The Productive Muslim 'Pygmalion' Experiment

Assalamu alaikum,

I remember reading George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion when I was in high school.

The story follows a linguistics professor who bets he can transform a poor flower girl with a thick Cockney accent into a duchess in high society through rigorous training and high expectations.

Something about that story left a mark on me.

The core idea: when you genuinely believe in someone's potential and provide the right structure and support, they can achieve things they never thought possible.

Three years ago, that idea resurfaced during an internal team debate.

We were about to launch the Productive Muslim Certification Program, and the question was: “Who gets to become a certified trainer?”

Should we only accept seasoned coaches and trainers with years of experience in personal development? Or should we open this to anyone with sincere intentions and a willingness to teach our course?

We decided on a bold experiment, our own "Pygmalion Effect" test. We'd take individuals from both ends of the spectrum - expert trainers and those who had never taught a workshop in their life - and put them all through the same rigorous certification process.

Alhamdulillah, the results still surprise me after 3 years.

The qualified trainers did well, as expected. But those with little to no training experience achieved amazing results, evidenced by glowing testimonials from their students.

After reflecting on this journey, I believe there are three critical factors that make this certification program work (by Allah’s Tawfeeq):

1. The Sincerity & Hard Work of Our Students

I'm honored to serve people who want to transform themselves and serve others, not just become certified. They attend every session, complete every assignment, and push through challenges because they're driven by a desire to serve the Ummah. Their commitment inspires me every cohort.

2. Program Structure

This isn't a weekend course where you get a certificate for showing up. It's rigorous: 12 teaching sessions with me, 12 practice sessions with a mentor, a certification exam, and a final project where you teach the program to real students.

When someone goes through this journey, they don't just learn the content. They transform first, then they're ready to guide others with confidence and competence.

3. Community Support

Alhamdulillah, we have an amazing global community of trainers who share wins, struggles, tools, and advice. This isn't just a transactional program; it's a brotherhood and sisterhood united by the mission to spread Barakah Culture worldwide. They keep each other going and keep coming back for more.

If this interests you, join me this Wednesday for a free webinar on turning your intention to serve the Ummah into real, structured impact.

In this webinar, you'll discover:

• The proven framework that helped 60+ people (including beginners) become confident, certified trainers

• Why you DON'T need to be an "expert" to make a meaningful impact

• How our certification program bridges the gap between good intentions and lasting impact

• The earning opportunities available to certified trainers

>> Click here to register for the free webinar.

Final thought: The best Productive Muslim trainers aren't those who waited until they felt ready. They're the ones who stepped forward despite their doubts, trusted the process, and committed to the journey.

Sincerely,

P.S. We're opening enrollment for our 2nd Online Certification Cohort starting Jumada I 1447 (November 2025). Few seats available. The webinar will provide details, answer questions, and help you decide if this is the right path for you. Don't miss this chance. Click here to register.

P.P.S. If you want to skip the webinar and go straight to securing your seat on the certification program you can click here to apply for the certification program and a team member will guide you through the registration requirements.