My friends kept asking me how I stayed focused and productive while juggling hospital appointments, surgeries, and being a full-time carer for my parents.

Below are my top 10 tips that I wished I learned when I started this journey, and I’m sharing them with you, hoping they might help you become a better caregiver for your loved ones insha’Allah.

1. Renew your intentions

It can be daunting to be a caregiver, especially for a situation that lasts a long time. At times, it may feel overwhelming. Familiarizing yourself with cqc standards and regulations can provide structure and guidance to ensure the best care possible for your loved ones.

During these low moments, remember that caregiving is not a chore; it’s a privilege. It’s your ticket to Jannah and Allah’s pleasure if done with sincerity and Ihsan. 

Remember why you’re fulfilling this role and the reward Allah SWT will bless you with in this life and the next. 

Remember that as slaves of God, we must submit to His tests and know that He’ll not burden us with a role beyond our capacity. 

Trust in Allah’s Wisdom; His plan is always perfect. 

“And perhaps you hate a thing, and it is good for you, and perhaps you love a thing, and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.” Surah Al-Baqara, Ayah 216

2. Ask Allah for Help

You’re not alone in this journey. Turn to Allah SWT in every aspect of your caregiver journey. Ask Him to bless you with Hikmah (Wisdom) and Sabr (Patience) to handle every situation with grace and resilience. 

Always start any task with Bismillah and know that nothing can be done without Allah’s Help. 

“My success is not but through Allah. Upon Him, I have relied, and to Him, I return.” Surat Hud, Ayah 88

3. Compartmentalize Like a Pro

The art of caregiving lies in compartmentalization. You’re dealing with an ongoing situation, and it’s essential not to let it overshadow every aspect of your life. Balance is key; don’t let caregiving consume you. 

Remember that this is a season of life you’re going through, and this, too, shall pass. 

Dedicate the necessary time to focus on your role as a caregiver but pay attention to your other roles. 

Try to segment the time you dedicate as a caregiver from your other responsibilities and get help to cover the times you’ll be away (more on this below).

4. Pour Your Heart Out to Allah

Caregiving is stressful. And stress can create significant anxiety and fear, making you lose sleep and focus. 

Unburden your heart through Duaa (supplication). Talk to Allah, express your fears, and seek His mercy and guidance. His closeness will be your comfort.

He SWT loves to hear your voice, He can solve your problems, He is so close to you, and He will answer your call.

“And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.” Surah Al-Baqara, Ayah 186

5. Self-Care Isn’t Selfish

As hard as it is, try to care for yourself. Get some sleep, and nap when the patient naps. Eat healthy, and now and then, go for a walk or a jog to “work out the stress.”  

To be an effective caregiver, you must prioritize self-care. It may seem idealistic, especially when things are overwhelming, but trust me; you can’t pour from an empty cup. So, recharge yourself to be there for others. 

If your idea of self-care involves pampering yourself, scheduling a whole day at the spa is recommended. This may include getting treatments such as dermal fillers in Dixon, IL like Juvederm in Pittsburgh, PA or Radiesse – South Jersey Aesthetics. In case you’re looking for a dermatologist in Dedham, MA may contact local spas like Vibrant Dermatology.

6. Ask and organize help

As humans, we have limits. Acknowledge yours and learn to seek help. 

But don’t just ask for help – tell those around you exactly how they can help you: Create a “Caregiver Task List” of all the tasks you do as a caregiver and ask your family and friends to choose what they want to do. 

If you can afford it, consider hiring a professional home nurse – even for a few hours daily or weekly. They can make a big difference in the caregiving plan. This will not only give you a break from being the sole caregiver, but you’ll learn professional tips that only come from nursing schools. Consider reaching out to professionals in the rochester ny nursing home community to find the right home nurse for your needs. As a child of a parent staying in a nursing home, it is beneficial to be knowledgeable about nursing home abuse law to be able to notice if your parent is being taken advantage of. If you’re looking for a nursing home neglect law firm in Orange County, you may get in touch with local law firms like Jonna Spilbor Law.

7. Get regular quality breaks

Staying cooped up at home or the hospital can be draining. You must change your environment now and then and leave the house or hospital. 

Don’t think you’re a hero by being stuck in one place – it’ll affect your physical and mental well-being.

Go out and meet friends, attend events, and meet new people, or immerse yourself in nature – it’s therapeutic!

8. Master your breathing

When you feel the situation is tense or highly anxious due to the patient’s worsening condition, take a moment to breathe deeply.

Unfortunately, most people don’t use their entire lungs when they breathe. Deep breathing can help you stay calm and relax your tense muscles. To learn breathing techniques, visit Breathwork.

9. Rearrange your priorities

When you feel overwhelmed with life’s demands – consider blocking a 2-hour window for yourself and write down all the tasks and to-dos in your head. Then make firm decisions about what to do, delete, defer, or delegate. 

Having a hard look at the collection of all your tasks and to-dos and making clear decisions on what to do with them would free up much mental space for you to focus on caregiving.

Overwhelm can be daunting. In such moments, reflect upon the Hadith of our Prophet (PBUH), where he said: “Give everything its due right.” and rearrange your priorities according to the rights owed to others (and yourself!).

10. Live in the moment 

Remember to live in the moment. Accept the unique circumstances, and don’t beat yourself up for not being as productive as usual. Focus on what you can do right now, not what you could be doing.

As my friend Nevine always says: You must live in the moment and ask yourself often: What Allah wants from me NOW? This one question can help you stay focused at the moment and not get distressed about your situation and what the future holds.

As a caregiver, you’re embodying the beauty of Ayah 32 in Surat Al-Maidah: “And whoever saves a life as if he saved mankind entirely.” Know that you’re not just caring; you’re saving a life.  You’re saving the life of someone you love by caring for them, cleaning them, and helping them live as best as possible. It’s a long-term commitment that Allah sees and will reward you abundantly for He is “Al-Shakoor” (The One Who Appreciates and Rewards Abundantly). 

May your journey as a caregiver and life giver be filled with Barakah and Sakinah (peace). You are an unsung hero in the eyes of Allah SWT. 

May Allah SWT guide, help, forgive, and accept. Ameen!

Sincerely,
Suher Khirallah, Ph.D.

The post Productive Muslim Caregiver: 10 Tips to Ace the Art of Caregiving appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

But we don’t see this level of leadership in the Muslim world today, instead we’re seeing a rapid decay of world impact. We’re witnessing a serious inferiority complex growing in our Ummah; As individuals, we feel inferior to non-Muslims. As businesses and organizations, we feel inferior to mainstream corporations. As an Ummah, we feel inferior to other Nations.

