Words: 3,209

Read time: 12m 50s

I was considered "smart" growing up.

Straight 4s in elementary school.

90s and 100s in middle school.

Aced my regents exams with a 75% absence rate in class (don't recommend this)

Hit straight As in college.

Graduated with a 3.86 GPA in a math major.

I landed a job most people would k*ll for at a hedge fund right out of college.

I was smart. But I still didn't feel "smart".

During lunch breaks for work, I'd often walk through Central Park.

I'd see people lying in the sun, just chilling.

Why aren't these people working? What do they do? How do people live without a job?

It seemed so far fetched and out of reality for me.

Then I started noticing the lifestyles online.

People were traveling.
People were not tied a 9-5.
People had their own businesses.
People were making money while they slept.

I graduated summa cum laude. Why couldn't I do the same?

The only real test of intelligence is if you get what you want out of life. 

Naval

That's when it clicked. I was "book smart".

Trained by the system, able to memorize, retain, and solve problems on paper.

Advanced calculus was a breeze.

But anyone can train to memorize and retain information better.

The key is in repetition.

What is hard is actually applying what you learned to get to where you want to be.

What is knowledge without action?

The son of Adam will not be dismissed from his Lord on the Day of Resurrection until he is questioned about five matters: his life and how he lived it, his youth and how he expended it, his wealth and how he earned it and he spent it, and how he acted upon his knowledge.

Tirmidhi

What is the point of learning if you don't live it?

What is the point of memorizing qur'an if you don't apply the teachings?

What is the point of studying medicine if you don't use it to save lives?

What is the point of making money if you don't use it to better the world?

One thing was clear—I didn't know where I wanted to be.

And if you don't know that, you don't know how to get there.

Good news: Today, we have access to everything. Information, ideas, resources right at our fingertips.

Bad news: Today, we have access to everything. Information, ideas, resources right at our fingertips.

The question is, how will you use it?

Let me show you what I wish I'd known back when I had no idea how to use my God-gifted brains to live a better life.

And how you can do the same.

1) Build Your Own Vision

If you don't have a routine, society will assign you one.
If you don't have a job, society will assign you one.
If you don't have a goal, society will assign you one.
If you don't have a purpose, society will assign you one.
If you don't have a vision, society will assign you one.

That's exactly what happened to me.

Society and my parents told me to:

• Go to school

• Get a job

• Work until I retire

I followed the script without questioning it—until I met someone who made me rethink everything.

Thanks, M (if you're reading this).

M started planting the seeds that maybe, just maybe, I could do something different. That I could use my mind for myself, not just for someone else.

At first, it went over my head. I thought, Yeah, right. That's too much work. No way I could do that.

But the seed was planted and there was no turning back.

Naturally, my subconscious got to work. I started noticing what didn't sit right in my life.

Then, I went for 'Umrah and it shifted my whole perspective.

In Madinah, I felt a peace I couldn't explain. If you've been there, you know what I mean. Being able to go to the Masjid Nabawi, read Qur'an anytime, learn directly from teachers, sitting on the green carpets, giving salams the Prophet ﷺ just a handful of feet away from his grave… it was like breathing for the first time.

7 days gone. Vacation over. Back to the office.

Oh my goodness. The aftershock was real. I did not want to continue working here.

Alcohol in the office fridge. Women in tight pencil skirts. Gambling in the office on Fridays. My income was tainted with riba.

This was no place for a Muslim.

I had to get out.

I wanted freedom.

Freedom to practice my religion. Freedom to workout in the middle of the day. Freedom to be covered head-to-toe without HR breathing down my back. Freedom to get an iced matcha latte at 1:32 pm. Freedom to go sun-bathe in Central Park on a random Tuesday afternoon. Freedom to travel whenever I want without putting in a request with a non-mahram boss. Freedom to spend time with my family. Freedom to go abroad and learn more about Islam.

So I wrote down exactly what I didn't want my life to look like. The anti-vision.

• Where I didn't want to work

• Who I didn't want to talk to

• What I didn't want to look like

• Where I didn't want to live

• What I didn't want in a spouse

• What I didn't want to eat

• What I didn't want to waste time on

The vision became clear.

It's not enough to break free from one vision if you don't have your own.

I go into more depth about this process in the 2-Hour Barakah OS course which is included with the community. If you're ready to shape your own life, not live someone else's, that's where it starts.

2) The Next Era of Trade (& Everything Else)

I recently came back from Istanbul. Türkiye is a beautiful city.

It's the perfect mix for me—history, city, cats, nature, and a Muslim vibe.

But wow. Why on earth is everyone and their mothers smoking cigarettes?!

I blame Ataturk.

My clothes still reek from there.

Anyway, during my time there I visited the Grand Bazaar.

One of the oldest marketplaces in the world.

It's been a hub of trade since the 15th century.

Massive. Thousands of shops. Every seller offering their own twist on something:

• Spices

• Turkish lamps

• Leather goods

• Knock-off luxury

Back then, this was the way.

People from all over gathered here to exchange goods, ideas, skills.

Today?

The marketplace has shifted online.

