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South Asian / Desi dads in their 40s stumble through fatherhood, midlife, and cultural chaos — with laughs along the way.
Welcome to NaanSense! 🎙️ A podcast where dads in their 40s share the funny, messy, and real side of parenting, culture, and aging.
We overthink, overshare, and make each other laugh… usually by accident. It’s equal parts wisdom and NaanSense! 🙏🤪
What you’ll hear:
--> Honest convos about fatherhood & parenting in your 40s 👨👧👦
--> Real talk on South Asian / Desi culture, identity & family life 🌏
--> Midlife curveballs — health, aging, and everything in between 🎂
--> Humor, storytelling, and the chaos of being dads 😂
📅 New episodes weekly-ish — humor and fun semi-guaranteed.
Test one, two, three.
Do you have to do more jazbaati But have you been to Khutbahs at the Masjid?
They're always loud and angry.
Khudba Khudba Musalla Khudba man I can't tell you how much I miss the Musalla Khudba
wish there was like feedback forms like rate my hood, but you know, it's like rate my
professor rate my sermon
You guys are.
Underestimating how brutal uncles and aunties can be, because I think every time they're
just be like unhappy, unhappy, unhappy, like
Hey, everyone.
Welcome to NaanSense My name is Ahmed Mirza.
I am your host.
Think of NaanSense as a show for dads to open up.
and talk freely about what it means to be a dad.
I'll be joined by Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dum, as usual, Sajid and Ahmad.
we generally have a South Asian flavor on things.
So we tend to overshare, overthink, and we occasionally make fun of each other.
So join us for the ride.
It'll be a fun one as we stumble through all this NaanSense So with that, gentlemen,
welcome to the show.
Thank you.
Here we are.
Yeah.
actually does someone want to explain what a khutbah is?
isn't it closer to a sermon where every Friday you go to Jummah, it's like going to
church, and you get you get to listen to I think usually it's about 20 minutes or so.
It's not that long.
And.
Yeah.
for like 30 40 minutes and everyone starts like getting antsy but yeah.
but I think the very like.
I think the community has improved on over the last 40 years, 30 years.
like, they got so much pressure to condense it down to the solid 20 ah
because I've been to Khutbahs in Pakistan and other places.
it's just the variance.
This is what bothers me is the variance is just too high.
For the erics of the world, it's just, who are we to address?
Eric, as much as we love you, we do have to give out a shout out to George.
We called out Trevor last time, this time it'll be George.
OK, so for georgias of the world, I think it's interesting that there are Khutbahs that we
go to where it's just straight up somebody yelling about random stuff that is just
completely off the rails
it reminds me of, Homer's dad?
You know, the old man, just like yelling crazy stuff.
Just so random.
it's like a Desi version of Alex Jones is sometimes on one end.
I'm like, this straight up conspiracy theory is being spewed out.
And on the other hand, you're like, OK, there's
be clear, don't think there was a single Khutbah you've been to where they said that
school shootings are
uh in terms of yelling uncles, a lot of young guys are also resorting to that like yelling
style because they're so like passionate.
Like that resonates for some of the audience.
must, because those people are doing it so much.
What.
for you guys?
Hell no.
I just tuned him out.
Salman's asking why are our good Khutbah's actually that exciting?
And I got to say, like, this does get at me when I go to could buzz where it's enriching.
I really walk out feeling like, OK, inspired and like just like, yeah, like connected.
then.
Yeah, that's the whole idea.
Yeah.
And.
And I will drive a little bit farther if I have to to like get that because I think it's
so valuable.
I think the big shift I saw Emad over the years is essentially like, I remember when I was
younger, there would be a lot of discussion about hellfire and how you'll end up in
hellfire and how bad it is and like the very like
you are headed there if you don't approach and now it's much more.
No, yeah, that was actually one on one sessions that I said.
That was my madrassa session.
Oh my God, I have some stories from my madrassa when I was.
No, no, mother's.
God, here we go.
No, I read the Quran at the mosque.
We have to this shit out, dude.
I'm going to get into some trouble.
literally on YouTube you'll have.
No, I have a story from when I read the Quran with the Imam of the Masjid.
so I guess Quran classes is what that's called.
did that come out so awkward?
Yeah.
So I have stories, so many stories from my Quran teacher.
