12 Moments I'll Never Forget

Shine like the whole universe is yours! 

{Rumi}

The past few weeks have been a slow reality check that life and time is passing me by so quickly yet so swiftly. Spending a long weekend with family made me realise that in life we have to go in pursuit of that which matters to us otherwise we'll just be deceiving ourselves and living without seeking true meaning and purpose. To live life with a vision that is high, noble and ridiculously seen as others to defy status quo could possibly be one of the best things we can do, because when we live by those strong principles and are convicted to reflect them in our day to day actions, we will shine like the universe is ours! (Not quite literally of course..)

Whilst I sit here and take a moment to reflect on the past 22 years of life I was given by Allah, I must admit I feel a sense of mixed emotions; the journey of being with loved ones, enduring tests and trials, moments of immense joy and achievements but most important of all the long journey of continually having to renew faith has been at the heart of it all. Here are just 12 selected moments I'll never forget:

1. Learning about Islam: Truly and properly going in pursuit of knowledge is one of the most empowering and brave steps one can take yet this journey doesn't ever end whilst we live, instead we must seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave as the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him said. 

2. Losing someone very special: Is one of the hardest tests we have to endure in life yet it has undoubtedly taught me that we should never take people for granted and to love them, no matter what because we just don't know how long a time we have with them in the world.

3. Making the news! Ok I'm kidding with this one, it's happened more than once though (thankfully it was only the local paper!)

4. Going to UCL (and leaving at one point!): It's not a cliche to say, they were the best years of my life! Making some of the best bonds I could ever have had and a steep learning curve through the challenges faced yet treasured memories. 

5. Abu Dhabi 2010: To meet the international cohort of WSOC! A desert journey I shall never forget (see my blog for journal reflections from the trip) 

6. Education Without Borders 2011: Working with some of the most intelligent, diverse and wonderful people I have known in Dubai's biggest conference of the year- this was a grand opportunity I feel blessed to have been given.

7. UNESCO, Paris: Being able to address an audience who were so engaged on a topic I feel passionate about was certainly a milestone achieved, if anything I hope it said more about the importance of humanitarian work in a world of challenges.

8. Graduating (and life after it): Yes, the sigh of relief when you know you haven't failed (at something in life!)

9. NicheHero: One of the most insightful and heart wrenching weeks which I am yet to fully reflect on, being amongst esteemed individuals who want to make a positive change to society and a life-changing experience being taught by an amazing teacher.

10. Journey Through The Quran: Last Ramadan I had the privelege of spending 2 weekends learning from Sh Hasan El-Banna as we reflected on the beautiful teachings of social justice, morality, good manners, and many more apt lessons from the entire Quran in the month of deep spiritual reconnection.

11. Working with Islamic Relief: Undoubtedly amongst the amazing roles I have ever had, working with some of the most dedicated individuals who continue to inspire me and I hope that their duas will be for Allah to preserve my energy to work for Him iA!

12. Climbing Mount Snowdon: A challenge I found taught me the beauty of reflecting on the verses of the Quran and taking a spiritual retreat. Utterly absorbing experience..

And there are many more moments I haven't captured above but am grateful for as I continue along life's journey.

The VERY Best of My ProductiveMuslim Journey

Over the past 2 and half years I have been on an immense journey, one which has changed my attitude and treatment towards living life as a useful and beneficial person. Stumbling upon ProductiveMuslim in summer 2009 was one of the best online moments I could have had - as a result of it I ended up working for it alhamdulillah!

Working for ProductiveMuslim, which was a sleek black and white blog back then, was truly a new venture upon which I was ready to apply my small amount of skills and knowledge to (you might vaguely remember the skinny man below!). It was the vision and mission of the organisation which drove me to read the articles shared, listen to the videos we know so well as the good ol' 'Friday Naseeha' and then in a spontaneous meeting at university in late 2009 I decided I'd contact the Founder directly to offer my 'suggestions and ideas' for ProductiveMuslim to see how I could contribute to the vision for productivity in the Ummah, a vision I felt compelled to share. 

Since then, I've been able to work with an online dedicated global team who have gone from being a small group of individuals using simply the innovations of gmail to super cool online project management tools to make it the efficient and effectively led organisation that it is today in spreading its message to thousands around the world. I've had some of the VERY best moments whilst working in what can be classed as a rather unusually structured online organisation yet it has taught me some of the most profound lessons which I share below and brought me to meet some of the most productive Muslims I've known who live by the motto: 

'Have sincere intentions & work hard'.

