Life & Relationships

The One-Man Caravan of Transformation
The world is moving fast. Amidst the strains and stress of life, we often forget to look within ourselves.


How many times have you experienced the silence within you?

Anger, temper, ego and pride is destroying the foundation of relationships. Unless a person experiences peace at home, he or she cannot experience peace at work or peace within his or her heart. At the end of the day, what matters most is how good a human being we were.


A.W. Sadathullah Khan’s “Discover Yourself Workshop” has been conducted in many cities across India. Abroad, from Dubai to Africa, the people who attended the Workshop truly experienced a transformation in their lives. All of us understand the principles of Islam, but at times, we do not apply it in our daily lives. The Workshop designed and conducted by Sadathullah Khan has helped thousands of people understand their own lives by applying the values of Islam in their personal and professional lives.


In August, the “Discover Yourself Workshop” was conducted in Johannasburg, Pretoria and Port Elizabeth.

The participants share their experiences after attending the Three Day Sessions, straight from their hearts.

On August 11, 12 and 13 August 2006, the Discover Yourself Workshop was held in Johannesberg where participants felt the windows of their heart and mind open.


Here they share their thoughts.

SABIRA: I was always blaming everybody else for all the problems. There was so much confusion and so many questions in my head. Suddenly I feel the calmness. I can see the light. The workshop is very useful and excellent, have another workshop soon.


REHANA: Earlier I was angry, bitter about the past and I just got married. As a revert I had a hard time coping and not having understood life. My in- laws made it unbearable. Through this workshop I learnt to put the past behind and look forward. I thank you for an eye-opening workshop. Keep it up and good luck.


FAHIMA: I have learnt to respect myself and developed confidence. I realised my faults. The workshop has opened a new future for me, to look on the brighter side, let go of the past, the anger. Jazakallah to you, May Allah reward you and your family.


HANI: I am attending the Workshop for the second time. Before the first workshop I was in depression. Very stuck in self-guilt and blame, as I had just been divorced a few months earlier. I felt as if my life was ruined. The worst thing was and is that I loved my ex-husband so much. Every step that I took was about change, adjustment, longing and pain, pain like I never experienced in life. I felt I went to hell. Alhamdulillah with your workshops and personal counseling, I am out of hell and leading now a very beautiful path. A path of self-discovery, which is leading me to my Allah. It is amazing how I passed 42 years and have not truly understood my Lord and relied on Him. I want to be with Allah and for Him to be with me.


REHANA: I have learnt to listen and shut up. It is only 3 days that I am in the workshop, but I really cannot wait to be in the new world to experience my true being of really loving and work towards peace, joy, contentment and I am now walking towards Allah with an empty bowl. A bowl before that was full of evil, malice, hate. Envy, criticism, judgmental and all what is bad which takes you away from Allah. I want to empower myself, be with my soul and be the best I can be. I want to start a workshop.


ABO BAKR: Three days of fulfilling, nourishing, encourag-ing, confirming experience. You have been orchestrating, inviting and opening the windows of our heart and minds. The irony is that our ability has been amputed by our wrong thinking, thus the ‘Windows’ we are using is supplied by Bill Gates. May Allah grant you life, long enough to continue with this message.


HASAN: The workshop provided me with an immeasurable positive experience. I have made a commitment to look at my condition with honesty and make a determined effort to improve my condition and those around me. New insights combined with reminders will help me to improve my marriage. My wife and children have attended and therefore the benefits have multiplied. I was an indecisive, regretful person, but now I can over come these weaknesses.


HAMIDA: I realised how much baggage I had carried with me all this time. Temper, frustrations etc.. Thank You for the workshop, you have shown me the way. You have made a difference in my life. I was too blind to see, you made me look at life now, with open eyes. I enjoyed the workshop. I like to know when you are having the next.

The Discover Yourself Workshop for women in Pretoria on 14, 15, 16 and 17 August 2006, helped participants change their perception about life.