And one of them was, one time we were up in like this upstairs attic, tiny little room
with, um, a fan and.
me, I'm trying to read.
He's like correcting me.
My ears are all burning red and stuff.
And he'd be like, you know,
Read it correctly.
I'm gonna hang you from the fan.
And I still remember that dude.
was like, holy crap.
Like you're gonna hang me from the fan?
But look at your like look at your qirat now, man.
You're so good.
are great, yeah,
You invent it.
tell you guys this story from my khutbah recently here.
they had to make an announcement.
They're like, hey, guys, we've been getting a lot of complaints about our security guards.
they always wear those camo things.
A lot of people were complaining that they thought ICE was at the musallah And they're
like, no, no, we hired these people in case ICE shows up so that to make a...
Yeah.
This is hilarious.
Yeah.
But it's funny that they make this announcement.
Weird time.
Yeah.
It's a weird time.
think there's a lot of emotions.
And I think that's why I enjoy our conversation so much is, we're actively trying to take
a break from all those things and have like a casual conversation that's, you know,
sometimes semi-serious.
and out of the blue and complete nonsense.
Yeah, I agree.
It was very clear.
Okay.
Well, let's move on.
We have a big show Was that necessary, Sajid?
Was that like, is this dinner time?
What like, what are we doing?
You're eating during the show?
Like, I feel bad enough for drinking water.
You're like, let me just have a chomp.
You guys should be happy I'm not like unwrapping
It's really awkward.
Please, please don't do it.
So main topic tonight, we're going to touch on the topic of belonging.
And what does belonging actually look like?
Um,
Well, heavy.
Yeah.
So I guess my first question is, you know, belonging is sort of a loaded term.
What does that mean to you?
Ahmad, do want to take this while I think about it?
you know
I've thought a lot about this because I grew up in Pakistan and a lot of cousins from the
US and I would have these deep conversations with them in my late teen years I predicted
that they would struggle with belonging and I felt the same as I moved to the US I was
like this is going to become a big deal like
the sense of belonging and how it manifests itself in different parts of our lives.
And it became an even bigger deal when 9-11 happened for me.
I don't know if you guys felt the same way.
9-11 really made it feel like, this is going to be a big, big gap to fill.
And obviously, this is a spectrum.
We don't talk about politics too much, the Obama election, no matter which side you're on,
like it just was a very inspiring moment that as an American, you can belong here no
matter where you come from.
I think had a huge impact.
I don't know.
I want to hear what you guys were born and raised here.
What do you guys think about it?
Yeah, I think you touched on some really like major moments, like same moments for me
growing up but.
I think I've felt much more welcomed and a lot of the issues of belonging were oftentimes
things I was playing in my head more than what was happening to me in real life.
Because I also got really lucky, I think, you know, I've been in places and situations
where
I've been surrounded by good people, and I think that's just like.
just being really fortunate.
For me, a lot of it is like, what is your immediate neighborhood feel like and what are
the people like?
How are they treating you?
thinking back on it, like has been very overwhelmingly positive.
So I feel really, really fortunate for that.
For me, if I were to simplify it, it's have you found your people?
And I think as you go through life, there are different versions of you, right?
and that, as people enter your life, you adjust, right?
When I was married, you I was I was a different person and then when you add kids, know
You kind of adjust and change and you know belonging changes over time It's not just one
thing
right?
So that's sort of how I view it
think you're bringing up such an interesting concept because we all live different
chapters of our lives.
And as those chapters change, you may feel belonging in some chapters and other chapters
you're trying to fit
I recently met up with one of my high school friends I hadn't seen in like more than a
decade.
he had also evolved and moved to different countries, lived a different life.
But we like, were able to get back along very much from where we left off.
And you could feel that like, I didn't have to put up any mask to hang out with my friend,
but there is another 50 % of my friends I went to high school with that I would have to
switch back into this very like.
different version of myself that I was back in high school in order to like fit in
I think a lot of it is around where you can show up without pretense.
So I feel like I had a really big moment of finding, community and belonging.
Like you guys of course know that I lost my mom, just a few weeks ago.
And the way that I had people show up for me, like, was very poignant.
People that I've, you know, that I see every day, like you guys and the way you guys
showed up all the way through to, like, people I hadn't seen for years and, the way they
showed up.
