The Barakah Effect: Recent Episodes
The Barakah Effect
The weekly podcast where we dissect the Qur'an and sunnah and turn it to our unfair advantage to achieve extraordinary success Here and Hereafter.
Pernahkah anda terfikir: Bagaimana caranya menjadi sahabat sejati Al-Quran? Apa yang bezakan seseorang yang hanya membaca Al-Quran dengan yang benar-benar menghidupkannya dan hidup bersamanya setiap hari? Pada episod kali ini, kita bersama Ustaz Syazani Jemy yang akan berkongsi tentang perjalanan luar biasanya.1. Mengenali Ustaz Syazani - Ketahui bagaimana beliau memulakan perjalanan sebagai seorang hafiz yang luar biasa. Segmen ini sangat berguna untuk ibu bapa yang ingin anak-anak mereka mendalami hafalan Al-Quran. 2. Memahami dan Menghayati Al-Quran - Perbincangan yang lebih mendalam di mana kami akan meneroka ilmu qiraat dan harf yang jarang diketahui orang ramai3. Tips Praktikal untuk Dekat dengan Al-Quran - Ustaz Syazani akan memberikan langkah-langkah mudah yang boleh kita ambil untuk menjadikan Al-Quran sebahagian daripada hidup kita.Jangan lepaskan peluang untuk mendengar episod penuh ilmu dan inspirasi ini. Semoga apa yang kami kongsikan memberi manfaat kepada anda. Barakallahu fikum, dan selamat mendengar!
How has your Iman and Ibadah been post-Ramadan? Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali encapsulated the life and outlook of the high-aspiring believers beautifully in these words:“The entire life of this dunya is a month of fasting for the muttaqeen, and their ‘Eid al-fitr is the day of meeting their Lord. And most of the days of fasting have already passed, and the ‘Eid of meeting is swiftly approaching” (Lataa’if al-Ma’aarif)These words should make us reflect - as we tasted the sweetness of striving in Ramadan, and the sweetness of success in Eid, it should serve as a valuable lesson for us to power on through our entire life ahead which are none but a number of days.Let's be honest: It's not easy. Life happens! There are so many things which may distract us from our end goal - work, obligations, life events. And yes, even Eid gatherings. In this episode, recognizing these challenges, we discuss sustainable strategies to maintain our steadfastness upon Iman and good deeds as we did in Ramadan:✅ What are some mindsets we can realign ourselves with, to keep up that momentum post-Ramadan?✅ Handling distractions & reverting to bad habits: Now that the devils have been unchained, have we become unhinged? How can we keep our guard up, now that shaytan is roaming free and disrupting our iman?✅ How do we know if our good deeds in Ramadan were accepted? What are some signs that we can look out for? ✅ How can we capitalize that sweetness of Ramadan - and replicate some of the good environment that induced and encouraged us towards becoming better people? .. and many more!ABOUT US: The Barakah Effect is a podcast where we discuss how to make the best out of our productivity, career, parenting, family, religion and life: How we can juggle all these moving parts, in order to achieve extraordinary success in dunya and akhirah.We are on a mission to inspire communities of high achievers striving for continuous growth and excellence: Here and Hereafter, through barakah as one ummah.
For our final episode in our series on Treasures from Quran this Ramadan, join us as we hear brother Syahmi share his reflections from Surah Ad-Duha: How Allah comforts the Prophet ﷺ in his times of sadness, reassuring him that He has not neglected him. Join us at TBE as we finish off these final, most blessed nights of Ramadan, and find assurance and confidence in our hearts through the words of our Lord, just as how it did to our Prophet ﷺ.See you there! BarakAllahu fikum
An old man once asked the Prophet ﷺ to teach him to recite the Quran. Encountering initial difficulty in reciting, the old man requested the Prophet ﷺ to teach him a comprehensive surah, to which the Prophet ﷺ then taught him surah Al-Zalzalah. What amazing virtues Surah Al-Zalzalah contain; a short yet comprehensive surah. It was reported Abu Bakar r.a cried upon hearing these verses when it was revealed. A Surah that addresses important events after each blowing of the trumpet on Judgement Day. It also contains two particular verses deemed by Ibn Mas'ud r.a as the most comprehensive and concise ayat in the Quran. Want to explore more? Join us as we share our brief reflection of this beautiful surah. BarakAllahu fikum
Surah Kawthar, a short surah in the Quran, yet it is considered one of the greatest gifts to our Prophet ﷺ.In our 3rd series this year of Treasures from Qur'an, join us on a journey with Aziz, as we discover gems from this short and beautiful surah, such as:• The meaning of Surah Kawthar and its connection to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ • The description of Al-Kawthar, a river and pool in Paradise.• The significance of the Day of Judgement in relation to Al-Kawthar.• Not everyone from the Prophet’s followers will be allowed to drink from the pool...and many more!
Among the amazing miracles of the Quran and the comprehensiveness of Islam is that Allah doesn’t just legislate personal obligations, rituals, Do’s and Dont’s, but also a holistic approach in ethics of behavior: both as an individual, as well as a community. Surah Al-Hujurat is filled with amazing wisdoms on the subjects of social psychology, character building, conflict resolutions, diversity and inclusion that shares profound lessons about what we can do to bring stability, but also how to thrive and succeed, collectively as a society.Join us where Faisal shares his reflections on this amazing surah as we uncover these inspiring lessons, and shares practical insights on how we can apply these to our lives - whether it’s in our families, leadership at the workplace, friendships, religious groups, and local communities.
Ahlan ya Ramadan! This year, 2024 / 1445AH, The Barakah Effect team returns with our sessions on tadabbur (reflections of the Qur’an), where we uncover and sharing some key inspirations, practical applications as we discover of some of our favorite surah from the Book of Allah.Kicking off our first session this year, brother Reeza shares some deep insights and practical character lessons from surah Al-Furqan, on the Muslim Character, uncovering some important traits that should be instilled among the slaves of Ar-Rahman (the Most Merciful, Most Compassionate).
Ikhlas (Sincerity) is truly an amazing matter of our deen
Simple to understand, yet profound in its implications; it is one of the conditions for the acceptance of deeds, and one of the most important keys to seeking Barakah (blessings) from Allah.
Yet, none of us will truly know how sincere we truly are, until we meet Allah!
As humans, we will always be struggling with our intentions, as we find ourselves striving (and struggling) through the tests of life, between high aspirations and dips in Iman.
So how can we strive towards attaining sincerity despite our shortcomings?
Join us as we kickstart Season 3 of The Barakah Effect by this super important principle: Start with IKHLAS (sincerity).
Why should we start with Ikhlas, and what steps can we take to maintain our resilience in striving for Ikhlas in everything we do.
Why are there so many differences of opinions in fiqh and different madhhabs? Which madhhab is the best and most correct?In this review of the book “The Evolution of Fiqh” by Dr Bilal Philips, we take a historical journey from the first generation of Islam to our present day to gain context and an understanding of how the Islamic fiqh of jurisprudence has evolved through the periods of time to what it is today; with the widely practiced four prominent madhhabs.Despite being concise in length, this book provides satisfying, comprehensive answers to those burning questions. Tune in to find out more!
In this episode, we tackle the common challenge of procrastination and share effective strategies to overcome it. Join us as we explore the negative consequences of delaying tasks and how they can lead to missed opportunities. We begin by discussing the definition of procrastination and its psychological impact.
Through personal anecdotes and experiences, we open up about our own battles with procrastination and the areas we have successfully overcome. From managing professional certifications to quitting harmful habits, we reveal the turning points and strategies that helped us break free from the cycle of procrastination.
Throughout the episode, we emphasize the importance of setting boundaries, understanding the psychological discomfort that comes with delaying tasks and finding ways to overcome negative emotions. We share practical techniques, such as breaking tasks into smaller, achievable milestones, surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals for support, and embracing the power of accountability.
Join us as we navigate the journey from procrastination to productivity, sharing insights, tips, and inspiration along the way. If you're tired of letting procrastination hinder your progress, this episode is for you. Tune in to the Barakah Effect Podcast and start unlocking your full potential today. Don't forget to leave your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. Together, let's conquer procrastination and embrace a more productive and fulfilling life.
Assalamualaikum - hi friends!
For this episode, I reviewed one of my favourite books: “Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if your life depended on it.”
Authored by Chris Voss, former FBI hostage negotiator for over 20 years, Chris shares some practical, tried-and-tested negotiation tactics, bringing forth many interesting real-life applications throughout his hostage negotiation experience and how we can apply those techniques in everyday scenarios.
I gotta admit… Before I read this book, I had zero interest in the subject of “negotiation” - to me. I have always perceived negotiation as something sleazy and manipulative or being forcing people. Besides, I always thought: why bother? I barely ever have to use it in my day-to-day responsibilities in my job, anyway.
This book totally changed my mind.
Turns out, what I thought was “negotiation”: that was actually terrible negotiation! As Chris Voss highlights, effective negotiation is about emotional intelligence, active listening, empathy, perspective-shifting, and even being cheerful (who would have thought?). Mind you, we’re talking about a guy who used to deal with terrorists, here!
Not only did the book convince me to appreciate negotiation, it also completely expanded the ideas about what negotiation is about, with how practical and effective the techniques are in every day application: not only in the many facets and dimensions at the workplace, as an engineer, manager, subordinate, and presenter, but also in surprising other applications in my personal life, such as effective parenting, day to day conversations, and yes - even da'wah!
Above all, this book did to me what I thought was impossible: to actually ENJOY negotiation. And to appreciate it as one of the most important life skills you can learn.
I mean, one of the techniques of the book - Mirroring - was so effective, that the author said that people think it’s some kind of Jedi Mind trick.
Dude. A book that teaches you to be a Jedi. Need I say more?
Join us for our review of “Never Split the Difference”, and strap yourselves in for a paradigm shift of one of the most surprisingly important and effective life skills we can possess!
-Faisal
How is your iman after Ramadan? Do you feel like your righteous deeds have taken a dip (or a tumble) since the arrival of Shawwal? If you’re anything like us, this slump we’re experiencing makes Ramadan might feel like such a distant past: though it’s barely even been a month! Feelings like these are normal.
What we SHOULD do is pick ourselves up, reforge our motivation and regain our focus. Join us this Sunday, 21st May, at 11:00am (GMT +8), as we discuss and brainstorm some practical ideas to try to help each other get back on track, discover inspiration to motivate one another, and find reasons to be optimistic post-Ramadan.
As always, we would also love to hear from you if you have any practical ideas and suggestions to share with the rest of us. See you there! BarakAllahu fikum
Al-Fatihah. We recite this surah a minimum of 17 times a day, every day - even more so if we do additional sunnah prayers, especially throughout this blessed month of Ramadan. Yet, how many of us truly ponder and reflect upon its meanings, let alone internalize them and translate them into action? How many of us truly feel the great honor of repeatedly reciting the greatest surah in the Final Revelation of Allah, and allow these Divine Words to have an effect on our lives?Or has our recitation of Al-Fatihah become a mundane, mechanical act, devoid of soul or of any impact to our hearts - Mere words of repetition that we utter just to get it over and done with and move on?Join us on Sunday, 16th April on 11:00am (GMT +8) for this fifth and final series of Treasures from Qur'an! As we close upon the final days of Ramadan, Brother Faisal will share some reflections upon the greatest surah of the Qur'an, Al-Fatihah: ✅ How Allah uses concise, powerful Words in Al-Fatihah to re-orient our purpose and goals in life, while nurturing positive, productive mindsets in our lives such as gratitude, love, focus, togetherness, humility, forgiveness, and more✅ As we perform our 5-daily prayers recite Al-Fatihah throughout the course of our day to day lives - as we are working, studying, taking care of our families, going through challenges - How we benefit put this recitation into practice, so it can be something that can transform our akhlaq, our attitude, and hence improve ourselves towards becoming better human beings for the sake of AllahSee you there, insha Allah! BarakAllahu fikum
Sabbihisma rabbikal a'laa - "سَبِّحِ ٱسْمَ رَبِّكَ ٱلْأَعْلَى" - The opening words of a surah we hear being recited every night in Ramadan, on witr prayers at the end of Solat Taraweeh. And even more so, as some imams recite every Friday in Jumaah prayers.
What is the significance of this surah? What are the key messages behind them, and hence, what are the wisdom behind why the Prophet ﷺ repeatedly recite it so frequently in many different prayers, and by extension, taught us to do so?
For this week's session Treasures from Qur'an, brother Aziz will be sharing from Surah Al-A'laa, the 87th Surah from the Book of Allah.
Join us, together, we ponder and reflect upon the Divine Words of the Almighty, extracting some important life lessons and practical wisdoms from the Final Revelation.
Of the amazing miracles of the Quran is that its concise words are filled with depth and can make the heart tremble out of awe and submission. These are parts of the reasons why the Quran is a mercy to the believers, a constant reminder and guidance to a straight path for the ones who reflect and whose hearts are attentive.
Come & join us this Sunday 2nd March 2023 on the 11th day of Ramadan 1444AH, as we continue the "Treasures from Qur'an" series to reflect upon the Divine Words of the Almighty, extracting some important life lessons and practical wisdoms from the 102nd Surah: At-Takathur presented by brother Reeza.
Allah started off by reminding us all about the reality of a human being- that we were once nothing, unknown to the world - so that we are humbled by the greatness of Allah and realize that we are not anything except with the Will and the Power of Allah.
Brothers and sisters, these are the beginning words of Allah in Surah al-Insan. Hence, in the second part of "Treasures from Qur'an" series, the The Barakah Effect will be talking about Surah al-Insan, a brief overview of the surah and verses that resonate with us the most.
Come & join us this on our double-weekend special of Treasures from Qur'an, starting this Saturday 1st April 2023 on the 10th day of Ramadan 1444AH, as together, we ponder and reflect upon the Divine Words of the Almighty, extracting some important life lessons and practical wisdoms from the Final Revelation.
Ahlan ya Ramadan! The "Treasures from Qur'an" series returns, as the team at The Barakah Effect are hosting a special series of Live episodes dedicated to sharing some reflections (tadabbur) of some of our favorite surah and ayah from the Book of Allah.Come & join us this Sunday 26th March 2023 on the 4th day of Ramadan 1444AH, as together, we ponder and reflect upon the Divine Words of the Almighty, extracting some important life lessons and practical wisdoms from the Final Revelation.Kicking off the series in for Ramadan this year, brother Amir will be sharing some of his selected gems from the 70th Surah: Al-Maarij. See you there! BarakAllahu fikum
A common thing we share with everybody else is that we all are in pursuit of happiness. Some tirelessly chase after money, while others obsess about finding the perfect spouse. Today, we see so many people do unbelievable things all in the name of "happiness".
So this begs us to ask: what is the true meaning of happiness? Where can we actually find contentment in this chaotic world we live in?
In this book entitled "8 Steps to Happiness", the author Shaykh Abdur Rahman Bin Nasir as-Si'di (may Allah have mercy on him) penned down 8 profound ways for a person to achieve true happiness and simultaneously get rid of sadness, grief and anxiety all through the lenses of the Quran and Sunnah.
The book addresses everyone, especially Muslims who are struggling to achieve real contentment. What's great about the book is that the content put forth in it is so relevant for people of this generation, even though the book was written before the 60s!
