Ramadan Notes 1446 AH #3: On Being an Abd of Allah

As-salamu’ alaykum,

We all recognize that the essence of Ramadan is Transformation even if our actions are often at odds with a hyper-focus on doing and checking off things from our trackers without going deep with the very things that can transform us during this potentially life-changing time of the Hijri calendar.  

For many of us in healthcare, we are primed to operate with mindsets informed by an ego-driven culture that stems from the grueling journey to become a healthcare practitioner and the competitive training and practice environments. 

These ego-driven foundations prioritize our individual perspectives and performance over genuine service, humility and a reliance upon Allah that drives excellence (Ihsan) over perfectionism and acknowledges our vulnerability while protecting us against dissatisfaction and burnout. 

This is where the Abd of Allah mindset—the sustained awareness that we are servants of Allah before anything else—comes in. That at the core of our identity is the mandate that we are first in the service of Allah and this lens helps us to optimize our overall approach to how we show up at work and at home. 

The Abd of Allah Reframing Matrix

Mohammed Faris, my mentor at the The Productive Muslim Company, developed a powerful tool: the Abd of Allah Reframing Matrix. This framework helps us navigate daily interactions by shifting from an ego-centered response to an Abd of Allah response by slowing down to three key questions or levels of awareness:

1. How am I feeling at this moment?

• Am I carrying frustration from a difficult patient interaction, a demanding schedule, or workplace dynamics?

• Am I feeling pride or personal discomfort due to a challenge to my expertise, authority, or decisions?

• Or am I grounding my emotions in humility, gratitude, and servitude—remembering that my work is a means of worship and service to others?

2. What are my thoughts?

• Am I interpreting this situation through a lens of self-importance, defensiveness, or assumption?

• Am I making room for the full context—understanding the pressures my colleagues, patients, and/or their families are facing? How about ancillary healthcare staff in the mix? Am I giving them the space to be a part of the conversation in a meaningful way?

• Can I reframe this moment as an opportunity to serve with excellence (Ihsan), to learn, and to embody the prophetic model of care and compassion?

3. How does this impact my response?

• If I respond from a place of ego or frustration, how does that affect my words, body language, and decisions?

• How would my response shift if I approached this as an Abd of Allah—with patience, sincerity, and a sense of accountability before my Creator?

• How can I align my response with the values of mercy, wisdom, and trustworthiness that define ethical and spiritually-grounded care at the bedside and the leadership corridors of healthcare?

Ramadan as a Training Ground for the Long Game

Ramadan gives us a glimpse into our potential—what we are capable of when we are intentional. 

We have a unique opportunity this month to slow down to these reflective questions—myself included—and to  reset from the worldly-driven shifts that have likely impacted our consciousness of Allah through the daily grind of the preceding year. 

It’s also a time that we may never see again and so our sense of urgency ought to be turned up pretty intensely every moment of this blessed month to seek the mindfulness of Allah in all of our interactions especially in the noble space of healthcare delivery.

A Prophetic Du’a to Support Our Abd of Allah Reframe Journey

“O Allah, I seek refuge with You lest I misguide others or I am misguided by others, lest I cause others to err or I am caused o err, lest I oppress others or be oppressed, lest I behave foolishly or meet with the foolishness of others.” Abu Dawud No# 5094

As we round out the 1st ten days, energy levels are beginning to dip and the numbers at the local mosques are starting to slow down—this is a nudge for me and hopefully all of us on this journey this Ramadan to renew our focus and not let the passing days go untapped in their core essence.  

May Allah grant us the capacity to hold ourselves accountable to the high standards that reflect our mindfulness of Allah in all our interactions this blessed month and beyond..

Sincerely,

Sulyman

P.S. 🌙 2nd Ramadan Check-In!

As we enter the second 10 days of Ramadan, let’s realign and recharge together! Join us this Sunday, 9th Ramadan 1446AH (March 9, 2025) for a reset on Energy, Focus, and Barakah-driven High Performance Ramadan.

📍 Zoom | 10:30 AM CT | 11:30 AM ET | 4:30 PM GMT | 5:30 PM WAT
 🔗 Click here to join 

Let’s keep the momentum strong! 🚀