Al Salam Alaikum 🌱

Starting a business is often likened to embarking upon a journey. Entrepreneurs set off into the unknown with a vision and a dream, often facing immense challenges.

Today, I want to share a personal story from my own entrepreneurial journey that taught me the power of faith and surrender, encapsulated in the profound phrase, "Let Go & Let God."

⛈️ The Unforeseen Storm

Just under two years into launching my business, the unforeseen storm of the COVID-19 pandemic began to rage across the globe.

The economy dwindled, consumer behavior shifted dramatically, and operational disruptions became the order of the day.

It felt like navigating through uncharted waters in a storm, and my company was still in its infancy.

The pressure was immense. I found myself questioning every decision I had made so far.

Had I made the right choice to start a business? Could we weather this storm?

Doubts began to creep in, and the future seemed uncertain. It was a test of endurance, patience, and faith.

☪️ The Divine Reminder

Amidst the chaos and uncertainty, I stumbled upon a phrase that became a beacon of hope: "Let Go & Let God."

This simple yet profound phrase was a divine reminder of the delicate balance between effort and surrender.

This phrase also brought to mind a Quranic verse that had always been part of my life, yet it took on a profound new meaning in the face of my struggles.

The verse reads:

Amid my difficulties, this verse became a beacon of hope and a reminder that I was not alone in my journey.

It became my guiding principle, helping me navigate the turbulent waters of my challenges. It taught me that in entrusting my endeavors to Allah, I relied on the most reliable entity.

With this verse at the heart of my actions, I began to approach my challenges with a newfound sense of tranquility and resolve.

I committed myself to working diligently, innovating, and adapting to the quickly changing business landscape with utmost sincerity and dedication.

But I also learned to let go of my anxieties and uncertainties, trusting that things would unfold as they were meant to.

This Quranic verse transformed my perspective, turning my challenges into opportunities for growth and deepening my faith.

It showed me the power of trust in overcoming adversity and continues to guide my journey.

This trust in Allah's plan helped me overcome my challenges and continues to guide me in my journey.

⚖️ The Balance of Effort and Faith

This mindset shift reminded me of the stories of the Prophets of Allah (peace and blessings upon them all).

Prophet Musa when God asked him to throw his stick on the ground, which turned into a snake.

Prophet Nuh when he started building his ark.

Prophet Ayub when he stomped his foot on the ground.

Sayida Maryam when she leaned on the palm tree.

Despite the odds, their efforts were not in vain.

Just like theirs, my business efforts, despite the initial hurdles, began to stabilize and grow.

☑️ The Lesson Learned

This journey taught me an invaluable lesson about balancing effort and faith.

It showed me that God does not call us to carry the burden alone.

He calls us to strive, make an effort, and trust Him for the outcome.

📣 A Message to Fellow Faith-First Entrepreneurs

To all faith-first entrepreneurs navigating through challenges, remember this: "Let Go & Let God."

Do your part with utmost sincerity and dedication. Continue striving and innovating, but also learn to surrender your anxieties and trust the divine plan.

Remember, success will follow in ways you could never have imagined.

Embracing faith in entrepreneurship does not mean sitting back and doing nothing.

It means doing our best and then trusting in God for the outcome.

It's about the delicate balance between effort and faith, action and surrender, planning and trusting.

Above all, it's about understanding that sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do is just "Let Go and let God.”

Take a moment to explore areas in your life or business journey where you’re holding on too tightly or where you feel a sense of control is causing you stress or anxiety.

Follow this simple exercise to help you practice the principle of “Let Go and Let God” this Ramadan.

💭 Reflect: Find a quiet space to focus and write down areas in your life or business that are causing you stress or anxiety. This could be an ongoing project, a business decision, or a personal matter.

🕊️ Release: For each point you wrote down, ask yourself: "What part of this situation can I control, and what is beyond my control?" "What outcomes am I afraid of?" "What would happen if I let go and trusted that things would unfold as they are meant to?" Write down your answers.

☪️ Trust: Now, consciously decide to let go of the aspects that are beyond your control. This doesn't mean you stop caring about them; rather, you trust that they will unfold as they are meant to, without your constant worry or control.

🤲 Pray: Entrust these matters to God. You can do this through dua, asking for guidance, ease, and the best outcome for each situation.

Remember, this exercise is not a one-time act but a continual process. Use it to help you navigate challenges, trusting that with your sincere effort and God's guidance, you will find your path to success inshAllah.

🤲 Closing Dua

May Allah grant us the strength to do our best in all our endeavors and the peace to trust His wisdom when things do not go as “planned.” May we always remember to let go and let God guide our path, trusting that His plans are better than our dreams.

Ameen.