Why is this happening and what can we do about it? Read on…

Inferiority Complex is Real

To know your weaknesses in comparison to others is to be insightful and humble but to harbour a lingering sense of inferiority as a result of this awareness is dangerous. For example, knowing that your colleague is great at public speaking is not the same as feeling that your public speaking skills are worthless and will never improve in time regardless of how hard you try.

In today’s world, we’re immersed in a culture whereby looks, wealth, status and all things materialistic are used as the metric for success. Deep down we know that our spiritual values guide us away from idolising or chasing the material world but at the same time we’re saturated on the outside by people seemingly living exciting, glamorous and beautiful lives. It can be all too tempting to compare our own lives with the façade of today’s hyper-airbrushed world and this constant comparison quickly erodes away at our confidence and spirituality.

Post-colonialism seeded the idea that our western counterparts are somehow better. Although this may not be a conscious thought, it can manifest in our thinking and action in many ways. We can look at the lives and success of our western peers and so easily be drawn into the fantasy that they have the upper edge in this dunya. Sadly, left unattended this feeling can develop into an inferiority complex not just on an individual level, but an Ummah level as well. 

Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi describes the decline of Muslim leadership and causes in his book Islam And The World (pg 173):

Dazzled by the power and progress of Western nations, Muslims began to imitate Western social and economic institutions regardless of the consequences, although they were much inferior to their own and consisted of little more than the ardent pursuit of material success. The prestige of religon was diminished. The teachings of the Prophet ﷺ were forgotten. All those ideals of life, which truthfully displayed within themselves both the spiritual and the temporal aspects of life and did not subordinate the former to the latter, ceased to impress the minds of the great mass of Muslim society. Their place was taken by ideals far inferior to them. Life was filled with frivolous desires and occupations to a degree that it had to eschew religious and spiritual craving and activities. If one were to compare the daily occupations of present-day Muslims with those of the aforementioned specimens of the old Islamic civilization, one would find it hard to believe that both professed the same ideology or that only a few generations separated one from the other.

Along with the distractions of this dunya constantly tugging at the soul, we’re also subject to the whisperings of Satan, who’s sole mission is to make us unappreciative beings.

[Satan] said,  “For leaving me to stray I will lie in ambush for them on Your Straight Path. I will approach them from their front, their back, their right, their left, and then You will find most of them ungrateful.” (7:16-17)

If we’re not mindful of his influence and don’t take precautions to fortify our heart and mind with God-consciousness, we become even more vulnerable to his evil ploys. One of the ways he tries to enter the heart is by weakening the mind.

What is an Inferiority Complex?

An inferiority complex is a feeling of inadequacy that’s not based on any rational judgements. It’s an emotionally-led feeling that holds us captive to constant comparisons which may drive us to wanting to be and act like others, and have what they have in order to feel good enough. 

This feeling turns us into thirsty travelers on a desert land, constantly chasing the ‘mirage’ of what others have but never quenching our thirst with the water bottle that’s around our neck.

We can see examples in our Islamic history of people who rather than holding esteem in their faith, turned towards external factors to find a sense of self worth. 

When Musa (as) and the children of Israel were saved from the tyrannical grip of Firoun (Pharoah), they witnessed first hand the Divine help of Allah SWT.  They were freed from oppression and could live in peace under the prophetic leadership of Musa (as). But not long after the miraculous passage across the Red Sea, they came across a group of people who had taken up idolatry worship and the ignorant amongst them turned to Musa (as) and asked him to “make for us a God just as they have Gods.”

They forgot Allah and fell prey to the insidious idea that the faith they possessed was inadequate in comparison to what they perceived the people they encountered had in terms of faith and provisions. The seeds of inferiority had taken root within them. 

“We brought the Children of Israel across the sea and they came upon a people devoted to idols. They demanded, “O Moses! Make for us a god like their gods.” He replied, “Indeed, you are a people acting ignorantly!” (7:138)

In the tafsir of Ibn Kathir (r) he said:

“It appears that the Children of Israel probably asked these people why they worshipped these idols, and they most likely told them that whenever they seek help from them they help them, and that they seek their provision from them. The ignorant ones among them may have been tempted to believe it, and so they asked Musa (as) to make a similar god for them as well.”

This is an example of how in the absence of God-consciousness we can falsely conclude that happiness and success lies in the superficial platforms promoted in a Godless society. 

We can see parallels of how the inferiority complex is playing out in individuals, organizations and in Muslim society at large today. Let’s take a closer look at each of these levels. 

Inferiority complex in Muslim Professionals

Have you ever stepped into work with feelings of trepidation? Feeling very conscious that you’re different; acutely aware that the sound of your name is different, the colour of your skin is different and that you have a set of rules and a value system that is not aligned with your workplace peers. 

If we bring sharp focus to this, what can it stir inside a person?

For my client, Aisha, it made her feel like she didn’t belong at her workplace. She was a teacher working in an affluent neighborhood surrounded by a predominantly white upper class community. Rather than seeing herself as the intelligent, capable person that she was, she subconsciously felt second-rate to her colleagues and so therefore always felt inferior. This inferiority complex rooted itself in her words and behavior; she would always aim to be agreeable even if she held a different opinion and felt the need to prove her self-worth in everything she did. 

“Never think that you’re not good enough. A man should never think that. People will take you very much at your own reckoning.”

Anthony Trollope

As this quote suggests, we teach people how to treat us. If we see ourselves as inferior, it makes it more likely that we will be seen in this way by others too. 

Moreover, the state of the believer is to know that there is khayr (good) in every situation as related in the following hadith: 

“Amazing is the affair of the believer, verily all of his affairs are good and this is not for no one except the believer. If something of good/happiness befalls him he is grateful and that is good for him. If something of harm befalls him he is patient and that is good for him” (Muslim)

Staying mindful of this helps us to elevate our thinking by the mere act of seeking the khayr in all situations, creating awareness in the heart of the blessings and opportunities present in the moment as opposed to dwelling on the negatives and how we’re perceived. 

With this in mind, Aisha and I discussed an alternative perspective; perhaps Allah had given her an opportunity to be a role model and dispel myths surrounding the Muslim stereotype, that she showed great courage by the sheer fact that she goes in to work every day and upholds her values concerning manners and dress code. Immediately, this fresh perspective gave her more confidence in her true identity and strengthened her connection to Allah. The inner critic that would constantly compare her to others started to wane and she no longer felt the compulsion to fit in. 

