It’s over. 

Please don’t cry. 

But the time has come to draw a line under INsights as a regular email newsletter. 

The journey began at the end of 2021 when I ended my tenure as Chief Executive of National Zakat Foundation and transitioned to... however you want to describe whatever it is I've be...

Four brief thoughts came to mind for this week's edition:

1. Focus!

Since Monday I've hosted 13 one-to-one calls with leaders running various social impact projects across the UK to help them refine their vision and mission.

The key observation: the vast majority of them are trying to do too man...

Tears are mentioned explicitly just twice in revelation. 

The first reference is about those who shed tears in recognition of the truth. 

When they listen to what has been sent down to the Messenger, you will see their eyes overflowing with tears because they recognise the truth [in it]. They say,...

There is good news for those who shun the worship of false gods and turn to God, so give good news to My servants who listen attentively to what is said and follow the best of it. These are the ones God has guided; these are the people of understanding.
Chapter 39 | Verses 17-18

It's been almost ...

Corruption has spread on land and sea as a result of what people have done, for God to make them taste some of the results of their actions, so that they might return.
Chapter 30 | Verse 41

On very rare occasions, I think to myself: God bless the algorithm!

That happened most recently when I ca...

In the last few days I've been revisiting one of my favourite essays: Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson, written in 1841.

The resonance has been so profound for me this time around that I've felt like I need an outlet to talk about it with others in some detail.

So, in addition to this newsl...

I'm on the way to Scotland to meet some friends and record podcast episodes with two awesome guests. 

Being a movie fan, as I shared with you last time, I couldn't help but think about a couple of the finest movies featuring Scottish heroes which were formative for me growing up.

My dad loved ...

Once upon a time, when I was a boy, my uncles used to run a successful movie rental store in South London. 

So the whole family got special early access to all the latest releases. I grew up watching and loving movies. 

I was 12 when Mission: Impossible first came out.

Like millions of others aro...

Earlier today, I hosted my first proper guest for the In Good Faith podcast.

Until this point, I’ve been kindly “guest hosted” by Taimur Abdaal, where his role has been to help me communicate my ideas. 

But today was different. 

I spent most of my time quiet, listening. I was asking the questions...

Yesterday I read a reflection by Mohammed Nizami, a London-based thinker whose efforts and teachings I very much admire and respect. If our generation does manage to get itself in order in pursuing God's cause in a sensible and effective manner, then to my mind there is very little doubt that he wil...

I’m excited to announce the imminent launch of my new podcast: In Good Faith.

For the foreseeable future, this will be the main public medium through which I’ll be sharing and exploring the principles and practicalities of the God-centred life.

Episode 1 is scheduled to go live on YouTube and Sp...

I’ve been really enjoying my salat recently. 

So me being me, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about why this has been happening. 

During my reflections, it occurred to me that, over the last three decades, I must have prayed every kind of prayer. 

Some of my prayers have been truly profound, me...

Have you ever noticed how the story of Jonah – the last major prophet before the era of Zachariah, John and Jesus – is so unique?

No other prophet abandoned his mission in frustration and reached such a low point, both literally and metaphorically, and achieved such notable success in the end. 

I’...

Just after 'Eid, I gave some thought to resuming the INsights newsletter this week. I wasn't really feeling it.

But this morning, my mind was running with some thoughts to the point of bursting... so I knew it was time to write about them.

Carpe diem!

An incredible sensation

I love momentum. 

F...

When it all falls away, what remains?

Beyond your title, reputation and public persona, who are you?

Beyond your material possessions, what do you have?

Beyond your human relationships, what connection is left?

Beyond your external words and statements, what is your internal conversation?

Beyon...

Prefer to listen rather than read?
Listen to or download the audio file of this edition of INsights

"You who believe, respond to God and His messenger when He invites you to that which gives you life..."
(Chapter 8, Battle Gains, Verse 24)

Just because you are breathing doesn’t mean you are alive...

Is there a link between underestimating ourselves and underestimating God Himself?

Is there a link between these underestimations and a lack of urgency or clarity with respect to one’s vision?

I believe so. 

How will everything work out?

Many people don’t construct a clear, God-centred vision be...

Some of my favourite examples of vision statements come from a page on the World Economic Forum (WEF) website. I’ve often shared them as examples when I’ve taught the Last Day Leader programme. 

In 2019, the WEF canvassed members of its Global Future Councils to come up with visions for 2030. They ...

If you read last week’s edition on the importance of developing your vision, it’s quite possible that you haven’t made much progress since then or that you concluded, “I don’t need a vision!”

So why have a vision? Is it really necessary?

Here are some reasons to encourage you to dedicate some time...

Prefer to listen rather than read?
Listen to or download the audio file of this edition of INsights

 
If the end state that we all desire – a prosperous, harmonious, equitable society built on a foundation of monotheism – were to be represented as a complex but beautiful scene on a large jigsaw puzzl...

Prefer to listen rather than read?
Listen to or download the audio file of this edition of INsights

Something very different this week.

In the last few days, I found myself thinking a lot about solitude. 

As I did so, a poem started forming in my mind. 

So, I thought, why not share it with you an...