In this book review discussion, we review "8 Steps to Happiness" to unravel the following:
✅ The true meaning of happiness
✅ The summary and main theme of these 8 steps
✅ Points which stood for us
✅ Why you should read it
Hopefully, this review is enough to encourage you guys to pick up a copy and read it. May Allah grant us to benefit from the works of our rightly-guided scholars.
Ever seen this pocket-sized book lying around somewhere? Perhaps you've seen it been given out like free doorgifts at a walimah. You might have seen some iteration of it as a digital application in the Appstore or Google Play.
So, what is it? And why is it so popular?
This is Hisnul Muslim - translated as "Fortress of the Muslim", compiled by Said Al-Qahtani. This important book captures the recorded daily sayings and practices of our beloved Prophet ﷺ in various situations, so that we too can emulate them, and carry them as treasures for the rest of our lives.
True to its title, the Fortress of the Muslim serves as a fortification of knowledge composed in a simple arrangement, making it an easy reference for common Muslims everywhere.
In this episode, we break down and review Fortress of the Muslim to uncover:
✅The features of this book
✅Inspirational personal stories connected to the book
✅What stood out for us - why it's such a Legend!
✅How to best use/approach the book
May Allah allow us to benefit from this immense work on the Sunnah of Rasulullah ﷺ.
Do you fear public speaking?
It affects more of us than you think. In fact, studies show that up to 75% of the population experience this debilitating anxiety. And if you, like us at The Barakah Effect happen to be in that majority, this episode is for you!
Can we rise above our fears of public speaking?
It might just be that key to unlock our potential for growth; to galvanize, empower and inspire.
In this episode we demistify what’s behind the fear of public speaking relating from our own experiences, and discuss practical strategies to overcome it.
Assalamualaikum. Hi friends! It's Faisal here and for this episode, I review "Good to Great" by Jim Collins.
It's a title that you've probably heard so many times it's practically become a professional cliché or a corporate meme by now 😂.
In this book, which is arguably one of the most influential and often cited business books of our modern times, author Jim Collins and his team produce a work based on extensive research of how some average companies break free from mediocrity and explode into GREATNESS, far ahead of their peers in the Fortune 500 ranks.
I don't normally read business books, but this book turned out to be one of my favorites, and I was genuinely surprised at how useful and practical the themes and ideas are, not only to drive organizations and businesses but also for personal development.
Themes like Level-5 Leadership, the Flywheel, Confronting the Brutal Facts (Yet Never Lose Faith), and the hedgehog concept: are timeless principles we can implement, many of which are surprisingly already taught - either directly or implied indirectly - in the Qur'an and Sunnah!
In this book review discussion with brother Aziz, I summarize the core themes and approach of the book and give emphasis to sharing some of the concepts which I resonate with the most, and some practice ideas of how we can implement these ideas in our lives, where it be:
✅ Our Day to day interactions at the workplace
✅ Our careers
✅ Parenting
✅ Da'wah efforts
✅ The Barakah Effect podcast itself
Hope you guys find this discussion beneficial, and insha Allah, can learn a thing or two to help you propel yourselves and those around you to achieve that breakthrough into greatness!
In this episode, we discuss the art of collaboration and working with others.
The habits of likeable people; the kind of people you want to work with, who are appreciated when present and missed when they are away.
Is it a skill we can learn? Or is it something that we are innately born with?
We cover two important aspects:
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Why should we talk about it, and who is it for?
-
Becoming more likeable at work
Come let’s join us!
Assalamualaikum, I’m Abdul Aziz. I'll be the first to review a book for the TBE's new book review segment.
I don’t know about you guys, but there was a time in my life “I was wondering why does Allah create us and the universe.”
I was too shy to ask the teacher and would always ignore searching for the answer too.
I was browsing through a bookstore one day when I came across this thin book titled The Purpose of Creation. Then I wonder how a 74-page book can answer such a big question. Out of curiosity, I read the book in only one sitting.
Surprisingly, the author did an excellent job of answering such a complex question in simple English and explaining it concisely according to the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ teachings.
After reading this book, I am grateful that Islam has clearly stated the purpose of creation. Without the knowledge of the purpose of creation, we will live to wander aimlessly throughout life.
Come and join the book review.
May Allah guide us and make us from the people who fulfill our purpose of creation. Ameen.
Get the book at:
Dakwah Bookstore: https://www.dakwahbookstore.com/product/purpose-creation-pb/
Shopee (Malaysia) : https://invle.co/clegrdf
The subject of pornography is a subject that is considered taboo and shameful, and therefore rarely ever talked about publicly, especially among us shy Malaysians
Pornography is one of those problems in society that we KNOW is a major issue, but we never really want to talk about. Either it’s because
🤔 We are ignorant of how harmful it truly is to society, Or, that
🙈 We choose to be in denial and think “nah, not me, my family is not affected.. We’re FINE insha Allah”, or
😟 If we are struggling with this ourselves, we feel a sense of shame, we consider this as our own personal struggle and therefore isolate ourselves from finding solutions
In this episode, brought to you in collaboration with the AWARE academy, we at The Barakah Effect would like to make a conscious effort to stop being in denial, and play our role towards being a solution to heal the ummah from pornography. We talk about
✅ Why should we discuss this subject? How pornography negatively impacts your productivity, your marriage, your iman, and society at large
✅ What causes pornography addiction? Why is it so addictive and why is it so difficult to quit? And, what makes it even worse now in the 21st century, compared to how it was in the past
✅ Solutions: How can we play our roles - as an individuals and as a society - to help overcome, prevent and heal our ummah from pornography?
This episode is also intended to instill a sense of optimism and hope. If you - or anyone you personally know - is currently facing this problem of addiction to pornography, we’re not here to condemn you. We are here to provide solutions. There is a way out. You are not alone. There are thousands out there who are also struggling with this, too, and, here’s the good news: on the bright side, there are also thousands of those out there who have successfully repented and quit their addiction to porn!
Please do share this episode with others, with at least one person, ESPECIALLY if you know of someone who is struggling with this addiction
If you need any assistance or support, or have your own success story and would like to play a role to contribute, we would love to hear from you, please do reach and get in touch with us, insha Allah
Time stamps
0:00:00 Start
0:09:50 Part A: WHY talk about this topic? What's the big deal? Stop being in denial
0:13:57 The Islamic perspective
0:19:50 Dangeously Accessible: Your children are only one wrong Google search away from p0rn!
0:25:44 Halal intimacy and "s€x" in Islam
0:29:19 Endless novelty - How P0Rn pollutes the Fitrah
0:34:10 Imprinted in memory: how P0rn destroys your ibadah
0:35:38 Shocking: How P0Rn can lead one to kufur & abandoning Islam
0:39:54 Part B: CAUSES of P0RN Addiction
0:43:43 Poor S€X education and ignorance: encourages "learning" through P0RN
0:46:06 Understanding Dopamine: How P0RN hijacks your brain & destroys willpower
0:50:03 Protecting our children: S€X education the Need to upskill ourselves & take responsibility
0:54:19 Part C: SOLUTIONS - How to Heal our Ummah from P0RN
0:59:13 You MUST Seek Help
1:04:48 Joining Online Communities, e.g. Nofap
OTHER RESOURCES:
AWARE Academy https://awareacademy.com.au
Your Brain On Porn - latest research on effects of internet porn https://www.yourbrainonporn.com
NoFap - Porn Addiction Recovery - https://nofap.com
Reboot Nation community - https://rebootnation.org
“Halal Intimacy from an Islamic Perspective” by Abdullateef Abdullahi - https://www.dakwahbookstore.com/product/halal-intimacy-dcb/
When we started The Barakah Effect Podcast, we aim to share our experiences and ideas about how to improve our work and life to gain success in this world and the Akhirah.
We're excited to release this week's episode to you: 40 Easy Productivity Tips to Enhance your Life
This is a collective tip from The Barakah Effect team that they use in their daily lives.
The tips cover techniques and mindsets for getting things done and improving not only your life but also your ibadah. That you can put it into action immediately.
You can pick and choose which tips are relevant to you.
So, turn up the volume, prepare your notes, and enjoy the discussion.
TIME STAMPS
0:04:29 #1 Design our Environment
0:08:22 #2 Strengthen your intention
0:10:13 #3 Share knowledge or teach others
0:13:28 #4 Seize the Early mornings, start the day right
0:17:10 #5 Housekeeping: Tidy up when you're done
0:19:11 #6 Tawakkal and making du'aa
0:22:39 #7 Keep busy & engaged with responsibilities
0:24:17 #8 Taqwa: The Key to attaining Rizq
0:25:52 #9 Make it Easy: Break tasks into small, accessible chunks
0:29:50 #10 Prioritize: Focus on the elephant, then the rabbits
0:34:11 #11 Journalling: Write down your thoughts
0:39:49 #12 Hasten to good deeds. Just do it
0:43:42 #13 Pomodoro technique: short bursts of work, sandwiched with breaks
0:46:44 #14 Don't waste time
0:48:20 #15 Be Humble
0:52:21 #16 Fully utilise your idle time e.g. Commuting
0:54:34 #17 The two-minute rule: Remedy for procrastination
0:55:32 #18 Be patient, stay positive
0:57:12 #19 Adapt to Boredom
0:59:53 #20 Consistently but moderately
1:02:11 #21 Rest. Relax. Recharge. Get adequate sleep
1:08:08 #22 Self-awareness: identifying your strengths and weaknesses
1:10:11 #23 Exercise
1:14:11 #24 Eating moderately, taking care of your food intake
1:15:28 #25 Daily Qur'an Recitation and reflection
What Legacy Do You Want to Leave Behind? | 060
When we started The Barakah Effect, one of the key drivers that motivated us to start this project was, “What legacy do you wish to leave behind?”
What do we what to be remembered for? How do we live our lives in such a way that we consider them to be “fulfilled”?
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ وَلْتَنْظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ
“O you who have believed, fear Allah. And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow” (Surah Al-Hasyr 59:18)
The thought of having a legacy can be the driving force that moves us everyday to take action towards a clear life goal. It requires self-discovery, knowing where we stand and our roles in this Dunya with the talent Allah has given us.
Having listened to our awesome guests share their take on the legacy they wish to leave behind, in this episode of The Barakah Effect podcast, it's our turn to have a go at it!
In this discussion, we talk about:
✅ Back to Basics: Why having a "legacy" is important and some Islamic perspectives about leaving a meaningful legacy;
✅ Some thoughts on our guests’ aspirations; and
✅ The legacy that we ourselves wish to leave behind.
May this episode inspire us all to be people of high aspirations, and may Allah grant us the iman, strength, and steadfastness to attain them!
Timestamps:
0:00:00 INTRODUCTION
0:02:42 Why discuss "What Legacy do you want to leave behind?"
0:08:39 To leave a legacy is a blessing from Allah
0:13:03 Case study: Nafi - How a former slave can leave behind a great legacy
0:19:04 Keep your intention sincere: not a legacy for selfish or narcsissidtic reasons
0:23:18 Seven Habits: What do you want people to say about you at your deathbed?
0:27:07 Some thoughts about what our guests have shared of their aspirations
0:29:25 to Have a Good Remembrance on the tongue of the believers
0:33:50 Focus on your niche & what you are good at
0:39:47 People might not know, notice or recognize your contribution, and that's okay
- don't worry if your works "drown" or "fade into oblivion"
0:43:26 Be steadfast and don't compromise - time will tell
0:47:44 Leave the outcome to Allah, Don't be overly concerned about failure
0:51:02 Sharing from The Barakah Effect team members: what legacy do WE want to leave behind?
0:55:28 Faisal - his aspirations
1:04:01 Aziz - his aspirations
1:06:58 Amir - his aspirations
1:09:50 Reza - his aspirations
What legacy do you wish to leave behind?
It might just be the most important existential question we can ask ourselves, as it has the potential to be the driving force for us to take action towards leaving behind something lasting, meaningful, and far greater than ourselves and shape us into people of high aspirations.
Yet discovering our calling may not be so clear-cut. It requires a level of self-discovery and awareness; to know where we stand in this dunya, the abilities and rizq that Allah has given to us, and how we can use it to our advantage
In this episode, our guests share their thoughts on what legacy means to them and what lasting imprint they aspire to leave behind
It is our hope that this compilation may inspire us all to discover this important question for ourselves, and take action while we still have the time and the ability bi 'idhnillah
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:57 Dr. Ali Albarghouthi | EP42 | https://youtu.be/Su1Eh0JikMk
00:04:58 Dr. Ibrahim Nuhu | EP43 | https://youtu.be/6TnhBMQOabY
00:12:49 Shareef El-Arbi | EP49 | https://youtu.be/6NupwUVXamU
00:17:20 Wael Ibrahim | EP50 | https://youtu.be/IVwv9g9SUpI
00:19:32 Ahmad Fakhri and Jamilah Samian | EP51 | https://youtu.be/PIU2eWpc4yg
00:21:47 Farid Abu Ahmed | EP52 | https://youtu.be/IdNSCQL0Ce4
00:24:09 Abdulrahman Chao | EP53 | https://youtu.be/V15Ih-V9-D4
00:30:06 Sajid Hussain | EP55 | https://youtu.be/KgNuIadE6RI
00:33:42 Adam Voo | EP56 | https://youtu.be/9_JsFZu1ZlM
00:35:24 Muhammed Faraz | EP57 | https://youtu.be/_D97ro4NMIg
00:38:04 Dr. Abdullah As-Sueidi | EP58 | https://youtu.be/eRS8fKpIlgU
In case you missed it! Watch the recording of our special live session discussing the theme of Loving our Country.
In this special Live Episode, we discussed some of the following thoughts:
✅ Is loving our country an ibadah? As Muslims, should we even Love our country? Are we even rewarded for our patriotism? Is it appropriate to be PROUD of our country?
✅ Does Islam forbid you to love your country?
✅ How should we express our “loyalty” to our country? Can I be patriotic AND a Muslim at the same time?
✅ Appreciating the gift of independence, peace and all those other great blessings we take for granted
✅ What does it MEAN to “love your country”? Is loving our country merely about lip service and declaring our love?
✅ How can we express true gratitude and love for our country? How can we “give back”?
Join us, as we would love to hear from you, too, if you have any other questions or curiosities related to the topic.
BarakAllahu fikum.
- Team Barakah Effect -
Our guest for this session, Syeikh Abdullah Suiedi.
A Swedish Muslim reverted, PHD holder from the Islamic University Of Madeenah in Dakwah and Usuluddin.
He teaches at Masjid An-Nabawi in Madinah for English listeners.
In this episode titled, Is Islam Rational?
The objective of this episode is to clear the misconceptions regarding the Islamic view on rational thinking.
Syeikh answers the question such as:
What is rational thinking?
How to identify true rational thinking, because every religion and philosophy claims that they are rational.
How is ibadah rational?
Syeikh also shares methods of preventing and solutions to the problem of widespread ideologies that are far away from the fold of Islam.
What is branding? Should you even care about branding? And if you should, How can you actually develop your brand?
In this episode, we are joined by Muhammed Faraz, co-founder and Chief Brand Officer at Outta the Box, a consultancy specializing in brand strategy and brand identity, responsible for designing the brands of various recognizable organizations such as An-Nadaa Educational Foundation, Revivers, Ink of Faith, Quraany, and the Barakah Effect!
We discuss:
✅ Faraz' own story of self-discovery towards finding purpose in his work and how he discovered his calling in the field of branding.
