Session 1 | In Makkah, to follow Muhammad (PBUH) was not just belief - it was defection

Title: Hawks and Doves: Hind, Quraysh, and the Fear of a New Order

Tagline: "In Makkah, to follow Muhammad ﷺ was not just belief - it was defection."

Description:

In this episode, we explore one of the most revealing moments in early Makkah - when Islam first came to be seen not as a spiritual curiosity, but as a political threat. Through the lens of Hind bint 'Utbah and the Qurayshi elite, we uncover how a faith rooted in principle challenged a system built on lineage, privilege, and power.

Host Sajjad Chowdhry and curriculum designer Assad Koshul analyze how Islam's message of universal brotherhood and moral awakening destabilized the tribal order of Quraysh. The conversation unpacks the debate between hawks and doves - those demanding suppression versus those urging caution - revealing how political fear masked moral insecurity.

Beyond history, the episode connects these tensions to our modern world: What happens when new ideas threaten old power structures? When truth demands that we think beyond our tribe, institution, or ideology?

Listeners will also discover how the Criterion Concepts Seerah Curriculum teaches critical thinking, situational analysis, and triangular thinking through multi-modal learning - operationalizing the Seerah rather than sensationalizing it.

Key Themes:

Faith as Social Disruption

Islam and Political Power

Social Stability vs. Moral Awakening

Universal Brotherhood vs. Tribal Pride

Critical Inquiry and Contemporary Application

The Criterion Concepts Seerah Podcast transforms the study of the Seerah into an inquiry-based exploration of strategy, belief, and human transformation - equipping learners with tools that apply across faith, gender, and profession.