The Barakah Effect

What were you doing when you were 14 years old? For most of us, those years were filled with school, friends, entertainment, and trying to fit in. Years ago in Surrey at the suburbs of London, a 14-year-old boy named Lewis Bullock made a life-changing decision that would completely alter the course of his life: he embraced Islam. Today, he is known around the world as Ustadz Ismail Bullock. In thi...

Is Islam… uncomfortable? Has our desire to present a "gentle and compassionate" faith accidentally created a "feel-good" version of Islam that completely avoids the serious side of the Deen?​We love talking about mercy, spirituality, and inspiration—as we should. But what happens when we ignore accountability, discipline, and the reality of Hellfire? For this episode, Sheikh Wa...

Millions all over the world know him as Sheikh Assim Al-Hakeem — the familiar voice behind countless lectures, Q&A sessions, and Islamic programmes watched across the globe. But many may not know his surprising origin story and journey: Before the international conferences. Before the television appearances. Before becoming a source of knowledge for Muslims worldwide. In this special episode o...

We live in an era where Muslims have more access to Islamic knowledge than any generation before us, yet many feel psychologically, mentally, and physically weaker than ever. We default to an apologetic stance on our identity, caught between modern secular life and Islamic values, unsure of where we stand. What most people miss is that true strength and success are completely inverted by divine st...

In the rush of deadlines, meetings, and ambitions, Ramadan can easily become just another month in the calendar. We fast during the day, attend a few prayers at night, and promise ourselves we will do better next year. But Surah al-Qadr reminds us that Ramadan is not merely about fasting, it is about a night that can outweigh a lifetime. Allah ta'ala says:“The Night of Decree is better than a...

We are living in a constant race for more. More promotions. More income. More recognition. More likes. In this episode, we unpack Surah At-Takaathur and the psychological trap behind modern culture. What happens when ambition turns into obsession? When success becomes identity? When the competition only ends at the grave? This isn’t about stopping ambition. It’s about realigning it before it owns...

Why does Allah swear by the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth—the longest sequence of oaths in the Quran—before speaking to us? Join us for a discussion on Surah Ash-Shams, where the cosmic wonders of the universe meet the deepest secrets of the human heart. In just 15 short verses, this Surah unveils the ultimate formula for life: Success is not measured by what you own, but by how you manage your hea...

When the Universe Prostrates... ....But You Don’t. Everything in existence, the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, and creatures unseen bows down and prostrates to Allah in absolute submission. Yet, among mankind and jinn, there are those who refuse. Surah As-Sajdah is a wake-up call, a reminder of where we came from, the reality of our fleeting time on earth, and the inevitable m...

In a world obsessed with instant results, viral success, and “having it all figured out,” how do we keep learning without burning out, giving up, or feeling left behind? In this episode of The Barakah Effect podcast, we sit down with Sheikh Mohammad Al-Naqwi for a deep conversation on the theme of Growth Mindset: curiosity, growth, resilience, and the lifelong journey of becoming better — spiritua...

Islam is always seen as a religion of Do's and Don'ts, restrictions and constraints. What people sometimes overlook, though, is that it is also a source of sustained joy and happiness: A concept that is difficult to grasp by non-religious individuals; and one that is taken for granted by Muslims, who, in modern times, tend to search for happiness To tackle this subject, we have a conversation with...

In this episode of the Barakah Fact Podcast, we are joined by special guest Sheikh Abdul Raheem McCarthy to dive deep into the escalating tensions between the U.S., I$ra3l, and Iran. As global anxieties rise and many wonder if we are witnessing the "Signs of the End" or the beginning of another World War, we peel back the layers of these geopolitical events from both a political and religious pers...

In a world that constantly measures people by status, influence, and visibility, the Qur’an quietly challenges us with a very different metric. This Sunday, 15 March at 11:00am (GMT+8), join Faisal and The Barakah Effect team for a live reflection on Surah Abasa titled:“A Qur’anic Reset on Status, Success & Significance.”In a world obsessed with followers, titles, and who’s sitting at the "imp...

In a world that feels increasingly turbulent—filled with noise, shifting priorities, and constant change—it’s easy to feel unmoored. We often find ourselves trying to control every outcome, only to end up exhausted. Join us for our next Treasures from Qur'an live session as Reza explores the profound lessons of Surah Al-Mulk. This isn't just a Surah we recite before bed; it is a blueprint for rega...