✅ The basics of branding; how best to describe branding, and why even build a brand?
✅ How we can be intentional and clear about our own personal brand and capitalize on branding principles and use it to our advantage in any endeavor we pursue
Connect with Faraz
IG: instagram.com/ipatch_design
🌐 www.outtathebox.design
0:00:00 Start
0:03:48 Engaging Faraz and Outta the Box for the Barakah Effect
0:07:20 The hardship of seeking knowledge: How Reeza met Faraz
0:9:50 Between passion and purpose: Faraz's transition journey from architecture to the creative field
0:23:21 "You need to niche down": Where "branding" first came into the picture
0:29:35 By setting your intention right, you can turn EVERYTHING into an ibadah
0:32:18 Branding 101. Is a "brand" just a logo?
0:39:57 The emotional mark you leave behind. On a personal level, brand = reputation!
0:44:53 Tips: How can we discover our identity and the brand we project?
0:53:14 Companions of the Prophet ﷺ : the Brand that they've built
0:58:05 Lessons of Branding from the Hadith of Rasulullah ﷺ
1:05:07 Islam is a historically proven brand: 1400+ years, still going strong, and will remain until the End of Time!
1:09:12 Look out for Faraz's new book: 101 Branding Lessons from the Life of the Prophet ﷺ
1:11:30 What legacy Faraz wants to leave behind
1:14:19 How to overcome the impostor syndrome
1:23:30 the One quote that motivates Faraz the most
1:27:48 How to get in touch with Faraz and Outta the Box
1:30:49 Does being Muslim put Faraz at disadvantage in the industry?
1:35:37 Do customers really own the business?
1:39:25 the Key to Barakah is..
Islam: The gift we take for granted?
For this Episode of The Barakah Effect podcast, we invite Adam Voo, a Chinese Malaysian from Sabah who reverted to Islam at the age of 28.
An engineer, student of knowledge, teacher of deen, author, and father of four, Adam shares with us:
✅ His journey of discovering Islam coming from his upbringing in a Catholic family; his journey from anger, to curiosity, through denial, until finally embracing Islam,
✅ How Islam elevated his work ethic and inspired him to be a better professional at the workplace
✅ How upholding his Islamic principles at the workplace didn’t become a disadvantage, in fact, surprisingly, actually did FAVORS for his career and professional reputation!
✅ His personal journey of how he, gradually progressed into da’wah and conducting classes
✅ His experiences of giving da’wah at his workplace, including some of the outrageous misconceptions and conspiracies people have about Islam; and how da’wah really should be a sign of our love for others,
✅ And his experiences in publishing his first book (and exciting news of an upcoming one, insha Allah!)
✅ He also shares his big secret on productivity: how he manages to juggle so many multiple responsibilities and excel in everyone of them. Hint: it’s not that you expect! ❤️
📱Connect with Adam Voo
📧 Email: adamvoo@yahoo.com
📚 Live Classes at Alkhaadem: https://www.alkhaadem.com
Arees University: https://www.facebook.com/arees.edu
▶️ YouTube - Alkhaadem New Muslims Class: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBQbpvlXmhNptG-_zQE0QNQXku1AxOO56
Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur?
In this episode, we interview the author of The Gift: Young Muslim Entrepreneur, Sajid Hussain. He shares practical lessons on how to build a successful business.
Sajid has successfully launched over 12 businesses globally, 25 social charitable projects impacting millions, and provides coaching and consultancy to numerous prominent industry leaders worldwide.
We discuss:
✅ Is entrepreneurship for everyone? If so, where do you begin?
✅ How can you leverage the surrounding ecosystem to launch a business?
✅ When should you give up on your business?
✅ Which factor should we prioritise while starting a business? Is it a matter of passion, skill, or market?
📱Connect with Sajid Hussain
🌐 Website: https://sajid-hussain.com
👤 FB: https://www.facebook.com/stickysaj72/
Critical thinking. Just a buzz word?
Or is it the missing ingredient to unlock a more meaningful and lasting learning outcome particularly in our youth?
In this episode, we are joined by Ustadh Abdurrahman Chao, a Houston native who is a graduate from the Islamic University of Madinah and Vanderbilt University, and a passionate educator who is a firm advocate of empowering youth with critical thinking.
0:00:00 Start
0:02:06 What exactly is critical thinking?
0:07:45 "Deconstruction" by itself is not critical thinking. What is the End Result?
0:14:21 Practical Application: The critical thinking Muslims should aspire to achieve
0:18:22 Linking subjects to the big picture; how the pieces of the puzzle are linked
0:26:43 Islam is supposed to be easy: "so why is it so difficult?"
0:30:06 is critical thinking only for the youth? What about us grown-ups? What is our role?
0:35:16 Priority of the parents: Create a learning environment at home, elevate your own level of knowledge
0:42:26 Am I parenting right? Are you parenting the way YOU were parented?
0:45:00 Advice for the skeptics: separate the emotion + discover the truth
0:50:18 Being overly skeptic eventually makes you a blind follower!
0:55:18 Why are Muslims leaving Islam? What is the real reason?
1:00:55 Our problematic tendency to love "Diagnosing" - Sometimes the solution is simply to listen
1:05:35 Example: How we think and react when people "Question" the Qur'an
1:12:35 Parents & teachers: we need to put in the work! Don't just dismiss-and-outsource!
1:14:21 Focus on connecting Islam with what they see in their day-to-day life
1:20:06 How do you implement this for remote or virtual students?
1:24:38 The First step to attain Grit is to have RESPECT for it
1:32:14 What legacy does Ustadz Abdul Rahman Chao want to leave behind?
1:38:45 Abdul Rahman Chao's favorite quote
Join us as we explore:
✅ What critical thinking is all about; and
✅ Why is it important to empower our Muslim youth with critical thinking
Connect with Ustadh Abdul Rahman Chao
FB: https://www.facebook.com/abdulrahmanchao/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/a.r.chao/
Why are many from our youth so disconnected from Islam today?
What does this have to do with education and critical thinking?
In this episode, we are joined by Ustadh Abdul Rahman Chao, a graduate from the Islamic University of Madinah who is a passionate educator and a firm advocate of empowering youth with critical thinking,
We derive lessons from his own journey of skepticism towards his surroundings as a youth, his search for meaning and ultimately rediscovering the truth which is Islam.
Connect with Ustadh Abdul Rahman Chao
FB: https://www.facebook.com/abdulrahmanchao/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/a.r.chao/
In this episode, we interview the founder of Dakwah Corner Bookstore, brother Farid Abu Ahmed.
We discuss:
✅ Farid's origin story and how that led to the establishment of his businesses
✅ His roots and upbringing in Burma, experiencing first hand, the difficult persecution faced by the Rohingya people, after which he moved to Bangladesh and eventually to Makkah where he started off working odd jobs;
✅ His passion in da’wah, and how he had this high ambition of fulfilling the demand of spreading Islamic knowledge English language
✅ Eventually how Allah opened up the doors to meet the right people who eventually supported his vision and ambition that led to the opening of Dakwah Corner bookstore, leading up to the opening of his main center of business here in Malaysia
✅ His focus and vision in this business, and some entrepreneurial tips, especially implementing ihsan in our businesses, and especially the importance of building relationships, which is i quote, the most important capital
✅ How this capital eventually led to bigger opportunities not only in business, but also in da’wah: eventually opening up doors to add value to the local community here in Malaysia
✅ Some personal tips on how to develop a reading habit, including some practical ideas to inculcate the reading habit in our children
TIME STAMPS
0:00:00 Start
0:04:44 Introduction, how we met
0:15:13 Farid's Rohingya origins in Arakan, Burma
0:23:04 Fleeing to Bangladesh after the Revolution
0:25:33 His father's role in instilling passion for Islam
0:30:13 Moving to Saudi Arabia
0:32:33 The Dream: to establish something related to faith, in the center of faith = Makkah
0:38:44 Importance of Strategic Location in Business establishment
0:43:40 Ihsan strategy: five distinguishing elements for DCB to standout
0:49:58 The struggle to bring some books: up to 10 years!
0:52:01 If your goal is to make money, don't open a bookstore 😂
1:00:18 Was reading a passion since Day 1, or developed & nurtured over time?
1:04:38 Tips: How to build a reading habit for
1:11:28 Why move to Malaysia? How DCB established in Malaysia
1:19:13 Publishing: Learning from failures & horrible experiences
1:23:56 Debunking the myth of "don't judge a book by its cover"
1:30:13 Find your niche: your role & unique contribution
1:34:37 Bringing Mufti Menk in Malaysia for the first time MMKL2012
1:39:57 Customize your Da'wah to be relevant to the intended audience
1:45:50 Fact: People Love Malaysia 🇲🇾😍
1:48:33 Advice for Malaysians: Step up, realize your potential
1:52:03 Faisal's nervewracking experience of giving talk in TSP 2019 convention, "Bravery and Generosity"
1:57:13 The Legacy Brother Farid wants to leave behind
2:00:50 that ONE quote that changed Brother Farid's life and motivated him the most
2:10:42 Importance of his mother's supplications (du'aa) for him
2:13:05 How we can get in touch with Farid & Dakwah Corner
2:17:33 The Key to Barakah is..
Is there a purposeful approach to raising kids in this digital age? How do we enable them to flourish in this exciting age of opportunities, while fostering adherence to the deen, building healthy family relationships, and instilling sound core principles that will set them up for success in the dunya and akhirah? In this episode, we are joined by the husband and wife team of Ahmad Fakhri & Jamilah Samian of the Cool Mum Super Dad consultancy, who are subject matter experts on the topics of youth leadership, leadership in parenting, and community development, with the mission to "inspire parents to raise future leaders”, as we discuss practical strategies and mindsets to navigate giving good tarbiyah with the challenges that we face in the modern age 0:00:00 Intro, biography & how we got to know Uncle Ahmad & Aunty Jamilah 0:07:35 how did they get started into their journey of parenting? 0:11:50 Aunty Jamilah's story and turning point in parenting: the realization of children being distant 0:14:24 Turning Point: Catching the kids doing something right (instead of just criticizing the wrong things!) 0:17:51 Where are the fathers? The Reason Uncle Fakhri joined: Need more involved fathers playing their part! 0:19:29 How much money do you need to spend to raise a child? Realize the gravity of your role 0:25:25 How the role of fathers influence the child's religion 0:27:53 What does it mean to have "Leadership" in Parenting? How do we embark on "purposeful parenting" when we are struggling to barely stay afloat? 0:35:05 Firefighting without direction: A lot of activity, no productivity? 0:43:38 Fruits of our labor: Instilling delayed gratification in our parental expectations 0:51:34 How do you know you are a "successful" parent? What does successful parenting look like? Importance of hope during unpleasant moments
For this episode, we will be discussing breaking free from bad habits and addictions from the expert himself, Ustaz Wael Ibrahim.
He is the founder of the Aware Academy, which is a platform dedicated to helping those who are struggling with pornography addiction.
He is the author of several books, including CHANGE: A Motivational System for Breaking Free from Unwanted Habits, Especially Pornography. Beat it: 50 Shades of Hope, as well as his most recent work, AWARE: Discover Who You Are Without Porn.
Wael Ibrahim is a certified Master life coach and currently is the student counsellor at the Australian Islamic College in Perth, Australia.
Our intention for this episode is to help the listeners to quit their habits and addictions, ease their struggles, give them hope for a better tomorrow, and assist them on the path to repentance (tawbah) and change.
For this episode, we have a conversation with Ustadz Shareef El-Arbi to share some insights on the Barakah of Striving for Excellence - or ihsan - in Career and Deen, especially in seeking knowledge and da’wah.
Ustadz Shareef El-Arbi is of Libyan-American descent and has lived most of his life in the United States of America. He has a Bachelor in Business Administration from the US and an MBA from Australia, and is currently residing in Malaysia with his family.
Having being blessed to be active with Muslim youth from a young age, he has undertaken Arabic and Islamic studies in Jordan, Libya, Saudi and the US.
Many of us in Malaysia would know him through his regular Islamic classes and lectures in various different local organizations such as Revivers and Alkhaadem, and as a speaker for Islamic conferences in Malaysia such as The Straight Path and The Awakening convention.
Professionally, he works full-time in the corporate world, with over 18 years of experience under his belt from various different industries such as telecommunications, IT, banking, medical, retail and education. He Specializes primarily in project management, quality management and people management.
In this conversation, Ustaz Shareef shares
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his life journey and personal experience, of being brought up and raised in America
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The hostile high school environment that he was raised in
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His journey in seeking knowledge and pursuit of his worldly career, the interesting "balancing act" of treading the path of deen and da'wah while the dunya keeps pulling him back
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Maintaining his Islamic identity at his workplace, especially in working environments and corporate cultures that are predominantly non-Muslims
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Da'wah - what it means to have true ikhlas. How any of us can contribute, and how Allah opens up doors of opportunities if we are truly sincere in our intentions to contribute to the ummah. How to
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A lesson of tawakkul in Raising Children:
00:00:00 Biography: Ustaz Shareef
00:05:39 Introduction - Ahlan wa sahlan
00:11:14 Studying is from the Cradle to the Grave: don't forget to "pay zakah" for your knowledge!
00:15:43 Upbringing, being raised in USA
00:21:30 Schooling in America: it's difficult to find "good company"
00:31:14 The important role of his father: instilling Islamic identity and values #ProudToBeMuslim
00:35:55 Deciding to pursue College: at crossroads between islamic vs. secular studies
00:40:25 Abandoning college for Islamic studies: a foolish move?
00:42:09 Experience of Studying Qur'an, Arabic and Sharee'ah in Jordan and Libya
00:50:31 How living in Jordan accelerated Mastery in Arabic (& why it's difficult to learn Arabic in Malaysia!)
00:56:28 Returning back to the States during the Gulf War. Now what?
01:01:37 How a Dentist inspired Ustaz Shareef that "you can give da'wah no matter what"! #NowEveryoneCanMakeDawah
01:06:14 WHY do we give da'wah? 3 major wisdoms on why da'wah is a source of barakah
01:14:37 Inspired by a da'ee for the wrong reasons? What if we are "not sincere"?
01:45:04 The Legacy that Ustaz Shareef wishes to leave behind
01:49:51 Don't be a slave to your company and your career
01:52:05 Ikhlas: ONE ayah of Qur'an can change the trajectory of another person's life
01:58:06 The Key to Barakah is...
For our fifth and final session of our Ramadan-themed series on Treasures from Qur'an, brother Faisal will be sharing some of his selected gems from the 66th Surah: At-Tahrim (i.e. the Prohibition).
Surah At-Tahrim contains many unique lessons centering the themes of family, especially about responsibility and interactions, and how they ultimately relate to OUR individual responsibility and interaction with Allah.
It also offers us a rare glimpse into the private life of the Prophet's household, or more specifically the interaction between him and his wives, and what can we learn from them to implement in our own lives.
We also address the common perception among the Malay culture: are we accountable for the sins of our family members and those under our responsibility? Is it true that "isteri derhaka, suami masuk neraka" (disobedient wives cause the husbands to enter Hell)?
We also discuss:
Can we rely on our lineage or our family connections ultimately save us from the Hellfire?
Do you feel "unfair" and "disadvantaged" to live in an environment of kufr?
