#ResilientResidencyInsights 8 - An Exercise in Spiritual Intelligence that is a Must for Every Resident (and all Healthcare workers!)

As-salamu alaykum,

It’s the Day of Arafah and for soon-to-be resident doctors in the U.S. it's exactly 2 weeks before the baton of internship is handed off to you.

For some of you, the onboarding/orientation program kicks off in just 2 days and you may be wondering how best to leverage the Day of Arafah in the middle of these unique chain of events.

If you are, I have a few suggestions for today that will positively impact your residency experience and beyond in sha Allah;

1. Recognize that Every Moment in Time Has it’s Best Version

The Day of Arafah is a day for Du’a (supplication). 

The best version of how you choose to spend your time today, therefore, should reflect this divine and prophetic wisdom as the Prophet Muhammad PBUH taught us in the following hadith; 

Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The best supplication is that which is made on the day of Arafat. The best of it is what was said by myself and the Prophets before me, ‘There is no God but Allah alone, without any partners, unto Him belongs the dominion and all praise, and He has power over all things.’” [Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3585]

“لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ”

2. Know that Your Residency Experience is in Allah’s hands 

You are entering a remarkably significant season in your life that will likely impact the rest of your career in Medicine and Healthcare as a whole probably more than any other transition that you will make in your career.

It is crucial that you factor in the divine and recognize that the commitment that you have made and critical steps that you have taken to get to this point are seeds that are being planted by you. The harvest or the outcome is however, not in your hands. 

The outcome; your residency experience and your journey through the rest of life impacted by residency, is in Allah’s hands.

Allah, the Most High, nudges us to think for a moment about this in the following verses of the Qur’an;

Surah Al-Waaqi’ah v 63-64: “Have you considered what you sow? Is it you who cause it to grow, or is it We (Allah) Who do so?”

This insight should give you relief knowing that the best of planners, Allah, the Most High, is in charge. 

At the same time, it should give you the impetus to work hard and smart throughout residency so that your work is a quest in the pursuit of Ihsan (excellence) in the service of humanity  and Ikhlas(sincerity to Allah) that is worthy of earning Allah’s pleasure and raising your ranks with Him.   

3. Leverage this unique opportunity for Du’a to supercharge your residency experience (and life beyond that)

Spend some time really thinking through the sort of experience you want to have in residency and the sort of impact you want to make in healthcare and beyond. 

Think Big. The Ummah Needs You. Humanity is Counting on You.  

Then Ask Allah with Certainty and Sincerity.

Allah is Al-Kareem, the Most Generous, so do not hold back on this Day of Arafah. 

Make dua’ for yourself. 

Make dua’ for your family. 

Make dua’ for your teachers (past, present and future). 

Make dua’ for your patients (even the ones you haven’t met).

Make dua’ for your colleagues (to be blessed with companions that will add value to your experience and vice versa). 

Make dua’ for the healthcare system (that is failing so many clinicians with high burnout rates and in turn, putting patients at risk). 

Make dua’ for your local community.

Make dua’ for the Ummah (the global Muslim community) and for all of Humanity.

Consider this opportunity of Arafah before residency an unprecedented, once-in-a-lifetime event. 

One that can help you access the Barakah effect for your residency journey (and beyond) in a very direct way while setting you up for a burnout-proof experience grounded in faith.  

Make it count.

May Allah, the Most High, count us among those that will be forgiven and granted Jannah on this blessed day. Amin. 

Sincerely,

Sulyman

P.S. If you were forwarded this email, then please click the link below to subscribe to the newsletter: https://sakeenahmd-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe