Muhammad's Podcast

What does a termite have to do with the greatest empire in human history? More than you'd think.In this episode we dive deep into Volume 2 of Al-Bidaya wan-Nihaya (Tarikh Ibn Kathir), the monumental 14th century masterwork by Allama Ibn Kathir, from the Urdu translation by Prof. Kokab Shadani.We explore one of the most psychologically rich sections of Islamic history — the rise and fall of the Israelite kingdom — and discover that the mechanisms driving ancient civilizations are identical to the ones shaping our world today.In this episode:👑 Why the Israelites rejected the king God chose for them — and what that reveals about how we judge leaders today💧 The River Test — how Talut used thirst to separate the disciplined from the weak before facing Goliath⚔️ How an unknown young man named Dawud defeated the giant Jalut — and what discipline had to do with it🐦 The miraculous golden age of Sulaiman — commanding birds, ants, wind, and the Jinn🪲 The termite that brought down the greatest empire on earth — and the profound theological lesson behind it📜 Nebuchadnezzar's destruction of Jerusalem — and why burning books is deadlier than burning buildings🫏 Uzair's 100-year sleep — fresh food, a pile of bones, and the resurrection of a donkey✊ Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist) — the man who chose integrity over survivalThis episode is a commentary and analysis based on Al-Bidaya wan-Nihaya (Tarikh Ibn Kathir), Volume 2, Urdu translation by Prof. Kokab Shadani, published by Nafees Urdu Academy, Karachi. We encourage listeners to read the original work.

What if a 14th-century scholar attempted to fact-check the entire universe — from the moment of creation all the way to the apocalypse? That's exactly what Allama Ibn Kathir did in his monumental masterpiece Al-Bidaya wan-Nihaya (البدایہ والنہایہ) — The Beginning and the End.In this episode we explore Volume 1 of the Urdu translation by Prof. Kokab Shadani, unpacking Ibn Kathir's ruthless methodology for separating historical truth from folklore, his cosmic map of the universe, the unseen world of angels and jinn, and the deeply human stories of the early prophets — from Adam to Ibrahim to Yusuf.Topics covered:Ibn Kathir's life and his strict Isnad-based fact-checking methodologyThe physical architecture of the cosmos — heavens, earth, and the Bahr al-MashhurAngels, Jinn, and Iblis — and why the name "Azrael" is not in the QuranThe origin of idol worship — how love and grief created the first false godsThe stories of Adam, Seth, Ibrahim, Yaqub, and YusufThis episode is a commentary and analysis based on Al-Bidaya wan-Nihaya (Tarikh Ibn Kathir), Volume 1, Urdu translation by Prof. Kokab Shadani, published by Nafees Urdu Academy, Karachi. We encourage listeners to read the original work.