Behind the Scenes at ProductiveMuslim.com 

Who we are: 

Contrary to popular belief, we don't all have square faces when we're working behind the screens! So who are we I hear you ask? (This video gives you a good insight into what we stand for) yet we're all full time working professionals or students from different parts of the world who haven't all ever even met each other in person (amazingly!) but we feel like a virtual family.  ProductiveMuslim.com is our shared passion or vision which makes our work together so eccentrically exciting, innovative and addictive at times! Here's an insight into what our day to day project space looks like..

Highlights from My Journey

I have multiple highlights from being on this journey and it would not be possible to list them all in this short space or even be able to do justice in mentioning them, so here's the top 10 I've chosen to share with you all:

1. Sincerity always reaps benefits

I have seen the motto of the organisation shared above at work with the guys I worked with at ProductiveMuslim.com over the past couple of years, and it truly is by the Grace of Allah that I have witnessed the benefits of the work which has been testified to through emails we've received and when I meet PM fans. It truly is the testimonials and continued positive response we get from our fans that motivates us to do more and be of as much benefit as we can to the Ummah!

2. Teamwork is the key to success 

Watching every team member contribute their skills, talents and work together like clockwork has taught me that so much can be achieved when the synergy of talented individuals come together for one noble vision. There is also the added benefit of having team members from all over the world so work is done throughout the 24 hour clock and there's definitely been times when I've gone to sleep or woken up thinking about ProductiveMuslim!

3. Self-leadership is the secret

Whilst many of us may not consider ourselves leaders, it is the secret of self-leadership that has been evident in my work with the team, where everyone has contributed ideas, initiatives and delivered on these so the secret to success when you join any organisation is in taking self-lead to get the best out of your role.

4. Embrace creativity and innovation

One of the aspects of work life I love is the opportunity for creativity and innovation, these are the wheels that keep PM going mA! This can be seen in the many new born ideas which have then manifested themselves into real tools such as the iPhone App, ProductiveRamadan amongst the many other innovations from within!

5. Don't settle for less than excellence

There's a beautiful hadith that has sparked the level of professionalism and excellence instilled in the work at ProductiveMuslim as an organisation which I always feel should be at the forefront of our minds, it is that: “Allah loves, when one of you is doing something, that he/she does it in the most excellent manner” [Muslim] Over these past years I have watched the persistence of striving for excellence in all we do amongst the team members which is essential for the success of any organisation so we've never been happy to settle for anything less!

6. The 'magic' of feedback and honesty

There has been another important learning curve in ensuring we take on board feedback from our fans as well as within the team about our work which is part of the magic formula in bettering ourselves. I have truly appreciated opportunities for feedback from others and the open, honest as well as trust based environment to do this in which has been essential to my own learning and development as well as that of the organisation because we value every individual's opinion when making decisions. Also making mistakes is part and parcel of how we have improved at what we're doing, by not being afraid to fail in the first place.

7. Rule of the great few

Most people may be under the assumption that we have many resources at our disposal, but I've learnt that we can make the best of the few resources we do have when there's a passion and mission! The few individuals who amount to no more than 10-15 at any given time working for the organisation in their spare hours is testimony to what a few talented individuals can do with the assets of ideas and skills - the recipe for success in an organisation. 

8. The power of planning ahead 

There's no principle I live by more or perhaps skill useful in life than the need to organise ourselves! It is the ability to think ahead and plan in life, this has definitely been the focus as we prepare to give you our dear readers the advice needed in order to increase your productivity whenever we plan our projects and content so here's a sneak-peak at the editorial calendar we use to manage it all!

9. Investing in personal development pays: 

ProductiveMuslim.com has a culture of sharing valuable lessons and learning as a collective which is extremely powerful for any organisation's growth and development. As a team we've been fortunate to take part in courses that enhanced my knowledge of the online world to deep content development courses that have engaged us all on how to increase our own self-productivity whilst bringing those best practises back into our work so we continually seek to be more productive personally. 

10. Work hard, pray hard!

Finally, although we have an ethos of work hard, there's definitely an element of play hard approach to our day to day work; these are what we call our 'watercooler' moments that allow us to discuss, share ideas and bounce off hopes and dreams whilst still staying focussed on our work. However we truly wouldn't have been able to achieve many of the magnificent things we have over the past couple of years without Allah's Help and His Grace, thus our prayers and duas have been immensely important in this journey!

Fond Memories..

Some of my best memories at ProductiveMuslim.com are of the early morning email exchanges, our excitement at starting new projects (and of course finding new online tools to try out!), the tireless night time hours invested in making a project happen, having the ProductivestRamadan, uber-efficient meetings, working with individuals who simply share a world where the Ummah can be more productive as well as meeting fans like yourselves from across the globe in workshops or seminars which has been an invaluable opportunity to hear the benefits and impact our work has on you alhamdulillah.