And, like, I think when you have that, I think, like, there's this, like, like, this
moment really, like, helped me realize, like,
the value of community of like, you know, feeling like you belong and feeling like you're
accepted and like, you know, people show up and say things that like they never would have
before.
Right.
Like things that they appreciate or like, I don't know, like things that they observed.
And it's like.
Like you like maybe for the first time ever, I felt seen in a way that like I didn't I
didn't know existed.
So I think I think that's like an example of for me, like
Belonging turns into something really like kind of like so deeply connected to your human,
relationships and like your sense of self.
So, I think being seen in that way without pretense is probably like the biggest, biggest
kind of
realization that.
Hmm.
I think that's such a...
I think that's like such a big part of managing life today is like finding those people
that you can connect with at such a deep level that they show up for you when obviously
things are going well, but they also show up for you when, you know, maybe it's some of
your darkest days.
And I think that, you know, really defines like friendship.
think it defines manhood.
think some of that tends to get lost in
like our social media and digital worlds of today.
I think that's spot on this fact that you bring up around social media because Like so
much of our world is virtual and so much of our world is like places where you have to be
performative because it's a part of the thing, right?
Like that's just what it is.
But.
in real life when people are connecting, I think that's where real belonging happens, you
know?
Like, and it's like, that pretense goes away.
All right.
So belonging is an interesting topic in and of itself and deserves more time.
you know, obviously given the presence of Ramadan that's coming up, I wanted to tie
belonging into, Ramadan.
how does belonging play into it?
You know, what's happening in Ramadan?
You what's the difference of Ramadan?
from when we were celebrating it as kids.
Ramadan is a beautiful month of blessings, prayer and dates.
um
thing is fasting dude, like you should have said that.
Yeah, you should have led with fasting.
Okay, well, since you brought it up, please enlighten us on how are we fasting and what
are we fasting for?
So first thing that you need to know is you can't have sex during Ramadan or during the
fasting time.
I don't know what else.
There's some other things.
I don't know.
What else?
There's some other things you can't do either.
can't.
People are flexible on other stuff, but this one's for sure you can't do.
What other things are people are like, okay, having like a, like having some carrots?
Like, what do mean they're flexible and other stuff?
people who are like, you know, I do fasting, but like, I can't, I can't stop drinking the
water.
have to do the water.
So yeah, not legit, legit.
Like I have heard that I have hung out with too many people, obviously.
Right.
Like, but
like, these are the people he feels like he belongs with, the ones that like make these
exceptions.
like I hear that.
we talked about it.
about Ramadan back then versus now.
Like, it felt like Ramadan used to be simpler and now it feels like it's much more
produced.
your thoughts?
talking to my wife about this, and she's like, it used to be called Ramzan and now it's
called Ramadan.
And that's your dad joke for the day.
I'm like, all right, I'll make sure I mentioned that.
wow.
Okay.
Just just for our listeners, the difference there being Ramadan coming from the Arabic
term.
So there's, you know, a D in there.
And then Ramzan is more of the Persian Urdu influence.
So they changed the D to a Z.
But all preference all the same.
remember.
I don't even remember.
I don't really know.
Yeah, but it definitely was a shift because I don't remember it being called Ramadan
growing up.
Well, I think there's this like whole Arabification of Muslim Desis, right?
before everyone said, Khuda Hafiz, and now it's like Allah Hafiz.
And it's like, uh-uh, now you say, Assalamu Alaikum or Fi Amanillah or something, right?
it's very like, Desis are, I think Desis have a chip on their shoulder and are like, you
know, trying to be more Arab.
know, how are you doing your Ramzans now versus how'd you do them before?
How were you doing your rems on before and now differently?
now he's not having sex.
I think it's very clear He's answered the question
can't take a hint dude.
He just like keeps coming back to the same damn question
You
just curious, you know?
So when you say water,
You
okay, I think like the big shift in Ramadan, Ramadan is I think when we were growing up,
was like everything was assumed and now everything is curated.
So what I mean by that is when we were younger,
our parents were kind of like, they kind of assume we will kind of follow this religion
and kind of do the practices just because that's who we are.
Like that's our identity.
And I think for the three of us and a lot of people that worked, for a lot of people it
didn't work.