Shops are online. Businesses are online. Schools are online. People are online.

The most successful shops in the Bazaar were the ones handing me cards with their social media links. These were the stores that stood out. They weren't just selling the same thing as everyone else; they had their own style, a brand that spanned generations. I spent more than $1,000 at one of these shops in 2 days because I loved the branding.

Escape competition through authenticity.

Online, this concept scales.

You're not limited by foot traffic. Your reach is limitless.

And the principles of trade haven't changed—create value, be genuine, offer something real.

But now, social media isn't just a tool.

It's the future of trade.

It's the future of everything.

3) Everything is Worship

If we observe the purpose of life: it's to do one thing.

Worship Allah alone. 

And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. 

51:56

Everything we do can be worship. If we make it so.

Business is worship.

Family is worship.

Health is worship.

Life is worship.

It all comes down to intention.

A single thought can take you from ghaflah to 'ibādah.

A single thought can take you from heedlessness to worship.

"I am earning money in a halal way to benefit the Ummah."

"I am spending time with my family to please Allah."

"I am working out because my body is an amanah."

"I am here on this earth to serve Allah alone"

Our fitrah, our natural state, craves meaning beyond ourselves.

Even non-Muslims recognize it. True fulfillment often comes from helping others.

Greed shrinks the soul. Giving expands it.

The Prophet ﷺ embodied this.

He ﷺ was sent as a mercy to all humanity.

He ﷺ was the best of all characters.

When we help others, we mirror his ﷺ character.

This is the highest form of servitude.

A leader is one who serves others.

And today, we can reach 92% of the world's internet users through social media. Think about that. Nearly the entire internet world at our fingertips.

But how can you help others?

You help others by first helping yourself.

The more you work on you, the bigger impact you'll have.

Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. 

13:11

It all starts with you.

Moms know this best. You can't pour from an empty cup.

The highest form of self-improvement is perfecting your islam.

Live the ihsanic principles of life. 

Share your experience by living it.

4) Become a Creator. Not an Influencer

I will never shut up about becoming a creator.

Why?

Because it changed my life.

No 9-5.
I can travel when I want.
I can give my parents extra hand cash.
I can pay for my family's Umrah.
I can pray & read Qur'an whenever I want.
I can stay up the last 10 nights of Ramadan without worrying about work.
I don't have to interact with non-mahram men in the office.
I can save and build wealth for my future kids.
I can give more in zakat.
I can build schools and orphanages.

Making more money lets you help more people.

Making more money opened my mind to possibilities I never imagined.

If you've followed me since December 2023 (when I started taking my personal account seriously), you'll remember my goals:

• 10k/month

• 20k/month

• 50k/month

• 100k/month

With Allah's grace, we hit them all.

I share this to break your scarcity mindset. Wealth is abundant. Opportunities are abundant. This deen is abundant.

I've been in chat rooms with people casually making $1M a month and it changed my perspective. If you want to grow, surround yourself with people who are further ahead—who are practicing more, earning more, improving themselves more.

It will force you to level up.

That's why I created this community. If starting this journey alone feels tough, join us. You'll see others starting from scratch, motivated to grow.

That's what happened with community member Hasheefa.

She went from 0 → 6k followers in less than 8 weeks allahumma barik laha.

Now let's clarify something: When I say "creator," I don't mean the typical influencer dancing and lip syncing for likes and selling low-value products.

We don't need a 20th watercolor hijab.

I legit have less than 10 abayas that I just alternate between.

More possessions = more brain clutter.

Have you guys ever seen that commercial about over-consumption?

We need things that upgrade our lives. And we need YOU to create them.

99% scroll. 1% produce. While you're doom scrolling, someone else is profiting.

Why not be on the side that creates, builds, and gives back?

How to do this?

To create something meaningful, you need 3 things:

• Brand – Your mind, made visible. It's how people see and understand your worldview.

• Content – The ideas you share. A stream of knowledge, beliefs, and experiences that relate with others.

• Goods – Real solutions that meet real needs. Practical tools, guides, or support to help people grow.

Your brand is the oasis you're inviting people to.

Your content is the perspective you offer.

Your goods are the tools to give them a way out of their struggle.

Your brand is the impression you leave over 3-12 months.

Post by post, thought by thought.

Your bio and aesthetics might attract attention but it's your content that builds trust.

Don't chase quick views. Balance short-form content with deeper, lasting value.

This is how you create a content ecosystem.

We are building an oasis for people to join and be a part of.

Here's how I build my content ecosystem for both my brands:

(over 1M+ followers across both)

• Take videos of my lifestyle

• Write out my ideas

• Use proven viral content frameworks

• Create aesthetic addicting posts and reels

• Develop lead magnets

• Distribute content across platforms (Threads, IG, TikTok, YouTube)

• Grow my email list (now over 90k collectively)

• Expand ideas into newsletters

• Link products in lead magnets, newsletters, and emails

I spend about 90 minutes a day writing posts, reels, and newsletters. Another 30 minutes for a reel if needed.

Alhamdulillah, I have the luxury of not needing to work every day, thanks to the time I invested in building my brands and products.