For this fourth session of our Ramadan-themed series on Treasures from Qur'an, brother Abdul Aziz will be sharing some of his selected gems from the 12th Surah: Yusuf
Why did Allah mention this surah is the best of all stories? How can we relate the lessons from the story of Yusuf to our life? What was it about Prophet Yusuf alaihissalam that surprised our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ?
Come, let's join us together as we uncover the treasures from the Book of Allah in this blessed month in which it was revealed!
For this third session of our Ramadan-themed series on Treasures from Qur'an, brother Syahmi will be sharing some of his selected gems from the 8th Surah: Al-Anfal.
Why were there a thousand angels fighting alongside the Muslims during the battle of Badr? What was Allah response when the companions were busy with the distribution of wealth? What lessons can we derive from that? What are some of the characteristics of a true believer?
Come and join The Barakah Effect as we uncover the treasures from the Book of Allah in this blessed month in which it was revealed!
This is the second session in our Ramadan special "Treasures from Qur'an", where brother Reeza is going to share with us some gems and valuable lessons from Surah Al-Mutaffifeen, the 83rd surah from the Qur'an.
Who are the Mutaffifeen? Who are the Abrar and the Fujjar - and what awaits them in the akhirah? Join us as we reflect on Surah Al-Mutaffifeen, a Surah where Allah sends a strong reminder to us and a vivid glimpse of what is to come in the Hereafter.
Ahlan ya Ramadan! For this year in Ramadan (2022 / 1443H), the team at The Barakah Effect are hosting a special series of Live episodes dedicated to sharing some reflections (tadabbur), extracting some important life lessons and practical wisdoms from our personal favorite surah of the Qur'an.
For the first in the series, brother Amir shares his selected gems from the 92nd surah: Al-Layl
Have you ever felt the quality of your Ramadan could be better?
The reality for many of us is, we are bogged down with a multitude of distractions that take us away from experiencing the true sweetness of fasting and other acts of ibadah in the blessed month of Ramadan.
But what if it is said, despite our many responsibilities there are ways to improve the quality of our Ramadan?
In this episode, we are joined by Sheikh Dr. Ibrahim Nuhu حفظه الله as we uncover the approaches and gems behind having a successful Ramadan, whatever our situation may be.
Connect with Dr. Ibrahim Nuhu
🌐 https://www.an-nadaa.com/
📧 contact@an-nadaa.com
We have all felt this in our lives. Sometimes, our iman takes a dip. We might feel weak and demotivated from worshipping Allah. We feel helpless, vulnerable, lost, and wrestle with thoughts of losing hope altogether.
Are these feelings normal?
Should we feel guilty about having these thoughts?
What should we do if we feel this way?
How did the righteous people of the past handle these feelings?
Join us this episode with Dr. Ali al-Barghouthi as we discuss and ponder upon what Islam says when dealing with demotivation and how to successfully overcome it, bi idznillah.
Connect with Dr. Ali al-Barghouthi
🌐 https://alialbarghouthi.com/
📧 muslimresearchinstitute@gmail.com
FB: https://fb.me/dralbarghouthi/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/dralialbarghouthiofficial/
Heart Therapy Book
https://www.dakwahbookstore.com/product/heart-therapy-by-dr-ali-albarghouthi/
This is Love Book
https://www.dakwahbookstore.com/product/this-is-love/
00:00:00 Intro
00:06:35 How Faisal met Dr. Ali
00:09:35 Dr Ali's current passion project: Islamic Self-Help
00:14:30 Demotivated from Ibadah: Is this "normal"?
00:21:34 Establish our "baseline" bare minimum righteous deeds
00:24:29 Plant the habit to always Ask Allah: Reach Out to Him
00:31:18 Humanity of the scholars: moments of struggle
00:34:58 Everyone needs support from others to console and comfort them
00:40:00 Have a plan!
00:51:33 Start small and stick to it
00:56:10 How to be critical of ourselves
01:00:50 Forgiving ourselves from our past
01:02:57 Change your routine up
01:06:38 Ultimately, success comes from Allah
001:15:20 What legacy do you want to leave behind?
01:22:04 When we compare ourselves to the scholars, we need to be fair.
01:30:27 How can we get our kids to enjoy Ibadah?
01:33:40 What is the Hadith that motivates you?
01:45:28 The key to Barakah is …
The Prophet ﷺ said,
"The most beloved deeds to Allah are those done consistently, even if they were little."
(Narrated by Al-Bukhari)
One of the keys to achieving success in any areas of life is consistency. And the same holds true for our righteous deeds as Muslims: consistency is the key to barakah. Major achievements from the examples of our righteous predecessors, the companions, even the Prophet ﷺ himself, were, by the blessings of Allah, the cumulative result of consistent habits they practiced over time.
For the season 2 premiere of The Barakah Effect podcast, the core team members Reeza, Faisal, Aziz, Syahmi and Amir discuss the topic that makes up the official tag line of The Barakah Effect: Small Steps, Big Impact.
In this episode, we discuss:
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Why is consistency important?
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Practical tips and strategies: How can we create systems that facilitate us towards building good habits to ultimately achieve consistency.
00:00:00 Intro
00:04:45 The most beloved deeds to Allah
00:06:47 What’s the secret to being ‘world class’
00:12:29 Do you feel like you’re not making progress?
00:23:31 Imam Bukhari and the gold standard of consistency
00:26:03 We are creatures of habits - capitalize on it
00:32:45 Customer loyalty in business
00:37:36 Road to goodness have a different path; know what is easy for you
00:43:25 Build on something easy first. The 2-minutes technique
00:47:35 Perfectionism is the enemy
00:53:10 Any deeds are done sincerely for Allah will continue to last
01:09:10 Tie your habits with your identity
01:14:31 Criteria of Istiqamah: Following the Prophet & companions
01:16:13 Always check yourselves: which direction are your steps taking you?
01:21:12 Break it down to actionable systems and goals
01:25:35 Designing a conducive ecosystem: good friends
01:31:53 You might not realize or see the impact you are creating!
01:34:09 Friends with common goals help keep each other on track
01:36:32 Integrate it your existing cues and pre-existing habits
“Jom sembang politik!”
Apakah perasaan anda ketika mendengar penyataan ini?
Tak sabar nak kongsi pendapat?
Tak sabar nak dengar pendapat?
Adakah tidak sembang tentang politik menunjukkan kita tidak peduli hak-hak kita ataupun masa depan anak-anak kita?
Politik tidak dapat dipisahkan daripada kehidupan. Kerana apa yang berlaku dalam dunia politik akan beri impak dalam hidup kita.
Namun tahukah anda, sebagai seorang muslim anda juga mempunyai tanggungjawab terhadap pemimpin-pemimpin anda?
Sebagai penutup untuk musim pertama The Barakah Effect Podcast ini, kami kembali dengan edisi Bahasa Melayu untuk mengupas topik yang selalu menjadi perbualan hangat.
Jom sembang!
We all have life experiences that we aren't proud of. Failures, mistakes, a dark sinful past, perhaps even traumatic life experiences which have profound long term impacts in our lives and they can be very difficult.
Because of these “negative experiences”, sometimes we live a life paralyzed by fear, we stick in our comfort zones, afraid to take action or refuse to reach out, or live a bitter and resentful life of regrets, or one that is constantly reminiscing wishful thinking of "What if I had done this?" or “oh I wish I could have done that instead”
All of these have a severely damaging impact on our lives, not only as Muslims but could also affect our productivity and become a huge barrier against achieving success.
So in this episode of The Barakah Effect podcast, we share some principles and ideas about how we, as Muslims, should approach mistakes, failures and regrets.
In this episode, we discuss about isikharah, taubah, the role of regret, the Islamic perspectives in the belief in qadar. And how, with these principles, we can embrace our mistakes and "failures" as stepping stones towards achieving success.
We also share some stories from our professional experiences - and the common dilemma: should we apologize for our mistakes, especially in the professional environment?
“And cooperate with one another in righteousness and piety"
This profound and often quoted ayah from Surah Al Ma'idah is one of the key essence of Al Islam: to work together for the sake of Allah, towards the achieving the pleasure of Allah
As we explored in the previous episode, it does not necessarily mean that we have to be an Ustadh to be able to participate in giving da’wah. Everyone has something to offer from our unique skills and efforts towards doing our bit to achieve the goals of da’wah
In this episode, we continue exploring the attitudes and strategies that we, as common muslims can implement to insha Allah attain the great rewards of giving da’wah, despite not being an Ustadh.
"Convey from me, even with a single ayah” (Muslim)
These words are one of the inheritance that Rasulullah ﷺ left for his Ummah, and we are fully aware that da’wah is one of the greatest deeds that one can invest in for the akhirah,
But, I’m not an Ustaz, how can I give da’wah?
Is there a way for us, common muslims to also gain the rewards that Allah had promised for the one who conveys His religion?
In this episode, we discuss the solutions, tips and attitudes that the common muslim can adopt to convey the religion using our strengths and skillsets as an advantage, despite not having the title of an Ustaz.
Does it matter who gets the credit?
It's often a thought that plague us in our day to day matters, especially in the setting of the professional working environment.
On one hand, we might say, "we should uphold the quality of sincerity, don't be so calculative about our contributions, just be grateful and patient on whatever the outcome is”. This is an exemplary attitude, but how can we address the aspect of adequate compensation to those who put in the work to go the extra mile?
On the other end, when we put an overemphasis on giving credit to individual contributions, it might inadvertently create a culture of selfishness, lack of teamwork and trust, and unethical practices such as backstabbing each other to get ahead.
In this episode, we discuss about balancing out the aspects of “professionalism” and justice in adequate compensation, including the Islamic attitudes such as ikhlas, qadr of Allah, patience, tawakkul (trust in Allah), justice, even the characteristics of Muslims such as humility and having high aspirations - how all of these come together holistically in this challenge about managing who deserves the credit
Note: we recorded this episode even before we launched the podcast so please do excuse us on the quality aspects :)
Is the COVID-19 pandemic is planned by the “hidden hand”? or a cover-up by the Government? Before the real big event occurs?
Are the bad things that happen in this world is a plot by evil people?
What about 5G? Can it control our minds and body?
Are these facts or just conjectures?
In this week's episode of #TheBarakahEffect podcast, we discuss the topic of Conspiracy Theories: Debunk, Embrace or Ignore?
We will be discussing why this topic is so important, especially in this internet era where information spread like a viral infection. Which may be true, false or maybe a mix of both.
The team also share their own personal experiences of how they were deeply involved and influenced by these theories, how they changed their worldview, and what they learnt from them.
Most importantly, we discuss: what is the right Islamic approach to these conspiracy theories? What are the right attitudes and mindsets we should approach Conspiracy Theories?
The great companion Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه once said: "Train yourselves upon goodness, for indeed goodness is found in that which is habitual"
When we reflect upon these words, we find that it is precise and transcends any time period, as it is the nature of human beings to have habits and routines.
But how can we effectively apply this statement practically in our lives today?
In this episode of “Breaking Bad Habits: Quitting Addictions and Sins Part 2”, we continue to explore the many strategies and applications on how to cultivate good habits and kick out the bad ones, considering our daily challenges and obstacles.
If you feel that implementing the Sunnah is difficult, this episode is for you.
One of the evident proofs that we sincerely love our beloved Prophet ﷺ is that we follow his teachings and his guidance in all aspects of our lives. And by following the Prophet ﷺ is a sign of our love for Allah.
As mentioned in the Quran, Surah Ali 'Imran, 31, Allah said: "Say (O Prophet): “If you really love Allah, then follow me, and Allah shall love you and forgive your sins. Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful”
In this episode, titled "Reviving the Sunnah in our lives: Where do we start?", we touch on the common misconceptions in our society at large about Sunnah. We also dive into why we should implement the Sunnah of our Prophet ﷺ in our lives. Lastly, we explore practical tips on how to start implementing and reviving the Sunnah in our lives from practical experiences and from the advice that we get from our scholars and teachers.
Habits - It is at the very fabric of what makes us human, and it is one of the amazing traits that Allah has blessed us with.
From the good and the bad, once habits become intertwined with our daily or subconscious actions, it can really have a real influence on who we are today and even on the trajectory of our lives.
Question is, have we ever taken stock to recognise our bad habits and its impacts on us and the people around us?
Some bad habits may even be sins that we subconsciously do which might be detrimental to us in the long run.
In a Hasan hadith collected by Ibnu Majah, Rasulullah ﷺ said, “When the believer commits a sin, a black spot appears on his heart. If he repents and gives up that sin and seeks forgiveness, his heart will be polished. But if (the sin) increases, (the black spot) increases.
In this episode, we explore why recognising bad habits are important, we look at personal examples from the brothers and explore strategies to break free from the bad habits.
P/s: Stay with us to the end to meet our special guest
Family - can't live without them.
.. And sometimes, kind of difficult to live with them, too!
All of us have faced challenges in dealing with difficult and perhaps even toxic people among our family.
From narcissists, criticizers energy drainers, manipulators and victims - people like these exist in society. And some of them just so happen to be in our family!
In this episode of The Barakah Effect podcast, we discuss: What are the mindsets, tips and strategies can we adopt to best handle ourselves in handling these types of people whom we can't just "get rid off"?
How do we deal with family members who enjoy bullying us? Who refuse to reciprocate our kindness? Who ruthlessly hurl insults at us? Who psychologically torture us with their endless comparisons?
All this, plus an interesting little Star Wars reference down the line that teaches us how we can use this to bring some humanity and empathy to help us cope with these undoubtedly challenging situations.
0:00:00 Intro
0:03:09 Why Syahmi chose this often-avoided "taboo" topic
0:07:08 A problem that affects practicing Muslims too
0:11:50 Discussion outline - Examples of "difficult" / "toxic" family
0:19:43 Senior Family members who bully you
0:26:33 Principles of Akhlaq and good behavior to family
0:31:46 Lower expectations: Don't expect others to reciprocate good akhlaq
0:34:15 You cannot change other people - hidayah is in the Hands of Allah
0:37:59 Whoever helps another Muslim, Alah will Help him on the Day of Judgment
0:41:58 Handling uncles & aunties who love comparing with others #ChangeTheGame
0:44:06 Perfectly normal to have difficult family members: Even Prophets of Allah
0:48:56 Showing Empathy to your family members
0:51:35 Hate the sin, but not the sinner - don't Label others
0:56:37 Let them observe our maturity
0:59:43 Prioritization: identifying those who have more rights to us
01:04:30 Respond in a better way
In this episode on the theme of caring for our mental health, we approach it from the perspective of prevention: How can we equip ourselves better to care for ourselves and the people around us, towards having the right mindset and building resilience in our mental health?
Join us as we explore practical tips and strategies that the common person can incorporate in their everyday lives to insha Allah to help us maintain healthy mental well-being and be better prepared when we are experiencing the downtimes.
DISCLAIMER: As always, we are not experts on this subject, we may make mistakes and if we do, please do get in touch with us or send your comments down below. We would love to hear from you if you have any feedback for us to improve.
00:00:00 Intro
00:55:30 Having a Healthy Habit Routine keeps you motivated
00:57:23 Having a Healthy Habit Routine keeps you motivated
00:57:23 Power of Du'aa and Speaking to Allah
01:03:52 Morning and Evening Dzikir
01:11:46 Answering sceptics: "how can du'aa solve my problems?"