But I think now it's much more curated because
Since we grew up here, like we recognize that as first generation American Muslim, like we
have to be thoughtful about what our kids are going to experience as it relates to
Ramadan, what we want to highlight, what we want them to be excited about, what we, you
know, want to like really make into a big festive thing and other things that are like,
you know, maybe going to like not resonate for them, right?
It's like the, it's like the kutbah thing, like.
Mm-hmm.
Like what message, what version of this message are you providing?
I think that it's become much bigger and like much more of a thing.
I think it's like, it's good in in the aggregate.
Yeah, there's some people or some things that are like are extra or whatever, but like.
But like, know, the communities got bigger, like the festivities are getting bigger.
So I think, I think all those things are positive.
you in the camp of, we're overdoing it or are we just better organized and more,
thoughtfulness behind it?
Yeah, for overall, I'm in camp, too.
I think that we are a larger community now.
Many, many more Masjids Like the more Masjids you build, the more communities you create,
the more people will like find their community and engage.
And people are engaging in different ways.
Like, do I think that some of the.
some of the like, Suhoor stuff or some of the Iftars are over the top.
Well, of course, but, you know, to each their own,
you're the one that's like begging to go to Sahur Fest and all these things.
So I don't know what you're complaining about.
That was one of the most fun like minivan trips I've had.
I don't know.
That was so great.
Yeah, please.
Like we tried to actually go to a festival and there's a line.
It was like four blocks or something like that.
that's true.
It was also very clear that you add the sizzle.
Why don't you add the sizzle, buddy?
Okay, so over the last few years for Ramadan to build community a lot of people have
started holding these like Suhoor fest basically the the meal that you eat before you fast
people meet up
In large parking lots, They have food trucks and all this stuff.
generally, it's geared towards like a bunch of 20 year olds for people to mingle, hang out
with their friends.
So.
but in like real life.
But the context being that a bunch of 35 to 40 year old men jump into a minivan and drive
an hour.
only to find
it's definitely not our demographic Yeah complete mess
But pretty ironic for what Ramadan's supposed to be about.
Well, know, it is, like people are trying to find community and belonging.
So I, you know, I don't fault them.
But yeah, I do agree that some of that stuff can get a bit performative, but okay, go on.
uh
We're at the Middle Eastern restaurant and short enough, somebody in our group has the
name Muhammad and everybody who's ordering has the same name.
And this is the fastest service we've ever received.
it showed up literally in like 10 minutes.
And we're like, wow, this is amazing.
Turns out.
Yeah.
yeah, Mohammed's right here.
It's us.
When the food was ready.
So, so wait, did we take someone else's food?
for sure.
Yeah.
sure.
Because then they were announcing our Muhammad's name for the next like hour.
Wait, so did you take that food also then?
No, we're not animals.
Like this is great.
Let's eat our food.
Yeah.
Yeah.
it.
other thing that might have changed, in my opinion, so the primary idea is you're fasting.
You're not eating or drinking throughout the day.
And the conception that most people would have is that, it's like a weight loss program
that's built into your ear.
And it certainly is not.
For me, it's like pakora fest.
Like I literally cannot keep my hands off pakora during Ramadan.
to, I do want to point out to our viewers and our fans that the irony of Sajid drinking
and eating while we're talking about fasting is sort
I think he's just preparing.
It's like he's a prepper.
Yeah.
You can eat at night.
It's nighttime right now and I'm recording.
I don't see.
Whoa.
go have it here.
Wow.
Like, na salam na doa sida.
uh
like I belong right now at all.
Hahaha!
man.
I do want to say like in my college years and early twenties, you know, there was, you
know, obviously it's like the prehistoric era before social media.
But, you know, I think it was harder to find belonging then.
you know, the Islamic center at NYU did a really great job of curating a space that was
sort of modern.
liberal progressive but also rooted in Islamic principles and teachings so you got both
worlds and You know, I think that that experience is so uniquely New York and so different
you know, everyone tends to live obviously in a bubble but like
the IC, you know, and it was called IC, the IC did such a great job of creating that
community and space at a time when, you know, post 9-11, you know, the world was pretty
scary for Muslims.
So, you know, they created a safe space and made sure that there was food and laughter and
just safety for everyone.
And you know, I actually met my wife at one of those iftars and that's when we started
talking.
Told you it's the Tinder Tinder in real life.
