Prophet Muhammad wanted to eradicate polythiesm and all practices associated with it, such as doing tawaaf around the kaaba naked. Surah Tawbah was revealed, which included a message that the idolaters should not be allowed near the kaaba after this year. The Prophet first sent Abu Bakr to share this news with the Meccans, but then God instructed h…

Among the delegations that came to Prophet Muhammad was on e from the Christians of Najran after their chief chief bishop and his people were invited to Islam. They came to negotiate a truce with the Prophet. They offered terms that were unacceptable to the Prophet, and he invited them to a Mubahila, a prayer for divine curse upon the liars. The Pr…

The Expedition of Tabuk demonstrated to Arabs the strength of the Muslims. Over the next year, the various tribes responded by sending the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) delegations to accept Islam and pledge their allegiance. Prophet Muhammmad welcomed them & forgave past conflicts. He focused on: - Renouncing idolatry & polytheism - Spreading Islamic kn…

Masjid ad Zarar, the Mosque of Harm, was a mosque built by the hypocrites of Madinah to coverty oppose the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). They completed it just before Prophet Muhammad departed on the Expedition of Tabuk. Upon his return, Allah revealed their hypocracy in the Quran and the Prophet ordered the mosque to be destroyed. Soon after, Abdullah …

Allah had warned Prophet Muhammad in the Quran (64:4) that his companions contained hypocrites so skilled at deceit that the prophet himself was pleased by their speech and appearance. Only revelation could expose them. Later, during the return from the Tabuk expedition, while Prophet Muhammad went through a mountain pass while instructing his army…

When leaving for Tabuk, the Prophet (s) appointed Imam Ali (as) as his deputy in Madinah to protect against any uprising led by the Munafiqeen. Explaining it's significance, he said to Imam Ali "You are to me as Harun was to Musa, except that there is no prophet after me." There were at least 7 occasions that Prophet Muhammad made such a statement …

This lecture covers the prelude to the Battle of Tabuk. Key topics include: - Birth of Ibrahim: Upon returning to Medina, the Prophet’s wife Mariya the Coptic gave birth to a son, named Ibrahim. The Angel Gabriel congratulated the Prophet on becoming a father. - Expedition of Tabuk: This was the last military campaign led by the Prophet. It aimed t…

In this 71st episode of the misaal podcast, you will listen to my conversation with Asfar Anjum — the founder of CeePrinto. A Print-on-demand platform that lets you design, customize, and sell your own products. Guest: Asfar Anjum | https://www.linkedin.com/in/asfaranjum/ Startup: Ceeprinto | https://ceeprinto.com/ Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twit…

In this 70th episode of the misaal podcast, you will listen to my conversation with Saad Khawar — co-founder of Datacade. A provider of labeling and annotation solutions for LLMs.Guest: Saad Khawar | https://www.linkedin.com/in/saad-khawar/Startup: Datacade | https://datacade.ai/Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani Startup funding n…

In this episode of the misaal podcast, I’ll give you a quarterly update on the startup ecosystem in Pakistan.As far as startup funding goes, there isn’t much to discuss, as Pakistani startups raised $0 in Q1. Still, many things happened in Q1, such as SadaPay acquisition, startup closures, layoffs, etc.It’s mostly bad news, but there’s light at the…

In this 68th episode of the misaal podcast, you will listen to my conversation with Syed Azfar Hussain — the Project Director at NIC Hyderabad. A public-private partnership-funded incubation center for ambitious entrepreneurs. Guest: Syed Azfar Hussain | https://www.linkedin.com/in/azfar84/ Organization: NIC Hyderabad | https://nichyderabad.com/ Ho…

In this 67th episode of the misaal podcast, I unpack the recent $50 million acquisition of SadaPay by Papara.Despite a challenging month with no new startup funding rounds, the ecosystem showed signs of resilience with SadaPay’s acquisition. However, there are no whiners in this deal. Discover insights into the impact of political changes on the ec…

