Revisited: How Ramadan can help our careers
Announcing Apple apprenticeship
👋🏾 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.
Enter Dahabshiil's Umrah Trip Giveaway 🌙
Enter Dahabshiil's Umrah Giveaway and Embrace the Spirit of Ramadan! 🕌
Share what Ramadan means to you on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, or Snapchat. 📸
Tag and follow @dahabshiilapp 📲
Submit your posts by April 15th, 2024. 🗓️
Every post you share will count as an extra entry into the prize draw. 🎟️
Don't miss out on the opportunity to experience Umrah with flights, visa, and accommodation covered.
Ramadan Mubarak! We’re back. We know that it’s been a while since you heard from us, but we hope this newsletter is worth the wait. We’re so excited about what’s in store for 2024, and we’re looking forward to delivering more events, programmes, and activities that will positively impact our community.
Apple Software Dev + DevOps Apprenticeship
We’re excited to offer UK based SIT members the chance to apply to join Apple as a Level 4 Apprentice.
Apprentices will earn a competitive salary of £35k right from the start while gaining hands-on experience. The best part is that no hands on prior coding experience is required. The Makers bootcamp will teach you all the technical skills you need.
This opportunity is not being advertised widely so do take your chance iA. A member from our community was successful in landing the role last year so we’ve got a strong track record to keep up.
Key details:
Application Deadline: Friday, 5th April 2024
Interviews with Makers: 1st April - 25th May 2024
Interviews with Apple: 10th June - 5th July 2024
Apprenticeship Start Date: Monday, 16th September 2024
How Ramadan Can Help Our Careers
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
The blessed month of Ramadan is entering the last 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.
1
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.
2
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.
3
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.
4
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.
5
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.
Note: This post was first shared last Ramadan. The message remains as beneficial today as it did then so we’re resharing for all our benefit.
🕋 Ramadan Reads
Normally, we’d share the latest news and announcements in tech. However, as we’re in the month of Ramadan, 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.
Muslamic Makers - Ramadan in the workplace: Guide for Employers
Our friends at Muslim Makers have put together a PDF guide for your employers so they know more about how they can do for Muslim staff during Ramadan.
Ramadan Series on Qadar - Why me? Ep.1 by Dr Omar Suleiman
We like this series as it covers some of our most persisting questions on the subject of Qadar. Transform your perspective on life, qadar, and what has been decreed for you with a mindset shift to focus on the premise that everything has only been perfectly set up for you.
🐪 Maah-Maah
Cid wax kusiisa wax badan baad aragtaa, cid kula talisase wax yar
Many people will give you things, but few will advise you
Mahadsanid and Ramadan Mubarak 👋🏾