Faith Under Pressure

About this lecture

In this powerful lecture delivered in Glasgow, Imam Zaid Shakir explores what it means to maintain faith under pressure — drawing on Islamic history, current events in Gaza and Sudan, and Quranic wisdom to inspire resilience among Western Muslim communities. He examines the twin tests of *sabr* (patience) and *shukr* (gratitude), arguing that Muslims in the West face a unique and underappreciated challenge of thankfulness, while also calling for greater community unity, political organization, and embodiment of Islam's social and spiritual gifts. The lecture concludes with a vision of Islam as a source of genuine relief, love, and purpose in an increasingly fragmented and soulless world.