In this 66th episode of the misaal podcast, you will listen to my conversation with Gohar Shafique — a serial entrepreneur and founder of We Want Design. An easy-to-use design and development service for startups, enterprises, and agencies. Guest: Gohar Shafique | https://www.linkedin.com/in/gohardotme/ Startup: We Want Design | https://www.wewantd…

After victory against Banu Thaqif at Hunayn, Prophet Muhammad marched his army to Ta'if, where Banu Thaqif had retreated to and barricated themselves inside with enough food and water to last them for a year. The Prophet declared any slaves who joined Islam and left the fortress would be granted freedom, and many took him up on the offer. As the si…

Banu Thaqif had been long standing rivals of the Quraysh. They saw the Quraysh's defeated as an opportunity to attack and seize control of Mecca for themselves. In response, Prophet Muhammad called all Muslims to battle and led an army of 12,000 against them. Banu Thaqif's side had over 20,000. Banu Thaqif setup an ambush in the Valley of Hunain, m…

In this 65th episode of the misaal podcast, you will listen to my conversation with Huzaifa Ahmad — the co-founder of Rizq A social impact startup that tackles the problem of food insecurity and waste through its many different programs. Guest: Huzaifa Ahmad | https://www.linkedin.com/in/huzaifa-ahmad-7026aa165/ Startup: Rizq | https://rizq.org/ Ho…

In this episode, Adeel Raza, co-founder of eLearning Evolve, shares how his free WordPress plugin proved more valuable than he first anticipated, allowing him to offer a paid version.Guest: Adeel Raza | https://www.linkedin.com/in/adeel-raza/Startup: eLearning evolve | https://elearningevolve.com/Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani…

Hunain Kapadia, the co-founder and CTO of Smartbenefits, joins me to talk about how he is making it easier for employers to provide health and life insurance to their employees at an affordable price. Guest: Hunain Kapadia | https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunainkapadia/ Startup: Smartbenefits | https://smartbenefits.pk/ Host: Zahid Lilani - https://tw…

After the conquest of Mecca, hundreds of thousands of Arabs came to the prophet to convert and pledge their allegiance. This lecture covers why they joined now and reflects the verses of Surah An-Nasr which predicted this. The Prophet also sent various small expiditions to the surrounding tribes to invite them to Islam. The last of the pagan tribes…

Prophet Muhammad destroys all the idols in the Kaaba with Imam Ali's help and washes the images that had been drawn inside. He then introduced Islam to the Meccans, discarding their ideas of nationalism and tribalism, and offered a general amnesty regardless of if they convert to Islam. Prophet Muhammad told Bilal to climb on top of the Kaaba to gi…

Prophet Muhammad had promised safety to any Meccan who either remined in their own home during the invasion or went to Abu Sufyan's home. After seeing the Muslim's strenght, Abu Sufyan saw the futility of struggle and urged the Meccans to surrender. Some Meccans remained defiant, notably his wife Hind and Ikrimah, the son of Abu Jahl. After taking …

E-commerce startups are commonplace in Pakistan. However, a significant segment of society sits on the sidelines as they can’t find the bargains they seek online. My guest in this episode of the misaal podcast wants to change that. His name is Haider Raza, and he is the co-founder of DealCart. A social commerce startup bringing community and group …

Prophet Muhammad kept the attack on Mecca a closely guarded secret. However Hatib ibn Abi Balta'ah sent a letter to the Quraysh warning them of the attack. The Prophet was informed of this by revelation and he sent Ali and Zubayr to retrieve it. The Muslim army eventually marched to Mecca, where they were instructed to spread out and display their …

The Treaty of Hudaybiyya had included a vow of there being no fighting between the Quraysh and the Muslims. However, when the tribe of Banu Bakr asked the leaders of Quraysh for help in a raid against their long time foe Banu Khuza'ah, a tribe with many Muslims and who were longtime allies of Prophet Muhammad, the Quraysh joined in. The raiders kil…

From busy cities to remote villages, digital media has revolutionized how Pakistan shares information. The more we understand these changes, the better off we'll be at digesting news, engaging with stories, and understanding the world. The topic of digital media is very close to my heart as a podcaster and publisher serving the Pakistani audience. …

