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Research Director of Islam and Society

Tom Facchine

Series

Video

The History of Shi'ism | Deep Dive: Iran Ep. 1 | Focal Point with Imam Tom Facchine

Islamic history provides a rich resource of wisdom from the Prophet's life and the legacy of scholars to help us navigate present challenges. This heritage offers insights to address current issues and misunderstandings.

History

This section explores how Islamic maxims can address contemporary political questions and enrich our social landscapes. Content covers identity, ideologies, social justice, and more from an Islamic ethical perspective.

Politics & Practical Theology

This video by Imam Tom Facchine addresses the widespread Islamophobic claim that Muslims are religiously permitted — even encouraged — to lie to non-Muslims through a concept called 'taqiyya.' Imam Facchine explains that this distorted version of taqiyya was not derived from Islamic scholarship but was invented and spread by Orientalist writers, Islamophobic propagandists, and political actors seeking to portray Muslims as inherently untrustworthy. He identifies three key motivations behind spreading this lie: undermining Muslim credibility in public discourse, justifying surveillance and suspicion of Muslim communities, and supporting a political narrative of Muslims as a dangerous 'fifth column' — a recycled trope previously used against Jews, Catholics, and Japanese Americans. In contrast, Imam Facchine clarifies what taqiyya actually means in the Sunni tradition: it is a narrow, emergency allowance for a Muslim who faces death to conceal their faith in order to preserve their life. This concept is rooted in a Quranic verse [An-Nahl 16:106], revealed in the context of early Muslims in Mecca being tortured, specifically referencing the companion Ammar ibn Yasir (رضي الله عنه) who was forced under torture to renounce Islam. The verse clarifies that forced verbal denial of faith does not constitute true disbelief if the heart remains firm. Imam Facchine emphasizes that taqiyya is not discussed in mainstream Sunni fiqh or aqeedah manuals, was never encountered during his five years of Sharia studies in Saudi Arabia, and has nothing to do with deceiving non-Muslims or spreading Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) strongly condemned lying and praised truthfulness as a path to paradise. The Islamophobic framing inverts Islamic teaching entirely — treating deception as the norm and honesty as the exception — and functions as an unfalsifiable, self-reinforcing accusation designed to silence Muslim voices.

Who's Your Real Enemy? | Snapshots with Imam Tom Facchine

How ‘Taqiyya’ Became an Islamophobic Talking Point | Snapshots with Imam Tom Facchine

Does Islam Actually Oppose Science? | Snapshots with Imam Tom Facchine

In this episode of Snapshots, Imam Tom Facchine addresses the widespread misconception that Islam is anti-science or incompatible with rational inquiry. He argues that this claim is historically false, theologically illiterate, and politically motivated. Unlike medieval Christianity, which had institutional conflicts with scientists like Galileo and Copernicus through bodies like the Inquisition, Islam never developed a centralized church hierarchy that claimed a monopoly over truth or banned scientific inquiry. On the contrary, the Quran repeatedly commands believers to observe, reflect, and study the natural world, as in the verses 'Do they not reflect upon the creation of the heavens and the earth?' [Ali 'Imran 3:191] and 'Say, travel through the land and observe' [Al-'Ankabut 29:20]. Muslim scholars viewed the study of nature as an act of worship, not rebellion. From the 8th to 15th centuries, Muslim-majority civilizations were global leaders in science, producing luminaries such as Ibn al-Haytham (scientific method), Al-Khwarizmi (algebra), Ibn Sina (medicine), and Al-Biruni (Earth's measurements). Imam Facchine then explains that modern Muslim underdevelopment stems not from Islam but from colonialism, post-colonial interference, and ongoing geopolitical conflict, all of which dismantled institutions and drained resources. The false narrative of Islam being anti-science originates from Enlightenment-era polemics, selective media imagery, and the projection of Christianity's historical conflicts onto Islam. He concludes that Islam and science are allies, and that the ethical framework Islam provides for scientific advancement is urgently needed in an age of unchecked technological development.

What Sharia Law Actually Means | Snapshots with Imam Tom Facchine

When Power Invites You, Are You Being Honored or Used?