01:17:10 Read books -
01:18:57 Make the Quran a Source of Comfort
01:24:25 Making Akhirah our ultimate goal
01:34:30 Healthy relationship
01:37:00 The signs that Allah loves you
01:46:34 Develop and Nurture Healthy personal relationships
01:49:16 What if you don't have "Best friends"??
01:53:14 TBE #Bromance Moment
01:55:56 What is the Basis of your friendship & relationships? #LoveForTheSakeOfAllah
01:58:45 The Awkwardness of Initiating conversations and making friends
01:59:43 Aziz - Be Proactive, take a Preventive approach
02:02:02 Amir - Always focus on the present: With patience and gratitude
02:03:22 Syahmi - Know Allah in your times of ease
02:05:47 Faisal - Uncover the Care and Love that Allah has for us and Call others on that Path
02:13:22 Reeza - Discover the beauty of Islam & Be inspired
Are you struggling with your career progression or struggling to chart your career path?
Developing a career takes time and attention. It’s a journey.
In this episode, we are going to share how to chart your career path based on our experiences.
The things we wish we knew before we start our career years ago. Such as;
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What to consider when choosing a career path?
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What should be our main drivers or motivation in choosing a career?
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Understanding the reason for working as a Muslim.
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Real-life examples.
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:30 Why talk about charting our career path?
00:11:45 The (muslim’s) motivations behind work: The big picture
00:18:34 Knowing and being firm on our sense of purpose
00:23:34 What to look for when choosing a career?
00:54:50 “Fish out of water” syndrome
00:57:40 Changing your career path might be good for you
01:03:30 You are greatness in progress
01:06:00 How do we find the opportunity?
01:13:05 Networking
01:17:00 You have your own pace
1:22:24 Managing fear
1:24:36 Zayd ibn Thaabit’s “career” progression
1:30:09 It’s never too late to chart your career path
1:34:55 Always start by purifying your intention
1:39:45 Make your intention for the sake of Allah
1:41:50 Are all the Sahaba are the same?
1:44:40 The Bedouin who urinated in the masjid
Mental health is THE issue that plagues our society in this day and age, and for a long time, there is such a big stigma in our society surrounding mental health that people who do suffer from it, unfortunately often suffer in silence.
One question we’d like to invite all of us to reflect on is: How much do we really know about mental health?
In this episode on the theme “caring for our mental health", we discuss how does Islam views and address mental well being.
What are the attitudes and outlook of the Muslim when faced with calamities and are there solutions within our religion to help us navigate the ups and downs of life and build resilience through difficult times?
DISCLAIMER: As always, we are not experts on this subject, we may make mistakes and if we do, please do get in touch with us or send your comments down below. We would love to hear from you if you have any feedback for us to improve.
00:00:00 Intro
00:04:50 Reza’s personal experience
00:11:10 Faisal’s personal experiences
00:20:14 Our hopes after you listening to this episode
00:22:10 Allah created our mind and emotions
00:26:40 Relationship between Islamic theory and practical
00:29:00 The problem with psychology theory
01:00:04 Blessings of Calamity: How Qadar instils us with Optimism!
01:04:30 Remembrance of Akhirah puts our short life in perspective
01:11:06 For believers, the test itself is a reward from Allah!
01:14:18 Why does an All-Loving God inflict suffering in this world?
01:21:24 The Importance of understanding the wisdom of trials and tribulations
01:25:14 We are accountable for our choices, not for HIS Will on us
01:28:46 Confronting the anxiety of covid and fear of death
It is difficult to imagine that so many people have to bring their work home - before covid-19.
The idea of working/studying from home is a notion not many companies and organizations entertain and give consideration to.
However given the fact that covid-19 is nowhere to stay, working and studying from home have become the new norm for people all around the world.
And of course, for a lot of people it is awkward and at times, stressful. Especially when we think of our homes as a place to wind down from a long day at work or school, a place to focus on the family etc.
So how can we reconcile work and 'me time'/ family time at home? This is the topic of today's discussion. We'll also be sharing our own experiences and how's the struggle like for us.
This is the Barakah Effect Podcast, the weekly podcast that explores productivity tools and mindsets from the Quran and sunnah for us to apply in our daily lives. We hope you will find benefit from this episode. BarakAllahu feekum.
As the cases of mental illnesses, depression and suicide keep growing worldwide amidst this COVID-19 pandemic, even in our country in Malaysia, it became increasingly clear that we need to speak about the subject of Mental Health here at the Barakah Effect podcast.
We need to know what WE can do: Not as experts, but as regular people who will be confronting with day to day challenges and exposed to the risks of mental illness:
How can we, as regular members of society, how can we take a more proactive approach to mental health?
How can we take practical steps to take action to IMPROVE or at least maintain our mental health, so that we can continue to be healthy and productive citizens who can continue contributing to the well-being of others around us, as a society, and as a Muslim ummah.
In this first part of the discussion, we will be discussing about the context: How did we get here? Why are mental illnesses constantly on the rise, even before the coming of the pandemic?
We will also break down our context as a whole: How our modern lifestyles in this digital age of the 21st century is almost hardwired to make us emotionally and mentally ill if we are not careful.
And we hope that through this discussion, we can gain some insight and an improved awareness of our surroundings, so we can take action to stay on tip-top mental health.
DISCLAIMER: As always, we are not experts on the subjects, we may make mistakes and if we do, please do get in touch with us or sound of your comments down below. We would love to hear from you if you have any feedback for us to improve.
"Kerja itu Ibadah" - Satu ungkapan yang biasa kita dengari.
Namun, apa yang dimaksudkan dengan ungkapan tersebut?
Pada satu sudut, mungkin ada yang tertanya-tanya: Bagaimanakah pekerjaan dan perniagaan kita - usaha mencari duit dan "meng-kayakan" diri - dikaitkan dengan ibadah kita yang lain seperti solat, umrah dan membaca Al-Qur'an? Ini seolah-olah dua dunia yang berbeza!
Pada satu sudut yang lain pula, mungkin ada yang tertanya: Mengapa perlu bekerja, sedangkan tujuan penciptaan manusia itu hanyalah untuk menyembah Allah semata-mata, seperti yang difirmankan dalam Al-Qur'an? Bukankah cukup sekadar tawakkal? Bukankah "rezeki kita sudah tertulis"?!
Dalam episod minggu ini yang julung-julung kali diadakan dalam Bahasa Malaysia, tim The Barakah Effect podcast akan berkongsi bagaimana perkerjaan anda sekarang boleh dijadikan ibadah, serta implikasi di sebalik prinsip ini.
Ibn Al Qayyim said: “Whomsoever seeks knowledge to revive Islam, then they are from amongst the truthful ones and their ranking (in the Afterlife) will be after the rank of Prophethood” (miftah das as saadah)
What a high-status Allah has prepared for the sincere seekers of knowledge, and it is no wonder that we find in many authentic ahadeeth evidence to support this fact!
Rasulullah ﷺ mentioned “Whoever traverses a path in search of knowledge, Allah makes the path to Paradise easy for them” (Muslim)
The question is, in this day and age, how do we as average Muslims can begin to tread this path of seeking knowledge?
In the previous episode, we touched on why seeking knowledge of the deen is important and the challenges we face in this contemporary era just to begin to seek knowledge
To pick up from where we left off, this week we continue with practical tips for the laymen Muslim on how we can seek knowledge despite our busy work-life schedule.
The pursuit of Islamic knowledge is one of the greatest acts of worship that a Muslim can undertake. The Prophet ﷺ said,
"Whoever traverses a path in search of knowledge, Allah makes the path to Paradise easy for him" (Muslim)
The pursuit of knowledge is such a virtuous act, that many scholars among our righteous predecessors, used to consider that seeking knowledge is the BEST act of worship after the obligatory (wajib) deeds!
But the question is:
🤔 How do we find time to seek knowledge? Especially if we are working full-time, have to manage our families, and with all these responsibilities and obligations on me in my hectic day to day schedule?
🤔 What are the Islamic subjects available, and which ones I should prioritize? What is the extent of "what I should know?"
🤔 How can I find suitable resources, learning institutions and teachers for me to achieve my goal?
🤔What are some strategies and tips I can optimize my routines to put a slot in knowledge as a priority?
🤔 How do I balance out between memorization, revision and progressing to learn new things?
Is it too late to start?
🤔WHY should I even be bothered about this pursuit of knowledge, in the first place? After all, I am not an Ustaz or a Shaykhah - I'm just a family guy/career person/full-time mother. Isn't that what scholars and mufti's are for?
Yes - we too, ask these tough but critical questions! Join us at #TheBarakahEffect podcast where we discuss these issues and more, in our latest episode 23, "Seeking Knowledge in a Hectic Work-Life Schedule"!
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:38 Why this topic is important?
00:16:00 Why do we need to seek knowledge?
00:25:45 Should I just leave it to the scholars?
00:32:30 Isn't just fulfilling the obligations enough?
00:37:35 Steps to happiness
00:42:10 We think we know, but we really don't
00:46:30 Contemporary challenges on seeking knowledge
01:00:36 Proper Islamic knowledge broadens the horizon
01:03:19 Know the correct objective and path in seeking knowledge
01:08:30 Ibn Uthaymin's advice to seekers of knowledge
01:17:40 Which subjects to begin with?
In Part 2 of our discussion, we discuss further HOW we can Nurture a Growth Mindset in all aspects of our lives.
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:00 Monitoring Fixed Mindset Triggers
00:06:32 Self-Awareness: By Knowing Allah, you Know yourself
00:09:00 Admitting our Faults; thinking of feedback as a GIFT!
00:11:20 Having a Growth mindset will trigger and inspire others around you too!
00:13:44 Set High Benchmarks: Appoint Worthy Rivals to push ourselves for continuous improvement
00:18:22 Keep Going! Emphasize the JOURNEY, not the destination. Efforts, not results.
00:21:14 Simplify: Small & easy steps, done consistently
00:27:10 Embrace imperfection; taking challenges as "education", not a failure
00:30:22 Overcoming gaps is a long journey of self-discovery
00:34:37 Don't let anyone tell you otherwise
00:37:25 Look for role models
00:40:05 Developing grit and emotional resilience
00:50:14 ‘Worthy rivals'
00:52:00 Find an accountability partner
00:57:30 Dunya is a place of implementation, Akhirah is a place of accounting
01:01:00 Syahmi: Focus to better yourself
01:12:30 Aziz: Prioritize on critical aspects you want to see growth
01:16:24 Faisal: Gaps are simply “I am not good at it YET”
01:21:19 Start your journey to self-improvement by asking Allah for guidance
01:24:45 Let’s strive to be a grounded, high achiever
THIS is what The Barakah Effect podcast is all about: Nurturing a Growth Mindset. The constant discovery of how we can take small steps to continuously improve our lives in every way possible, to achieve success in dunia and akhirah.
The “Growth Mindset” is to essentially have that fundamental belief and attitude that skills and capabilities CAN be developed through efforts, strategies, and by learning from others, no matter how “gifted” or how old you are.
This is the attitude we should have as Muslims: To have that optimism KNOWING that Allah has Created us with the capacity to develop ANY skill or capability that we want, if we put in the consistent effort and remain steadfast in that pursuit, bi idznillah.
In the first part of this Episode of The Barakah Effect podcast, we discuss why this topic is so significant to us, what is the Growth Mindset about, and some techniques on How we can adopt and nurture the Growth Mindset in all spheres of our lives - our careers, capabilities, our relationships, and most importantly, as Muslims and our worship of Allah.
00:00:00 Introduction
00:04:30 Human beings' amazing capacity of growth
00:08:02 As we age, we evolve into the Fixed Mindset
00:09:25 Syahmi's perspective of the Growth Mindset
00:17:44 Why the Growth Mindset plays such a huge role in Faisal's life
00:28:16 Amir's ever-expanding cooking & cutlery skills
00:31:58 Aziz's "weight problem" & doubts in starting a podcast
00:35:47 Reeza initial thoughts about MC & podcasting - "never in a million years!"
44:11 What exactly is the growth mindset?
49:56 Allah gave us an innate capability to continually learn
00:54:45 A hadith that teaches us that we can change! No matter what!
01:01:46 Find the sweetness in the process
01:07:20 How to develop a growth mindset?
01:14:02 Outro
In these trying times, jobs are relative uncertainties. How many people have lost their "secure jobs" as an effect of the covid-19 pandemic?
Virtually every other day, a pilot opens up a burger stall, or an engineer turns into a full-time food delivery guy.
On the other hand, those who get to keep their jobs face new challenges. Working from home and overwhelming workloads - that might be because others have been retrenched. Also, many public figures encourage people to leave unfulfilling jobs and chase their dreams.
Thus, there is a tug-of-war going on between the need to hold on to a job to make ends meet and the desire to give it up to pursue a passion.
Subsequently, all of this may contribute to heightened levels of anxiety.
In this episode, The Barakah Effect talks about what does it mean to dislike a job, why it happens, and how we may perhaps even find joy, fulfilment and passion in our jobs.
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:50 Skilful but not passionate
00:05:49 A survey on 1 billion workforce
00:07:26 The brothers discuss experiences of hating their jobs
00:09:34 Our work is a big part of our identity
00:11:28 Three angles to a job that you might like
00:13:39 The most attractive jobs for engineers
00:16:51 Steve jobs advice for job seekers
00:18:14 The passion trap
00:22:23 Why do people hate their job?
00:28:10 Look for something positive on your job
00:34:07 Be the change you want to see
00:37:30 Challenges give you satisfaction
00:39:50 Adopt a 'learning mindset'
00:43:24 Embrace the process of discovery
00:45:58 How to start discovering your passion?
00:49:06 Finding passion in places where you least expect
Hajj: The Journey of a Lifetime.
Oh, how do we yearn for an opportunity to see the Ka'bah in person, to circumambulate around it, to drink fresh Zamzam water and to personally witness the largest gathering of men ever recorded in the history of humanity!
In this Hajj Special episode, we dive into the hajj experiences of brother Faisal and brother Syahmi, who were both blessed by Allah to perform their Hajj at a young age, as we flesh out some tips, advice, and productivity hacks from their experiences in the hope of encouraging fellow Muslims to invest and prepare for this epic journey.
LabbaikAllahumma labbaik!
00:00:00 Intro
00:05:33 Initial Hajj Expectation
00:12:47 What motivated Syahmi to Hajj?
00:19:24 What motivated Faisal to Hajj?
00:27:09 Strategies to get your chance to Hajj
00:32:20 Faisal’s 4 years struggle to get Hajj visa
00:42:11 Tips: How did Amir get his Hajj visa?
00:47:04 The Journey: Hardships and challenges on the way
00:53:08 Hardship of Walking: it's more difficult than it seems!
00:57:20 Types of Hajj
01:03:13 Atmosphere in Al-Haram before Hajj
01:07:18 Arrival Makkah
01:11:20 Leaving off to Mina @ 8th Dzulhijjah (Tarwiyah)
01:16:00 Syahmi's legendary sense of direction
01:18:24 Walk from Makkah to Mina
01:24:08 9th Dzulhijjah. Road to Arafah
01:27:44 How Arafah really looks like
01:32:20 The "scene" of Wuquf in Arafah
01:38:32 Should you have a Du'aa List?
00:00:00 The best provision is that of Taqwa: Preparations
00:08:08 From 'Arafah to Muzdalifah
00:16:32 The precarious walk to the Jamaraat
00:26:43 Relief and accomplishment after stoning the Jamrah
00:31:19 The relaxed days of Tashriq in Mina
00:49:15 Pro tip: Do as the Prophet ﷺ did.
