For over 1,400 years, Muslims have been an integral part of Europe’s story, yet their contributions to the continent’s development and history have been pushed to the margins or erased altogether.
Today's podcast guest is bringing some of these forgotten stories back to the forefront.
Tharik Hussain is an award-winning author, historian, and journalist based in the UK who specialises in global Muslim heritage and culture.
He’s written a book on Islam in the Western Balkans, Minarets in the Mountains.
His latest book, Muslim Europe: A Journey in Search of a 1,400-Year History, reveals the ancient, long-forgotten roots of Islam on the continent and how deeply interconnected the story of Muslims is with the story of Europe.
Our chat was so monumental that we broke it down into two parts.
Catch Part 2 of our conversation next week!
This season, we want to hear from you!
Send us a short note with your name, where you’re calling in from, and an answer to two questions:
- What gives YOU hope in this moment in time
- Which place you are going to next
We’ll run your answers at the end of the season in our Community Voices episode.
To participate, fill out this short form OR send a short audio clip (a phone voice recording is just fine!) to hello@goingplacesmedia.com by Monday, April 27.
Listen to the Episode
What you’ll hear:
- How a layover in Cyprus led Tharik on this path
- Muslim rule in the Mediterranean: Cordoba, Palermo, Toledo, & Cyprus
- Where in Europe is the aunt of Prophet Muhammad buried
- Red-haired sultans and Arabic-speaking Christian kings
- The story of Cordoban Mezquita
- Was Alhambra really a pleasure palace?
- The Islamic roots of the European Renaissance
- The myths of Matamoros and the 100-virgin tribute
- Why the history of Islam in Europe is barely known today
Muslim Europe
The story of the continent we need to know today
Tharik's new book, Muslim Europe: A Journey in Search of a 1,400-Year History, remedies Europe’s collective amnesia, revealing that Islam has been integral to the development of Western culture over 1,400 years.
It couldn't be timelier in combating what Tharik calls Europe's Anti-Muslim DNA.
The book is now available in the U.S. as an audiobook. See the paperback version here.
Check out our interview on YouTube →
• Follow Tharik on Instagram: @tharik_hussain
• Connect with Tharik on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Tharik's work on his site
• Read Minarets in the Mountains
• Check out Tharik's latest book, Muslim Europe
• Learn about Britain's first Muslim Heritage trail, created by Tharik
• Send in your message for our Community Voices episode
"It's not just Muslims who need to know this, but also non-Muslims. There’s a pressing need to challenge the growing narrative that will tell you that Islam is somehow the problem in Europe. Islam is new. And Muslims are made to feel like they don't belong even 1,400 years later." – Tharik Hussain
Radostina Boseva is our Founding Member
Radostina Boseva is a film wedding photographer with an editorial flair based in San Francisco.
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