See this presentation I put together to highlight 30 of my best memories (click more - fullscreen then autoplay)

Life is forever a learning journey

Ultimately, we are on a journey of continual learning and applying throughout our lives which has been something we've experienced at ProductiveMuslim.com over the past couple of years. It has been a wonderful journey and most definitely one of the best pursuits of my time have been involved in this amazing organisation. For those who ever considered working for an online platform to stretch their skills and talents, ProductiveMuslim.com is a good example of how seeking to learn and apply can bring about powerful results. 

What action can you take for ProductiveMuslim.com?

My request then to you, is to make sincere dua for ProductiveMuslim.com and share it far and wide with anyone who can benefit from it! There are multiple ways you too can contribute to this Ummah by using your skills, talents and time in a creative way.

Here's the essential 3 things I'd like you to do once you've read this article to support ProductiveMuslim.com:

1. Share the article via Facebook/Twitter/Email

2. Make sincere intention to do something useful for this Ummah

3. Pray for the success of ProductiveMuslim.com

Flying in Freedom

Finding a moment to reflect and pause for thought can be a challenge in the age of information, whereever we go there seems to be a conversation going on, if it's not our Facebook friends then it's the endless chatter of people connected in so many other multiple ways! It's a wonder we haven't gone into hibernation to seek freedom from the world..

Over the past couple of weeks there's been ample opportunities for me to reflect and disconnect, it is in these moments I go on a great spiritual retreat and have the wonderful chance to simply bask in the beauty of creation which reminds me of Allah's Magnificence. En route to Paris for the UNESCO Conference (which gave me a chance to speak from 'the heart') I pondered over the amazing skies, it just brought a sense of awe in me. It seems to me that we often neglect this aspect of life's journey - to appreciate the simple yet most profound things which bring contentment to our hearts.

Arriving in Paris was an interesting experience but this time it was different, the city was growing on me. Meeting and working with passionate young people who reflected what can only be described as noble humanitarian values and compassion, I found the days of the conference to be insightful which truly taught me how high moral values and principles bind people together. Whilst my speech on the youth panel was received in a positive light, it was fascinating to listen to and hear the reaction of the audience after I had spoken - for those who took their time to come and share their thoughts I am truly humbled by your words so thank you. It most certainly taught me that Muslim women are very capable of shining out and possess the unique ability to share a message with the world that is otherwise concealed - I hope that at the least you were inspired to act towards contributing to the world in a positive way even if in a small way. (You can hear the speech at about 30 minutes into the video here)

Of course, they say Paris is the city of love and it seems to me that may be the case (to some extent!) because I certainly fell in love with the city on the night we went on a interesting excursion and arrived at the Eiffel Tower - just in time for it to sparkle and be lit up amongst the deep night sky, now that was a priceless moment I have to admit. Having the companionship of friends who I had come to know only in the space of hours really and truly reflected the beauty of humanity when we put our differences aside and truly engage on a personal human level. As we stood in front of the giant landmark, I relished in the adventure of being able to live in the moment as the lights glittered like an array of fireworks (which I initially thought they were stupidly!)

Leaving Paris after a couple of days where I learnt a great deal, this time round Paris left an impression on me just as much as the individuals I met; it seems that we are all seeking peace and for me, my peace is in knowing my values, faith and being able to fly in freedom of that knowledge..

Journal Recollections: Education Without Borders 2010

Imagine the desert island that welcomes you with warmth, generosity, kindness coupled with modernity, cosmopolitan air and dynamism. My expectations were exceeded in my arrival to Abu Dhabi for the first student committee meeting. Recently I had the amazing opportunity to join the Education Without Borders World Student Organising Committee (EWB WSOC) along with 33 other inspiring individuals from around the world. This fundamental conference which takes place every other year in the United Arab Emirates is a leading conference celebrating cultural diversity, a blend of excellence and innovation and hosts the platform for students around the world to highlight, address and tackle global challenges. Uniting young people and leading academics and speakers makes the Education Without Borders Conference event unique to any other event one may ever have the opportunity to organise and attend.

Day 1

I arrived to the steamy warm weather without too clear a picture on the plan for the days ahead, being thrown into what soon became like the ‘Big Brother’ house, except it was the international style with all the organising committee members being students from all walks of life [some arriving late in the morning whilst others in the burning midday heat]. The Arabian dessert greeted me with hospitality the minute I stepped off the pleasant journey; Paul Lancaster, Coordinator of the World Student Organising Committee met me as I arrived with two other members of the committee. One of them from Canada and the other from Oxford University; as we got to know one another in the short journey from the airport to the rather swanky and stylish Aloft Hotel that we were accommodated at, we passed the palm filled land of Abu Dhabi.