00:53:00 Waste disposal: from Mina to Miri
00:57:53 Hajj uncovers the generosity of Muslims
01:00:50 The ending of the Pilgrimage
01:11:27 Episode takeaways: the conclusion
قَالَ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ أَكْثَرِ مَا يُدْخِلُ النَّاسَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَالَ "تَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَحُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ". وَسُئِلَ عَنْ أَكْثَرِ مَا يُدْخِلُ النَّاسَ النَّارَ فَقَالَ "الْفَمُ وَالْفَرْجُ"
The Prophet ﷺ was asked about that for which people are admitted into Paradise the most, and he ﷺ said, "Taqwa of Allah, and good character”. And he was asked about that for which people are admitted into the Fire the most, and he ﷺ said: "The mouth and the private parts" (At-Tirmidzi)
From this excellent Hadith, we clearly see the importance of good akhlaq in our deen. However, an important question arises; how do we begin to inculcate excellent akhlaq which is in line with the principles of our deen?
In this episode in collaboration with Qalby, we discuss what exactly is good akhlaq, its role in Islam, its relationship with Taqwa and our Aqidah, and how good akhlaq be your golden ticket to Jannah
00:00:00 Intro
00:06:45 The Link between Taqwa, Aqidah and Akhlaq
00:18:58 Good Akhlaq: The Golden Ticket to Jannah
00:31:48 Perfection of Akhlaq in Islam = Our Unfair Advantage
00:43:54 Planting A Growth Mindset in Akhlaq
00:58:38 Prioritizing Akhlaq: those closest to you
01:15:07 Closing remark
Have you ever felt a sense of dread whenever you come across a particular person? This feeling might be a red flag that you are in a toxic relationship with that person. It can be a boss, a friend, a family member or even an organization.
Before the advent of social media, toxic relationships might have been significantly small in number. However, these days toxic influences exist in various forms and it is worrying as they might cause a myriad of complications.
Islam offers solutions that are holistic for people who are affected by toxic influences. The importance of Iman goes hand in hand with physical and mental wellbeing in handling toxicity.
Hence in this week's episode, we discuss the meaning of toxic influence, its causes and practical tips to handle it effectively.
00:00:00 Intro
00:05:31 Effects of toxic influences
00:07:37 Definition of toxic influences
00:09:36 Hadith regarding influences
00:13:41 Toxic person are still human
00:18:01 Types of a toxic person
00:27:51 What are emotional vampires?
00:29:30 Bullying culture
00:32:10 Toxicity can come from many angles
00:33:23 Differentiating between truth and falsehood
00:37:02 The story of Imran ibn Hittan
00:41:00 You are influenced by who you sit with
00:44:08 Importance of being authentic
00:45:37 Najashi the Christian King and the sahabah
00:46:25 Toxic influences of Bani Israil
00:49:20 The munafiqun/hypocrites
00:53:25 Similarity of Abdullah bin Ubay's methods to toxic office politics
00:56:56 Focus on your goal
00:59:48 A trait of a munafiq is bringing the fight out of the ring
01:02:50 The effect of the toxic environment - the killing of Uthman bin Affan r.a
01:05:40 The "Loud minority" with a severe potential for harm on society
01:07:03 HOW should we handle toxic influences?
01:08:57 Find positive replacements: good company!
01:11:45 Three tips in dealing with toxic people
01:16:16 Most important key trait: Sabr! Don't allow the toxic environment to shape you
01:20:35 Appreciating the wisdom of toxic environment: to be BETTER
01:24:25 Go against the grain: Play your part to enjoin the good (in spite of the toxic surroundings)
01:25:55 Change your environment, walk away (where applicable)
01:28:23 The hijrah of a drug addict to become a Quran teacher
01:30:43 Exercise wisdom in getting rid of the bad apples
01:35:10 There will be goodness coming out from every difficulty
01:38:56 Constantly advise and bear patient on toxic people
01:45:19 Reality check! Impossible to completely avoid any difficult people
01:46:08 4 basic principles in confronting any issues
01:47:19 Take steps to rise above toxic influence
01:48:59 What scent is your personality?
"Remember who you are"
Umar ibn Al-Khattab said,
نحن قوم أعزَّنا الله بالإسلام فمهما ابتغينا العزَّة في غيره أذلَّنا الله
"We are a people whom Allah HONORED us through Islam,
and when we sought honor from other than Islam, Allah humiliates us"
Umar reminds us that this blessing of Islam is a huge honor - a great blessing from Allah. But it's NOT an entitlement, it's a responsibility.
It's only when we own up to that responsibility to uphold our values, our principles, our identity - that's when we receive this honor, this izzah from Allah, that’s when we achieve our success.
And this is the challenge that we tend to face at the workplace. Sometimes we get so carried away amidst the day-to-day challenges at work, in our careers, we get swept away by peer pressure, the corporate culture, the rat race towards seeking promotion and performance appraisals, we tend to lose sight of this core identity.
So in this week's episode, we discuss, how can we uphold this honorable identity and embody the people we need to be to achieve success as Muslims, and in our careers as well.
00:00:00 Intro
00:04:13 Why talk about the Muslim Identity?
00:08:18 "Authenticity" can be a corporate trap!
00:10:29 What are the main components of a "Muslim Identity"
00:15:09 The big test and trial of this ummah is WEALTH
00:16:49 Basic identity of a Muslim is Tawheed
00:19:24 What does Integrity means?
00:22:50 How to be authentic at work?
00:29:56 What does ‘Yes-man’ means?
00:31:58 Communicate to your peers regarding your Religion
00:33:49 Standing by our principles
00:35:58 Do you worry about your Rizq?
00:39:09 Honest conversations lead to mutual respect
00:42:52 Whoever leaves a thing for the sake of Allah, Allah replaces with better than it
00:44:55 Confrontational colleagues keeps us on our toes
00:50:06 Keeping up the Muslim appearance
00:51:07 Who sets the benchmark for “what’s in and what’s out”
00:53:54 History of women not covering up in the past
00:57:19 Umar at his deathbed reminding a young man
00:59:53 Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad pioneered proven leadership traits
01:02:49 Good manners by itself alone is not dakwah
01:06:14 Make the change to implement the muslim identity
01:08:57 The importance of istiqamah
01:09:34 Do not be apologetic for being a Muslim
01:13:29 Learn, put it into practice and persevere!
01:14:21 Be firm on your belief!
01:19:03 The righteous predecessors used to made dakwah by portraying their Muslim Identity
In this episode, The Barakah Effect team has a look at the typical day in the life of the contemporary family man, the challenges that we face, examples from the deen in fulfilling this role, and we explore strategies on how to be better in our roles as family men, especially as husbands, fathers, and children to our parents!
So what does it mean to be a family man in light of our deen?
The family is the foundational cornerstone of a successful society, and the family man plays a key role in leading the family unit
Allah mentions in the Quran,
يٰٓاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا قُوْٓا اَنْفُسَكُمْ وَاَهْلِيْكُمْ نَارًا
O you who believe, save yourselves and your families from the fire (Surah At-Tahrim, 6)
When one really reflects on this ayah, we begin to appreciate the weight of the responsibility placed on the person with respect to their responsibilities on their family.
So how do we do so effectively, while balancing the heavy responsibilities of our day-to-day duties in our jobs, and personal Islamic obligations?
Join us and find out!
00:00:00 Intro
00:04:13 About being a family man
00:07:15 Getting expectations right
00:09:55 Of absent fathers & negligence
00:14:23 Human limitations & extremes
00:19:09 What parent do you want to be?
00:22:58 Nobody said it was easy, but it has immense rewards
00:26:29 The best of you are the best to your families
00:31:40 Parenting between great reward and severe punishment
00:33:53 Anas bin Malik firsthand experience as a child with Prophet Muhammad
00:35:45 Abu Salamah's impact on his wife
00:37:57 Stories about the 11 wives commenting on each of their husbands
00:43:37 A man's true happiness is in his household
00:47:40 Syaikh Ibn Baz advise on working from home
00:50:10 Quantify your quality time at home
00:54:00 Don’t be a thermometer rather than be a thermostat
00:57:35 Reality check: Children are detached from reality
00:59:00 Mistakes when giving advice
01:04:56 Who tries to be patient, Allah will help you to be patience
01:05:00 Teamwork: Help each other to attain Taqwa
01:11:46 Time block to spend time with your family
01:15:00 It’s a sin to trick your child
01:19:30 The best time to educate our child is during commute time
01:23:00 How do you make time for your spouse when you have kids?
01:27:50 Communicate your expectation clearly
01:31:31 Give your spouse their “me time”
01:35:20 Know your spouse and don’t compare them with others
01:39:40 Its a lifelong learning process
01:44:08 Reality check: How are we to our family?
01:48:08 What would they say about you when you die?
01:52:46 Have mercy to others, especially to your family members
01:58:10 Conclusion
In this episode, we try to jog our memory, recollecting our fresh graduate experience:
How did we get our jobs?
How was your first day? Was it rosy since day one?
Did we get what we signed up for?
This episode offers a glimpse of what to expect in the real world, from our perspectives.
We hope our collective experience can give some valuable insights to you.
So be sure to stick with us until the end to know what advice we wish we got back when we were still a bunch of greenhorns in the industry.
NOTE / DISCLAIMER: In order to prevent legal ramifications and potential misunderstanding, all company names have been censored away from this podcast episode.
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:30 Amir: In the desert
00:08:41 Aziz: The best boss
00:14:00 Syahmi: Culture shock
00:27:30 Reza: Things goes out of plan
00:29:16 Good coffee everyday
00:29:50 The Plan
00:36:00 Reza's Office experience
00:37:53 Lesson learned
00:39:54 Faisal's fresh grad experience
00:41:49 An unexpected journey begins
00:44:47 Humble bosses
00:45:48 What shall I do with a chemical engineer?
00:47:08 Traumatizing incident
00:50:10 Company culture of “Every man is an island” and “bully culture”
00:56:12 Significant experience of our first boss. Leaders cultivate healthy work environment
01:00:00 What goes around comes around.
01:03:06 The art of learning. Never too proud to learn new things.
01:06:27 The 3 elements of a happy life
01:11:16 Have high aspiration. Don’t settle for lower goals.
01:14:25 Don’t be a ‘yes man.’
01:19:40 Having a good mentor is a short cut to set yourself for success
01:23:30 White belt mentality and avoid the ‘entitlement mindset’
01:27:00 Share your knowledge to strengthen your knowledge
01:29:52 Seize the moment, DON’T shy away in beneficial matters
01:34:00 Develop your EQ
01:36:24 Outro
"Who am I? I'm just a small fly". "Just another cog in the wheel".
These are common phrases we hear about in today's society, that always seems to place an over-emphasis on those on the headlines.
Because of these mindsets, many of us tend to feel disadvantaged or demoralized when we lack the capability to be on the “front lines”: whether it is in being “the boss”, the main presenter, the main goal-scorer in sports, or the one on the streets giving face-to-face da’wah.
A community or an organization is only as good as the contribution of its functioning members. In addition to that, Islam teaches us something amazing. In a hadith, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Allah will admit three people to Paradise by virtue of one arrow: The one who makes it, seeking reward by making it well; the one who shoots it; and the one who hands it to him.” - [Sunan Ibn Majah]
SubhanAllah! The favour of Allah is unmatched! Each contributing member of the society reaps similar reward regardless if he is works in the front line, or behind the scenes.
Allah acknowledges that every single person in an organization has an important role to play - completely debunking the condescending notion that you are only a cog in the wheel.
In this episode, the Barakah Effect dive deep into this subject to for us to renew our intentions and high aspiration to realize the value and significance to society at large!
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:47 I’m just a cog in the wheel
00:06:45 Volunteering in an Islamic conference
00:08:52 The lady who cleaned the Mosque
00:09:33 Qadhi Abu Syuja’s retirement plan
00:10:50 My hard work doesn’t pay off!
00:11:28 Appreciation of people around us
00:13:00 Hadith: the role of the parents
00:16:54 Every small part of a long chain is beneficial
00:17:23 Hadith: The virtue of one arrow
00:18:00 Three people will enter Paradise because of one arrow.
00:23:10 The birth of Sahih Bukhari.
00:26:50 Small deeds with a big reward.
00:29:40 Behind every great man there is a great woman.
00:35:56 The companions contributed their unique skills and talents
00:37:48 Best of Women: What Made them Great?
00:39:59 Best of People for mankind: What makes THEM great?
00:42:57 Focus on YOURSELF first!
00:46:18 The Hedgehog Concept #GoodToGreat
00:52:50 Feeling burnout from the job? Have no "meaning"
00:54:00 Find meaning in your work
00:57:45 What do we tie our intentions to?
00:59:31 The big picture: impact thinking
01:05:35 Don't think too much about rights, think of responsibilities
01:07:00 A word of encouragement can trigger a huge change
01:10:54 Da'wah: Do I have a role to play?
01:12:55 Self reflect to discover our strength
01:15:41 Amir’s conclusion: Humble yourself, mankind is interdependent. Daily KPI by Ibn Rajab
01:17:38 Aziz’s conclusion: Each one of us is important. What legacy we want to leave
01:19:35 Reza’s conclusion: Find your WHY and develop them. Strive for what is good
01:21:05 Shahmi’s conclusion: How do we draw inspiration?
01:24:20 Faisal’s conclusion: Focus on your most critical role first. Be grateful to others even to your enemies. Be mindful of your speech
01:29:20 At times you won’t live to see the fruits of your efforts. Indeed, the reward is with Allah.
Conflict of interest. It's a hot topic that frequently appears in professional discussions of ethics and Human Resource guidelines about codes of conduct, especially in these times, with so many cases of corruption and misconduct in the corporate world, and among government officials today in the 21st century.
But did you know, Islam has addressed the issue of Conflict of Interest, outlining clear-cut guidelines from the Qur'an and Sunnah over 1400 years ago?
In this session, we discuss what is Conflict of interest? How conflict of interest can take place - sometimes in the most unexpected or unseen of ways, and how are some objective guidelines we can best handle them, from the perspective of Islam.
00:00:00 Intro
00:04:03 What is Conflict of Interest?
00:06:30 Perceived interest vs actual interest
00:13:02 Company policies: blocking the means
00:16:21 Are there measures in the Shariah to prevent Conflict of Interest?
00:18:46 Rules regarding hospitality
00:21:30 If you stay at home, will anyone send you a gift?
00:27:00 Hire you our family member
00:32:00 Know your rights by having knowledge
00:33:00 Can we have a genuinely good relationship between clients and contractors
00:34:37 Can you give or receive gifts to & from contractors?
00:37:08 Prophetic guidelines about "grey areas": Practicing Self-Awareness & Self-Integrity
00:40:21 Being Hired as an Auditor: Being paid to "expose" client?
00:42:52 Why scholars of the past refuse to be government scholars
00:45:46 Refusing to transfer or promote high performing staff
00:48:45 Biases with out-of-office activity partners and relationships
00:52:22 Using Relationsihp leverage as Favors?
00:54:06 Can't marry someone in the same company?
00:55:12 No one is free from biases. Not even Rasulullah!
