11th RabiʻI 1447H | Assalamu'alaikum, | Do you know what the hardest thing was when I left my corporate job and pursued Productive Muslim Company full-time? | It wasn't the financial anxiety (although that was there) or the fear of failure (even though that was a high probability). It was the look of pity and concern from well-meaning friends and relatives who were wondering what I was doing with my life and when I'll "get a real job." | Up until my departure from my job, I followed the conventional script of life. I did well at school, got into a good university, graduated with a solid distinction from my master's degree, got a comfortable job, got married, and was about to have my first child. | Then, I went off script with "Productive Muslim". It was seen as reckless, unpredictable, and putting unnecessary pressure on myself and my family. | For years, I felt ashamed of my decision. The most uncomfortable question at any gathering became "So what do you do?" Honestly, most of the time, I'd give a half-truth like "I'm an HR consultant" because it felt more legitimate than "I run an online platform called Productive Muslim." Even those close to me struggled to answer this question on my behalf. | Questioning the Script | However, over time, I started challenging this life script and why it made me feel so inadequate. I researched the origins of this "school->college->corporate job->retirement" formula and discovered that it's not universal and culturally recent. | This life script started in the West in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with mass schooling and "corporate life" becoming the backbone of economic growth. Later, it was globalized, especially post-World War II, as the surest route to stable income and for the vast majority of people to escape poverty. | Sure enough, it worked! Case in point: My grandfather was a camel herder in Hadramout and later a wholesale trader in Tanzania, and here I am with a double master's degree, able to pontificate about life from the comfort of my office. If it weren't for my parents' sacrifices, their deep investment in my education, and their belief in this established path, perhaps I wouldn't have the opportunities I have today. | However, there's a troubling dimension to our blind acceptance of this single pathway to "success" that I want to challenge. | A Spiritual Trap? | I see two critical challenges with how we've elevated this life script: | The world is changing in unexpected ways. With AI, career instability, and the old social contract of "school→college→job→retirement/pension" being upended, clinging to this single path might actually be riskier than exploring alternatives. I see many people spiritually convinced that this is the only 'sure way' for their rizq and a good life. They believe everything else will lead to ruin. This shows a complete misunderstanding of Rizq and where it comes from. We've forgotten the verse:
| وَفِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ رِزْقُكُمْ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ | "In heaven is your sustenance and whatever you are promised." Quran: 51:22 | Think about it this way: if life were a garden, we've convinced ourselves there's only one type of seed worth planting. But Allah created diverse soil, diverse seasons, and diverse plants for a reason. | I speak to many young people who are unsure about the life script they've been prescribed. They see the changes happening in society and economy, and they no longer trust this single blueprint. Yet they feel afraid of exploring alternative pathways because "what if it doesn't work?". | I get it, I've been there. But I challenge them to think this way: "What if following their life script doesn't work as well?" Isn't it better to be a well-rounded person who explores different pathways and is flexible and resilient to changing life circumstances than someone who's stuck to one life script? What would it look like if they explored other pathways? | Pathways like entrepreneurship, building a portfolio of projects with multiple clients instead of depending on one employer, dedicating a season of their life to homemaking and family, community service, or focusing on spiritual growth and Islamic education. | The "school-to-job" life script, as well-meaning and logical as it sounds, is neither the only way to live successfully in this dunya, nor a guarantee of success. | Practical Advice for My 20-Year Old Self | If I were to go back to my 20-year-old self, here's what I'd share: | 1. Cultivate High Himmah (aspiration) Intentions | Don't just ask "What career should I choose?" Ask "What's my niyyah for my life?" Make your intentions God-centered, akhira-focused, purpose-driven, and aligned with your natural gifts. Once you set these high-himmah intentions, it's amazing the clarity it gives to your life, and the courage to go against "societal norms". | 2. Experiment and Explore | Instead of committing to one educational path, invest in "lifelong learning." Explore skills, hobbies, interests, courses, and networks that develop you as a person in different fields. You'll be surprised where you'll end up. | 3. Anchor Your Identity in Allah, Not Your Career | Make Abd of Allah (Slave of God) your primary identity, not your job title. When your worth comes from your relationship with Allah rather than societal approval, you can explore life with genuine freedom and confidence. | 4. Adopt the Gardener Mindset | Be like a gardener in this world: plant beautiful intentions (seeds) and nurture them into fruitful projects, whether those seeds are work-related, family-focused, or community-centered.. | 5. Seek Barakah in all that you do | Focus on cultivating the mindsets, values, and rituals that attract Barakah in your life. I've seen people thrive in the most unconventional careers because they sought Allah's Barakah rather than society's approval. | The truth is, there's no single script for a life well-lived in service to Allah. Your path might not look "successful" by society's standards and people might question your choices or pity your "missed opportunities." But on the Day of Judgment, we'll discover which paths led to real success and which were just distractions from preparing for the only world that truly matters - the Akhira. | May Allah ﷻ guide us to the paths that are most pleasing to Him. Ameen. | Sincerely, | | P.S. Speaking of choosing your own script, we're accepting final applications for the Barakah Effect Program. We just had our onboarding session this morning, and it was amazing! If you're ready to trade hustle culture exhaustion for Barakah-centered success, it's still not too late to join us. Click here to register and catch the first teaching session next week! |
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