The Campaign of Dhat Al-Salasil occurred soon after "defeat" at the Battle of Mu'tah, when various Ghassanid affiliated tribes sensed an opportunity to invade Medina. They thought the Muslims would be weak and demoralized. A bedouin learned about the gathering army and informed Prophed Muhammad, who designated an army and commander to go fight them…

The quarter just ended, and the numbers are in. Pakistani startups raised $6.8 million in disclosed equity funding across five deals in Q3 2023. That’s 87% less than the $55 million raised in Q3 of 2022 but 40% more than the $5 million raised in Q2 of 2023. This brings the YTD funding to $35 million. So what gives? To answer that question and bette…

The Roman army, with 10,000 soliders, outnumbered the Muslims 3:1 at the Battle of Mutah. Some of the Muslims feared the large army and wanted to retreat, but the senior companions bolstered their courage. Prophet Muhammad had appointed a leader for the army, with two backup leaders in case the first one was martyred. This was a hard battle. Jaffer…

Last year, Pakistani startups received half their funding from emerging market VC firms. This year, most emerging market VC firms are sitting on the sidelines and waiting for market conditions to improve. However, my guest in this episode of the misaal podcast is actively funding deals and most recently invested in Truckistan. His name is Michel Fr…

The Battle of Mu'tah was triggered when a messenger Prophet Muhammad sent to Ghassani Shurahbil was murdered. This was a declaration of war. While Prophte Muhammad himself didn't participate in this battle, thanks to the treaty of Hudaybiyya he was able to send 3000 Muslims to fight without compromising the securit of Medina. As the army departed, …

It is not easy to monetize EdTech in Pakistan. Startups are competing with free content on YouTube. However, my guest on this episode of the misaal podcast has successfully monetized his EdTech startup and built the go-to place for A levels prep. His name is Asad Hashamali, and he is the co-founder of Alt Academy. Alt Academy makes A Level exam pre…

Agriculture plays a huge role in Pakistan’s economy. It employs about 42% of the country’s workforce and contributes 19% to the GDP. But the sector still relies a lot on inefficient supply chains. And my guest in this episode of the misaal podcast wants to change that. His name is Muhammad Mustafa, and he is the co-founder of EasyFresh. A B2B start…

Prophet Muhammad led the Muslims on a second attempt at Umra, thet qazaa for the last one which they couldn't complete. Rumor spread among the Mushrikeen that the Muslims were weakened, so the Prophet instructed his followers to show extra strength and bravado to dispel that notion. During the Umra: - Meccans removed their idols from the kaba for t…

In Pakistan, sourcing raw materials for manufacturing is complicated and fragmented. My guest on this episode of the misaal podcast wants to change that. His name is Ahsan Ali Khan, and he is the co-founder of Zaraye. A marketplace that simplifies and streamlines the sourcing process for buyers and sellers alike. Buyers get quality products, and su…

Prophet Muhammad had given the garden of Fadak to his daughter Fatima, but after his passing it snatched away from her by Abu Bakr and Umar. This lecture explains: - How Fadak became the Prophet's property - Why he gifted it to Lady Fatima - Fadak was a source of immense wealth, generating enough income to fund an army. - How Umar adviced Abu Bakr …

The victory at Khaybar changed the lives of the Muslim community and became a source of financial strength for them. The lecture includes: - The surrender treaty, where the Jews were allowed to remain on Khaybar in return for a share of the harvest - How the prophet distributed the khums from the war - The Muhajireen using their share of khums to r…

A couple of weeks back, Pakistan unveiled its federal budget for FY24. It is as predictable as one has come to expect. A lot of borrowing to pay for the basics. However, this budget had one unique feature: the focus on IT. So I asked Mutaher Khan, who did an excellent round-up of all IT-related proposals in the budget for DAWN news, to come and sha…