Entering the one of many others yet to be built architecturally astonishing and style replete hotels of colour and glass I entered my room, to find a friend sitting at the twin side bed. My roommate was glad to know I had bought (and packed quite a few) extras that she was welcome to in the absence of her luggage. Her own experiences as we shared at the terraced spa and pool area in the hotel were very much aligned with my own desire to work in international development. It was with this vision and drive to work with like-minded people that I began my journey with the world student organising committee.

On the first morning we were greeted with an outstanding selection of breakfast items and searched for the remaining WSOC members. As we sat through breakfast we each shared the walk of lives we were from, and also the shared feeling of excitement, ambiguity and anticipation at what we had ahead of us in the Arab city and of the outstanding conference we were meant to be organising. It was amazing to meet students from USA, others from Tehran whilst some from Singapore, Hong Kong and even South Africa, all coming together as the essence of Education Without Borders Conference promotes.

We arrived at the Higher Colleges of Technology campus to be welcomed by students and members of the Higher Colleges of Technology and EWB, we had some momentous introductions which shone all sorts of colours and talents in the world. Past conference videos which continue to testify that EWB is a mirror reflection of what true collaboration could be like in the world if we were to unite and work towards alleviating the issues we challenge. After our pleasant meeting with the Vice Chancellor of EWB we gained an artful insight on what Arab culture is entailed of. What strikes many is the advancement and prosperity of the when learning the fascinating truth of education being a standard of high quality in the UAE and in speaking to the members of HCT I learnt from their experiences I felt pleased at the advances we can make in the world with respect to education.

Meeting Dr Tayeb Kamali was a pleasure, with his inspiring words were well met with our meeting being held on ‘World Cup’ opening day. His words were to us as committee members resounded in my ears, it was our world cup to organise this conference. A game which breaks borders whilst at the same time acknowledges the countries around the world in their own league. That is what the committee and EWB reflects in its composition, the collaborative efforts of a group of young people to reach their goals to improve conditions for humanity.

Day 2

Today we visited Shaykh Zayed Mosque, Shaykh Zayed is the founding president of Abu Dhabi. His life achievements and accomplishments earn him a high position. The Mosque where he is buried after passing away in late 2005 was nothing short of magnificient, marvellous and meticulous in design. As we entered, the feeling of being in a grand mosque was not unique to me being a Muslim yet this mosque being the third largest in the world was a diamond place that I fell in love with the moment I stepped foot into; it’s capacity for worshippers was vast coupled with ornate design of marble and gold.

Each team member respectively put on the kandora [for men this is a long robe like dress which is white and men in Arabia often wear to reflect off the sunlight and as part of their Islamic faith in being modest] whilst the girls observed the khimar [headscarf in black, a colour often worn by women in the Muslim world] and the abaya or otherwise known as jilbab which is a long black dress which covers the figure and body of the Muslim woman from the hands down to her ankles. The experience of wearing it in a weather of almost 40 degrees is considered rather unbearable to some although it is quite the contrary in reality. It was lovely to see people from all over the world who comprise our committee learning about the rich Arab culture and faith that encompasses every aspect of life for those in the UAE.

Day 2 Continued....

Our tour guide gave us a grand tour and eloquently explained the history behind the building of the mosque, I was fascinated to learn about the amount of thought which had been put into every intricate pearl white pillar, every hand-woven and custom-made carpet on which Muslims stand feet to feet, shoulder to shoulder when praying in congregation; by every sparkling chandelier that shone light on those who had the spectacular opportunity to see the grandeur spaces within and beyond the mosque. Such inspiration for the design and layout of the mosque were traced back to Shaykh Zayed’s desire for it to be taken from the Qur’anic verses that depict the beauty of Jannah [Paradise].

I had been anticipating this particular visit, particularly for its beautiful peace. Shaykh Zayed Mosque is at the heart of Abu Dhabi, located in the heart of a city after a man who put his heart into the city. Returning to the college campus, we came together as a team to work on our vision and goals, then breaking off into smaller groups to focus on marketing the conference, to content development of the sub themes to the post conference logistics to ensure the 10th Anniversary of EWB would be the best yet.

Not only were we already marvelled by the mosque, we were yet to be stunned in our visit to the Emirates Palace. An amazing view overlooking the island awaited any guest before the spectacular auditorium, as a potential location and venue for the conference one can only boast about its interior gold dust inside, however many of us struggled with the ethical dilemma we face in the world today with such large sums being deficient elsewhere in the world. Every year the Gala Dinner as part of the conference is held in the golden palace...

