Is This the Muslim Lord of the Rings? | Peter Gould

This episode is sponsored by Musletter, a free, five-minute newsletter sharing news and insights from Muslims around the world. Subscribe at: https://musletter.com Get a Ticket for The Thinking Muslim Conference: http://www.thinkingmuslim.com/conference Donate to our charity partner Baitulmaal here: http://btml.us/thinkingmuslim Help us expand our Muslim media project here: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/member... What would a Muslim world of fantasy look like? Tolkien gave us Middle-earth. C.S. Lewis gave us Narnia. Could Islamic storytelling create fictional worlds that capture the imagination of a generation? Peter Gould joins Muhammad Jalal on The Thinking Muslim to discuss Tales of Khayal, a fantasy universe he co-created with author Rehan Khan, inspired by Islamic spirituality and the rich heritage of Muslim civilisation. With a novel series and plans for animation and a video game, the project explores how faith can shape the stories young Muslims grow up with. Recorded in Istanbul, this conversation examines the Islamic understanding of imagination, or khayal, and its relationship to the heart. Gould shares how embracing Islam changed his approach to design, and how Islamic art and architecture continue to inform his work. They discuss the concerns parents have about gaming and screen time, alongside the possibilities for immersive storytelling that encourages remembrance of Allah. Gould explains how Tales of Khayal draws on sacred knowledge and the history of colonialism, weaving questions about power and technological change into an adventure story. The episode also explores why some Muslim professionals put aside their artistic ambitions, how they can return to creative work, and what artificial intelligence could mean for the future of design. Gould offers practical advice for anyone hoping to begin writing or rediscover their creativity. Subscribe to The Thinking Muslim for more conversations on Islam and the ideas shaping Muslim life. #PeterGould #TalesOfKhayal #TheThinkingMuslim #IslamicStorytelling #MuslimCreatives Find Peter Gould here: LinkedIn:   / petergouldart   IG:   / petergouldart   Find Art of Design here: https://theheartofdesign.com/ IG:   / theheartofdesign   X: https://x.com/petergouldart Find Tales of Khayaal here: https://khayaal.com IG:   / talesofkhayaal   Become a member here: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/member... Or give your one-off donation here: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/donate Listen to the audio version of the podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vXiAjV... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast... Purchase our Thinking Muslim mug: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/merch Find us on: WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbDY... X: https://x.com/thinking_muslim LinkedIn:   / the-thinking-muslim   Facebook:   / the-thinking-muslim-podcast-105790781361490   Instagram:   / thinkingmuslimpodcast   Telegram: https://t.me/thinkingmuslim BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thinkingmusl... Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thinkingmusl... Find Muhammad Jalal here: X:   / jalalayn   Instagram:   / jalalayns   Sign up to Muhammad Jalal's newsletter: https://jalalayn.substack.com Website Archive: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com Disclaimer: The views expressed in this video are those of the individual speaker(s) and do not represent the views of the host, producers, platform, or any affiliated organisation. This content is provided for lawful, informational, and analytical purposes only, and should not be taken as professional advice. Viewer discretion is advised. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 02:43 - Gaming And Muslim Children 05:14 - Discover Musletter 06:19 - The Origins Of Khayaal 15:53 - Donate To Baitulmaal 16:26 - Designing With Islamic Intentions 24:06 - Stories For Young Muslims 32:48 - The Thinking Muslim Conference 35:56 - Can AI Replace Human Creativity? 44:49 - Where To Find Peter’s Books