation with Mohammed Al-Ubaidy and Shahrez Hayder. Not a lack of knowledge. Not a lack of access. But something deeper.
At one point, it was broken down in the simplest way possible:
“You don’t need more information… you need to remove everything.”
Because the problem isn’t that we don’t know. It’s that something inside us is blocking what we already know.
Here’s what I learned.
The Heart Over the Mind Most people think truth is something you arrive at through logic. But in this conversation, it became clear that truth is not reached through the mind alone. It is something the heart recognizes when it is still and sincere.
“We tried to reach our way to Him through the mind… but when we surrendered, He opened the pathway.”
That line reframes everything. It is not about proving faith. It is about softening the heart enough to receive it. When the heart is noisy, distracted, or hardened, even the clearest truth feels distant.
Fix the Inner, Fix the Outer We often blame our environment, our circumstances, or the world around us. But the Quran makes it clear that change begins within. The external life is only a reflection of the internal state.
“Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves.”
That means the real work is internal. Not more information. Not more opinions. Just purification. When the inside changes, the outside follows naturally.
The Doorway Is the Heart Everything kept coming back to one idea: the heart is the entry point. It is not just part of faith. It is the center of it.
“Neither the heavens nor the earth can contain Me… except the heart of a believing servant.”
That puts things into perspective. If the heart is blocked by anger, jealousy, or ego, the connection is blocked. But when the heart is clean, it becomes a space where faith is lived, not just understood.
Abundance Starts Within We often chase outcomes. More money, better relationships, a better life. But the conversation flipped that idea completely. What you experience externally depends on what you hold internally.
“If you change what’s within you… your rizq will be summoned, not chased.”
That shift is powerful. Instead of chasing results, you build the identity that can hold them. When the internal state is aligned, everything else begins to align with it.
Everything Is a Mercy One of the most challenging ideas was also the most transformative. What if every situation, even hardship, is a form of mercy?
“It’s a mercy of Allah… no matter what happens.”
This perspective changes how you experience life. Instead of reacting with frustration or fear, you begin to look for meaning. And in that shift, even difficulty becomes a path to growth.
You See What You Focus On Where your attention goes, your experience follows. If you focus on what is missing, life feels empty. If you focus on what is present, life feels full.
“When you look deeply for blessings… you start seeing more blessings.”
It is a simple idea, but not an easy one to live. It requires awareness. But once you start practicing it, your entire reality begins to shift.
Presence Is the Real Connection We talk about living in the present moment, but rarely practice it. This conversation made it clear that presence is not a concept. It is an experience.
“Everything in life is an experience… and when you notice it, you become present.”
When you slow down and actually observe what is around you, you reconnect. Not just with life, but with the One who created it. That is where peace begins.
Purification Through Tests Hardship is often seen as something negative. But in reality, it is part of the process of becoming who you are meant to be.
“Isn’t it in ruins where you usually find the treasure?”
That line stayed with me. The discomfort, the pressure, the struggles… they are not random. They are shaping something within you that comfort never could.
Love Over Fear At the highest level, faith is not driven by fear or reward. It is driven by love. A love that changes how you act, think, and live.
“When you truly love Allah… the desire to sin disappears.”
That is a different level entirely. It is not about forcing discipline. It is about becoming someone who no longer wants what pulls them away from their Creator.
If this resonated with you, the full episode dives deeper into immigration, leadership, resilience, and building a life grounded in values.
Watch the full conversation on The Path We Choose.
Watch Full Episode
Thanks for tuning in. I hope this episode encourages you to live authentically and embrace your own path with resilience.
Best,
Umer Farooque
Host, The Path We Choose