Day 3

I have never imagined so many people can just come together, learn about cultures and feel at home in such a short space of time. Day three truly highlights the way in which our committee which comprised of talented, inspiring and committed individuals can come together to work for a greater goal and purpose. As part of the conference we have been considering the options available for the venue in which EWB 2011 will be held on its 10th Anniversary, although the glamour and glitz of the Emirates Palace would be welcome by anyone, the rather sophisticated and contemporary ADNEC Exhibition Centre located next to the Aloft Hotel offers a perfect atmosphere for students internationally to collaborate and come together to share in the conference of a lifetime and of students who themselves will be equipped to lead with innovation and success we hope.

Back at the Centre, I enjoyed formulating the marketing plan; our vision to make the conference the best yet was slowly but surely coming alive through communication and identification of how to achieve our goals. As I summed up the marketing plan which plays a crucial role in the success of students submitting papers and attending the conference, it dawned on me that rarely do we get the chance in life to work with people from many walks of life, languages, traditions, customs; yet here we all were on the same page by now, our goal was the same, our vision and message being that we can coexist in a world where borders are not the cause of warfare, but barriers that we break to come together and make the world a better place with ‘diverse perspectives and unified action.’

Perhaps what I take away most from this session is the ability to work with people who were strangers before you came to meet them and with such ease and swiftness; the chance to materialise ideas to empower humanity and beyond that making friendships that are not constrained by geographical territories which is no doubt the purpose behind Education Without Borders conference. Being students from all over the world organising this conference is pertaining to the values at EWB and no mere ideal, rather such events drive this value to coexist peacefully, perhaps at a micro level to begin with, but those few people coming together can cause a social epidemic not known to humanity.

Yas Island has perhaps to be one of the greatest highlights of my trip on Day 3, with the new Formula One racing track complete and ready to be set for the Grand Prix in November, standing at podium for first place made this visit pretty exciting. Feeling quite overwhelmed by the stardom we were receiving in standing in ‘first place’, we finished our journey at the Media Centre and came away from the racing tracks to pace ourselves for the glowing and newly invented initiative to make Saadiyat Island a place where anyone would

dream of living.

We hopped back onto the coach for yet another round of talent show from the world with Arabian dance and Spanish riddles going on before us. The museum located in Saadiyat Island displayed the enriching history of Abu Dhabi through modern and innovative plans. I loved the way that the museums planned to be built themselves were distinct in design to preserve and invite others to the traditions and cultural heritage of the UAE. The museum captured the vision and dream for Saadiyat Island, it was evident that the location would soon be as picture perfect as the chapters in ‘The Saadiyat Story’.

The last night of my stay brought with it a big ending, and I mean a big ending with food! The Lebanese Flower presented us with a feast, though being guests in Arabia often means you get more than what you asked for on your table... As we dug in to the seasoned salads and grilled chicken, we also fought about who had not yet filled their plate in reply to the ‘food police’. Perhaps it is this characteristic that draws one to the Arab culture, the value of honouring your guest and hospitality where no expenses are spared.

At the end of my trip, I reflect on what a fantastic group of young people I had come to meet and will now be working with to achieve the dream where we see a world where diverse perspectives and unified actions are a reality. It would be an understatement to say this journey was inspiring and enjoyable, it was beyond all expectations and I loved every minute of my stay, now leaving with a great zeal to return for the conference of the year in 2011 for Education Without Borders. I will remain indebted to those who made my experience so memorable and to the efforts which were dedicated in welcoming the EWB WSOC; I thank all those for giving me the chance to begin my journey with Education Without Borders, and in making my desert dream come true the moment I arrived in the UAE.

For more information on how you can participate in the Education Without Borders Conference 2011 please visit: http://ewb.hct.ac.ae/

Lotifa Begum
Education Without Borders
World Student Organising Committee

10 Reflections From the Mountain Tops

"And it is He who spread the earth and placed therein firmly set mountains and rivers" [13:3]

Life can be seen as a series of mini adventures, every time we seek to pursue something it almost becomes an adventure where we have to consider carefully how we will arrive at the goal we set ourselves. At the beginning of this year I set myself the target to climb Mount Snowdon, the highest mountain in England and Wales with the intention to raise as much money as I could for the provision of water which can save millions of lives in Africa. I've now returned from the journey of climbing up the mountain which has been an enriching spiritual trip in which to persist, act and reflect.

1. Conquer Your Fears

As we were about to set off for the climb in the early hours, I thought about how often we feel fear in life to achieve something. Anything we truly want to do can be seen like a mountain load to climb yet as we begun the journey I realised that firstly we must be sincerely devoted to our pursuit - without it one will not go anywhere. Even though I had attempted some training in preparation of Mount Snowdon, I still had fears it would be a difficult journey yet when faced with the moutain, I realised it would be accomplished only if I quit my fears and conquered the spirit of adventure in it.