This feeling of not fitting in is all too familiar for the Muslim professional working in a predominantly western environment. The term “cultural cringe” is defined as an internalized inferiority complex that causes people to dismiss their own culture as inferior to the cultures of other countries. Inadvertently, we may feel the “cultural cringe” factor with our religious orientation too. In not wanting to feel alienated from social groups or hindered from potential work opportunities, a person might dismiss some of their spiritual practices and strive to adapt to the more commonplace practices of their environment in order to fit in and feel on par with their colleagues. 

Regularly missing prayers, not requesting time out for Jumu’ah, feeling awkward about wearing a hijab or growing a beard, dropping inhibitions and placing oneself in inappropriate environments may be some of the casualties of such sentiment. In reality, this can create an internal conflict between one’s spiritual values and the desire to be like others, resulting in anxiety, stress and internal worry. Social anxiety: the fear of being rejected by others, can be one of the biggest triggers for the inferiority complex.

With these emotions brewing inside, the inferiority complex can feature front and center. Feeling that no matter what you do, you just can’t hit the mark or won’t be seen as worthy by others. Even high achievers can feel like failures and imposters. The constant second guessing and feelings of being a second-rate worker hinders performance levels. Confidence dwindles and this can branch off in two ways. 

1. Shying away from opportunities out of fear of being “caught out” and not speaking up with authentic thoughts

2. Overcompensating behavior such as bragging to mask the feelings of insecurity.

Both these positions invite the ego to lead the way and we’re then left with ego-led behavior.

The Messenger of Allah (saw), said, “The strong are not those who defeat people. Rather, the strong are those who defeat their own ego.”

Sharḥ Mushkil al-Āthār 1645

A sense of inferiority is not a cognitive thing, it’s an emotional sense that is carried around privately and painfully. The emotions that can arise range from hopelessness and helplessness to anger, resentment, envy and defensiveness. 

A person can feel completely incompetent at her job even though objectively they’re great at it but that’s the nature of the beast – there’s no rational thinking. You can be completely disconnected from the objective perceptions others may have of you to the extent that there is an outright refusal to see any evidence to the contrary of your beliefs, placing one squarely in the victim-mindset.

Inferiority complex in Muslim organizations

Muslims look to the west and see successful companies: The Googles, Apples, and Teslas of the world Often these companies adopt practices that are foreign to our traditional ways and sometimes these practices are against Islam – yet as mentioned previously, the generalized feeling of inferiority stemming from the idea that we are inadequate and that our ways of doing things are not good enough, can make us blindly follow in the footsteps of these companies as a result. And in the pursuit of success, we may become negligent of our spiritual obligations.

For example, we’re seeing a burgeoning growth in the Muslim entrepreneurial space. There are now Muslim companies competing in the Fortune 500 arena and the Muslim spend is now worth trillions of dollars and is a recognized sector on the world business platform. Although there is this growth, we can also see symptoms of the inferiority complex growing alongside this trend. 

In today’s world, we see Muslim organizations and companies:

• Fully immersed in hustle culture, working staff to the bone
• Relentlessly following formulas of mainstream organizations and copying Silicon Valley and corporate America in hopes of achieving the same high levels of success.
• Feeling a general sense of inferiority to the western world and as a result producing substandard products and services – believing this is all they are capable of? 

What if, instead, Muslim companies adopted sunnah practices with yaqeen (certainty) that Ar-Razzaq (The Provider) will deliver barakah-filled results? A few examples of such practices are: 

• Adopting an Abundant Mindset of mutual benefit and cooperation when dealing with competitors vs. the Scarcity mindset of cut-throat competiton.
• Adopting a Gardener Mindset with work where you set good intentions, work hard, but detach yourself from the results.
• Fulfilling the Sunnah of paying workers before their sweat dries (a concept now known as Pay On Demand)
• Working with staff to develop them spiritually, just like we develop them professionally.
• Organizing and structuring the day and meetings around prayer times 
• Organizing business plans around the hijri calendar (#GoHijri) and even paying staff and offering holidays according to Hijri calendar. 
• Being at the forefront to protect female employees from sexual harrassment and ensuring safe and mutually respective working relationships between genders whether online or in-person
• Creating time for employees to take a Qailulah (short mid-day nap) as was the practice of prophet Muhammad (saw).
• Making the intention of the business not purely about financial gain and profit but about service to the community and Ummah at large.

The above ideas may seem ‘crazy’ in our modern corporate world, and may feel “unprofessional” – but what if thinking of the above as ‘crazy’ or ‘unprofessional’ is actually your inferiority complex talking to you? Yes, maybe not all of the above ideas are practical on a day to day level – but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be encouraged to explore and experiment with ways to grow our business with Barakah!

My point is this: Instead of feeling like the success formulas of corporate America and the like were the only valid ways to create successful companies, what would happen if Muslim organizations placed more faith in aligning the structure of their company and workday with faith-based practices such as the ones mentioned above? With the doors of barakah opened, imagine how this could yield even greater results. 

Inferiority complex in the Ummah on a global stage

In the same way that the children of Israel began to develop a sense of inferiority and feeling “second-rate” to the community of pagans they encountered, we can see parallels in our modern day society with the Muslims of today experiencing similar emotions. The media surrounding our religion is awash with labels such as Muslim terrorists and extremism. Muslims are under constant scrutiny, and this has made us sensitive and defensive. As a nation what impact might this have on our mindset and how are we responding as a result?

Here’s a few ways in which the inferiority complex has taken root in our ummah today. We may find ourselves:

• Desiring to imitate aspects of non-Muslim lifestyles even though it is prohibited for the believer
• Minimizing the importance of certain aspects of our religion because it’s not convenient and feel it will hinder our life goals
• Not standing up for Muslim suffering globally due to political and economic pressure.
• Judging Islamic principles through a liberal secular lens.
• Find ourselves viewing certain practices as outdated concepts and not fit for purpose in today’s world
• Only valuing a practice in Islam if the science community or an academic validates it. For example, we know that fasting Mondays and Thursdays is a highly regarded sunnah, but did we only take it seriously when western scientists concluded that the 5:2 diet was a legitimate practice?

Very often the inferiority complex is on a subconscious level, so most people are not even cognizant to it. However, we need to take a very conscious look at our intentions, choices and actions in order to determine whether we have mindlessly adopted some of these frames of thinking. 

