✅Optimized Muslim Newsletter 23/07/2022
Jul 23, 2022 9:01 pm
Update for 23rd July 2022
as Salaamu Alaykum
Optimized Muslim Project Update
In my recent episode with Muttaqi Ismail from The Islamic History Podcast (yet to be uploaded), I asked him about how he managed to find the time to build his podcast. His podcast is, as the name suggests, history based so the amount of work that goes into the script is much more extensive. He gave some simple-sounding (as is often the case) advice about working one hour a day on his project during work days and then as much as life allows on weekends. The advice sounds simple but is difficult to implement unless you have a deep why and motivation driving you. We discussed the importance of developing a system to help you create content. However, you can only develop a system, or it organically comes into place, after starting. Alhamdulillah, I currently have got into a good routine with the podcast and hope to continue being consistent in sha Allah.
An Idea I was thinking about this week
If you have above-average intelligence, you can basically work on whatever you want to and over a long enough time horizon, make it financially sustainable. The key word here is "want". I know this kind of verbiage triggers people but because I've added "over a long enough time horizon" and haven't developed the idea much more, it's hard to debunk in it's current form. I'm happy to engage on this point.
An Islamic Reminder
My latest Instagram Carousel post will be based on a video from Imam Tom Facchine in which he talks about how much power we have to actually change. Being a self-development nerd, this obviously caught my attention. He bases his message on the teachings of Al Raghib al Isfahani's work. It's only a short video but the conclusion seems to be that it does not matter because our reward is based on the process i.e the intention and effort. There are some deterministic tendencies of thought that come up when you get into psychology but guess what? The rulings of the Deen are for everyone to do. You could argue that the structure and routines involved in Islamic worship favour the person who is conscientious and naturally loves following routines and rules. I have an old podcast episode on this point. Does it make a difference to what I have to do? No. In that sense, the rulings don't care about your feelings.
Seerah & Hadith
"The Prophet’s Companions were also keenly aware of the great transformation that had taken place in their lives after having accepted the truth of the Islamic message. They compared their present life with their old ways, when they worshipped those statues they made with their own hands. They felt ashamed of their past and grateful for their present. Their old, dull and arbitrary traditions made no sense; while their present belief in God’s Oneness elevated them to a higher level that is worthy of man. Their sense of gratitude to Muhammad ﷺ, as the Prophet ﷺ who delivered God’s message, was infinite. Hence, they were always ready to lay down their lives to defend him. When the Quraysh tried to kill the Prophetﷺ, some of his Companions shielded him with their own bodies, while others fought hard, despite receiving multiple injuries, to defend him.ﷺ
Source Muhammad ﷺ, Adil Salahi
Powerful Reminder
"This is an ethic exemplified by the saying, “Sow your wild oats,” which advocates getting all the lewdness and sin out of one’s life when one is young, and then later calming down and adopting religion. Besides the obvious error of this ethic, another terrible flaw is that people die at all ages, and some never get the chance to repent and make amends." Hamza Yusuf, Purification of the Heart
Content I found beneficial this week:
The Shephard's Way - Leadership Series by Ustadh Hamza Tzortzis. Currently watching these and I'm learning a lot.
book
"This is an abridged translation of the classical text Uddat as-Sabirin wa dhakhirat ash-shakirin. The author explains the nature of sabr patience and shukr gratitude in a practical fashion and shows how these important spiritual values may be incorporated into one s everyday life. Although the original Arabic text was written over six centuries ago, the author s words are even more relevant today."
Some quotes:
You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think. — MARCUS AURELIUS
Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyah
Patience by choice is of a higher status than patience without choice, as the latter is common to all people, but the former is not attainable by all.
Whenever the heart of a servant of God makes it a habit to remember death, the worldly life becomes small in his eyes.
You should learn to immediately ask yourself this rhetorical question when you’re offended by someone’s shameless behavior: “Could it be that no obnoxious people exist in the world?” Of course not. So remember not to demand the impossible..How to Think Like a Roman Emperor by Donald Robertson
Something unrelated but I found interesting:
Arabic phrase
One question to ask ourselves
How Many more days do I have?
I want to hear from like-minded people, please feel free to reply.
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Some of the Content from this week:
🎥 Is Business and Entrepreneurship for Everyone?
🎥 Jan The Slovak Muslim - Becoming Muslim, Dawah, Entrepreneurship & Happiness
Interview with Jan The Slovak Muslim on his journey to Islam, different methods used in Da'wah, how Islam impacted his Business life, happiness and finding balance.
🎥 Getting Lazy After Marriage? Wake Up Early!
Getting Lazy After Marriage?
🎥 Can You Save Your Way To financial Freedom? Br Abu Musa
Can you save your way to financial freedom?
Please share if you learned something or found it interesting.
Aadil
