Is there a Muslim single women crisis, or does it just look that way? A new trend is flooding our Instagram feeds: the “wifey application.” Single Muslim women, mostly in their 30s, are posting slides with their photos, career, values and deal-breakers, putting themselves out there after traditional matchmaking and the apps haven’t worked. Lena, Deanna and Manal ask the real questions. Is it brave, empowering, or a sign the system is failing our women? Where are the men? What happened to the auntie network? And would we ever post one?

But first, we open with the midterms. Texas is at the center of the most expensive midterm in U.S. history. We talk about record-breaking attack ads, the irony of who’s funding the governor’s race, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed’s run to become the first Muslim American U.S. senator, and Muslims voting Republican when it suits them.

Grab your latte or Yemini tea, because we have opinions. Yalla, let’s yap! 🎙️

Mariam couldn’t join us for this episode. We missed you!

00:00 Introduction to Season 3

00:58 Texas Midterms Overview

02:31 Attack Ads Shock Factor

03:21 Talarico Name Controversy

04:39 Trans Fearmongering Tactics

06:53 Money Behind The Campaigns

09:00 Michigan Spotlight Abdul El-Sayed

13:04 Islamophobia And Media Smears

17:07 Muslim Voting And Donor Bombshell

22:33 Marriage Resume Slide Trend

26:19 Debating Apps And Alternatives

30:43 Stigma And Modern Courtship

32:08 Exposure vs Real Life

33:19 Culture Shift and 50 50

35:12 Preferences and App Complaints

36:24 Who These Profiles Help

38:17 Approaching Men Debate

39:14 Reviewing a Viral Profile

40:22 Creeps and Community Risks

42:06 Men Making Profiles Too

42:45 Love Is Blind Habibi Talk

47:30 Height Obsession Breakdown

51:44 Shallow Standards Both Ways

54:44 Do What Works and Vote

Edited and produced by Lena Dirbashi
Marketing and social media by Deanna Ayyash

Hosts Lena, Mariam, Manal, and Deanna unpack an Instagram controversy alleging that Khaled Beydoun received a significant cut from funds raised for Gaza through Human Appeal. They examine whether paid fundraising is ethical, what commissions and overhead typically look like in the nonprofit world, and why transparency with donors is the core issue.

Drawing on firsthand nonprofit experience in Gaza, Mariam highlights the importance of verifying NGO registration and on-the-ground work. The group also questions influencer-led fundraising, public callouts, and the impact of online dogpiling, while discussing practical donor due diligence tools and best practices.

The episode closes with Ramadan reminders: give generously, ask respectful questions, verify before sharing, and approach influencer-linked donations with care. The show will pause during Ramadan and return after Eid.

00:00 $2M Fundraising Accusation Goes Viral — What Happened?

00:25 Meet Khaled Beydoun: Lawyer, Professor & Activist Background

02:35 Nonprofit Insider Story: Spotting Sketchy NGOs After the 2021 War

06:11 Who Is ‘We Are The Peace’? Brand Origins, Mission & Pricing Questions

07:44 Did They Jump the Gun? Public Callouts vs Private Accountability

09:02 The $7M Raised, 29% Cut Explained — What’s Ethical in Fundraising?

09:41 Human Appeal’s Role: Overhead, Disclosure, and Donor Transparency

12:27 Khaled’s Response vs Receipts: ‘It Went to My Charity’ Claim

16:52 How Fundraiser Commissions Work (and Why People Don’t Know)

21:35 Influencers + NGOs: Red Flags, Marketing Arguments, and Who Else Got Paid?

27:43 Timing, Epstein Files, and Tools to Vet Charities (Nonprofit Explorer)

29:39 Imams vs Influencers: Trust, Kickbacks, and That 29% Cut

30:51 NGO Expense Ratios & What Transparency Should Actually Look Like

32:07 “Zionist Playbook” Accusations and the Problem With Lazy Labels

35:54 What “Grifting” Means: Receipts, Scandals, and Social Media Pile-Ons

40:47 Due Diligence 101: Vetting Charities Without Airing Dirty Laundry

42:02 Unintended Consequences: Defamation Risk, NGO Scrutiny, and Community Fitna

49:19 Real-World Swindling Stories in Muslim Communities (and Why Outrage Happens)

51:24 Deanna’s Hot Take: Influencer Culture, Paid Promotions, and “It’s a Job”

54:02 Wrap-Up: Ramadan Advice, Give Generously—Ask Respectfully

Join Lena, Mariam and Deeana in this episode of Yalla and Yap, where they host Zeeshan Hafeez, a national candidate for Texas’ 33rd district.

Hafeez shares his journey into politics, which began in the wake of the 9/11 attacks while he was the only Muslim student at his liberal arts college and then reignited after October 7, 2023.

Hafeez passionately speaks about his campaign’s commitment to addressing domestic issues, ending U.S. financial support for Israeli actions, and prioritizing progressive policies such as universal healthcare, workers’ rights, and abolishing ICE. He calls for collective action and voter registration while sharing his vision of true representation for all Americans.

The episode wraps up with fun rapid-fire questions, giving viewers a personal glimpse into Zeeshan Hafeez.

00:00 Guest Introduction: Zeeshan Hafeez

00:36 Han Ifis' Political Journey

02:58 Impact of October 7th and Gaza Conflict

04:12 Running for Office: District 33

04:42 Campaign Focus: Domestic Issues and Palestine

06:28 Challenges and Criticisms

09:57 Opponent Profiles and Campaign Strategy

12:49 Voter Engagement and Support

26:36 Islamophobia and Political Climate

37:59 Getting to Know the Candidate

38:26 Community Involvement and Public Service

39:10 DFW Refugee Outreach Services

40:31 Challenges Faced by Refugees

42:34 Voting in the Democratic Primary

44:35 Supporting Local Organizations

52:40 Unapologetic Campaign Values

54:20 Motivation and Guiding Principles

57:24 Addressing Islamophobia and Bigotry

01:05:42 Rapid Fire Questions

01:10:00 Final Thoughts and Call to Action