Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Barakah Effect

Overwhelmed by the noise around you?

In today's fast-paced, distraction-filled world, maintaining focus on what truly matters can feel like an overwhelming challenge, so much so that our productivity and responsibilities in nurturing our families, excelling at work, and being productive suffers.

How can we overcome this dillemma?

Join us in this episode as we explore actionable insights on how to navigate distractions, nurture productivity, and align our actions with purpose, to achieve success in this world and the Hereafter.

Studying while working, and parenting Is it doable? The pursuit of knowledge is part of the very fabric of the human condition, and for some its an insatiable thirst that stays with us - even when we have primary responsibilities such as working and being parents. The question is, is it possible to remain balanced pursuing proper studies while having professional and personal responsibilities? Join us as we chat with Asrif Yusoff, author of "Staying the Course: Navigating the Challenges of Part-Time Study” to discover practical tips for balancing work, parenting, and education, and learn how to stay focused on your goals while remaining balanced. Tune in for inspiration and strategies to thrive! 📖 More on "Staying the Course: Navigating the Challenges of Part-Time study" by Asrif Yusoff: https://www.umpress.com.my/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=935 🌏Follow Asrif Yusoff: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/asrif Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AsrifYusoff Instagram @asrifyusoff Twitter @asrif

News headlines both locally and worldwide - are constantly headlines of corruption, money laundering, bribes. From world leaders, management teams, all the way down to the working level staff in a company, corruption has become more rampant and widespread, and it’s easy to see why the topic of integrity has recently been given so much emphasis and taking up much more of a spotlight in the corporate world and mainstream media But what IS integrity? People always talk about “what you do when nobody is watching” - but is there more to it? Is integrity merely about “not taking bribes”? Or is there something deeper? In this episode, the team at The Barakah Effect podcast have a conversation about one of the most important characteristic of our lives, where we discuss: ✅ Why discuss this subject? What is the impact of corruption, bribery? What are some personal stories and experience you can relate to why you feel we should talk about this? ✅ Definitions: what IS integrity - from the contemporary perspective, and how do we contrast that to the way Islam views integrity, from the lens of faith and iman? ✅ Importance of integrity, multiple aspects of integrity (which are often neglected) ✅ How: Practical strategies for combating corruption and reinforcing integrity May Allah make all of us to be people of integrity!

Through these modern times in the 21st century, emotional intelligence (often referred to as EQ) is often regarded as a superpower that can supercharge our Relationship building, stronger personal resilience, effective leadership, fostering collaboration, personal development, adaptability, empathy, and even in influencing others, and is often viewed as one of the crucial ingredients for long-term success, both personally and professionally. 

But really, what IS emotional intelligence? How do we view Emotional Intelligence from the perspective of Islam? Is it compatible with the teachings of the Qur'an and Sunnah? Is it really that important? 

Furthermore, with thousands of books, articles, courses, seminars on this subject matter, there are no shortage of "experts" weighing in on the subject, sometimes providing conflicting advice, or those suspiciously contradicting our Islamic values.

To enlighten us on this inspiring subject, we go for a deep dive conversation with brother Muhammad Javed, author of the book, "Nurturing Emotional Intelligence", published recently in 2023 by Dakwah Corner Bookstore.

A seasoned training and development practitioner with extensive experience in leadership and professional training, coaching, and consulting across diverse industries, including oil & gas, technology, real estate, manufacturing, finance, and education, Muhammad is the founder of the training academy, Muslim Launchpad, he specializes in empowering Muslim professionals through world-class professional and leadership development with a unique Islamic perspective. 

Contact Muhammad Javed @ The Muslim Launchpad: Emotional Intelligence The Prophetic Way Transformation

🌏 Website  https://www.muslimlaunchpad.net/ 

📧 Muhammad@muslimlaunchpad.net

TIME STAMPS 

0:00:00 Start 

0:04:32 From computer science to EQ:. Muhammad Javed's personal Journey 

0:16:00 What is Emotional Intelligence ? 

0:26:40 Beauty of the Islamic Approach 

0:37:14 Connecting, Reaching Out to the Youth 

0:53:52 Learning from Sirah and Rasulullah - A Masterclass in EQ

1:42:43 How to get in touch with Muhammad Javed

Since October 2023, the world has witnessed the horrors of the gen0cide and mass murders taking place in Pale$tine, specifically in G@za. As we speak, isr@el has killed more than 37,000 civilians - mostly women and children - in addition to over 80,000 severely injured. In an unprecedented act of violence, isr@el has dropped over 70,000 tons of bombs on the strip, exceeding World War 2 bombings in Dresden, Hamburg and London combined. Despite gaining notorious attention from all over the world, with international communities negatively labelling isr@el’s actions as ethnic cleansing & gen0cide, and multiple peaceful attempts at a ceasefire, there seems to be no end in sight for the atrocities being committed against the people of Pale$tine, including civilians in the West B@nk, which is particularly painful for us Muslims, as we witness the crimes perpetrated on the holy ground of Al-Aqsa.