Yeah.
in real life.
do think those types of institutions should get a lot of credit similarly MSAs on many
campuses, including at UCLA when I was an undergrad there was such a good way to connect.
And then later, I think for me, there was an Islamic center in uh LA is like the one of
the two oldest Islamic centers and the whole metro area.
And my wife and I started going there soon after we got married.
And that was like another big moment for me.
Like we met friends there who are still friends with and.
You know, we had like two classes there,
It was similarly very diverse, and I think that's what made it special.
they they encouraged discourse and like different points of view.
I think this goes to faith and belonging and from permeate laser, you know, hand in hand
at different points in your life, you need a different type of.
uh
way to connect.
sometimes it's very emotional or visceral or sometimes more intellectual and sometimes
it's more maybe spiritual.
It might be academic.
like, it's kind of like finding what works for you in that, phase of your life, you and
then taking advantage of it.
like, at different stages of our lives, Ramadan has played a different role.
Now that we have kids, it plays a very different role than it did when we were younger.
yeah, so I guess on that point, how are you treating Ramadan now thinking about your kids,
right, and your families?
Like, how has Ramadan changed in that perspective?
this is going to be the first year that our son's going to do his first fast.
So we're excited about that.
Right?
Like it's going to be.
Yeah.
So it should be, it should be good.
It's always good when it's closer to wintertime.
I thought that was what you were asking about, like how has it changed?
like, yeah, it used to be in the winter, then it was in the summer again, now it's in the
winter again.
Yeah.
that kind of works out, right?
We had it in the winter when we were kind of in those formative teenage years.
And I think our kids will too.
And that actually helps a lot.
Yeah.
Big time.
They're like, this is easy.
This is easy.
wait till it
ends at 9pm every day.
yeah, I feel like Ramadan has become more and more enriching and inshallah continues to be
like that as we get older or as I get older.
I think, the intentionality is really high with when you have kids
it's an opportunity to educate but also like an opportunity to, just like create this like
lovely family experience, right?
Like the shared dua or shared prayers, And then like the obvious in the meal um
and then extending that to like the community stuff.
the community aspect has really developed or matured for us on a personal level, because
we came out of that like really.
young kid phase, right?
Those first like ages zero to five, you're just like kind of hungered down in your own
world.
Yeah.
And then afterwards you can, you start coming out and like, it becomes like a real like,
joy to have that like community part.
I think for me, it's so different.
Like my family, when I was younger, we didn't frequent the Masjid for Ramadan.
It just wasn't a thing.
You know, we would go for Eid and during the last 10 nights, we would go But it wasn't...
you know, such a, like a thing to look forward to.
And I think like that's my perception of Ramadan is that it moved from being like a chore
or like a task Like, I'm obligated to do this thing to now being like, actually I
understand why this is happening.
It's, it's a way to, you know, find peace within yourself, but also build community,
And now that you have kids, think it's having your kids looking forward to, hey, I wanna
go and break my fast there because so-and-so is gonna be there.
think that's, to me, that's pretty exciting.
I had a very similar experience growing up because my whole family would like we would do
iftar together, which is really fun.
But then like my dad, my Dada would lead the Taraweeh and do it himself at home.
So like, and man, as a kid, there these like infinity.
Like, this is never gonna end.
I kind of had the opposite experience like I was living in the masjid more or less like we
would go for Taraweeh We would go.
Definitely we were going lots of if stars and the Mazda 2 or like midday like we go for
this or her or something like it was it was it's always a
to it?
how close were you?
Like this is like, this seems like a
Yeah.
Five, seven minute drive, like really close.
Yeah.
That was like one of the parameters and where my dad and mom wanted to live always to,
um
thinking about like the meta point of Ramadan that like that as from a human perspective,
we're creatures of habit.
what I think it is meant to do is to break your habits and have you relearn habits, right?
Build, rebuild good habits potentially and then break bad ones.
And it's just, like a resetting point.
Like it will re no matter what your habits are.
go to the gym, go to work, how you eat, what you eat, all of that just like gets a hit
reset button.
oh
like in startup land, it's like the ultimate disruption, right?
Like to the status quo, right?
It's like, you will get disrupted by, by design.
And I think it's a very beautiful thing in the sense that you have to relearn how to build
habits again.
Like coffee, right?
I like start, I picked up coffee this year.
Mm-hmm.
it's gonna go away again.