The Scholar Who Ignored a King During Hajj

Why the Early Scholars Feared Rulers’ Hospitality

How Empires Weaponized Religion to Control Muslims

The Red Line That Changed the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah

If You Have No Red Lines, You Have No Power

The Myth of Muslim “Radicalization” Explained

When Walking Away Is Strength, Not Weakness

Why Not Every Seat is One Worth Taking | Focal Point with Imam Tom Facchine

Debunking the Myth of the ‘Oppressed Muslim Woman’ | Snapshots with Imam Tom Facchine

What ‘Allahu Akbar’ Really Means (And Why It Scares Them) | Snapshots with Imam Tom Facchine

How Does the Qur’an View the Bible? | Snapshots with Imam Tom Facchine

What the Qur’an Says About Christianity | Snapshots with Imam Tom Facchine

The Truth About AI’s Intelligence | Snapshots with Imam Tom Facchine

The Poll Israel Never Wanted You to See

How They Came After Sami Hamdi

Who’s Quietly Controlling Your Newsfeed?

Amazon & Google’s Kill Cloud Machinery

The Dark Secret Behind Ring Cameras

How CBS Was Taken Over

Inside the Fox & Wall Street Journal Propaganda Loop

The Language Trick Used to Devalue Palestinian Lives

Why TikTok Had to Be Captured

Meet the Billionaires Funding Anti-Muslim Propaganda

Israel’s Hidden Influencer Army: Project Esther

The Endgame: Stripping Passports & Silencing Dissent

Amazon's Kill System & the Network Behind Sami's Detention | Focal Point with Imam Tom Facchine

What Real Masculinity Looks Like | Snapshots with Imam Tom Facchine

What Islam Reveals About Socialism and Capitalism | Focal Point with Imam Tom Facchine

Kings Chased Thrones. He ﷺ Chased This Instead | Snapshots with Imam Tom Facchine

Why You Can’t Escape Organized Religion | Snapshots with Imam Tom Facchine

Why Some Scholars Critique Resistance | Focal Point with Imam Tom Facchine

Columbus: Hero or Mass Murderer?

The Horrors Columbus Tried to Hide

Genocide in the Caribbean

Columbus the Crusader Against Muslims

Why Columbus Became a U.S. Hero

Lynching of Italians & Columbus Day

When Symbols Outlive Their Usefulness

Islam’s Lesson: Truth Over Identity

Columbus Wasn't Just After Gold – He Wanted Jerusalem | Focal Point with Imam Tom Facchine

How to Stop Falling for Fake Mahdis | Snapshots with Imam Tom Facchine

How Should We View Gaza’s Celebrity Support? | Snapshots with Imam Tom Facchine

Living Up to the Prophet’s ﷺ Final Speech | Snapshots with Imam Tom Facchine

The double-standards in the terrorism label

A history of US anti-terror laws designed to protect Israel

The Holy Land Foundation (HLF5) case

Anti-terror laws as a tool of US foreign policy

Steps to challenge this unjust system

Israel’s Link to U.S. Anti-Terror Policy | Focal Point with Imam Tom Facchine

Will Recognition Help Palestine? | Snapshots by Imam Tom Facchine

Modesty Is More Than What You Wear | Snapshots with Imam Tom Facchine

How Your Victim Mindset is Destroying You | Snapshots with Imam Tom Facchine

The Hidden Bias in Every History Book | Focal Point with Imam Tom Facchine

Islam Isn’t Just Therapy | Snapshots with Imam Tom Facchine

An exploration of what it means to be Muslim in the modern world, balancing religious commitment with cultural affiliations. It addresses the challenges of self-definition and belonging in diverse societies.

Identity

The pursuit of fairness and equity within society based on Islamic principles of rights and responsibilities. It involves advocating for the oppressed and ensuring economic balance.

Social Justice

Is This Da’wah or Entertainment? | Snapshots with Imam Tom Facchine

Representation Isn’t Working. Here’s Why. | Focal Point with Imam Tom Facchine

How to Stop Chasing Validation | Snapshots with Imam Tom Facchine

What Activism Is Missing Today | Snapshots with Imam Tom Facchine

How Colonialism Hijacked the Muslim World | Focal Point with Imam Tom Facchine

Why the Islamic Calendar Matters | Snapshots with Imam Tom Facchine

Known as Qadar, this concept refers to God's eternal knowledge and control over all things, good and bad. It encompasses the belief that everything occurs according to His will and wisdom.

Divine Decree

This section covers the core articles of faith (Īmān), namely faith in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and the divine decree (qadr). Other related topics, often found in classical theological works, are also found in this section.

Faith

How Islam Completed what Christianity Began | Imam Tom Facchine

The study and critique of anti-Muslim prejudice, discrimination, and irrational fear. It examines the root causes, manifestations, and impacts of hatred against Islam and Muslims.