Surah Al-Asr is the third shortest surah in the Quran, containing only 3 verses and therefore making it a favourite for worshippers often times to recite it in their prayer when they are short for time. While it uses simple and direct words, it also has deep and comprehensive meanings, containing sharp and direct reminders for all mankind to adopt in avoiding the true catastrophic failure. In othe...

Rasulullah ﷺ once asked the great companion Ubayy ibn Kaab رضي الله عنه : what is the greatest verse in the Qur'an? Ubayy immediately recited ayatul Kursi: " اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ" Out of over 6,000 verses in the Quran, Ubayy chose this ayah, verse number 255 from Surah Al Baqarah. Acknowledging his response, Rasulullah ﷺ replied, “by Allah, you are inde...

Does a struggle-free life exist? Is true happiness to achieve a life that is free from stress or trials? Life is not always easy—stress, anxiety, and challenges are part of the journey. Yet, these struggles can become opportunities to strengthen your faith and character. Join us this coming Sunday at 11:00 am (GMT +8), in our second live session for our series of "Treasures from Qur'an&qu...

Ahlan ya Ramadan! This year, 2025 / 1446AH, The Barakah Effect team's Ramadan Tadabbur series, Treasures from Qur'an, returns with our sessions on reflections, uncovering and sharing some key inspirations, practical applications as we discover of some of our favorite surah from the Book of Allah. The Prophet ﷺ said,مَنْ حَفِظَ عَشْرَ آيَاتٍ مِنْ أَوَّلِ سُورَةِ الْكَهْفِ عُصِمَ مِنَ الدَّجَّالِ "W...

For our first ever live event, brother Reeza, Amir and Faisal have a conversation live with the team and audience from IamTheBeliever at Subang Jaya, Malaysia, discussing about how to Excel in Ramadan: especially when we are juggling multiple responsibilities, in our jobs, families and chores. How can we be productive with so many responsibilities bogging us down? Throughout the conversation, we d...

Ever considered coaching for your personal growth? In recent years, coaching has become an increasingly popular approach being used by individuals, corporations, and executive leaders for purposes of self-development, personal improvement and habit-shaping goals. But what exactly is coaching all about? In this episode, we have a conversation with CEO Coach, Hasannuddin Saidin, founder of Rubah Ass...

Are Muslims losing? When - and how - is victory going to come for our ummah?  The situation appears bleak across the Muslim world today. Conflicts, suffering, oppression, and isIam0ph0bia are all so rampant that muslims feel there is little hope, and as a result some have lose confidence in their Muslim identity, and even begin to have doubts in their faith From the angle of politics, economy, mil...

For this episode, we have a conversation with one of our favourite teachers, Sheikh Dr. Sajid Umar, on what it takes to Raise Visionary Leaders. We discuss:  ✅ COVID - making the best out of our circumstances to be proactive ✅ What does it mean like to have a vision? What does being a "visionary" look like, from an Islamic perspective?  ✅ How can parents raise visionary future leaders...

For this episode, we bring in our guest, Ustadz Suffian Samsuddin, founder and lead teacher of Jayyid Qur'an Academy, to share his unique approach to teaching the Qur'an to make it a fun and engaging experience, helping many children be proficient and Qur'an, but not only that: How he tailors his classes so that when the students leave, they feel joyful, inspired and excited for more,...

Overwhelmed by the noise around you? In today's fast-paced, distraction-filled world, maintaining focus on what truly matters can feel like an overwhelming challenge, so much so that our productivity and responsibilities in nurturing our families, excelling at work, and being productive suffers. How can we overcome this dillemma? Join us in this episode as we explore actionable insights on how to...

Studying while working, and parenting Is it doable? The pursuit of knowledge is part of the very fabric of the human condition, and for some its an insatiable thirst that stays with us - even when we have primary responsibilities such as working and being parents. The question is, is it possible to remain balanced pursuing proper studies while having professional and personal responsibilities? Joi...

News headlines both locally and worldwide - are constantly headlines of corruption, money laundering, bribes. From world leaders, management teams, all the way down to the working level staff in a company, corruption has become more rampant and widespread, and it’s easy to see why the topic of integrity has recently been given so much emphasis and taking up much more of a spotlight in the corporat...