Islam is the last Divine Message to Mankind. We have the blueprint to live a life that is the most balanced,  wholesome, and decent. Yet as a nation, we may have drifted away from this way of life because we have fundamentally forgotten who we are, where we came from and our ultimate purpose in this world. 

And in this lies the antidote. 

The antidote to the inferiority complex

An inferiority complex is fueled by the desire to attain the same levels of power, status and success as those perceived to be in superior positions. In order to shatter this complex, we need to bring our hearts and awareness to the ultimate source of power and honour. 

“Whosoever desires honour, power and glory then to Allah belong all honour, power and glory…”?!

[ 35:10]

For the sincere believer, it is known that only in obeying Allah can one find honour, power and glory in this world but more importantly in the next. Holding tight to this reality, secures the heart of the believer from ever feeling inferior to any other culture or creed. It removes the temptation to yearn for what others have in the worldly sense as faith in Allah is what brings a level of contentment that far outweighs the love for anything else this world has to offer.  

We are the children of Adam. 

We are from the ummah of Prophet Muhammad (saw).

We can call ourselves Muslims because of the greats in our history; the noble prophets, the companions of the prophet and the generations to follow who sacrificed their lives so that we can practice today. 

We have been given tawfeeq (direct guidance) to believe in the Oneness of Allah whose guidance and Help we know is always with us. 

With this identity deeply embodied in the very fabric of our soul, we can stand confidently in any environment holding tight to our values and be fearless of worldly judgement. We can navigate any workspace or social gathering with firmness in our Muslim identity. Our hearts will steer away from feeling any form of inferiority complex or victim-mindset or FOMO (fear of missing out) because there is peace and contentment found in the promise of Allah: 

“So do not become weak, nor be sad, and you will be victorious if you are indeed true believers.”

[ 3:139]

Alongside this understanding, it’s essential to create time for muhasabah (self-evaluation) in order to become more self aware, to be aligned to your fitra and increase in confidence that is rooted in Allah. 

And it is for this reason that I developed the Confidence Masterclass – a transformational 6-week journey that combines Islamic spiritual practices with modern psychology to help Muslim professionals develop spiritually-centered confidence and remove any feelings of insecurity and inferiority.

During this masterclass, you will be guided through the Belief Model framework – a systematic process designed to help you strengthen in all aspects of life pertaining to spiritually rooted confidence.  

For example, Imran decided to join the masterclass to work on his spiritual confidence using the Belief model framework. Prior to this training and despite having a good job, family and comfortable lifestyle, most days he would wake up feeling uneasy and unsettled. He was feeling the pressure of constant comparisons and spiritually weakened by the busyness of life. However, after he completed this training, he described feeling more internal peace as a result of developing a stronger reliance upon Allah and how increased self-awareness gave him more control, emotional grounding and confidence in himself and life choices.

Let’s take a deeper look at Imran’s outlook before the training and how he felt at the end of the masterclass training…

After working his way through the Belief model, Imran is a more confident, healthy, balanced individual who is still ambitiously working towards his life goals but with an active focus of how his work in this world can connect to the next. He’s no longer as concerned with external judgment or trying to fit in; his heart, mind and soul have found contentment in his deen and his feelings of self worth are rooted internally by his connection to Allah.  

“Verily, Allah does not look at your physical features nor your wealth, but Allah looks at your hearts and actions.” (Muslim)

When we keep our sight firmly fixed on Allah, the fear of others dissipates. The inferiority complex disappears and what’s left is an energy, focus and determination to create meaningful lives with the hope that the reward will come in this life and extend to the next.

The post How Inferiority Complex Is Hurting You and the Ummah (and How We Can Fix This) appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

Alhamdulillah, the Productive Muslim Company, spent the last 12 months making internal and external modifications to adopt the Hijri-first lifestyle. Here are some of the changes we made:

1. We switched all our communications to Hijri-first, i.e., all the dates on our website, email campaigns, and social media posts display the Hijri date first, followed by the Gregorian date. 
2. We planned our masterclasses and events to align with the Hijri calendar and will soon publish a 1443H calendar for all our upcoming programs.
3. We held our annual company retreat during Ramadan (instead of Dec/Jan) so that we plan from one Ramadan to the next, and we hold quarterly reviews according to the Hijri months.
4. We set up company-wide vacations around the Hijri calendar, so all team members can enjoy Eid and special Islamic events with their families and friends.
5. Our Team payroll is now aligned with the Hijri calendar, i.e., team members are paid at the end of each Islamic month.

The above changes may seem subtle, but they significantly impacted our internal team culture, and they resonated with our readers. Here’s what a board member of an Islamic school wrote to me and said:

“I want to thank you for displaying the Hijri date so prominently and forcing us to look at the regular date in parenthesis. This is such a small, subtle change, but I think this shows leadership and may soon be followed by other masjids in their communications. It will eventually change our culture and help us focus on the Hijri dates. This has motivated me to start using Hijri dates on our communication from our Islamic school now.” Abu Sabiq, Board Member, Montessori School of Excellence

The Barakah of Switching to Hijri First

I have to admit that initially, the above changes took some adjustment. Team members had initial frustrations figuring out the Hijri date and communicating in Hijri-first, even in quick internal messages. However, being a small company, we could quickly make these changes and iron out any issues that popped up during the switch.

Moreover, after a few months of adopting a Hijri-first lifestyle, we noticed the benefits of making the switch, including:

• We were more conscious of the sacred months of Islam and aligned our communication and messaging around them.
• We felt the Barakah of planning our annual retreat in Ramadan discussing future company plans during the most blessed month.
• We became more aware of special Islamic events in history and aligned our communication around them.
• It helped us align with our internal Barakah culture mindsets, values, and rituals.

How can your company/organization switch to a Hijri-first lifestyle?

If you are a company/organization that serves the Muslim community, it makes sense to adopt a Hijri-first lifestyle. However, making your team switch to Hijri first can be challenging since it’s more practical and efficient to stick to the Gregorian calendar. 