2. Spectacular Scenes

We were blessed with rays of warm sunshine, a cool breeze and outstanding blue skies as we climbed the mountain.Throughout our journey we were surrounded by emerald and glistening lakes and the beauty of vast creation by Allah which was just spectacular and breathtaking (we tried to stop at evey moment to soak it all it!) I felt mesmerised by this verse: "And it is He who spread the earth and placed therein firmly set mountains and rivers; and from all of the fruits He made therein two mates; He causes the night to cover the day. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought." [Quran 13:3]

3. Carry Your Struggles

The start of our climb was admittedly more challenging than the trip back since the steep uphill walk had a strain on our body and with our 'light' backpack our bodies felt heavy; it was during these moments of struggle I though of how each of us had our own struggles in life and it reminded me of the verse in the Quran where Allah reminds us that no will carry anyone elses' burden in this world or the Next. Therefore carrying our personal struggles is an immense journey that has to take place, whether in our spiritual or physical being we must seek Allah's Help as we strive forward.

4. Small Stones Make Mountains

Every step of the way I felt that I was just focusing on taking the small steps to get to the top, ultimately those small steps meant we eventually reached the top. This principle applies to our lives in many ways, sometimes we want to get to the top of a mountain but without taking any smaller steps consistently in order to succeed hence I found the more consistent my pace of steps the more easier it became to climb the mountain.

5. Travellers Company

Travellers will know that one of the most enduring experiences of travel is the people you meet along the journey to your destination and it was most definitely a blessing to be in the company of Islamic Relief volunteers as we trekked the mountain. It is almost like these travellers were my family for the day, each looking out for each other, sharing so many englightening words of wisdom in our conversations, moments of laughter, many ready to extend their hand to help and most importantly of all being the wonderful people who shared this journey with me.

6. Tie Your Camel

The saying of 'tie your camel' before you place your trust in Allah most definitely was needed in preparing for our climb. Without the required actions of training (at least to some extent) and packing what we needed, we wouldn't have been able to make it to the top! In life we may want things to happen but it most definitely requires our effort and actions in order to succeed, then the secret ingredient of placing our hope and trust in Allah who makes all things possible.

7. Have Less, Live More

We had all carefully prepared our backpacks with all necessary essentials to prepare in the event of any type of weather and similarly in life we have to prepare for the unexpected. As Muslims we're placed in a unique position of being encouraged to live simply and as we packed the bare minimum required for the trip I realised that having less at times means you can live life in a more meaningful way. Often our world is at stark contrast with being materially driven to being morally stable, I know I'd rather have less and live more with purpose and meaning.

8. Be Strong in Faith

Admittedly there were frightening moments when we were climbing on the rocky mountain that I thought I'd fall and slip into the magnanimous bottom of the moutain but I am certain that my faith kept me going! As I put my feet in small slabs of rock and grabbed at times on tight on my way down I recalled how you have to have faith to just do it sometimes no matter how hard it looks or even is! This principle is one which can produce so many extraordinary actions. Once we'd reached the top of the mountain, there was a feeling of elation that we'd done it! And truly it was only with the Help of Allah, who made some parts of it a challenge whilst for most of it He (Subahanahu Wa Ta'ala) carried me along the whole way.

9. Sharing Wisdom

Exhausted and relieved, our travel back to Birmingham was one filled with conversations of wisdom. The sisters and brothers I met along the climb had so many stories to tell, so much to share and I loved the wisdoms which we shared as we reflected on our trip up and down the mountain throughout the day. We quietly thought about how beautiful the journey had been and the wisdom we could take back to our lives.

10. Surreal Prayer

My last reflection is of one of my highlights from the whole climb, when we had reached the top of the mountain and then settled down for lunch. We could see the vast mountainous areas and the beautiful surroundings, and as we basked in the mesmerising scenes I had the chance to pray on top of the mountain. There is no feeling that quite matches that of being able to pray sat on top of a mountain whilst in the world, it was a surreal moment that I'll always cherish. We ask Allah to accept this action from us, to grant us the ability to do more for His Sake and to guide our hearts so we can truly reflect and ponder as we travel through this journey in life..

Thank you sincerely to everyone who supported me, helped me prepare and equipped me with the right gear (whether it was duas, donations or advice!) I really and truly appreciate it. It was an spectacular journey, to help make a difference and give Water4Life donate at:

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ChallengeLotifa 

My Motto: Be Fruitful, Wherever You Are

I've never really had an interest in the reality TV show called 'I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!' yet as I reflect on that time when we all have to leave our comfort zones to embrace uncertain and new terrains, it seems that we can at times be like the people who are thrown into the jungle and go through all sorts of challenges, face tough times and grow stronger.

