Between Eid’ul-Fitr and Shawwal: A Time To Hold on to Your Ramadan Gains

As-salamu’alaykum,

Eid Mubarak!

It’s the 2nd of Shawwal for many of us but for some it’s Eid Ul Fitr today. Regardless of where you are, let's savor the moment and capture the lessons of growth and transformation of a truly power packed month of blessings. Eid Mubarak to you all and we ask Allah, the Most High, to accept from us and from you.

Prophetic Wisdom: Du’a Against Regression

In the final hours of Ramadan, friends and colleagues in the SakeenahMD community had the opportunity to reflect on a simple but profound prophetic du’a:

اللَّهُمَّ إني أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الحَوْرِ بَعْدَ الكَوْرِ

“Allahumma inni a’oodhu bika minal hawri ba’dal kawr”

“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from regression (returning to my pre-Ramadan state) after blessing (of progress and the potential I experienced this Ramadan)”

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) teaches us to seek protection with Allah, the Most High, from the real risk of regression after the gains of the blessed month. It is also relevant to all situations of progress and blessing that we may find ourselves in over the course of our integrated work-lives.  

Service

Over the course of the past 29 days of Ramadan 1446AH, by the mercy of Allah, the Most High, I have had the unique opportunity to serve you in a very small way through the SakeenahMD Ramadan notes and a smaller cohort of you through the SakeenahMD community and the Ramadan Check-in space on zoom. 

My intention is always to help us connect our service in healthcare to a higher purpose - the worship of the Almighty - earning His pleasure in a holistic sense through our work in a manner that is aligned with His will and thereby tapping into the Barakah paradigm that allows us to do more with less and excel as high performers in all spheres of our lives. 

I would greatly appreciate your feedback on our service offering and your experience this past Ramadan so that we can serve you better going forward.

Gratitude

I am immensely grateful for your support over the course of the past month. 

To all who stopped by to read a Ramadan note, joined any of the Ramadan check-in sessions or engaged in the community; I want to say Jazakumullahu khayran (May Allah reward you all with goodness) and I look forward to continuing to serve you for the foreseeable future, in sha Allah.

Towards Your Next Best Version

That Ramadan unlocks our peak performance potential is an understatement—our true abilities are unmasked in a way that surprises even ourselves. 

The challenging reality is that once the moon of  Shawwal rises it all starts to fade away—almost instantaneously for some and gradually for others. 

Regardless of where you lie in that spectrum, we all have the opportunity to sustainably grow from one Ramadan to the next without losing significant grounds. It, however, requires an intentional approach and oftentimes, the support of others through - a trusted friend/colleague, an accountability partner, a community, or more formally through coaching and/or mentoring.

At the end of Ramadan 1445AH, I shared a few suggestions for you to consider—here they are again;

1. Commit to one thing from Ramadan that you can hold on to at least for the first week and then build forward from there

2. Find an accountability partner to support you and keep you honest on this journey beyond Ramadan

3. Pick up a book that has transformational potential and stick with it for at least a month. Here are 3 suggestions in this regard.

   1. The Productive Muslim Book: Where Faith Meets Productivity by Mohammed Faris

   2. The Barakah Effect Book by Mohammed Faris

   3. HBR's 10 Must Reads on Managing Yourself 

Use this link and/or discount code for a 15% discount for the 2 books written by my friend and mentor, Mohammed Faris: DOLAPOOLANREWAJU

Please note that I do get a small commission if you do use the link or the discount code.

4. Consider one-on-one or group coaching. 

Dr. Atul Gawande, an endocrine surgeon, renowned writer and public health leader gave an insightful TED Talk on the transformative power of coaching. 

I have also leveraged this unique growth tool with a transformative impact on me in the past, Alhamdulillah. You should also give it a thought and explore the idea closely and maybe even a specific coaching program that will be a best fit for you. 

If you would like to explore the possibility of working with me in this capacity, then simply email me at [email protected] or register your interest here for a group coaching opportunity coming up soon, in sha Allah.

May Allah, the Most High, accept all of our fast and sacrifices this past month and may He allow us to continue to grow and build forward beyond Ramadan.

Sincerely,

Sulyman

P.S. Ramadan may be over, but the journey isn’t. Join us for a special community check-in session this Sunday, 8th Shawwal 1446AH (April 6, 2025) at 11:00 AM CST | 5:00 PM WAT | 4:00 PM GMT. Click here to join

We’ll reflect together, help you identify 1–3 keystone habits to carry forward, and support each other in making them stick bi’ithni’Allah.