My guest in this episode of the misaal podcast is helping blue-collar workers find the opportunities they deserve and get an edge in the job market. His name is Salman Shahid, and he is the co-founder of Dost. Find out why he believes Dost is the best platform for blue-collar workers to find jobs and for employers to hire qualified candidates. Gues…

The Muslims marched to the Fort of Khaybar, attack and defeat it's treacherous occupants. Along the way, various miracles occur: - An assassin attempts to kill Prophet Muhammad, but he miraciously is suddenly mentally handicapped. - Imam Ali's unable to fight due to an illness in his eyes. Prophet Muhammad heals him and Imam Ali leads the Muslims t…

My guest in this episode of the misaal podcast is changing how Pakistanis invest. His startup allows investors in Pakistan to invest in the U.S. stock market. His name is Farooq Tirmizi, and he is the co-founder of Elphinstone. For as little as $100, you can start investing in the U.S. stock market with Elphinstone. Guest: Farooq Tirmizi | https://…

My guest in this episode of the misaal podcast is bringing all your favorite creators and experts in their fields to one platform so you can learn in-demand skills and up your game. He’s a creative tour de force and an invisible hand behind many creators you all love and cherish. I, for one, have learned a great deal about editing from his many You…

Khaybar was manned by Jewish tribes that had previously reacted treasonously against the Muslims and had been exiled from Medina in turn. They had already attacked the Muslims once, by participating in the Battle of Khandak, and Prophet Muhammad received intel that those Jewish tribes were again planning to ally with another pagan tribes to attack …

Prophet Muhammad continues his outreach to foreign leaders, sending messengrs to the Persian emperor Khosrow II and the Coptic ruler Muqawqis of Alexandria. The outreach teaches us: - Islam was always meant to be globalized, not just for the Arabs. We need to also think deeply about how to universalize the messaging - The way people respond to the …

My guest in this episode of the misaal podcast is helping students get ahead by providing them with personalized tutoring and customized testing. His name is Rooshan Aziz, and he is the co-founder of Maqsad. Using Maqsad's all-in-one mobile learning platform, students from grades 9-12 can learn and test at their own pace. Guest: Rooshan Aziz | http…

My guest in this 50th episode of the misaal podcast is empowering kiryana stores to create a unified consumer experience. His name is Jarrar Shah, and he is the co-founder of 24Seven. Through digitization and innovation, 24Seven helps local kiryana stores in Pakistan create a unified consumer experience. Guest: Jarrar Shah - https://www.linkedin.co…

I have a very special guest on this episode of the misaal podcast. A serial entrepreneur who's currently building his third startup. Not only that, he's building a global B2B SaaS product in a country where startups like his are fairly uncommon. His name is Mohammad Nasrullah, a.k.a Nash, and he is the founder of Integry. With Integry, companies ca…

In Pakistan, employers do not use LinkedIn to find blue-collar workers. Blue-collar workers also can't use LinkedIn to find work. Those who want jobs can’t find them, and those that want to hire don’t know where to go. Using technology to connect workers with employers, my next guest wants to help solve this problem. His name is Bazigh Kiani and he…

With the repreieve provided by the Treaty of Hudaybiyya, Prophet Muhammad can focus on spreading Islam by doing dawah to surrounding leaders. This lecture covers encounters with two prominent leaders: 1. The Abysinnian king Najashi, who converted to Islam 2. The Roman emperor Heraclius, who questioned Abu Sufyan and acertained Prophet Muhammad's le…

The many of the Muslims had seen the Treaty of Hudaybiyya as a humiliating loss, yet Prophet Muhammad knew the treaty paved the way for their ultimate success. This lecture discusses the various ways this treaty helped the Muslims, along with how Allah sent Surah Al-Fath right afterwards to bolden the Muslims and help them understand the victory wh…

Investing in the stock market can help you diversify your investments and earn dividends or capital gains. But not everyone takes advantage of this. Pakistan has fewer than 300,000 retail investors. This 47th episode of the misaal podcast features a guest who wants to change that. His name is Shoaib Lalani, and he is the co-founder of Finpocket. Wi…