00:56:12 Favoring a child over the other
00:58:38 Ta'arudh bainal mafsadah wal maslahah (preventing evil or attaining benefit - which one takes precedence?)
01:03:24 A career as a preacher
01:06:05 The difficulty of taming your intention
01:08:11 COI was addressed in the Syariah even before it became fashionable
01:10:18 Personal Integrity when nobody is looking
01:12:00 Uthman cried fearing the punishment of the grave
01:14:30 Aziz personal experience with COI – Standing his ground when receiving gifts
01:17:47 Firdaus personal experience with COI – Tempering with claims
01:21:30 Allah will replace what you leave for the sake of Allah with something better
01:22:35 Closing remarks
Building My Relationship with the Qur'an, Part 2: Tactics & Strategies
In an authentic hadith, Rasulullah ﷺ narrated to his companions:
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " إِنَّ لِلَّهِ أَهْلِينَ مِنَ النَّاسِ " . قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ هُمْ قَالَ " هُمْ أَهْلُ الْقُرْآنِ أَهْلُ اللَّهِ وَخَاصَّتُهُ "
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Allah has His own people among mankind.” They (the companions) said: "O Messenger of Allah, who are they?" He said: "The people of the Qur'an, the people of Allah and those who are closest to Him."
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hasan)
We’ve all perhaps experienced that close relationship with the Quran in Ramadhan whereby it was our close companion; we read it regularly and we derive many lessons and inspirations from it.
So now that we are in the first week of Shawwal, how has our relationship with the Quran been? Are we able to sustain the levels during Ramadhan?
As a person juggling many roles and responsibilities and hard-pressed for a time as most of us are nowadays, we acknowledge that this is a real challenge, but our hope for the rewards from Allah surely inspires us to overcome these challenges.
So just where do we begin in building a sustainable relationship with the Quran and starting our journey towards becoming the people of the Quran?
In our previous episode #8, we explored the big WHYs and shared our personal stories in our journey with the Quran to inshaAllah get us motivated and inspired to get back on track and reconnect in our lifetime journey with the book of Allah.
In this episode, we continue with the same theme but focusing on the HOWs; what are some practical tips that we can instantly apply as small steps to inshaAllah get us going towards becoming the people of the Quran.
00:00:00 Intro
00:05:11 Quran the basis of all knowledge. Don’t compromise on it
00:06:40 Ibn Taimiyyah’s regrets
00:09:00 Turn guilt into action
00:13:15 Relationship with the Quran is a lifelong journey
00:17:29 Our levels in Jannah depends on our interaction with the Quran
00:21:14 Our journey with the Quran is long & winding yet extremely rewarding
00:27:15 There is sweetness in the struggle
00:31:30 Who are the companions of the Quran
00:33:15 Which knowledge branch of the Quran should we prioritize?
00:34:22 Start with intention
00:37:14 Know the steps to get the knowledge
00:39:09 Get it start!
00:50:00 Steps of learning the Qur’an from the Sunnah
01:07:21 One of the cores of taqwa: gratefulness towards Allah
01:10:28 Make sure your teachers are qualified
01:12:34 Tips on how to choose good teachers
01:18:42 One of the signs of someone having high aspiration
01:19:45 Story sharing: it's okay to seek knowledge when you're much older
01:24:00 Sit in tajwid Halaqahs
01:26:17 Don't underestimate a simple reminder
01:32:55 The Korean revert learning tajweed
01:36:27 Stop looking down at our capabilities! Everyone can memorize the Qur'an.
01:38:00 The best time to memorize the Quran?
01:40:05 Integrate memorization into our daily life
01:42:52 You are a role model to others
01:46:00 A practical memorization tip
01:48:54 Find accountability partners
01:52:30 It is all about understanding the Quran
01:54:08 With the remembrance of Allah, the hearts find rest
01:58:27 The Quran intercedes in the day of judgement
02:01:00 Sins affect your relationship with the Quran
02:05:55 Allah has made the Quran easy for the ones who strive
For many cultures, Eid is that special time of the year getting together with our families and spending quality time. Therefore, for this week's episode, The Barakah Effect team would want to spotlight the most important special family members in our lives: Our Parents.
Our parents are the people who play the most important role in every one of our lives - indeed it is through them, that we exist today. Sadly, they are pretty much underappreciated by one too many people in our modern age.
In this episode - by far is the most emotional episode of the Barakah Effect podcast to date - the team discuss the importance of righteousness towards parents, especially as Muslims, why should we even bother to be dutiful towards our parents, stories of righteous people who were dutiful to their parents, and most importantly:
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How can we fulfill this right of serving our parents in this contemporary era? Amidst our multiple responsibilities, in our careers, our own families, and our own islamic obligations?
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How can we shift our mindsets and attitudes to be better sons and daughters?
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What actionable, practical things can we do to serve them better, especially in these challenging times of the pandemic and lockdowns in many parts of the world, where we are all faced with the difficult challenge of being prevented from physically meeting them - and hence, serving them - in person?
00:00:00 Intro
00:07:08 Why is it important to fulfill parents' rights?
00:11:02 The meaning of "Ihsan" towards parents
00:13:20 Why being dutiful to mothers is more important
00:15:45 Guys experimenting on the pain of giving birth
00:18:07 Some benefits of being dutiful to parents
00:21:03 We are all guilty of not fulfilling our parents' rights
00:22:30 Being dutiful to parents is a fruit of knowledge
00:24:16 gratitude to parents is gratitude to Allah
00:28:10 They are aging beause of YOU
00:30:50 Uwais Al-Qarni: The one Honored by Allah for serving his mother
00:33:53 What does it truly mean to be dutiful to your parents?
00:37:13 Giving up the opportunity to be a companion of the Prophet
00:39:48 When a Foot massage is of higher priority than Qiyamullayl (Night Prayer)
00:41:28 Loyalty to Parents will never change, no matter what happens in your life.
00:45:40 How can WE fulfill our parents rights in light of our responsibilities?
00:48:15 Simple daily things: Just Communicate & Establish a connection with them
00:51:05 golden advice in dealing with stubborn parents
00:55:58 - consult your parents and share hobbies
00:58:43 mother's day vs. serving her everyday
00:59:40 the waiter, the CEO and the sheikh's son
1:10:50 balance is about how you treat your priorities
1:11:55 every human is unique! Understand them by talking to them
1:14:46 thank them by sharing shar'i knowledge within your own capacity
01:16:28 How to deal with disagreements?
01:21:30 Difficult parent is a test
01:23:10 Being dutiful to non-muslim parents
01:29:25 Taking care of their health
01:39:00 Story of Abdullah ibn Zubayr
01:41:56 Abandoning the parents means destroying your life
01:43:37 An example of how the righteous predecessors looked at the rights of parents
01:48:03 A beautiful du'aa that encapsulates gratefulness to Allah for our parents
01:50:31 Serving our parents comprehensively: the secret and apparent deeds
01:52:25 The pleasure of Allah is tied to the pleasure of our parents
01:57:49 As long as we’re alive, it's never too late to make up for our shortcomings and serve our parents
The End is inevitable; the question is, HOW do we want our ending to be?
In this LIVE session with the Barakah Effect podcast team towards the Ending of Ramadhan in (1442H / 2021), the team discuss this important, existential question that every human being should be asking themselves:
How we can live our lives intentionally in such a way that we end on a high: husnul khatimah, a good ending - Husnul Khatimah - in the best possible manner, in flying colors?
Not only Ramadhan, but in other aspects of our lives: Our careers, family life, and most importantly, life in this dunya when the angel of death comes to meet us and we eventually meet Allah. To depart this world smiling, in optimistic hope of Jannah; not in a state of regret and despair!
In this episode, the podcast team cover the following:
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Don't Lose Hope
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(On the other hand) Don't get Complacent!
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Begin with the End in Mind: Keeping your eyes on the Prize
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Seize the day: Having a sense of Urgency
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Impact of High aspirations vs Short-Term, finite thinking
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BEWARE Distractions
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The Power of Du'aa
GoodEnding #FinishingOnAHigh #HusnulKhatimah #TheBarakahEffect #Ramadan
The Prophet ﷺ said, "Allah has His own special people among mankind."
He was asked, "O Messenger of Allah, who are they?"
He said: "The people of the Qur'an, the people of Allah and those who are closest to Him." (Ibnu Majah)
How can we - in the context of today's world in the 21st century - play our part to obtain this honorable status of being Allah's special people on Earth? Is it even possible?
Especially those of us with unforgiving, busy schedules juggling multiple responsibilities of our jobs, family, and oh-so-many distractions constantly pulling us away from the Book of Allah?
What are some practical methods we can take actionable steps towards developing this connection & relationship to become amongst the people of the Qur'an?
This episode, covering the first part of this discussion, "Building My Relationship with the Qur'an" (which surprisingly mentions quite a lot about the recurring theme of #FOMO "Fear of Missing Out" and Music, how these had a HUGE impact in our journey of the Qur'an), the brothers at the Barakah Effect podcast cover
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WHY we should build a relationship with the Qur'an
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Our own personal stories of discovery in Qur'an
Do share your thoughts with us, and your own personal stories too!
00:00:00 Introduction
00:03:40 Why chose this topic?
00:09:00 The story of Ummu Aiman “I cried because revelation has ended”
00:10:50 The enemies of Islam who attentively listened to the Quran in secrecy
00:16:23 Amazing ambience in Masjidil Haram
00:18:12 The bigger perspective: Not limiting Quran to only specific rituals
00:20:52 Hadith from Aisyah on the reward for Quran reciters
00:25:00 Motivation for the unskilled Quran reciters
00:28:06 Your ability to answer the questions in the graves hinges on your interaction with the Quran
00:29:27 Everything that interacts with the Quran becomes the best
00:31:57 Al-Qur'an, the intercession in the Hereafter
00:35:50 Remedy for anxiety and sorrow
00:39:30 Virtues of the Qur'an
00:46:30 Our journey to the Quran
00:58:46 Exposure & Discovery of Different Qira'at: Make us grow fonder of Qur'an
01:02:20 What is "Qiraat"?
01:04:08 Amir's discovery of Qur'an: How practicable & well preserved
01:08:20 Overwhelmed? Always remember your big WHY: to Apply & improve your life
01:10:46 Key to being a student of Qur'an: Be Humble
01:12:00 Faisal's struggling journey froma musician: Qur'an versus Music?
01:17:15 Gameplan: Memorizing in secret, competing with righteous friends #FOMO
01:19:49 Participate in Hifz / memorization competition
01:24:08 Reeza's journey: Evening walks with the Qur'an in Ramadhan
01:29:00 Best Experience: Umrah in Ramadhan #IRL
01:30:46 Struggles and inconsistencies in learning Qur'an
01:32:40 The WHY: Build your love for the Quran
01:38:36 The Litmus test for your relationship with Allah
01:40:28 Act upon what you learnt
01:41:56 The companions' relationship with the Quran
01:43:56 What's preventing us from enjoying Quran
01:47:46 We've all been there before
01:50:03 Keep on persevering with small steps
01:52:23 The more of yourself you give to the Quran, the more the Quran will give back to you
So, how is your Ramadhan so far?
In this episode #007 of the Barakah Effect podcast, in conjunction with the midpoint of Ramadhan, we take a step back and re-evaluate our "Ramadhan Half-Time", as the team perform our mid-term "muhasabah" performance review, breaking down our progress this Ramadhan so far - how is our "actual" progress versus our "planned" targets?
Where are we lacking? Where did we fall short? What have we learnt? Where can we readjust, optimize, and re-strategize?
Join us, as we exchange our experiences, catchup and recovery plans and strategies towards aspiring to finish off Ramadhan on a high, so that perhaps it may help you apply to your individual circumstances too, in sha Allah!
Would love to get in touch and hear from the rest of you too!
"Worship Allah as if you can see Him. And if you cannot, know that He sees you"
This is the description of Ihsan by our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ when asked by angel Jibreel.
"Ihsan" can be translated as "excellence" in English. For Muslims, Ihsan isn't just applicable to acts worship, but in every aspect of our lives - our jobs, our studies, our relationships, as Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “Verily, Allah has enjoined excellence (Ihsan) in EVERYTHING." (Muslim)
In this discussion, we cover:
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What is Ihsan? What is Ihsan applicable to?
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WHY should we act with Ihsan? Isn't "good enough" good enough?
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HOW we can apply Ihsan in our lives - practical examples in different aspects
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HOW can we train ourselves to develop Ihsan?
إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوا وَّالَّذِينَ هُم مُّحْسِنُونَ
"Truly, Allah is with those who fear Him (keep their duty unto Him), and those who are Excellent in their deeds" (An-Nahl 16:128)
وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَاحِهَا وَادْعُوهُ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ مِّنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
"And do not do mischief on the earth, after it has been set in order, and invoke Him with fear and hope;
Surely, Allah's Mercy is ever near to those who act with ihsaan" (Al-Araf 7:56)
May Allah make us amongst the Muhsinin - the people who consistently act with ihsan - in all that we do!
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:10 Imagine you are being watched
00:07:22 Why this topic?
00:12:45 Definition of Ihsan
00:14:20 Levels of Ihsan
00:18:50 Ihsan in everything we do
00:23:23 Categories of Ihsan
00:23:53 How do we apply Ihsan in our lives?
00:33:35 "Doing More" is only applicable if it Meets Specification
00:35:40 The 3rd condition of deeds' acceptance: Appropriate context
00:38:16 Ihsan is one of the hardest things to do!
00:39:43 What's the point: WHY should we strive for Ihsan?
00:42:26 The Key to Ihsan: Recognize Allah's Favors to develop Love and Gratitude
00:45:50 Who would you choose to be promoted? The "good enough" or excellent guy?
00:46:45 Delivering Quality work is the best form of networking
00:49:40 Allah will never allow your efforts to go to waste!
00:51:30 Journey, not the destination: Ihsan is continuous improvement
00:53:51 Life is to test who is BEST - not MOST - in deeds
00:55:00 Ihsan in treating mother: The Greatest Honor
00:57:40 The "extra" deeds patch up our weaknesses and shortcomings
00:59:39 We don't have a "bare minimum" attitude for other things
01:01:06 Spending what you love the most
01:03:01 (Yet another) Good-to-Great reference: The Flywheel
01:06:10 Legendary Shafi'ee Fiqh book: known centuries after death!
01:08:20 Champions become champions behind the scenes
01:09:27 How to train ourselves to be Ihsan?
01:11:56 We all have this teacher...
01:16:05 Investment mindset
01:17:15 Nothing will go to waste
01:18:20 Sahabah: The Muslims role models in all aspect of life
01:19:32 Am I a hypocrite?
01:21:20 Importance of positive peer pressure
01:23:31 Am I good enough?
01:25:50 Faisal, "Housemate that changed me."