And I have a chance to like, get rid of that again, you know?
So.
Yeah.
is how like everybody's able to do it, you know, like,
Yeah.
And everybody, everybody in your community is kind of going through it.
So you're like, all right, it's just happening by default.
Yeah.
I mean, I'm not going to pretend like it's easy, but it is way easier to fast in Ramadan
than like if you randomly pick a day, you know, Yeah, and you have like smokers or you
have like people with like, you know, very serious habits that like are disabled to walk
away from it.
And I think that is really like it's a blessing and it is really beautiful.
And
Like, how do you maintain it after, right?
Like, I think that's like the hardest part.
Like, how do you sustain that level of um discipline?
Totally.
always, that's always hard.
So, okay.
It looks like what I'm hearing is Ramadan still has the same meaning just in a different,
lens for our families So I think like that leads me to kind of our third area that I want
to talk about.
And I think this is really important to
Maybe you're too religious in those non-Muslim spaces.
How do you
navigate any thoughts there?
I mean, I think the dual identity part was such a big part of my existence.
Yeah, like growing up.
I don't know, in some ways continues to be, right?
Like it just has taken different forms.
Like this being authentic thing, like just be truly authentic feels like a farce almost.
I feel like I can show up and say very comfortably, I'm fasting in a way that I definitely
didn't even maybe 10 years ago, you know, like, or, or just say that I'm, I'm Muslim or,
or I don't drink.
Yeah.
Like I think, yeah.
But growing up as a kid, like, yeah, I had a totally different identity at home versus at
school versus at the masjid.
And I see my kids and so far, and this is something that like I really want to focus on
for them.
Like I think they have more of a uniform identity, they all like, talk about, being being
Muslim or talk about their.
American identity, like it's much more like normal and maybe because they have parents
that are like, you know, grew up here.
But I think it's also the acceptance.
Like
you know, thinking about the difference between how I felt seen versus my kids an example,
my daughter, her teacher last year.
wore this crescent necklace around the time Ramadan started.
Just cause, just she wanted to like, make my daughter feel seen and you know, just out of
love.
And it's like, dude, that's amazing.
Like I don't think my teachers even knew about Ramadan.
Well, my son went and like told his teacher and made sure that it's on the calendar
because they have other holidays on the calendar and she was happy to do it.
And like, that's amazing.
I'm like, we would be in such a different spot.
we're never going to mention this.
yeah, my son, last couple of years, he's been so excited about Ramadan and what it means,
that he's taken like these little packets with like a date inside And he's passed it out
to his classmates.
Again, like our kids are so amazingly resilient.
They're being raised in an age where they're so comfortable with their identity.
And I think that's something, we just, we didn't have, you know, whether it was trauma
passed on by previous generations, but I'm glad that our kids are, past that trauma,
right?
Their, their traumas will be something else, but at least it's not their identity.
So.
These things are really delicate, so it's like I feel really fortunate that we have it and
I hope it continues because it can change in any way.
But talk about being seen.
Home goods where, the average middle-aged shopper shops, They have Ramadan decor, like
full on.
I remember like growing up it would be impossible to find any place to talk about Ramadan,
right?
And like now we have places that are actively supporting it, commercializing it.
um So, you know, there is a little bit of whiplash because, you know, for
all of us, it's probably like, wait, it's okay to be Muslim, it's okay to show our
identity.
So I do battle it.
line.
A lot of the big retailers have Ramadan lines and I think it all comes down to economics,
right?
Like
But do think we're just getting pimped out and commercialized?
Should we welcome it?
Should we not participate in it?
cross our values, like it doesn't cross a a line in terms of doing something to to offend
Muslims, I think it's a good thing.
You know, being a part of mainstream commercial America is like this is kind of like
that's normal.
You know, American values are centered around a lot of
these types of things and that's okay.
So does that mean you feel enough now?
You feel like you're being seen or do you proceed cautiously?
long ways to go.
think we're just in, know, wave like two right now.
You have immigrant generation, you have first generation.
I think in the next, 30 to 50 years is going to be very different.
And I think there's, you know, we still don't have large institutions.
We don't have large universities, hospitals, so many other things that we can build and.
you know, do good for the community, both Muslim and the broader community.
And I think that's like, I think we're starting to see that.
And that's exciting to me.
