AL SALAM ALAIKUM 🌱 

Welcome back to our ongoing journey through the invaluable lessons of entrepreneurship inspired by the wisdom of the Noble Quran.

Building upon last week’s reflection on the importance of prioritization in business and spiritual commitments, this week’s lesson delves into another fundamental concept that reshaped my approach to work and life: Ihsan.

In the hustle and bustle of today’s rapid-paced world, we are driven by a constant pursuit of excellence and innovation.

Now, consider this: What if I shared a profound divine principle that transcends traditional success metrics and fosters a deeper understanding of true excellence in entrepreneurship?

Picture how embracing this divine principle could revolutionize your business practices and elevate your outlook on life.

☪️ The Root of Ihsan

Ihsan, often translated as “excellence” or “perfection,” holds a sacred place in Islam, symbolizing a deep sense of sincerity, integrity, and mindfulness that should flow into every aspect of our lives, including our professional endeavors.

As faith-first entrepreneurs, we brave decision-making challenges, overcome hurdles and propel our businesses forward. Yet, in this pursuit of growth, it’s easy to overlook the ethical and spiritual foundations that underpin genuine success.

By infusing our work with the essence of Ihsan, we enhance the quality of our endeavors and align our actions with divine virtues, fostering an ethical, purposeful, and impactful approach to our businesses and our lives.

🌟 Towards Entrepreneurial Ihsan

The principle of Ihsan has deeply shaped my entrepreneurial journey.

It transcends mere acts of service and excellence; it’s about performing every task with a deep devotion and love for our Creator, His creation, and our work.

One key revelation I’ve had is that true Ihsan in entrepreneurship stems from the heart, rooted in sincerity and a genuine desire to serve. Infusing our work with Ihsan transforms routine tasks into acts of devotion and worship.

In my own entrepreneurial pursuits, embracing Ihsan has been transformative.

At the time, I was running an education technology startup that provided online and offline STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) education for children. One of our offerings was learning kits for children.

We were doing reasonably well, but something was missing.

The introduction of Ihsan was a game changer.

One of the first changes I made was to add a personal touch. I started writing handwritten notes to accompany every learning kit, thanking our customers for their support and encouraging feedback.

This was time-consuming and didn't scale, but it was well worth it. The responses were heartwarming; customers were pleasantly surprised and deeply appreciative of the effort.

I also began personally delivering kits to homes in my local area. This allowed me to meet our customers, understand their needs, and receive firsthand feedback. During these interactions, I realized how our learning kits positively impacted children's lives.

I realized that every handwritten note of gratitude and every interaction became an opportunity to go above and beyond and truly value those we serve.

Ihsan isn’t just a spiritual concept but also a business ethic and a way of life that can elevate our everyday tasks and interactions. Whether managing business relationships, pursuing personal interests, or engaging in acts of worship, applying Ihsan imbues everything we do with devotion and excellence.

When we approach our work with a heart full of Ihsan, every interaction, decision, and initiative becomes an opportunity to manifest our higher purpose.

🔑 Key Takeaways

1. Internalize Ihsan: Understand that true Ihsan in entrepreneurship transcends conventional success metrics, emphasizing sincerity, integrity, and mindfulness in your professional endeavors. Let your faith guide your pursuit of Ihsan.

2. Infuse Ihsan in Your Work: Embrace Ihsan as your guiding principle to transform mundane tasks into acts of worship, underpinned by a deep love for serving the Creator and His creation.

3. Embody Ihsan Beyond Your Business & Work: Extend the virtue of Ihsan to all aspects of your life, from worship to personal relationships and daily tasks. Strive for Ihsan in every endeavor, embodying the concept of “doing what is beautiful excellently” in everything you do.

As we embark on this journey of embracing Ihsan in entrepreneurship, I invite you to reflect on the following questions:

1) How can I integrate the principles of Ihsan into my business practices, relationships, and decision-making processes?

2) In what ways can I foster a culture of excellence, integrity, and compassion within my team and organization?

3) How does embodying Ihsan in my entrepreneurial pursuits contribute to my spiritual growth and overall well-being?

4) What steps can I take today to align my business goals with the divine principles of sincerity and excellence (Ihsan)?

🤲 Closing Dua

May Allah guide us to strive for excellence and Ihsan in all our endeavors. May He bless our efforts with success and sincerity, and accept our work.

Ameen.