How Ramadan can help our careers
As the holy month draws to a close, we've shared 5 ways Ramadan can have a positive impact on our careers. 📿🤲🏾
👋🏾 Salaam, we are Somalis in Tech and welcome to our monthly newsletter. Each month we’ll bring you the latest from the community, tech news and a community guest feature.
Todays newsletter is brought to you by … Dahabshiil
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How Ramadan Can Help Our Careers
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
The blessed month of Ramadan has reached the final 10 days and with it comes another great opportunity to acquire taqwa, increase our iman, refine our character, and improve ourselves holistically. It is well understood how Ramadan helps us grow in our faith, but have we considered how Ramadan can help our careers? In this post, let’s explore 5 ways that Ramadan can have a positive impact on our careers.
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The first way is how Ramadan helps us acquire discipline through planning, consistency, and time management. Prior to the start of Ramadan, we plan how we will maximize our time in this blessed month. Then upon the sighting of the new moon, we make changes to our schedules to achieve the goals we’ve set. Some of these changes include arriving at our local masjid on time for isha to secure our spot for nightly taraweeh salaah, going to sleep early so that we can wake up for tahajjud and suhoor, ensuring we are on time where we need to be for iftar, reading from the Quran daily to complete it, etc. And so for the entire month of Ramadan, we build this discipline into our routine which aids us in being successful at achieving what we intended.
What if we applied these changes to our lives outside of Ramadan? It is authentically narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said the most pleasing deeds to Allah are those which are done continuously, even if they are small. It’s worth reflecting on why habitually doing something good is praised and what compounding effects come out of consistency. There is an excellent book on this subject titled Atomic Habits that discusses how tiny changes can have remarkable results.
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The second way is how a Muslim is still required to do their job while in a weakened physical state from fasting. Being able to push through and meet expectations in our workplaces while refraining from food and drink displays great character, perseverance, and work ethic. Therefore, if we are able to do our jobs while fasting, then what should our performance at work look like outside of Ramadan? Indeed Allah (ﷻ) requires excellence from us in everything we do.
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The third way that Ramadan can help our careers is reflecting on the encouragement of giving sadaqah in this blessed month. It is authentically reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was the most generous of all people and he (ﷺ) would be even more generous in Ramadan. Giving charity sincerely for Allah’s sake has a guaranteed return on investment in this life and the next and is the fastest way to increase one’s income. Our Lord (ﷻ) has promised those who give charity sincerely for His sake that they would be rewarded multiple times over. If you feel that you are not in a position to give at this time, then know that charity does not decrease your wealth. It may sound counterintuitive, but this is precisely the best time to give since the best form of charity is giving preference to others while you are in need of it yourself. It is reported that the pious predecessors from the early generations use to give much in charity while fully trusting that Allah (ﷻ) would increase their provisions. And from our own communities there are countless stories of those who gave sadaqah in Ramadan trusting in Allah’s promise only to receive raises, promotions, and new job offers soon afterwards.
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The fourth way is reflecting on the power of dua. We have been instructed to ask Our Lord while believing with certainty that He (ﷻ) responds to the supplications of His servants. And that when we ask, we should be firm in our request and have high aspirations and ask for the best. It is authentically narrated that the most frequent dua of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was him asking Allah (ﷻ) for the best in this world and the best in the Hereafter. Ramadan presents ample opportunities in the day and the night and Laylat ul Qadr to make dua to Allah during times in which supplications are more likely to be answered.
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The fifth and final way that Ramadan can help our career is reflecting on the impact of honouring our parents and keeping the ties of kinship. It is authentically narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said he who desires ample provisions and his life be prolonged, should maintain good ties with his blood relations. Allah (ﷻ) honors those who keep the ties of kinship and hastens the punishment in this life for those who cut off their family. It may be that this punishment takes the form of a missed opportunity, raise, or promotion. Therefore, if we wish to be successful in our careers, it is prudent that we maintain healthy relationships with our families and relatives. Ramadan is the most suitable time in the year to reconnect with them.
We ask Allah (ﷻ) to make this our best Ramadan yet and to empower us to leverage these hidden career superpowers.
🕋 Ramadan Reads
Normally, we’d share the latest news and announcements in tech. However, as Ramadan draws to a close, we thought we’d recommend some good reads and tools.
Cur8 Capital by IFG - Zakat calculator
Cur8 lets you easily calculate all your assets including shares/funds, startup investments and of course your volatile Crypto.
Amaliah - Breaking down ‘100% Donation’ policies
We’ve often seen charities advertise their 100% donation policies. We may even be drawn to donating to those over those with an admin fee. But should we be? This articles dives into this and may change your perspective.
The Simple Seerah - Life of prophet Muhammad (PBUH) for younger audiences (paid)
We like this book because it makes it easy for the younger Muslims (adults too to be fair) to learn from the life of the prophet ﷺ. They have recently released an immersive audiobook that will come handy for short or long drives with the family.
🔥 Featured job opportunities
Pro tip: before you apply to any of these positions, why not pop over to Slack and DM the original poster for some insider insight?
Infinity works: Software Engineering Academy (UK)
One advanced: UX Designer (UK)
Aon: Graduate Software Engineer (London, UK)
🐪 Maah-Maah
Daacadi ma hungowdo
— Honesty is not treated with empty hands ( i.e. it always rewarded)
Mahadsanid and Eid Mubarak 👋🏾