Here are 4 steps to help your team make the switch:

1. Explain the Why: As a company/organization that serves the Muslim community, you must show leadership and honor the calendar that Allah SWT chose for this Ummah. If we as companies/organizations operating in the Islamic space don’t step up to protect and propagate the Islamic Hijri calendar, then who will? Making the case that going Hijri-first is critical for the benefit of the community will help rally your team around this switch (If you need help to make a case for your team to go Hijri, share this article with them).
2. Be a Role Model: As a leader, you need to adopt a Hijri-first lifestyle in your personal and professional life and be comfortable communicating dates according to the Hijri calendar. It would be best if you communicated in Hijri-first even in daily ‘quick’ messages, whether it’s an email, slack, or Whatsapp message. When your team sees that you’re sticking to a Hijri-first communication and this is not another ‘management fad’ – they will get that this is important to you and make the switch.
3. Setup a Plan: Once you agree as a team to switch your company to become Hijri-first. Set up a plan on how you’ll make the switch. For example, for The Productive Muslim Company, we started going Hijri-first in all our external communication. By Ramadan, we switched our annual planning to Hijri-first. Finally, in Shawwal, we switched payroll to Hijri. Don’t try to make all changes at once, as it might disorient you and the team. Also, download our Hijri-Adoption Framework so you can measure yourself and team on your progress going Hijri.
4. Hold Your Team Accountable: During the first few weeks of implementing a Hijri-first plan, you’ll need to constantly give feedback to your team to communicate according to the Hijri calendar. This might come across as bothersome – but after a few weeks and a couple of nudges – your team will be aligned, and your company will be a Hijri first inshaAllah.

I hope this encourages your team and company to adopt a Hijri first lifestyle. If you need more help to understand the concept of going Hijri, watch this webinar, where I go in-depth on how you can adopt a Hijri-first lifestyle:

The post How The Productive Muslim Company Went Hijri-First & How Your Company Can Do So Too appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

My Story

During the Spring of 2020, right around when the world was going into lockdown, I was in search of more in-depth answers on what would make me feel fulfilled in life.

I had a thriving career in the scientific research and development field for more than two decades, yet I wasn’t fulfilled! My work became repetitive and my joy was zapped overtime. I tried many things like getting more career achievements and connecting with other high-performing individuals; it was great, but not lasting. 

Mindfulness Masterclass and Me

I had been looking into western philosophies, concepts, theories, and books to find fulfillment. Now I wanted to learn more about the Muslim perspective on fulfillment, life purpose, and values which led me to the Mindfulness Masterclass at Productive Muslim. 

Bringing God, soul, and the heart back to Mindfulness, the Masterclass grounded me in my own faith, which was the ingredient I lacked to be fulfilled. 

Al-Ghazali’s profound statement on mindfulness as “to open a window that lets the divine light in” resonated with me and helped me find a deeper spiritual awareness that brought me peace and direction.

My Mindfulness Tools for greater Spiritual and Emotional Well-being and Productivity

Invitation

The Islamic Mindfulness masterclass was a beautiful journey that I plan to keep going back to as you have lifetime access to this community once you sign up once. Join my colleagues and me at the next Mindfulness Masterclass to increase your awareness of your creator, and invest in your spiritual and emotional wellbeing.

Before I go, I want to let you know that a mindful life does not mean being silent and quiet all the time. According to your purpose, it’s about living your life, thriving in what you enjoy the most while using a treasure trove of tools to practice being present and enjoying the journey every step of the way. 

And the beauty of God-centered Mindfulness? You do not have to do it alone – be present with Allah SWT and keep your faith as your guide as you start this journey to your best self.

The post Success Story: Amal Saymeh, Mindfulness Masterclass Graduate appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

My Story

So it was about 3 am on Friday in Nigeria, and my little girl had a fever. She also had a high fever the night before, but this time it was not going down. I reached out to the pediatrician’s office, and I was placed on a waiting list for an appointment. I looked at my to-do list for that day, and I had a major Clinical Pharmacy exam that morning at 8.00 am. By 7 am, as my baby’s temperature was finally down, I left her with the family setting out for my exam while waiting to hear back from the pediatrician. 

Many of you readers might be in my same shoes some days: a full-time student, a working professional, and a mom – trying to balance your studies, career, and home. How do you stay sane, focused, and calm while juggling between all your roles and an ever-growing list of To-Dos?

Mindfulness Masterclass and Me

Mindfulness is a buzzword. Everyone seems to be talking about it these days. I never once considered that I would be learning about Mindfulness one day until I stepped inside the Mindfulness Masterclass at Productive Muslim. And I walked away with deeply meaningful tools for my spiritual-emotional well-being and a beautiful supportive community.

That morning, while I was driving to my exam, leaving behind my sick baby at home, what would you suggest I should have done to stay calm and focused?

My past self would have been too anxious and worried, not knowing what to think. But equipped with my new knowledge of Mindfulness, I knew I had to keep taking deep breaths to activate my parasympathetic system to calm down my brain’s fight or flight response, and I would do this while making Dhikr to cultivate the presence of Allah and His ever-flowing mercy. 

Let me ask you a quick question: When was the last time you sat down between your busy day and took a few focused, deep breaths to invest in your well-being? 

The best part about the Mindfulness Masterclass is how it revives the lost art of Islamic Mindfulness, how to cultivate the Presence of God to nurture ourselves spiritually why we are striving to be more Mindful. The intersection of the teaching of beautiful scholars like Ghazzali and modern-day research deeply resonated with my style of learning and self-development.

My Mindfulness Tools for greater Spiritual and Emotional Well-being and Productivity

Invitation

The Islamic Mindfulness masterclass was a beautiful journey that I plan to keep going back to as you have lifetime access to this community once you sign up once. Join my colleagues and me at the next Mindfulness Masterclass, increase your awareness of your creator, and invest in your spiritual and emotional wellbeing.

Before I go, guess what I did once I got back from the doctor’s office after that crazy day?

I had another deadline! I sat with myself for a few minutes and then I got to work on this article. 

Whether it is mindful breathing punctuated by Istighfar or a mindful wudhu followed with a khushoo-filled salah, the Mindfulness Masterclass was a gift that keeps on giving by Allah’s grace. 

The post Success Story: Aisha Ahmed, Mindfulness Masterclass Graduate appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

So I started wondering: What would that better version of myself be like? How would I feel daily? How would my day start? What would people notice once they see the new version of Me? Those were the questions I pondered on when I decided to join The Productive Muslim Masterclass a year ago. Now, 12 months later, I ask myself how did I live any other way before the Masterclass!

The impact of the Masterclass spiritually

I am now more in tune with my real purpose in life and how beautifully everything would be arranged and managed around that purpose. My main purpose right now in this world is to worship Allah , praise Allah and be Allah’s best ‘abd ( slave). I was worried about everything else in life forgetting about this critical aspect. Just praying and doing the ritual was not enough, 12 months later, I understand and reflect my true WHY in motion.

