When I was at university, I was thrust into "teaching" positions I never asked for.
First came a request to prepare content for a student halaqah. Then I was asked to give Friday khutbahs. Then to lead a weekly seerah class.
Each time, my internal reaction was the same: I'm not ready. Who am I? I'm just a student.
But circumstances kept pushing me forward, and by my fourth year, I became comfortable teaching and actually enjoyed the process.
Over time I realized how Allah ﷻ sometimes puts you in certain circumstances so He can grow you into specific positions.
I reflect on the story of Musa (peace be upon him). After Allah ﷻ describes His favors upon Musa in Surat Taha, Allah says:
وَٱصۡطَنَعۡتُكَ لِنَفۡسِي ٤١
"And I produced you for Myself."
Surah Ta-Ha [20:41]
Your life circumstances and challenges are all part of Allah’s tarbiyah (nurturing) of your soul because He’s Your Rabb. And if you're a parent or a teacher, you know that the best way to grow your children or your students is to put them through uncomfortable growth challenges, and not to wait until they feel ready.
When Prophet Muhammad ﷺ first received revelation in the cave of Hira, his response was "I am not a reader." He went home trembling, asking his wife Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) to cover him. The Prophet ﷺ did not feel ready on day one.
So if you're sitting today with one of these "uncomfortable challenges" to step up in your personal or professional life and feel not ready, remember 3 things:
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱشۡرَحۡ لِي صَدۡرِي ٢٥ وَيَسِّرۡ لِيٓ أَمۡرِي ٢٦ وَٱحۡلُلۡ عُقۡدَةٗ مِّن لِّسَانِي ٢٧ يَفۡقَهُواْ قَوۡلِي ٢٨
"[Moses] said, "My Lord, expand [i.e., relax] for me my breast [with assurance] And ease for me my task And untie the knot from my tongue That they may understand my speech."
Surah Ta-Ha [20:25-28]
May Allah ﷻ use us for His sake and expand our capacity to serve Him in the best possible way. Ameen.
If you're ready to build real capacity — not just for one challenge, but as a lifelong habit — the Productive Muslim Program gives you the structure to grow steadily into who Allah is shaping you to become:
