Ramadan Notes 1446 AH #2: Slowing Down to the Essence of the Moment

As-salamu’ alaykum,

One of the highlights of my first day of Ramadan this year was a conversation that I had with my Quran teacher, who also recently graduated from nursing school. Having gone through his clinical rotations in the past couple of months, he had a fresh awareness of the intensity of bedside care and, at the same time, the stark absence of spirituality in the healthcare space.

How do we reconcile this?

As healthcare professionals, we are constantly in the trenches, supporting our patients’ healing. Yet, we also know—deeply—that ultimate healing is never in our control. It is in Allah’s hands. Outcomes, whether good or otherwise unfold exactly as He has decreed. This realization is both humbling and freeing.

Ramadan is a time for us to pause and lean into this reality. It is a time to let go of the illusion of control and recognize that every breath of a newborn, every recovery of an ailing elderly against major odds, and every setback in our patients’ journeys happen by Allah’s permission.

If this past year since the last Ramadan has felt like a relentless pursuit for you—moving from one shift to the next, tackling challenges in the clinic, hospital, or operating room without much room for spiritual grounding—this month calls us to slow down. Allah is inviting us to reorient, to refocus and to reset.

And specifically, Allah, the Most High calls us to reprioritize our focus on His mindfulness in all that we do as He highlights in the famous verse from Surah Al-Baqarah

Divine Wisdom

“O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you1—so perhaps you will become mindful ˹of Allah˺.” Qur’an 2:183

So, let’s do a reality check around the impact of my work in healthcare on my relationship with Allah, the Most High, by asking ourselves: Has my work in healthcare deepened my connection to Allah? Or has it pulled me further away? 

How might we realign our intentions and the execution of our work at the bedside so that more than anything - it brings us every bit closer to the mindfulness of Allah while serving Him through the service of humanity?

Leaning on the Barakah mindsets, values and rituals as a healthcare community is a path for us to challenge ourselves in these unique spaces to find Allah in all that we do and pushing us to serve with Ihsan as frontline healthcare workers and leaders.  

And perhaps that is why spaces like the SakeenahMD community matter so much. Because in this sacred month, we are reminded that we are not meant to navigate this journey alone. Just as we need clinical teams to optimize patient care, we need spiritual support systems to recalibrate our own hearts and recognize where our motives, habits, and values align. 

May Allah, the Most High, assist us all on this journey of transformation to find His Mindfulness in these blessed but limited days towards our next best versions. Amin

Sincerely,

Sulyman

P.S. If you’re seeking a space to cultivate resilience, deepen self-mastery, and thrive in your career and life—grounded in faith—join us in the SakeenahMD Community. Together, we are committed to faith-driven excellence in healthcare and beyond.

Let’s navigate this journey together. 💙