1. I am going to sleep immediately after I pray ‘Isha (evening) prayer and witr (last night prayer). I am keeping up with all my prayers right on time, or at least within 10 mins from the adhan (call to prayer). I am also completing all the sunnah and nawafil (voluntary prayers). I am building up an army around my kingdom (i.e. my heart – an analogy I learned in the Masterclass)-It’s what my wife and I tell our children to get them to do their Sunnah prayers as well.
2. What is amazing and mind-blowing, I cannot even leave any washroom (public or private) without making wudu (ablution) and needing to make two rak’at nafl after wudu. If I cannot find a spot where I can conduct two rakats after wudu, I make the intention to make the two rakats nafl as soon as I reach a clean and appropriate spot to conduct them.
3. Since the Masterclass and learning about the sleep cycles, I sleep after ‘isha around 10 pm and Allah is automatically waking me up between 3:30-4:30 am for tahajjud (night prayer). I find myself mimicking a similar routine as the Prophet ; waking up, reaching for my siwak (organic toothbrush recommended by the Prophet) by my bed table, using my glow in the dark watch to tell the time instead of my cell phone and making a dua (supplication) and thanking Allah for His Mercy and Blessings. I don’t flinch at the time anymore, I am constantly persevering and being consistent in doing my tahajjud.
4. Moreover, I hired a Qur’an/Arabic teacher to keep me accountable in reading my Qur’an 3 times a week with him and daily on my own. It’s really great because I set my environment so that I can create triggers to keep me on task and on schedule. My Qur’an teacher is abroad so his time works perfectly with my Qur’an reading after tahajjud and before fajr (dawn).
5. My teacher moved on to helping me focus on reading Qur’an in Arabic with tajweed (the set of rules governing how the Qur’an should be pronounced during its recitation). Now I have to find time to practice reading Qur’an in Arabic. (i.e minimum read Qur’an daily + 3x weekly with a teacher).
6. As I move on to putting into practice my new-found routine ( the Prophet routine), I’m starting to read books on seerah (Biography of the Prophet ), and other Islamic topics to help purify my heart and soul even more.
7. I am working on memorizing Qur’an daily and hadith (blessed sayings of the Prophet )
8. I am scheduled to do some khutbah (Friday sermons) at some of my local masjids and since I learn to manage myself better versus to manage my time instead, I am getting barakah (Divine blessings) to do more Islamic studies and reading.

I am more at ease remembering the Prophet’s saying:

“What comes your way was meant for you, what did not come your way was not meant for you” [Sunan Abi Dawud]

I have embodied the notion of “ tie your camel” also taught by the Prophet and explained in the Masterclass, to be worry-free, doubt-free of my actions as long as I follow the teachings of Islam, and the Sunnah (teachings of the Prophet ).

Moreover, I created a life that helps me to journey through this world with Islam as my core vehicle and the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad as my compass, my guide, and my GPS.

I have totally adopted the ‘gardener mindset’ vs my ‘carpenter mindset’ that I had before. My wife and children think that I am always happy and never get mad about the change of plans anymore and are now feeling awkward about my calmness. I am now constantly referring to the equation of: “will power+ Natural laws+ Allah’s permission(duas)= outcomes” which was taught in the Masterclass.

I am making dua and talking to Allah every second as if Allah was in front of me. Whenever I need something or going to do something I sincerely express it in my prayer and ask for His permission. This true feeling of freedom and positive attitude is euphoric, almost surreal for my physical heart and for others to comprehend.

The impact of the Masterclass on me physically

Because everything is related and connected to my WHY, to my purpose in life, I am able to instinctively tell myself to do a better job at taking care of the amanah (trust) that Allah has given me to praise Him and worship Him; my Body- the vessel that houses my soul!

I got rid of my destructive mindset of “ it’s all or nothing” either I do my full P90X3 workout every day consistently or I don’t do anything at all. I tossed that thought process out of my mind, and 12 months later after the class:

1. I have incorporated SafeNet triggers to help me to exercises, not as a mode of losing weight or reaching a goal to lose a certain amount of weight but triggers that remind me to exercise as a lifestyle. Not a burden but a duty, a way of life and responsibility.
2. I am keeping up with my fasts on Monday and Thursday but now I am incorporating the white nights( 13-14 and 15 of every Islamic month) and focusing on eating two meals a day and water throughout the day.
3. I am pre-planning the weekly meals for my wife and I so we can maintain a good energy level and sustainability with the two meal maximum that we have daily.
4. My new eating habits have increased my cost for groceries financially but we are buying and making healthier eating choices without feeling guilty of poor eating choices or overweight.
5. I am exercising daily, at least 7 mins to 15 mins, my max is 30 mins; I usually mix my exercise with other outdoor sporting activities such as running, which I plan them not by time but by the number of miles I want to accomplish for that day/week.
6. I even find myself exercising when I am traveling as well; using the hotel gym or my hotel room  without losing the routine because of traveling or Satanic/lower self whispers saying “ it’s too late, don’t worry about it”
7. I am not the type to go to the doctor on a regular basis, I didn’t even have a primary care physician for the longest time but this past year, I became more conscious by being proactive, visiting my primary care physician and checking my overall health (i.e regular physical, dental, and vision check-ups) annually.
8. Amazingly enough, learning about my sleep cycle and my energy levels throughout the day, I have better sleeping habits and a napping habit that works to keep the body healthy. My worship has improved by 10 fold, I am living a more balanced more productive life. I no longer feel like my work is mediocre.
9. Because I work from home, I am napping during the day. This has helped me stay and operate at my full potential daily.
10. Since the Masterclass, I have adopted running as my main physical activity and I have run since January of 2019 to date 390.1 miles.

After one year of putting these habits in practice, using a gardener mindset to help me overcome some of my pitfalls, my duas and my efforts truly created the lifestyle that I always dreamed of having all my life. I have been praying for a positive and happy permanent lifestyle like this: flexible, free from whispers and an environment that molds me into being the best version of myself daily, It’s no longer sporadic life like the seasons come and go!

And socially, that is another story.