Life after graduating has swiftly passed by, it's been a few months since the reality of work life has settled in. It's like driving a car all this time which has had it's bumps though you may have assumed it was going to be a smooth ride until boom! You've suddenly realised you need to stay ahead of the game and suss out where you're going, constantly evaluating the destination we are headed towards. After all these years you would've thought finding the destination would be easy, yet it isn't so easily found unless you continue in pursuit of this journey of learning in life. 

In this article I want to recollect what some of my personal fears, achievements and timeless advice have given me from the last couple of years as I continued along the traveller's journey through life, but most significantly I'd like to share practical tips with you about how to go about preparing for the world of 'real work' despite the challenges you may face.

As an individual I've always believed that every stage of our formal education should prepare us to become slightly more independent and certain of where we'd like to head in life, education has undoubtedly the power to provide us with the skills, knowledge and tools in order to do that, but I would say formal education alone no longer suffices in equipping the average student to embrace a world of hard realities. Few graduates truly consider how they can make themselves much more than a 'graduate' (even if you are from UCL!) through the unique talents and skills they may have developed outside of academia. This was most definitely one of the most important lessons for me as I spent my university years preparing for the time I was going to leave and in essence, being a hard worker meant I was really designed for the 'work world'. However some students haven't had the advantage of enjoying a work/study life balance whilst at University, so my first tip is to get proactive if you haven't already!

Ask yourself a few questions:

1. Have you made the most out of your university years? (If you answered 'No', then be prepared to feel regret!)

2. What have you done to proactively contribute to the wider world whilst at university?

3. Has your degree given you transferable skills?

4. Now here's the big one - do you know what kind of a sector or job you want to go into?

5. What would you love to do as a full time job?

The answers to the above require deep personal reflection until you arrive at the answers.

Although I had always had a sense of self-assuredness about me in regards to career choice (which was international development), once I'd answered these questions, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction and I realised university was ultimately years of training in honing my generic skills of communications, organisation, networking amongst others.

One of the strong principles I had when leaving university was that the job I did had to make a difference and be something I love - this I would not compromise on I told myself! Despite challenges I faced, alhamdulillah I finally was offered that job shortly after graduating. It wasn't easy admittedly given the competition I was up against but here are the '8 killer rules' as I like to call them which helped me along the way:

1. Have Resilience

Being self-driven is a key to success however no matter how much I had accomplished at university beyond academia, there was still a number of rejection emails and calls I had to face! If anything, the application process of finding a job had most definitely been a blessing in disguise, I learnt how to present myself in the best possible manner, to define my strengths and talents and finally to become an resilient individual. This resilience was built through my persistence in writing, emailing and contacting potential employers.

2. Display Determination

When you start applying for graduate schemes, jobs and internships, be very clear about what you're applying to. Simple things such as reading up about the organisation, values, role description and person spec all matter hugely, but most importantly it is your willpower and personal motivation. If you are determined to go into a certain role you will need to be prepared to tell your employer about how you will be the most dedicated and quality  individual, showing your determination can be done through taking up voluntary work (to some extent) in your area of work and also in sharing how you have triumphed despite obstacles in achieving something. 

3. Upgrade Your Skills

Most graduates will now know that their degree classification will not reflect their individual skills however generic skills are no longer of much interest to employers, rather the all-new and necessary skills of social communication, interpersonal intelligence and desire to develop personally and professionally are part all part of the bowl of skills mix they're after. Make sure you highlight on your CV what other skills you've gained, showing that you are a skilful and multi-talented individual, whether that is a basic web-design course you went on to digital photography or in my case how you can use excellent project management tools online - it will go a long way in getting your application to the front of the queue. 

4. Embrace New Opportunities

I've told many friends that whilst I genuinely loved my university years, I didn't feel it particularly challenged me or even gave me scope for self-leadership which is why embracing new opportunities outside of academia really helped me to develop as an individual. These opportunities were pretty unique in that they demonstrated my initiative taking and ability to lead, these included completing a year long Leadership Programme of which I am now an Alumni and Mentor of, to working in the UAE on an international conference. Whatever you do as you prepare to leave university, seek and embrace new opportunities which will add value to you as an individual and to your prospective career. 

5. Create Your Own Opportunities

Given the current economic climate you will feel that every application sent through will automate an rejection reply (don't be alarmed!). It is natural you will feel frustrated but one thing I definitely recommend, is to use this energy of coming up with a plan B. I had been an personal tutor in my spare hours and had experience in this, so I decided to create my own tutoring business for a while til I landed myself in the 'dream job'. Think about your own skills, talents and what you could sell as a service to others to generate your own income on a professional basis and I guarantee you'll probably even like being your own boss! 

