By Asma Farheen Shaik
Guntur, Andhra Pradesh
There was a time in my life when I was searching for change. I was looking for discipline, consistency, and a space where I could learn, collaborate, and grow with the right people. I was exploring for a connection, people who could support each other and grow together, by the will of Allah.
During this phase, a pop-up notification appeared on my phone. It was about a Media and Design Workshop conducted by GIO Andhra Pradesh. Something felt familiar and meaningful, so I registered without expecting that this workshop would become such an important source for my growth journey.
This workshop became a source of skills, knowledge, and daily learning, did it? No, this was not the end there.
It also became a source of meeting new people. Every person I met reflected tameez and tehzeeb. Their respectful behaviour reminded me of the teachings of our beloved Prophet ﷺ. The mentors were skilled and supportive, and the management team taught me a lot, not only professionally, but also in life. They helped me find a sense of purpose, by the will of Allah.
I have always admired one idea deeply, that youth should be involved in Deen-related work, while also upskilling and supporting one another with strong moral values. In this workshop, I saw that idea become real. They did not just speak about values, they lived them.
At first, I thought this would be a simple weekly workshop. But it was completely different. This was not a normal workshop. It gives me energy, an energy I had never noticed in myself before.
A Day in the Workshop
One day in the workshop, a mentor began the session with a graceful voice and positive energy. Her name was Atoofa Nasiha. She started the class with great enthusiasm and introduced us to article writing.
Wait, Article writing? I had no expectations at all. Then we were told that our articles would be published in a magazine. I never expected that.
What I felt was excitement, gratitude, and something very special in my heart. Who could imagine that this workshop would give me butterflies in my heart? Who could imagine that one day my written articles would be officially published on platforms like Radiance and Aura?
This journey gave me more than learning. It gave me belief. Alhamdulillah.
With all the grace and support I received in the workshop, I started writing my first article. I chose my favourite topic of my favourite personality, Lessons from the life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: Leadership with Mercy.
For me, initially, it was difficult. Before this, I had never written an article. I had no experience. I did not know how to start, how to explain my thoughts, or how to put them into proper words.
During this journey, the senior mentor Atoofa Nasiha supported me a lot. She explained everything to me patiently and clearly. Whenever I took a wrong step in the process of writing, she guided me kindly. She taught me how to take references, how to narrate the content, and how to keep the writing real and meaningful. She guided me through every part of the process.
With her guidance and with all the learning and research, Alhamdulillah, after one and a half months, I finally completed my article. And Alhamdulillah, just three days later, it was published. There are no words to explain that moment. The excitement and happiness were beyond expression.
And this was not the end of my writing journey. In fact, it was the beginning. I went on to write two more articles, again on topics close to my heart. One was about Muslim scientists who changed the world, and the other was about the role of youth in the Prophet’s mission.
The Best Part of the Writing Journey
The best part of writing articles is the depth of knowledge I’ve gained. My writing is based on spiritual and Islamic themes, and I’m grateful for the insights through this process. I learned and understood many Hadith and Qur’anic verses that I did not know before. Learning these Hadith and Qur’anic verses truly brought a change within me.
While writing, I studied the lives of the Prophet ﷺ and many personalities from Islamic history. I learned about their life journeys, their struggles, their hard work, their faith, and their trust in Allah. Every personality carries a real lesson, and every story teaches something meaningful.
The Hadith, the Qur’an, and the lives of these great personalities taught me a lot. This journey helped me reflect, understand, and grow. For me, this searching, learning, and understanding became the most beautiful part of my writing journey.
One more beautiful thing happened during this journey. I was given the responsibility to become a team lead and help new writers. I guided around 10 to 12 new writers, supporting them through the writing process.
This role taught me a lot. It helped me learn patience, respect, and how to guide others while maintaining strong moral values. I learned how to listen, how to support, and how to correct with kindness. This experience helped me understand people better and taught me how to handle different situations calmly.
I never expected the kind of experience I received. Guiding and supporting others helped me grow even more. Helping them learn also helped me learn. It was truly an amazing and meaningful experience.
I was not alone in this journey. There were 7 team leads working together to complete this Mission 100 articles, along with mentor Atoofa Nasiha, who was guiding us throughout the process. And truly, it was never about being a leader or guiding a few people. It was about learning, growing, and helping each other.
The workshop became a source I had never imagined before. It helped me grow into something more. I still carry that excitement and gratitude in my heart.
I am deeply thankful to my mentor Atoofa Nasiha and to all the people behind the screen, the mentors and organisers of GIO Andhra Pradesh, along with all the writers who made the workshop possible. This truly became the starting point of my new writing journey.