Islamophobia

The Multi-Million Dollar War on Islam | Focal Point with Imam Tom Facchine

Hajj is the Great Equalizer | Imam Tom Facchine

The moral principles and values derived from the Quran and Sunnah that guide human behavior. It emphasizes virtues such as justice, compassion, and integrity in both personal and social contexts.

Islamic Ethics

Malcolm X's Legacy We Forgot About | Imam Tom Weekly

The study of the human mind and behavior integrated with Islamic insights on the soul. It seeks to understand mental health, emotional well-being, and personality development.

General Psychology

This section provides research on trauma and adversity from a psychospiritual perspective and theoretical and empirical research on the psychological processes involved in belief, doubt, and religious identity.

Psychology & Mental Health

How Music Impacts Your Brain | Imam Tom Weekly

Debunking the 'Islamic Dilemma' | Imam Tom Weekly

The Ummah or the Nation? | Imam Tom Weekly

Explore the diverse cultural expressions within the global Muslim community and how they intersect with religious practice. This category helps distinguish between universal Islamic principles and specific regional traditions or customs.

Culture

This section includes theoretical and empirical research on parenting, education, culture, marriage, and other content related to social interactions.

Family & Community

How Islamic History Was Frozen and Forgotten | Imam Tom Weekly

The Secret Cost of Individualism | Imam Tom Weekly

The Dark Truth About Secularism | Imam Tom Weekly

Muslims Are a People of Principle | Imam Tom Weekly

When Did Ramadan Become a Festival | Imam Tom Weekly

Why Don't Muslims Just Leave? | Imam Tom Weekly

Will Celebrity Muslims Save Us? | Imam Tom Weekly

Trump Wants to Take Over Gaza | Imam Tom Weekly

Doomscrolling is Rewiring Your Brain | Imam Tom Weekly

The Islamic Cure for Overconsumption | Imam Tom Weekly

What Does Trump's Second Term Mean for Muslims? | Imam Tom Weekly

Why Reps Matter More than Time | Imam Tom Weekly

Surah Al-Masad & Atomic Habits | Imam Tom Weekly

Surah Al-Ikhlas & Atomic Habits | Imam Tom Weekly

Why You Can't Resist Cravings (and How to Take Back Control) | Atomic Habits | Imam Tom Weekly

Surah An-Nas & Atomic Habits | Imam Tom Weekly

Atomic Habits: Why Most Quit Early | Imam Tom Weekly

Surah Al-Kawthar & Atomic Habits | Imam Tom Live

Allah Will Ask: What Did You Do With Your Freedom? | Imam Tom Live

Oct 7th Changed Everything | Imam Tom Live

All Praise Be to Allah in Every Situation | Imam Tom Live

Muslim Votes Swing 2024 | Imam Tom Live

Remembering Aysenur's Courage | Imam Tom Live

Empowering Student Activism | Imam Tom Live

Hypocrisy at the DNC | Imam Tom Live

Falsehood is Bound to Vanish | Imam Tom Live

No Limits: Israel’s Growing Atrocities and Global Indifference | Imam Tom Live

What France & UK's Electoral results mean for Muslims | Imam Tom Live

The Real Guise of 'Islamophobia' | Imam Tom Live

Muslim Influencers Profiting from Apartheid | Imam Tom Live

Israel's Ceasefire Rejection, Nurse Fired for Gaza, and the Law of Sacrifice | Imam Tom Live

Do Influencers Owe their Followers Advocacy? | Imam Tom Live

University Raids, Fake Negotiations, Holocaust Remembrance? | Imam Tom Live

Live Revolution: The West Rallies for Gaza | Imam Tom Live

Biryani Diplomacy: The Illusion of Political Influence & the "Flour Massacre" | Imam Tom Live

Unveiling Truths: Aaron Bushnell, NYT's Agenda, & Stopping Military Aid to Israel | Imam Tom Live

What Will Ramadan be Like in Rafah? A Conversation About Sha'aban and Leadership | Imam Tom Live

Israel Bombs Rafah During Superbowl, that Biden Tweet, and Constructive Conversations | Imam Tom Live

Editorial Review Board

Researchers

Co-Director of Psychospirituality Department

Director of Survey Research and Evaluation

Dr. Osman Umarji

VP of Research and Content Strategy

Dr. Mohamed AbuTaleb

The Lives of Imams, Hate Crime in Texas, Israeli Humiliation, Ceasefire Resolutions | Imam Tom Live

Musk's Take, Columbia's Skunk Surprise, Islamic Unity, and India's Ram Revelation | Imam Tom Live

Imam Tom Live