The impact of the Masterclass on me socially

I am not a social butterfly like my wife. I don’t call and bring anyone or everyone into my life whenever I meet them.  Byt after the masterclass, 12 months later, for the sake of building a legacy based on sharing and companionship of brothers in my circle and my community, I am starting to meet with one brother for halaqa. For instance:

1. I am doing more volunteer work with the non-profit organization I used to work for and I am getting more involved with them (food pantry, fundraising and more).
2. As a member of MGA-for ICNA, I got more involved with them in setting projects that are beneficial for the community. Dawah booth and picnic event where my wife and children and I volunteer.
3. I found more time for me to read books of interest and sharing the knowledge gained from them with others.
4. I am conducting khutbas in some masjids as they invite me and or as the non-profit needs me to conduct to help at fundraising events and so forth.
5. I started a halaqa group, for a band of brothers can share thoughts, struggles, and successes with each other while we learn the best way for us to conduct ourselves to keep up with the world we live in and our daily life.
6. I am happy to see I started my small consultancy side business.
7. I am managing myself to create quality time with my children, my wife, and my community.
8. I am attending a networking gathering where I learn and share my beliefs and field of work.
9. Making better and growing strong-rooted relationships with family and acquaintances ( i.e neighbors, co-workers)
10. Most of all I now have time to read books and learn from them notions, tips, and tricks to help me become a better consultant and a better servant leader in my field of study and my peer circle.

My goal is to be the best version of myself daily and push myself to its limitless stage where only Allah would know that endpoint. I want to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet . I am doing my best in following how he journeyed through this world. I intend to continue to surround myself with the people, the tools and the processes needed to become that better version of myself daily, weekly, monthly and yearly.

I strive to work and to live in this world to reach and enjoy the Akhirah (eternal afterlife) and not live and work for this world only. Let’s just say, I do only the activities that promote the notion that I am ‘tying my camel’ so that Allah would have Mercy and Compassion on me as I work toward trying to please Him . As a slave, I want to be the best SLAVE to my MASTER . I want and will continue by Allah mercy to do my very best and leave the rest to Allah . Inshallah khair ( God willing) I pray that I can be filled with noor (light), be a source of noor (light) and share that noor (light) with the people around me by the Grace, Mercy, and Compassion of Allah .

One of the most important intentions we have at the Productive Muslim company is the holistic impact our programs should have on participants’ lives. So we’ve gathered some of the most inspiring stories that highlight the impact of our 6-week Productive Muslim Masterclass on graduates’ lives on a new dedicated page: Masterclass Graduates’ Stories.

If you feel this Masterclass is what you need to start upgrading to your next best self holistically, then BismAllah, check out the details here. The next masterclass will begin on Saturday, 28th December 2019 (1st Jumadah 1441H), insha’Allah. For any questions, call us at +1 (214) 530-0023, or email us at contactus@productivemuslim.com

The post A Year After Attending the Productive Muslim Masterclass: What Changed in Me Spiritually, Physically & Socially appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

One of the most important intentions we have at the Productive Muslim company is the holistic impact our programs should have on participants’ lives: spiritually, physically and socially. With that in mind, we’ve gathered some of the most inspiring stories we received that highlight the impact of our flagship 6-week Productive Muslim Masterclass on graduates’ lives on our new dedicated page: Masterclass Graduates’ Stories.

Read Our Graduates’ Letters to Their Future Selves

Besides video and written testimonials, you’ll find on this page, letters that our graduates’ have written to their future selves. This is the final assignment each participant needs to complete at the end of each masterclass: We ask participants to write a letter to themselves 12 months into the future, imagining what life would look like if they implemented everything they learned from the masterclass and lived the best version of themselves for 12 months.

Holistic and Inspiring Changes

Here are some of the inspiring messages shared in the Graduates’ letters:

[1]

“Although I’m a Muslim, I’m shocked about the lessons taught in the masterclass Session 1: ‘Intro & Define Your Best Self’, especially about the Qalb (the heart) […] Even my husband was overwhelmed by my changes. Usually, I don’t understand what he’s trying to do for the family as he’s the sole breadwinner. But after the masterclass, it seems I could handle stress, distractions, focus, manage time and plan for the better. Always kept in mind that I’m a human, not a robot. It’s OK to continue tasks on other days. I felt a lot of my time was wasted before the Masterclass. [The Masterclass] was very deep and made me feel the need to polish myself to do something meaningful. From that moment, whatever I did mostly, I would think about the higher self, like submitting my heart to Allah , and try to be the best ‘abd’ (slave) of Allah .”

[2]

“Thanks to the masterclass I understand by now that these things that I wanted to achieve [in life] have no real ‘backbone’. I wasn’t able to focus because my foundation was not right, I wanted to do all these things to gain some financial freedom and, yes, along the way I also wanted to help people. Which meant that I was mostly doing it for me and for others… But I forgot about the most important, which was Allah and my Akhirah [eternal hereafter]. I still vividly remember the lesson where Brother Mohammed explained to us the true meaning of ‘abd (slave of Allah): Everything that one does should be most and surely for Allah . Ever since I have tried to implement this in my life.”

[3]

“At the beginning of the masterclass, I aimed for the next best version of myself to be a person who prayed (on time), constantly counted my blessings by saying Alhamdulilah and a being a calmer family member (less snappy). Alhamdulilah over the past year I saw improvements in all those areas and more! If I tried to jot it all down I would probably run out of the time allocated time for this in my planner, but I will talk about the most important ones…”

You can find the whole collection of those deeply inspiring letters on the Masterclass Graduate’s Stories page. And if you’re new to learning about the Masterclass, here are our top 10 facts.

Top 10 Facts about the ProductiveMuslim Masterclass

1. The first Productive Muslim Masterclass took place in Jan 2018.

2. The Dec. 2019 Masterclass will mark the Company’s 7th edition.

3. To date, there are 195 graduates of the ProductiveMuslim Masterclass.

4. Masterclass participants come from all over the globe: US, UK, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Nigeria, Italy, Norway, Egypt, Germany, France, China, Bangladesh & more.

5. Participants come from various professional backgrounds: doctors, executives, entrepreneurs, lawyers, teachers, researchers, fresh graduates who need thorough direction in life…etc.

6. The Masterclass provides 6 LIVE sessions over the course of 6 weeks.

7. Each session is followed by a LIVE open-ended Q&A session with the instructor.

8. In addition to the 6 thorough sessions, each Masterclass participant also gets:

a. Lifetime access to all slides and recordings of the masterclass downloadable to their computer

b. A free copy of the best-selling book: “The Productive Muslim: Where Faith Meets Productivity” sent to their doorstep

c. A free Barakah Culture Cards deck

d. Free 45-minute 1-to-1 coaching call with a certified coach to help participants implement what they learned in the masterclass.

e. Free Productive Muslim Wall Calendar 2020G/1441H sent to their home

f. 1-year access to Barakah Academy an online learning platform and a community of Muslim professionals connecting spirituality to personal and professional development

9. Registering for the Productive Muslim Masterclass comes with a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee. Meaning, you can try the first four sessions of the masterclass, and if you don’t like it, send us an email and you’ll get a full refund, no questions asked.

