My journey! Alhamdulillah.
From pursuing a PhD, to founding a Faith-based Coaching & Training Company.
In the beginning of 2020, I was feeling stressed out, confused, and paralysed. This was the beginning of my PhD, and I felt like, I can’t think, act, or have no idea what is coming up. This was the time, I made a big decision to pursue my PhD, to chase my dream of becoming an assistant professor in a technical university.
At the same time, I had my son born, a huge change in life, and moving cities, and finding it difficult to have a home for a family with my PhD income. But, I was ready to sacrifice to achieve my dream title, in Academia. Things only got worse, I felt like a dump at work, felt low self worth, and so much pressure deep-down.
Despite taking the professional development support at the university, I felt something is lacking. These support definitely felt good, but told me that, if you do good at academia, you are a success, otherwise a failure! I was looking for something more! Deep down I knew that, the solution lies in my Deen (Islam), but did not know what it is?
I wanted to be ‘productive’, and a better ‘Muslim’.’ So I googled Productive Muslim. I ended up immediately at the website of “The productive Muslim Company.” Then I discovered Br. Mohammed Faris’s masterpiece book “The Productive Muslim”, and bought a copy. (surprisingly it was available at Bol.com). Subhanallah, I found it: a spiritual, and practical solution to come out of my burnout.
Since then, I followed Mohammed’s work, and eventually started taking his courses and workshops. I took the Book Writing Masterclass, Tie Your Camel Program, and the certification Program to become a productivity trainer. Alhamdulillah for the journey!
Last year, Mohammed published "The Barakah Effect," which acts like a medicine for me. Everyday, open the book randomly, and I find something deep, and practical. My phone wall paper is the Barakah Manifesto (I don’t know since when). My walls are filled with posters of Barakah experiments, daily routine of Prophet Muhammed Pbuh, all from The Productive Muslim Company!
Also this journey took me to begin with my own faith-based professional training and coaching company- TaQwa Minds, this journal with 130+ like- hearted you :), and I started with my first cohort yesterday. Alhamdulillah!
My biggest takeaway from this journey is that my understanding of 'barakah' has evolved. I used to see it as random, but now I know you can actively seek it in all aspects of life, both tangible and intangible, during good times and challenging ones. This was the game changer for me!
Subscribing to Barakah culture drives me to live authentically, make tough and conscious decisions, and aim without limits in my short life. This approach is more meaningful than drowning in a hustle culture that overlooks the entirety of an individual, and confine the success to material wealth, and titles alone. I shifted from defining my success by a job title to focusing on creating a lasting impact where my complete self is engaged.
I am not yet done learning from Mohammed and look forward to joining his comprehensive program, The Barakah Effect Program. This program includes all of Mohammed's concepts around Barakah, practical steps from his best-selling books, and his 17+ years of experience in assisting Muslim professionals. For those seeking personal growth and ready for a meaningful transformation, this program offers six weeks of lessons, a year-long coaching commitment, and genuine community engagement.
If this resonates with you, join with me to learn from Mohammed A. Faris, in the Barakah Effect Program, from this Saturday. In sha Allah.
May Allah infuse barakah into each of your life roles, and guide all of us in serving him at the best of our capacities.
Sincere Duáas
Haneef