How to Help your Islamic Career Flourish

How to Help your Islamic Career Flourish
Make the Best out of your Job and Earn Blessings in doing so.

Feb 24, 2009 Maria Zain

Here are some tips to help your career flourish. A job can be taxing and sometimes it can curb your job satisfaction. Here are ways to follow a positive career path.
A job can be taxing and sometimes we are unable to find satisfaction within the work day. Unfortunately, the time you spend at your job can be monumental, taking up most of the day and sometimes public holidays and weekends. Given that so much energy goes into building schedules around a job, find ways to be vigilant in creating a positive environment to allow your job satisfaction, thus career, to flourish.

Choose a Career Line that you are Passionate about

This is vital to find satisfaction in your work. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) advised to “do whatever you like as long as it does not embarrass you,” (Bukhari), hence the strong encouragement to be your own individual and creative self. Without passion in your career, you will be passing the days in a robotic fashion, with the only motivating factor of your work being your monthly salary. Working for money may be exciting in the short-run but will do nothing for your satisfaction in the long-run.

Ensure that your Job and your Company are Halal in Nature

There are industries that Muslims must avoid and there are certainly jobs that are unfit for Muslims. For your career to flourish, your gratitude must be seen through your career choice. Generally, it is easier to identify industry that are haraam (forbidden) in nature. These include conventional banking, the alcohol industry, the pork-related industry, the sex industry, the entertainment industry, gambling or gaming and the weaponry industry. Avoiding these sectors and companies that partake in these industries will help you put your mind at ease and enjoy your job and its description.

Reach out to the Community

Work can often translate into earning money and vice versa. This is permissible but Muslims are strongly encouraged to give back to society. Try throwing a suggestion to your superiors or bosses to have your company engage in charitable events or have a portion of profit be channelled to the less fortunate. Corporate Social Responsibility schemes have proliferated recently, and this is definitely a trend worth following.
Remember the Different Forms of Worship
There are many ways to show gratitude to God for His sustenance. Firstly, pay zakat (Islamic tax on salary). Zakat cleanses earnings and wipes away feelings of greed. Money should never be the sole motivating factor in a career.Read more at Suite101: How to Help your Islamic Career Flourish: Make the Best out of your Job and Earn Blessings in doing so. http://careeradvice.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_help_your_islamic_career_flourish#ixzz0arce36Lj