ZUBEDA: I came on the first day with reservations that it will not work for me. I was in the depth of despair after the demise of my husband. I tried counseling, anti-depressant tranquillizer’s, yoga, nothing helped. On the first day I did not even concentrate for the first hour, thinking that I will not return the next day. Suddenly I started listening. At the end of the session when I went home with the knowledge, that night when my daughter came to discuss her school work with me for the first time after eleven months I was listening to her. The next day I learnt about the acceptance, I realised I had to accept my husband’s death. I thank Khan Saheb for showing me the light at the end of the tunnel. Please remember us in your duas. As they say, khabi alwida na kehna, agar zindagi rahi to phir milenge. Inshallah.


NAZIRA: I have realised that the sky is the limit to learning. I feel like a new person and hope and pray to Allah that I maintain this new person I have found within me which was always there within me. I was unsure, scared, pessimistic, self-ridiculing person, but I have freed myself of those feelings. I want to be my word.


AISHA: My life was in complete chaos. I was living from day to day; the rat race was driving my family and me crazy. I had all the keys but I could not unlock the door. This workshop unlocked the door as I choose and accept responsibility and accountability for my actions. My family will benefit because I have become calm. I benefited since I am not blind anymore. Now I can make a difference to every one around me. I wonder if it is possible to have workshop for children so that they can start this process early.


RUKSANA: These 4 days have been among the best I have ever experienced. My knowledge has increased, perceptions have changed, anger is gone, peace and love have entered my heart. I used to be angry about certain issues but now its all gone. I will live in the present to improve my future.


NADIA: It has helped me deal with my past and also helped me to forgive much more easily. To move on and live in the present. A very excellent workshop. I would recommend everyone to do it at least once in their life time if not more. Thank you very much for all that you have taught us. May Allah grant all your dua’s and give you barakah in all that you do ameen.


SHENAZ: I have been to many courses but this one has been most informative, the best too. I have realised that I have all along wasted my energy, Alhamdulillah all is not lost. The Workshop was very fruitful and beneficial. Workshop for teens would be appreciated.


ZAHIRA: I have learnt a lot from this workshop (patience and acceptance). This workshop has shown me a new way of living, given me a new meaning to life. I feel that I have been sent on this Earth to make a difference. My husband started seeing a difference in me already. My children say ‘Mummy you are bit different’. I used to get angry, shouted at the kids, calling them names, telling them what to do, now I have started giving them choices, stopped shouting. Started living in the present.


SHAHARAZAD: Alhamdu-lillah, I have accomplished self acceptance and have made a choice to honour my word, control my nafs and give up all those things that Allah hates. Before the workshop I had embarked upon a spiritual journey, reading much self-help books, to name a few, Lewis Hays- You can heal your life. Branden Bays – The journey, Mind power, Do not be Sad, Sufism etc..Jazakallah Khan Saheb for giving me an Islamic perspective on putting all I have read into practice. You were awe-inspiring. Jazakallah for, this insightful four days. May Allah reward you abundantly and accept all your efforts.


YASMEEN: This workshop gave me a multi-dimensional view into myself. All the things that appeared as burdensome and large became insignificant as the present became bolder and enlarged. The present is a present and we have to appreciate this gift. I found myself. I found everything… the best part was that I was holding the keys to everything that lay within myself. Now that the discovery has been made, I am free!! My family noticed this immediate change! My life before this workshop was a bit closed up almost like a cocoon. I have opened up hoping to be the butterfly flapping the goodness in my wings, Inshallah. Finally all thanks to Allah for inspiring Khan sahib to educate the Ummah. Excellent workshop for the young and the old.


WAHIDA: I have learnt to leave everything in Allah’s hands. I learnt to let go of hatred, anger and feel very relieved. My husband and daughter are very happy to see how different I am now. I carry positive and good energy. I feel empty and free flowing. Nothing bothers me; I am now a happy, forgiving, loving person and would like to make a difference in peoples lives. Everything for Allah’s pleasure, Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, praise be to Allah, for granting me this opportunity.

Port Elizabeth is located on the South Eastern coast of Africa. This major sea port and tourist destination is set along the beautiful shores of Algoa Bay, and is fondly referred to as the Friendly Eco-City. The city is the second largest in terms of area and the fifth largest in terms of population in South Africa. The city is also an important centre for the South African motor industry. Sadathullah Khan’s Workshop was held here on 18, 19 and 20 August 2006. The participants share their experiences.


