Greetings from New  York City, where I am to tape the latest series of Shariah TV for the UK’s Channel 4. Shariah TV is a discussion-based program where a group of young Muslims engages with a panel of contemporary scholars.

We filmed from a rooftop in TriBeCa (lower Mahattan). A great view of the Empire State Building was the background for our conversation.

Shariah TV has young people ask scholars some of our most pressing issues. For example: what is a young Muslim to do when work functions involve alcohol? Do we have the right - or even responsibility - to reinterpret sacred texts?

I won’t spoil the show by telling you what the scholars said - or how our conversation went. What I will tell you is that it was vivacious - and the show’s staff did a great job of pulling together a diverse group of participants. The show airs in the UK in mid-July. I’ll do my best to get the footage accessible to you.

On a personal note, I really enjoyed meeting my fellow participants and the panel of scholars. The conversations that started even after the tape stopped rolling were some of the most meaningful fellowship I’ve had in a long time. Differing opinions were met with the utmost respect, sincerity and compassion. My heartfelt gratitude goes to those participants I had the blessing of speaking with further. Non-alcoholic cheers to my new brothers and sisters!