10. A detailed overview of the content of each session of the Masterclass can be found in this video tour.

You have one shot at life, and you deserve to know how to live the best version of yourself every single day. Our next masterclass will begin on Saturday, 28th December 2019 (1st Jumadah 1441H), insha’Allah. If you’re ready to register, then BismAllah, check out the details here. For any questions, call us at +1 (214) 530-0023, or email us at contactus@productivemuslim.com.

The post Six Masterclasses & 195 Graduates: Read The Inspiring Stories of The Productive Muslim Masterclass Graduates appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

Kahkshan Ali is a dentist and a mother who was struggling with balancing work, faith and family life. This is her review of the Masterclass. She talks about how the Masterclass helped her find balance and also feel happier, more at peace and less stressed, with the Will of Allah .

What inspired you to sign up for the ProductiveMuslim Masterclass?

I think it was the level of trust. You had started doing a little bit of one-on-one coaching. I’d been on about almost three years now and I’ve been part of Productive Muslim Academy. I already knew, Masha’Allah, your background. When I saw the Masterclass, I thought definitely. I already knew it was most likely going to be a good product because all the other things I’ve done so far had been very helpful.

What was your biggest challenge before taking the class?

I think the main thing would be the productivity for me. I’m working full-time and I’ve got a family. I’m trying to make sure that all the projects and things that I want to get done can be balanced with my family life. So I was struggling with that. I knew I have time, but where’s the time going?

What did you learn from the Masterclass that helped you resolve it?

The other reason I wanted to do a Masterclass through Productive Muslim Academy was being a Muslim. We need to combine our worldly life with our Akhirah [Afterlife]. It’s important to link the Dunya and Deen [worldly life with faith]. That’s what I love about this masterclass. I mean, I’m doing other kinds of coaching as you know, but none of them addresses being a Muslim.

When people do the masterclass, they’ll see this.

We do the whole thing about the Barakah effect, waking up [for Fajr] and getting your morning routine. Other coaches, you know, Robin Sharma and other people, they also talk about the 5:00 AM club. So as Muslims, we’re already supposed to be up for Fajr [dawn prayer]. So we’re naturally aligned with this successful habit of waking up early. So, learning that and getting that in order kind of set the tone for the rest of the stuff that we want to do.

What specific results can you see after the Masterclass?

Really getting management of my calendar, and of my time. I feel that I’ve really got a better balance now with managing time for my projects. I’m trying to do something else with my career right now and also spend time with my daughter, husband and parents.

So, I really am so much happier. It feels so much more at peace and less stressed.

What did you like about the ProductiveMuslim Masterclass?

In the past, I signed up for things and I never followed through. They’re either too long, or there’s too much involvement. They’re kind of going on and on.

I love the length of this Masterclass. It’s six main weeks and we had that extra session. So, it’s about seven actual classes.

I think it’s the perfect amount of time. It’s 90 minutes. We get so much in those 90 minutes and you can use the things immediately. We get our weekly experiments to do and that’s actually starting to get us into those positive habits. So it’s not too much and it can be done, even though I’m busy.

Final thoughts

I highly recommend the masterclass. As I said, I’ve done a lot of courses; I’ve done a lot of stuff so I know who’s out there.

Pricing-wise, I think it’s a phenomenal value really. I mean, Mash’Allah, it’s an excellent value for money. And you will actually get something really out of it.

I love the fact that we also have lifetime access to the recordings of the classes because they have so much detailed information. Plus, you’ve given us the slides and PowerPoint presentations and everything. So, I still go through my notes and I’m able to go back to the recordings. It is fantastic to be able to have that resource forever. So Alhamdulillah.

The post How a Dentist Managed to Balance it All appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

1. What inspired you to sign up for the Productive Muslim Masterclass?

I read the Productive Muslim book and told myself that was the type of personality and mindset I wanted to be around in my life. I wanted to feel comfortable and genuine in my skin where my religion, professional aspirations and goals were in sync with the divine commandments.

2. What challenges were you facing before attending this masterclass?

Before attending this class, my major challenges were time management and not having the best mindset to be productive. Now I am gearing up to become a better gardener and better at managing myself holistically instead of just managing my time.

3. How were these challenges making you feel?

Disorganized, frustrated, unproductive and unfulfilled in life. Constantly annoyed with my family (wife and children) because of the ongoing changes in my plans for them, for work or for vacation time.

4. Why did you trust The Productive Muslim Company to help solve these challenges for you (as opposed to other online courses or personal development programs)?

It was because of the Productive Muslim book that I read for the first time in Canada when I discovered it at the booth of a bookseller. I really loved the way the author synergistically and naturally merged activity to help one embrace their religion with any activity that would overall help them to become a better husband, employee and professional human being in their daily lives.

5. What surprised you about the masterclass?

How beautifully and graciously the deen can make us become, the very success story that the 1% people in the world are. We had the answer in our religion to be the very best leaders and citizens to impact our community and our world.

6. What changed for you after attending the masterclass?

Everything changed for me. I have gotten more connected with my inner self, my ibadah and activity to improve my true purpose in life whilst journeying through this world. The success of this world will only happen if I am focused on achieving greatness for the next world- the akhirah. My whole-self  became happier and more focused on what mattered most by redefining the things I thought were most important.

I no longer want to fear death because of building a home/oasis here in this world while destroying the home in the next. Now I am working in building my oasis behind the wall of the unseen by working in this dunya but putting aside everything I can for the akhirah (doing my salah, doing ibadah, building and sticking to a consistent morning and evening routine etc… all based in pleasing Allah  first and leaving the rest for His will to be done.)

7. What specific results can you share?

I cannot stop thinking about how I have been waiting for a course like this. These past few weeks have been the best weeks in my self-development since I became Muslim, and have been trying to combine my professional life with my spiritual life.

8. What would you say to someone on the fence about joining our masterclass?

You are wasting your time by not joining. It is a gift from Allah to concretely show you how you can become a productive Muslim and professional together without sacrificing one or the other.

About the Masterclass:

The Productive Muslim Masterclass is a 6-week live online program that helps you learn practical, hands-on skills to win more days, overcome stress, and live the best version of yourself. Learn more & register for the next masterclass here: https://productivemuslim.com/ 

The post How I Found The Much Needed Balance Between My Faith and Professional Life appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.