AMINA: I changed from being a human, meaning making doing machine to a human being. I feel like I grew up in just three days. Having felt Allah enter me during the adhan zikr session, I for the first time in my life submitted to the will of Allah and surrendered to Him. I became a Muslim !! Alhamdulillah. I became aware of the shaytan. The nice part of workshop was also to just be with all the Muslim sisters and grow together and feel all the Muslim sisters spirit of sisterhood. Thank you and to Allah for the opportunity.


AYESHA: I have been a Muslim for three weeks, and this is against my family’s will. I face many obstacles everyday because of this. This workshop has helped me to remain calm when discriminated against, when I am insulted and teased. It was and still is for me very, very difficult to live as a Muslim in my home, reciting Quran’, sallaah, or even greeting Islamically. However now I have gained courage, self-respect, respect for others, patience and the ability to come from nothingness and be calm. I learnt to forgive those who I felt wronged me. I can now worship Allah ta’ala with confidence and truthfulness. Jazakallahu khair!


SHAMEEM: Shukran for the most inspiring 3 days of my life. I attended this workshop with many questions coming from a catholic upbringing and shukaran for giving me the answers. I make dua that Allah ta’ala will bless you to touch many more lives Inshah Allah. You are a true ambassador and will always remain in my heart.


FARHANA: I have never been so touched. The reality of my life is so clear. I see a world of possibilities. I feel so free. I was molested for 12 years of my childhood, I blamed the world, and I blamed Allah. I missed the lessons, Shay tan ruled my life, my relationships, and he lied to me about myself that I am the worst creation on the face of the Earth. I feel awakened to the ‘illusion’. I know now that I am the vice-gerent of Allah. I am pure and perfect. I am grateful to Allah for inspiring Khan and giving him this knowledge and the right words that have helped me come out of darkness. May Allah give him light and peace in this life and the hereafter? At first I thought 3 days too long but now I feel 3 days is not too long.


BILQIS: I have a whole new perspective on life. Previously to this, I knew the various hadiths and ayahs etc. but I grappled to put into practice. It was as if what I knew and what I did was in total opposition. I feel so free and light. Khan has put so much of light into helping me tackle my issues, without naming it, when he was speaking I felt like he was addressing me in the entire group and giving me light into my issues. I enjoyed tremendously the meditation zikr exercise. I felt calm and peace with myself. After going home the second day, I found I was much calmer as a mother, not the same irritable, wacky me anymore. I could handle the strains of motherhood quite effectively without getting worked up and shouting and screaming and beating etc.


SHARIFA: I feel more peaceful within and confident that I can achieve whatever I choose. The workshop has allowed me to see that there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel. It has also shown me what I have been searching for. Presenting Islam with universal principles of life was excellent. It just brought everything together. You cannot put a price on what I learnt here!


YUNUS: I attended the workshop when asked by my wife. She also attended. After the first day I realized this workshop was for me. I have started to look within myself and started to see the light within myself. To change my problems, my family, my community, and my world I have to start by changing myself. Alhamdulillah, I could see my children were shocked to see the change only after the Ist day. Conduct more workshops in all the areas so that the message reaches far and wide.


YUSRI: It connected me with Allah. Allah has chosen me to come to this duniya as his Ambassador and to love mankind unconditionally. The Nur of Allah has touched me. The reality of Akhira has opened. May Allah accept and use you and everybody involved with this venture and enshroud and envelop you all with His mercy, Ameen!


SHAHID: To summerise my life- my life before the workshop was inconsistent, selfish, living in the past and not focusing on the righteous ways of life. The benefits I derived are my new outlook towards life and the personal benefits in it. Also to make those close to me able to enjoy the peace, happiness, joy, contentment and success.


MYMONA: My life before the workshop was one of negativity, worthless, no confidence, anger, frustration and living in the past. I came to the workshop hoping for a change in my life. I have now acknowledged my blindness and need to practice. I have become aware of the things that are clouding my mind and causing sickness of the heart. Shukaran.


(Names of participants have been changed to protect their identity)

You cannot be instrumental in reforming transgressors until you have become a truly righteous person yourself, living in fearful awareness of your Lord. When you are alone, you must be sincerely devoted to Him and when in company, your behaviour is not influenced by the desire to impress your fellow men, and you affirm the Oneness of Allah in every aspect of your life. The token of your sincerity is that you are indifferent to the praise and blame of others, and do not covet what they possess.