It will take effort in the beginning but once you put the time in → it becomes a 24/7 wealth creation machine that makes you money while you cook, go out, or sleep.

There's no better feeling than waking up to this:

By developing a brand online, it creates a portal where people can find what they need for their journey.

Newcomers discover my content through short reels and TikToks. Existing followers stay engaged with longer, thoughtful reels and newsletters.

Of course we only have so much space to cover here. If you want all my systems and full guidance to do this, I share it all in The Muslim Creative — an islamic life's work model. 

5) Build Timeless Products

The future of trade is the intersection of purpose, education, aesthetics, and value exchange.

You see it everywhere today.

The most successful creators aren't just selling—they're building things that last.

Courses, books, software, high-quality, ethical products that help people and serve a greater purpose.

When I say "timeless products," I mean those that create lasting impact.

They help people with:

• Stages in life

• Mastery in skills

• Abundance of time

• New perspectives in mind

• Improved health & appearance

• Stronger connections in relationships

• Expanded awareness & consciousness

How you do this is up to you.

In my opinion, self-improvement and education products are the best place to start—they're low-cost to create and can be scaled endlessly. Start with something as simple as an eBook and grow it into a course or community over time.

Want to create a nutrition guide? Don't just do another generic ebook. Make it personal.

If you struggled with eating right during pregnancy, create a guide for that.

If you have PCOS, create a guide that covers foods and tips that helped you.

If you struggled with low testosterone, make a guide to help other men.

It's the personal story (your why) that creates value and builds trust.

Do this from an islamic point of view and boom you have a niche that very, very few can compete with.

Become the niche to escape competition.

No one can be you.

Digital products are scalable and profitable, with virtually no overhead. Use platforms like Beacons or Gumroad to start for free and build cash flow.

Test ideas, learn from real feedback, then improve over time.

I created Quranic Du'as as a solution for my own life. I started with an eBook because I didn't have the funds or validation for a physical product. When I saw the demand, I reinvested the profits into a physical book.

Now, I can offer those who loved it with more high-value products with a single click.

And in today's ever-changing algorithms and political bans:

Newsletters are the future of social media platforms. 

Social media is unpredictable but an email list is yours to keep. It's a direct line to those who value your work.

With all this said: Physical products are great but they're not necessary to create real impact or drive change.

"But isn't it saturated?"

No.

The internet has rewritten the rules. Anyone willing to create has a place in the digital souk.

The last thing you should be worried about is saturation.

Stop making excuses.

There are 2 billion users on social media and no one controls the entire market.

Having a monopoly over things is difficult now.

Your story, your values, your beliefs, your experiences—these are your edge.

There's always someone who will connect with your story.

Just as we can still connect to prophetic stories from centuries ago.

So how do you create a profitable product?

• Pick an Eternal Market – Health, wealth, relationships, happiness. These are human constants. These needs never go away.

• Solve Your Own Problem – Build a solution for something you struggle(d) with. Chances are, others will benefit too.

• Choose a Format – eBook, course, community, or app. Pick the format that delivers the value best.

• Improve What Exists – Don't copy. Do it better. What's missing? How can you streamline, make it faster, clearer, or more effective. Notice how courses now are getting so much better because people have access to pretty much everything.

• Experiment and Test – Look at what's out there. Try methods, find gaps, gather real-life data.

• Define Your Purpose – What problem are you solving? What's the clear result? Keep this simple and focused.

• Add Your Own Perspective – Strip out anything that doesn't align with your vision. Adapt it to fit your vision, your niche, your audience.

Muslim Creative can help more with this.

I always say, solve your own problems. Why? People relate best to those who are just a few steps ahead. There's someone out there who wants to be where you are. Help them get there.

Start the journey online now. You don't have to show your face. I am the proof of that.

If you're worried about others, block your friends and family until you're ready.

Take this in: If I want a course on photography, I'm not going to find every photography course out there. But if someone I trust or follow shows up in my feed offering a course, that's where I'll likely invest.

That's how it works: It's never too saturated because there's enough room, enough people, and enough provision from Allah for everyone.

Every meal you've had was written for you.

Every dollar you'll make was decreed long ago.

Maktub. It's written.

The pen has been lifted and the ink has dried.

Then Allah sends an angel who is ordered to write four things. He is ordered to write down his (i.e. the new creatures) deeds, his livelihood, his (date of) death, and whether he will be blessed or wretched (in religion). Then the soul is breathed into him..

Bukhari

Everything you're meant to have was written when you were just 120 days in the womb.

Thank you for reading this far.

If you want more, check this step-by-step guide to building a halal creator business and making your first online income.

Until next time.

Excuse my absence. My recent travels were wild. Booked a flight out of Medellin at 4pm, hopped on a 6pm flight to New York. Then, booked another flight at 5am and was on a 7am flight to Turkiye.

2pm in Istanbul and I was standing in front of Aya Sofya.

None of this was planned. No 9-5. Just the freedom to be here.

Alhamdulillah. All praises to the Most High!

And as always:

مع حبي (with love)

— Saufiyah ♡