01:30:36 Conclusion
Scammers, frauds, conman. The prevalent disease in society that you love to hate. Perhaps just the mere mention of the word "scammer", it just evokes a feeling of disgust, anger, and frustration in our hearts and minds – especially if you have been a victim of their plots. What do they want? Why do they do it? How do we protect ourselves from the negative consequences of their schemes? What initially seemed like a simple topic about lies and deception, eventually grew deeper profound psychological study about trust, building relationships, our biases and perceptions on people and society, sincerity and the importance of knowledge. Join us in Episode #005 of The Barakah Effect podcast where we examine the illusive world of scammers. In this episode, we cover: - What is a "scam"? - Some examples & types of scams - What are the characteristics of a con artist? Common characteristics of a conman. - Why do people fall into scams? - What we should do - How to avoid being scammed? Are there ways to protect or cure people from becoming conmen? - If we DO become victims of scammers, what is our attitude as Muslims? What can we learn from that? And how to avoid the trap of taking the WRONG lessons if we have been ripped off. 00:00:00 - Intro 00:06:27 - A shoemaker leads German Soldier on Robbery 00:10:22 - Definitions 00:11:22 - Origin of the word Conmen 00:16:22 - Characteristics of a Scammers 00:20:05 - Scammer tactics 00:23:40 - Verses from the Quran about scammers 00:27:00 - Frauds in Islamic History 00:31:51 - Don't derive the wrong lessons 00:34:10 - Victims of scams are often unfairly stereotyped 00:35:48 - The often recurring claim of the Mahdi 00:36:26 - Get it while it's hot! 00:38:53 - Bending reality: cognitive dissonance 00:41:28 - Isnad: the authenticity of our deen 00:46:02 - The Sahabah went to great lengths blocking the avenues of scammers in our deen 00:47:49 - Knowledge is key 00:48:44 - 'Get-there-itis’ 00:49:58 - Prevalent paranoia 00:50:47 - Tool #1: How to win friends and influence people 00:52:45 - Tool #2: Role-playing 00:56:37 - Serial killing conman 00:58:08 - What do scammers really want? 00:59:34 - The slippery slope of frauds - once you pop, it's difficult to stop! 01:01:00 - Lying and scamming purely for thrills 01:03:35 - To what extent do you give Husnu Dzon (good thoughts) to a proven liar? 01:05:40 - Fake Charity: Do you get rewarded for your charity? 01:08:45 - Don't get "Traumatized" to the point where you stop giving charity 01:10:40 - How do we protect ourselves from scams? 01:14:00 - Allah curses those who cheat the scales 01:15:12 - Seek knowledge, especially the foundations to filter out truth from fake 01:16:48 - Simply practicing basic religion protects you from a large portion of scams 01:19:05 - Motivation scam - 01:20:23 - Surround ourselves with good company 01:22:32 - Straight Talk: Don't exaggerate or beat around the bush 01:25:36 - Cheating in exams: Haram rizq? 01:26:58 - Upgrade our practical knowledge, e.g. Cybersecurity 01:29:50 - Limit what you share on social media 01:30:00 - Limit the information you share online 01:30:43 - Acknowledge that scammers do exist. 01:31:38 - Understand that scams CAN happen to you! 01:33:20 - Know our own week points - understand our triggers. 01:33:55 - Report scams to authorities - don't let your ego get in the way! 01:36:44 - "Humans like what's familiar to them" 01:38:00 - Scammers in the Grand Mosque in Makkah! 01:38:44 - Don't be deceived by quick wins! 01:39:47 - Don't go around accusing people of scamming others. 01:43:50 - Wilhem Voigt 01:45:30 - Conclusions 01:47:24 - The believer does not fall into the same hole twice 01:49:07 - Seek protection from Allah Ta'ala 01:50:20 - Substance over form 01:51:25 - "If it looks too good to be true, it probably is!"
Your WHY serves as a compass; it shapes your intention, links your values to purpose, lifts you up from the lowest pits, drives you beyond your comfort zone and aspire you to greater heights.
A positive and comprehensive WHY will not just benefit individuals but will also be a catalyst that propels communities and nations by leaps and bounds.
This is how our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, within a short span of 23 years, inspired a few unlettered people in the desert to eventually established themselves as a sprawling empire, taking the world by storm, continuing to leave a mark for humanity.
Islam is the perfect religion that captures the ultimate essence of WHY: by providing a true sense of purpose that transcends human limits, providing an inexhaustible source of motivation in the form of infinite rewards proportional to our efforts, taking advantage of your own unique strengths and talents, and providing a comprehensive refuge from all types of harm: in this world and the next.
Join us in Episode #004 of The Barakah Effect Podcast, as we pause, dive deep and ponder in search of that WHY & unearthing your true purpose and calling.
00:00:00 - Intro
00:08:38 - The Muslim’s purpose in life
00:11:50 - The Barakah Effect’s vision
00:15:18 - Benefits of having a WHY
00:22:10 - The human's search for meaning
00:23:21 - The bottomless pit of desires
00:26:44 - Having a purpose will make you efficient
00:28:10 - The vision of the people on your team matters
00:38:38 - What happens if you don't have a clear purpose.
00:44:50 - The Barakah Effect's 'why'.
00:47:55 - Aziz's experience of working with a company without a why
00:49:45 - Importance of why: The example from the Prophet's ﷺ companions
00:56:40 - The first command in the Quran
00:57:45 - To You alone only we worship and seek help
00:59:38 - Look after your flock
01:07:01 - Chronic unease on what we have prepared to meet Allah
01:08:53 - People of taqwa are the successful person
01:12:30 - Allah’s mercy for all His creation on earth
01:14:00 - "What have I done TODAY to prepare for tomorrow?"
01:15:00 - The END in mind: What is TRUE Success?
01:22:44 - How can we DISCOVER our WHY? #FindYourWhy
01:24:48 - Link your mundane day-to-day with your big WHY
01:29:22 - Prioritize & cascade tasks to measurable and tangible goals
01:30:40 - The Hedgehog Rule: Discover your signature strengths
01:34:21 - Coca-Cola Hydrates the world: "Anytime. Anywhere. Always Coca Cola"
01:36:35 - Your Vision can be a "good WHY" or a "bad WHY": Set the right one!
01:39:34 - Audacious vision during the brink of extinction: Treasures of Rome and Persia
01:40:58 - Find partners who will work with you to achieve your WHY
01:42:25 - Be in a flock, lest the wolf attacks when you are alone
01:44:30 - To have a clear WHY, start with knowledge
01:46:58 - Knowledge is a lantern that guides us towards achieving our WHY
01:49:43 - Du'a - Asking Allah to guide you to the straight path
01:54:40 - Take care of your personal health - life is limited!
01:56:13 - Conclusion starts - We are not passengers in the vehicle of life - we are the driver!
01:57:47 - Never limit or over compromise your aspiration - Islam allows us to be successful in this life and the hereafter.
01:59:07 - the powerful story of Rib'ie bin Amir (Islam liberates people from the slavery of the creation, to the slavery of the Creator)
02:00:38 - Having a WHY and NOT having a why is like night and day.
02:02:17 - the Hadith:Have Taqwa/God-consciousness wherever you are
02:05:27 - Why you need a WHY and realign yourself with your WHY.
02:07:50 - Walk towards Allah and Allah will come running to you.
Ramadhan is coming!
So, HOW? Are you prepared?
Join us in Episode #3 of The Barakah Effect podcast as we discuss some tactics, strategies and mindsets of HOW we should prepare for this blessed month, reap maximum rewards and get the best out of Ramadhan. Taking a step back, we also discuss: WHY should we even prepare in the first place?
It may be your last shot to make this your Best Ramadhan ever. It's time to seize the day!
So, ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to buckle up, fasten your seatbelts, and keep your eyes on the prize, as we gear up for this grand event to fire all cylinders and hit the ground running!
Bismillah!
00:00:00 - Intro
00:07:00 - Why prepare for Ramadhan?
00:08:26 - Ramadhan is a worship race track
00:13:10 - Ramadhan is a big deal!
00:14:16 - Virtues of Ramadhan
00:21:20 - Ramadhan preparation strategy
00:22:09 - How should we prepare?
00:24:40 - Goals of fasting
00:28:55 - Taqwa isn't just for Ramadhan - it's for LIFE!
00:32:00 - What is Taqwa?
00:36:38 - Why is Taqwa so important?
00:40:16 - The missing link: What is the REAL cause of disobedience and sins in the ummah today?
00:42:30 - The Litmus test if you have taqwa or traits of hypocrisy / nifaq
00:44:46 - Even SHAITAN plans and prepares us for Ramadhan - Beware!
00:50:08 - HOW we should prepare for Ramadhan - Start with sincere intention
00:53:05 - Reconciling "Sincerity" vs "Hoping for reward in Allah"?
00:55:30 - Spread the news that Ramadhan is coming!
00:56:10 - Make Ramadhan itself a celebration & set the mood for excitement
00:59:00 - Use the calendar to create anticipation & motivation for the kids
01:00:10 - Get rid of bad habits & unproductive addictions
01:02:37 - How to be awesome at self-reflection
01:04:40 - Utilise your idle time
01:10:02 - Ramadhan is an opportunity to reset
01:10:41 - Rising above distractions
01:14:48 - Adorn yourself with knowledge before Ramadhan
01:21:33 - What actions should we prioritize in Ramadhan?
01:26:12 - Your other obligations do not stop during Ramadhan
01:27:00 - Don’t shortchange working hours
01:27:37 - Make early plans of your deliverables
01:29:44 - Kitchen on a mission
01:33:57 - Plan your ideal day in Ramadhan
01:35:23 - What you can do vs What you should do
01:36:27 - Individual benefits vs Communal benefits
01:37:18 - Power nap to the rescue
01:38:51 - Ramadhemic (Ramadhan during a pandemic)
01:41:00 - Contemplate the Quran during prayer
01:42:54 - Eat, Sleep and Pray
01:52:58 - Filter your environment
01:54:35 - Time for a vacation?
01:55:00 - Plan for a leave for the last 10 days of Ramadan
01:57:00 - Solat Taraweeh
01:59:55 - Build your relationship with the Quran
02:00:25 - why is it difficult to memorize the Quran?
02:02:40 - Finding sweetness in Quran - standing for hours in prayer
02:04:30 - Abide by the local authority
02:05:40 - Memorize prophetic Du'as - short and concise
02:06:39 - the Companions' du'a regarding Ramadan
02:10:20 - Tips on making du'a
02:12:10 - Closing remarks (Syahmi)
02:14:23 - Reeza
02:16:03 - Amir (a beautiful quote from Abu Bakr al-Balkhi about Ramadan)
02:18:05 - Aziz
02:19:23 - Faisal
02:24:40 - Outro
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Have you ever gone through those phases when, after flying high on steady performance, somehow, you just lost it?
Performance goes down. Morale and Motivation takes a tumble. We enter this spiral of sluggishness. And because we are demotivated, it's even more difficult to find our footing and get back on track!
It happens all the time in our lives... In our careers, our parenting experience. And definitely in our spiritual journey as Muslims: such as those moments when Ramadhan is over, or when we return from umrah. Things just go downhill 😫.
This is the Slump. In episode #2 of the Barakah Effect podcast, we collectively search for practical solutions to tackle this very real issue that happens even to the best of us.
Because the great news is - surprise! - Even the most righteous of people, the companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, also went through periods of the slump! What did they do? How did they recover?
How can we take ourselves out from this slump and get back on our feet?
Love to hear from you as well! Did we miss anything out?
Share with us your thoughts and insights, and your own awesome lifehacks on how you handle and cope with these challenges!
- 00:00:00 - Intro
- 00:05:50 - Ibadah, work and life burnout experiences
- 00:11:10 - What is the slump?
- 00:14:25 - The slump according to the saying of the Prophet ﷺ
- 00:18:00 - Ensuring the BASICS are not compromised during your slump
- 00:19:00 - What matters: Your REACTION to the Slump!
- 00:20:48 - The key to consistency: Intrinsic motivation
- 00:22:10 - Defining the "Slump" & its Arabic cousin, "Futur"
- 00:25:10 - Hanzhalah: The sahabah who experienced the Slump
- 00:29:30 - Practical Lessons from the Hanzhalah's slump
- 00:33:50 - Self-Awareness: Understanding your vulnerabilities & Acting accordingly
- 00:35:30 - The "halal" trap: Excess in mubah are doorways to the Slump
- 00:37:25 - Understanding the Dopamine effect: It's a trap!
- 00:40:29 - Beware the Mobile Phone: Weapon of Mass Distraction!
- 00:42:33 - Excessiveness leads to burnout
- 00:46:38 - Life happens
- 00:50:30 - Ask Allah to renew your Iman
- 00:52:16 - Shaytan is determined to break you
- 00:56:40 - The effect of Sins
- 00:59:28 - Emotional awareness and personal health
- 01:00:22 - Neglecting personal health
- 01:02:28 - Our bodies, Amanah from Allah
- 01:02:50 - "How to Overcome the Slump"
- 01:05:44 - Du'a to protect oneself from laziness and inability
- 01:07:41 - Proper planning
- 01:10:01 - Look for substitutes for your routine
- 01:11:33 - Importance of self-awareness
- 01:15:18 - The Hadith "consult your heart"
- 01:16:52 - Find an accountability partner
- 01:19:01 - Continuous deeds even if they are small
- 01:20:00 - How our role model overcome the slump
- 01:20:40 - Closing remarks
- 01:20:52 - Discipline vs Motivation
- 01:23:37 - Three reminders from the Hadith that a strong believer is more beloved to Allah than a weak believer.
- 01:26:22 - Slump opens up opportunities for good deeds
- 01:27:49 - React soonest once you observe red flags for slumps
- 01:32:008 - Self-introspection
- 01:36:43 - Outro
“And if only the people of the cities had believed and had taqwa (consciousness of Allah),
We would have opened upon them barakah (blessings) from the heaven and the earth“ (Al-Qur’an, Surah Al-A’raf 7:96)
Barakah. We Muslims hear about it all the time.
Have you ever wondered: What barakah really means, and its amazing effects?
For our debut self-titled episode, we will attempt to uncover the understandings behind barakah, how it relates to us and why we are in NEED of barakah in our daily lives.
Join us as we share our personal stories and experiences about how barakah has impacted our lives,
And if you stick around until the end, we will share some practical tips on how we as Muslims today can attain barakah, as a result, live amazing lives with these principles in mind.
- 00:00:00 - Intro
- 00:03:10 - Introducing The Barakah Effect
- 00:24:20 - Communities of Practice - Sharing experiences and mistakes
- 00:27:10 - Why should you listen to TBE?
- 00:29:00 - What is Barakah?
- 00:34:32 - The Legacy of Imam asy-Syafii
- 00:36:00 - Opposite of Barakah
- 00:39:00 - Importance of Barakah
- 00:42:00 - Example of Barakah from Scholar: Imam Nawawi
- 00:43:28 - Example of Barakah from Rasulullah ﷺ
- 00:45:11 - Barakah in Marriage
- 00:48:00 - Barakah in Knowledge
- 00:50:40 - How to get Barakah?
- 00:52:28 - Barakah in Dakwah
- 00:54:02 - Syahmi's Transformational Umrah
- 01:04:30 - Reeza's Daily practice: Seize the mornings
- 01:14:30 - Aziz's sharing: Transparency in Business
- 01:22:50 - Faisal's Story of Change
- 01:32:30 - Amir's Story: Naseehah of a Mother
- 01:36:00 - Conclusions
Introducing The Barakah Effect Podcast The Barakah Effect podcast! The weekly podcast where we dissect the Qur'an and sunnah and turn it to our unfair advantage to achieve extraordinary success Here and Hereafter.
For this introduction episode we will cover:
- 00:00 Intro
- 03:55 Who are we?
- 16:27 What is The Barakah Effect podcast?
- 27:40 How did this begin?
- 35:11 Why did we embark on this project?
- 51:48 What do we aim to achieve?