The Power of a Conscious Bismillah ﷽

Assalamu'alaikum,

"Bismillah, In the Name of God, is the start of all things good." - Said Nursi.

I turned to my friend and said, "Something didn't feel right about that workshop."

I had just completed a three-hour workshop on the Barakah Effect. Usually, I feel pretty good after delivering a workshop—that genuine feeling of satisfaction that any teacher/trainer knows when you teach new concepts and the audience seems to get them (you see light bulbs going on in people's heads 💡).

But despite delivering this workshop multiple times - for some reason, this time, it just didn't land.

I left the workshop a bit dejected - and started reviewing what went wrong.

• Did I cover all the material? Yes ✅

• Did I complete all the exercises? Yes ✅ 

• Did I give all the examples I normally give? Yes ✅

I scrolled through my slides until I reached the start of my presentation—only then did I realize what had happened.

I missed an important slide that I usually begin all my workshops/webinars with. The slide says:

"A Conscious Bismillah"

At the start of every webinar/workshop, I take a moment and ask all participants to take a moment and say a "conscious bismillah."

This is not one of those quick bismillahs that we barely register in our hearts and minds.

This is different. It's a mindful, thoughtful bismillah, where we consciously invoke the name of our Rabb (Lord) in a particular time and space. While we invoke His name, we think about Him with our hearts and minds and seek His assistance to bless what we are about to do with His Barakah and Mercy.

Every time I took a moment to say a conscious bismillah; before the start of a meeting, workshop, meal or any personal/professional task, I saw the Barakah unfold in whatever I was doing.

The day I had my less ideal workshop, I arrived late to the room flustered and embarrassed that I was quite late. I quickly unpacked my laptop, connected to the projector, and jumped straight to delivering the workshop without pausing at the "conscious bismillah" slide.

And that's another lesson—we should take a moment to slow down and say a conscious bismillah, especially when we are in a hurry. Haste is from Shaytaan, and he doesn't like it more than when we rush through life's activities without taking a moment to remember God.

This week, my plea to you, is to take many moments throughout this week to say a sincere, and thoughtful Bismillah:

• Before the start of every meeting (ask your team members to do the same as well);

• Before your meals (especially ones that are taken on the go);

• Before the start of every project/task on your calendar, even the small ones.

Give it a try and let me know what you experience in a few days insha’Allah.

Bismillah,

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