6. Be & Stay Positive! 

Even though you'll just be trying to muddle through the final exams, hoping and praying that you make it through, stay positive and don't let negative thinking take over. Some graduates have given up even before they've tried and it is saddening to see some selling themselves short just due to the economic challenges, however I would advice that you infuse an attitude of positivity to every setback you face and indeed as the ahadith advise us, remember the affairs of the Muslim are always wonderous for him. 

7. Network, Network & Network!

Networking has most definitely helped me to learn about the relevant organisations in the development and charity sector, as well as speaking to people at events and telling them about myself (something you will have to get use to as a job seeker and fresh graduate!) Be ready to make yourself stand out from the crowd by selectively choosing your best assets, whether that is skills, experiences or achievements - they will tell the employer you are a worthwhile individual to have in their organisation! You can network online, via FB, Twitter, LinkedIn, and also by subscribing to e-newsletters from recruitment agencies that are specialists in the field you want to pursue as well as graduate sites. I would also give you an insiders' tip, search company websites for individuals who are in the exact area you want to go into and drop them an email. 

8. Seek Allah's Help & Make Dua

This final point has to be emphasised as being effective once you've put in the effort and actively looked for the right job, I recall going for numerous interviews, even getting to second stage rounds and then being disappointed when the results came back. It got me doubting myself at certain points yet a positive attitude and seeking Allah's Help throughout increased my faith and trust that ultimately Allah would grant me only the best for my deen, dunya and akhirah. I certainly felt my prayers were answered when I got that call offering me the job I now love working in. In fact, I wouldn't even call it my job, it's actually what I love doing. 

Phew! Those 8 rules seem to have been quite a journey, yet in all honesty, it has been a blessed experience and since graduating I have truly learnt the purpose of knowledge is action and that my own creativity and skills were set free. So long as you go in pursuit of your dream and stick to your values, you will fall right where you were meant to be. 

May Allah make you fruitful whereever He plants you.

The Traveller Who Fell in Love

There's a saying which I fell in love with a few years back when I heard it, it has always struck me where the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: 'Be in this world as though you are a traveller' and only recently I have pondered deeply over why this is a beautiful understanding and outlook to life. Over time it became clear to me that this advice is the guidance for how we should live our lives in this world, as though we are passing strangers who need little in terms of possession yet being rich in knowledge and actions.

Over the past couple of months I've had to travel for work and it has taught me a great deal, it's like I've got to have my bags packed and be ready to leave at any time (!) which taught me that life really isn't something we can take for granted because we're here only for a short period of time and may be told to leave soon. Perhaps what is also striking about this narration is that it teaches us that we shouldn't imagine ourselves as being stagnant in life but rather continuously progressing as the stranger in new places finds himself developing new skills, knowledge and connections.

Whilst I travelled through Paris to Strasbourg I passed the skies which were a smooth dewy blue and so beautifully peaceful, full of deep green forests and lakes of fresh water. This is what I realised I love about travel, the opportunity to reflect and see the creation of Allah (Subahanahu Wa Ta'ala) as well as immerse myself in learning new things especially when you're a foreigner in a new country! This trip most certainly taught me a number of things, such as the importance of language as that is essential for us to communicate with others and more significantly in order to learn languages we have to be ready to explore new terrains.

Even though I had been exhausted from long hours of travel, passing through cities of people from different walks of life made me appreciate also what I have already which is a strong community of believers around me which is a real privilege where some of our brothers and sisters can not live in security of their faith. The real challenges which we face when travelling have to be dealt with in a manner that makes us leave our comfort zone and brings about a wider awareness about the world, at least I often find this when seeing the different ways in which people in various places treat each other.

When we are travellers we meet people from various walks of life and tend to appreciate that individual for who they are and the journey they too are on in, I often find myself being placed somewhere where I meet interesting strangers who could be very different yet so similar when it comes to our world views. I've shared hopes and dreams with some of these people as I pass them through in my travels but more importantly I have felt a real connection to their values at times.

Going in pursuit of a bigger world helps us to expand our horizons whilst not forgetting the matters which are closer to home as well as broadens our perspectives about people, places and life in general. Yet as a Muslim we are instructed to treat life like a traveller, so every hardship should be seen as a temporal passing test designed to make us stronger, and every desire we have of unnecessary things should be resisted to ensure we give importance to only those aspects of our life which matter as we travel through the beautiful lands which Allah has created around us.

It has been a liberating and eye opening experience to pursue and go on a journey of self discovery and be a traveller who is constantly learning whilst working. That is the sensation which has driven me over the past couple of years, going on this adventure of growing hopefully like a tree which can be a beacon of light, I've become the traveller who has fallen in love with the journey wherever it takes me..