With these horrific acts, many around the world are forced to watch in horror. Some questioning God, wondering “where is the Help of Allah”? Why is He allowing these to take place? Why aren’t the nations stepping up to stop this violence?

And after 8 months of non-stop horror, some have lost hope, or even start to feel jaded as if they can no longer be bothered.

In this episode of the Barakah Effect, join us as we discuss:

What should we do, as Muslims? What is our attitude in facing this situation, as we helplessly watch our brothers and sisters being massacred in these holy lands? What role do we have to play, and how do we understand this in the right perspective to see it from the Wisdom of Allah?

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 ramai 3. 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.

0:00:00 Start 

0:04:33 Overview: Themes of discussion

0:07:36 PART 1: Real Examples - Our procrastination stories

0:20:30 PART 2: why do we procrastinate? What actually causes procrastination? 

0:32:46 Perfectionism: the mother of procrastination? 😱

0:38:00 the Snowball-Avalanche Effect 

0:39:58 PART 3: Whats the big deal? Why is this topic of procrastination so important? 

0:49:19 PART 4: The "How" - strategies in overcoming procrastination

0:50:46 Breaking it down to digestible, workable chunks

0:54:59 Gaining momentum and the Pomodoro technique 

0:57:38 Five-second rule 

Use Checklists 

1:02:50 Learn! Equip yourself with knowledge of anti-procrastination tools

1:10:28 Surround yourself with like-minded peers 

1:14:04 Create a sense of Urgency & Accountability 

1:19:40 Striving and willpower? Mujahadah

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 Allah See 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!

Time stamps / chapters

0:00:00 Intro - Why Faisal selected this book

0:07:53 Overview & Summary: What is this book about?

0:10:49 The eleven Good-to-Great companies

0:14:45 Writing style & accessibility

0:19:21 Summary of Ideas

0:24:34 Ideas that impacted Faisal the most: "Good is the Enemy of Great"

0:26:09 Level-5 Leadership

0:34:34 the Prophet was the Level 5

0:37:44 Confront the Brutal Facts

0:44:52 Remembering Death

0:45:54 The Flywheel concept

0:52:49 Seerah of the Prophet: flywheel in practice

0:59:43 Closing thoughts: Unexpected personal lessons from the Book

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:

1. Why should we talk about it, and who is it for?

2. 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.

Time stamps

0:00:00 Start

0:05:03 Discovering Islam in Sweden as a teenager

0:11:03 how "Rationality" and existential questions led Sheikh to eventually embrace Islam

0:20:00 What drives aethism? How Aethism also leads to racism

0:29:36 Facing challenges in combating aethism

0:33:46 How aethism branched out to how it is today

0:37:09 How psychological factors and trauma leads to aethism and deviation

0:42:38 Is Aethism really spreading amongst Muslims?

0:50:36 More knowledgeable = more critical = doubt religion?

0:54:03 What exactly is "Rational thinking"? Is Islam really "rational"?

1:01:35 To get the right answers, you need to ask the right QUESTIONS

1:05:21 How can we protect our children from falsehood and chaotic corrupting ideologies?

1:11:30 Psychological factors

1:16:58 Upcoming projects Dr. Abdullah is working on

1:26:26 What legacy Dr. Abdullah hopes to leave behind

1:28:44 Dr. Abdullah's favorite quote

1:31:36 How to get in touch with Dr. Abdullah

1:32:47 the Key to Barakah is..

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! ❤️

0:00:00 Intro

0:05:46 About Adam’s first book: “100 Hadith Sunan Abu Dawud”

0:14:14 Adam shares valuable experience & lessons in publishing his first book

0:20:06 Adam’s background: his upbringing in Sabah

0:22:47 Adam’s discovery of the Bible & Christianity through Muslims!

0:30:57 Contradictions in Bible? Sincere study of the scriptures eventually led Adam to Islam

0:39:36 Going through denial phase, confronting the parents & fellow Christian friends

0:48:11 Taking Syahadah & advice to reverts: involve your family, have a conversation

0:57:33 LOVE: Da’wah should be fuelled by passion to love for others what we love for ourselves

1:08:11 How we respond when people mock or make fun of Islam. Channeling conversation opportunity!

1:14:40 We’ve got a lot of work to do for da’wah. Utilize every opportunity you get!

1:19:28 How Islam had an effect to Adam’s professional life and work ethic

1:28:00 The Islamic perspective about leadership. Don’t chase it, but prepare yourself for it just in case!

1:33:40 Never stop learning “Knowledge is the only thing people cannot steal from you”

1:36:30 Productivity tips: How do you juggle so many responsibilities and excel at them?

1:42:20 Courage in Da’wah: Facing the intimidation and fear of conveying & teaching Islam as a revert

1:53:14 The Legacy Adam Voo wants to leave behind

1:55:19 Adam’s favorite quote..

2:01:20 How to get in Touch with Adam Voo

2:06:09 The Key to Barakah is..

📱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

- his life journey and personal experience, of being brought up and raised in America

- The hostile high school environment that he was raised in

- 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

- Maintaining his Islamic identity at his workplace, especially in working environments and corporate cultures that are predominantly non-Muslims

- 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

- 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 …