Yeah, I think that's interesting.
as we prosper in the community, we have to have a broader impact on the rest of the
community in a way that is
congruent, right?
Like, if it's so divergent from the broader community, then it can have a very negative
impact in the long run, right?
So I don't know like how to reconcile that.
So again, going back to belonging versus fitting in.
Right.
I think we will have to struggle with that as a broader community as
But I think it's all like part of the journey and it's a it's a good thing.
And it is like the example of the prophet, peace be upon him, was like, you know, there's
a road map for that.
We don't have to, like, recreate these things.
contrary to what
nonsense narratives will try to say about Muslims in American what they're trying to do.
Like, I think we have such good work we are doing a lot of Muslims are doing and I think
we can do more of and I think it like is similar to the good work that like so many
communities are doing right, like be Asian community, the African American community,
Hispanic community, so on and so forth.
So like, there's a lot of like, I think
Kind of goodness that comes out of that.
Okay, so I got some rapid fire for you to close out.
Iftar at the mosque or iftar at home?
Same.
End's down.
think I'm kind of the same.
If you could give one tip to mosques for Ramadan or iftars, what would it be?
Oh, loaded question, my guy.
One tip to the mosque,
think about as broad community engagement as you can and think outside of like the.
the protocol or methods you have always employed.
And there are people who make an exception for water.
So deal with it.
Yeah, I'm more tactical.
Let the young kids run your social, like get the word out.
They're cool, they're hip.
Let them do it.
if we're getting tactical, I'll give you a very tactical one.
Let the young kids just run around.
Like, just let them be children.
let them be kids.
Let them be kids.
Yeah.
right, next question.
Do you go to bed after your sahur or pre-dawn meal or do you stay awake?
Are we talking summer or we talking winter?
Oh.
general.
do you have to add so much?
Like, just answer the question.
in.
Yeah, I tried to go to bed.
It doesn't work.
I just lay there with my eyes.
stay up.
Sajid, what do you got?
Yeah, of course.
Yeah, of course.
Next one.
Favorite iftar meal.
Hands down, pakoras.
It has to be pakoras, right?
It has to be pakoras and samosas.
That's an appetizer.
I could eat the whole, of it.
sorry.
in some patties too.
Those are like amazing.
I mean, that stuff is so good, but.
So bad trying to avoid that stuff.
but I think you're not really enjoying it if you don't do it, you know,
think that's the whole idea, right?
Enjoy Ramadan, the big rager.
all things equal, an early Sahur or a last minute
of water?
Last minute sip of water.
No man, I'm waking up early for Sahuar and eating so much.
like an hour before.
to Sahur Fest to hang out with like the 20 year olds.
So.
but I think I'll wake up half an hour at the beginning of Ramadan and like by the last
five, I'm just like barely making it to the water.
Well, if you guys grew up going to the Masjid you would know
you wake up two hours early, you could pray Tahajjud you could read Quran and then you can
eat your meal.
I had no idea you were doing all this.
mean, that's, think we should cap it there.
That's a wonderful end note.
know, you know, my takeaway, for everyone is belonging isn't set in stone.
it changes and adjusts to who you are as, as you find out more about yourself.
Surround yourself with people that bring enrichment into your life.
And how blessed are we that we have that enrichment and support system built into us as we
head into such a big prosperous month of Ramadan.
One quick note from me before we close out.
You know, there's a lot going on in the world today But I think what needs to get said
that has gotten lost over time, especially in our virtual worlds is
People need to relearn how to feel sadness, feeling sad for other people's sadness and
feeling happy for other people's happiness.
I think that aspect, the internet and mobile devices have sort of ruined our humanity.
And if we can rediscover that, whether it's in the month of Ramadan, whether it's outside
of that, whatever your spirituality may be, I think that's a big, big to do for everyone.
Thank you so much nonsense errs for joining in this lovely conversation Ramadan Mubarak
from us if you're celebrating and last but not least Rate follow and subscribe.
We are at nonsense show on Instagram and YouTube Also send us email.
We love reading fan mail
We are nonsense show at gmail.com Big thanks to my co-host, Twiddle D and Twiddle Dumb.
And also a big host to the producer who always keeps us on track.
See you later, Nonsenseers.
Peace.
Mubarak.
Ramzan Mubarak.
Ilman.