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A Clear Path for Muslims in the West to find meaningful work in Tech and make a lasting impact on the Ummah
Who am I? Why Tech?
👋 Assalamu Alaikum. I’m Obaid, a senior software engineer working remotely for Zuora, in the UK (living in Egypt at the time of writing). After spending many years in the Tech industry and speaking with brothers on the ground, I realised there was a critical need for resources that would enable Muslims to be able to build wealth and migrate away from the West.
The Ummah is in need of hard-working technical talent to help build and invest in the Ummah. We need problem solvers and leaders. Alhamdulillah, The skills you learn in Tech enable exactly that.
Bear in mind that I’ve designed this specific blueprint primarily for folks in the UK looking to change careers or start their journey in tech. Some of the pre-requisites may be hard to satisfy depending on where you live (renting a MacBook, reliable internet, etc.), so please bear this in mind.
It’s a completely hands-free approach. There are no scheduled classes or teachers. I give all the advice I’ve learned over the years for free. My goal is to help take you from complete beginner to either land a high-paying tech job, freelance, or build and launch your own products (startups) with investment, which can potentially enable you to take the necessary steps to finally migrate away from the West inshaAllah (if this is a motivating factor for you).
Time & Cost Comparison
Traditional Degree | This Blueprint |
---|---|
3-4 years full-time | 6-12 months (4 hours/day, 5 days/week) |
£30,000+ in University tuition | ~£1000-1500 total investment |
Lots of theory, less practical skills | Focused on practical, in-demand skills building real projects |
Limited job support | Active community support, Office Hours, Livestreams |
Rigid schedule | Flexible learning around your schedule |
Outdated curriculum | Up-to-date and clear industry demand |
Required Mindset & Commitment
Just as students of knowledge (Tullab Al-‘Ilm) commit years to studying the Deen, we must approach Tech with a similar dedication and seriousness. Even though this path requires less financial investment than traditional education, it demands more personal effort and discipline. These resources have been compiled to give you clear path forward, but no one will force you to travel this path, it’s all on you.
This is an active choice to transform your life - it’s only for serious Muslims who are:
- Ready to sacrifice comfort and entertainment
- Willing to struggle through difficult concepts (and humble enough to ask for help)
- Committed to consistent daily study
- Prepared to change habits and routines
- Focused on long-term success over short-term ease
Remember: Our predecessors would travel months just to learn a single hadeeth. They understood that valuable knowledge requires serious effort. Approach this journey with that same level of commitment and determination and you will see the fruits of your labour inshaAllah.
What You’ll Need
- A performant MacBook (can be rented monthly for ~£50-70)
- Reliable and fast internet connection (Minimum 50Mbps)
- 4-6 hours per day, 5 days per week
- Commitment to consistent learning
While this path offers many advantages, it requires serious commitment and personal growth:
- Mental Discipline: You’ll need to develop strong focus and study habits
- Time Management: Consistently dedicating hours each day while balancing other responsibilities
- Patience with Struggle: Programming is challenging - expect to feel stuck and frustrated often
- Growth Mindset: Embracing challenges as opportunities to learn and be humble enough to ask for help when you need it
- Tawakkul: Trust in Allah’s plan while putting in the work
- Breaking Old Habits: Remove harmful entertainment and unproductive activities
- Self-Accountability: No teachers forcing you to study - you are responsible for your own learning
Success requires changing your daily routines and stepping out of your comfort zone. But with sincere intention, discipline, and trust in Allah, this path is absolutely achievable.
More details in Pre-requisites
Why This Works Better Than Traditional Education
- Learn By Building: Instead of 3-4 years of theoretical lectures, you learn only what you need to know to start building real projects
- Community Support: Access to mentors and peers who understand your goals as a Muslim
- Modern Stack: Learn exactly what companies are hiring for right now
- Practical Focus: Everything you learn has immediate real-world application
- Flexible Schedule: Learn around your current job and family commitments
- Clear Path: Step-by-step guidance on what to learn and when
The Opportunity for Muslims
Tech skills are particularly valuable for Muslims because:
- Remote and Flexible Work Times: Accommodates prayer times and Islamic lifestyle
- High Demand: Strong markets and investment opportunities in many Muslim countries (UAE, Qatar, Malaysia, etc.)
- Build Solutions: Create beneficial products that serve the ummah
- High Financial Freedom Potential: Build your own products and companies and sell your software as a service
- Global Network: Connect with Muslim tech professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors worldwide
Opportunities to build wealth
There are 3 main paths you can take to build wealth as a Software Engineer:
1. Software Engineering Job (Lowest Risk) 🏢
- Get a job at a tech company in the West (prioritize remote-friendly companies)
- Work hard and build experience for 1 year
- Save aggressively (live with parents etc.)
- Build strong portfolio and references
- Start planning your migration. Visit the lands of the Muslims (Saudi, Qatar, Morocco, Malaysia, UAE etc.)
- Choose your path:
- Continue working remotely for Western company (fully remotely)
- Find local job in Muslim countries (Saudi, UAE, Qatar etc.)
- Start your own tech company (many Muslim countries have active startup ecosystems). Access funding through local incubators/accelerators
- Network with angel investors and VCs in Muslim lands
- Reinvest savings strategically (Property, Stocks, etc.)
2. Development Agency (Lower Risk) 🏗️
- Start a Software Development Agency
- Scale by hiring developers
- Use agency capital to launch SaaS products
- Start planning your migration. Visit the lands of the Muslims (Saudi, Qatar, Morocco, Malaysia, UAE etc.)
- Benefits:
- Immediate revenue through MVP fees or profit-sharing (10-20% services, 50%+ SaaS)
- Built-in network of potential customers
- Capital for future ventures
- Reinvest profits strategically (Property, Stocks, etc.)
3. Direct Product Path (Higher Risk) 🚀
- Identify niche problem to solve
- Build Software solution
- Launch MVP quickly
- Market via social, cold email, SEO
- Get users and testimonials
- Scale to $2K MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue)
- Continue to grow or sell at 30-50x multiple
- Start planning your migration. Visit the lands of the Muslims (Saudi, Qatar, Morocco, Malaysia, UAE etc.)
- Reinvest profits strategically (Property, Stocks, etc.)
Support System
You’re not alone in this journey:
- Discord Community: 24/7 access to help and support
- Project Reviews: Get feedback on your projects
- Job Search Support: Resume reviews and interview prep
- Mentorship Tiers: Access different levels of support based on your needs
If you ever feel your motivation waning or need help regaining control of your life, check out our Self-Improvement Guide. It’s normal to face challenges, and I’ve tried to organise the best advice from our Deen on helping re-center yourself to stay on track regardless of your situation (time management, relationship-expectation advice for couples, etc.)
Next Steps
Convinced this could be a viable path for you? Alhamdulillah. Let’s check what you need:
This blueprint is designed for serious learners who want to change their lives through tech. While the investment is significantly less than traditional education, the real investment is your time and dedication. We provide the structure, support, and guidance - you bring the commitment to learn.
Common Questions
Why is Hijrah Important for Muslims in the West?
There is no future in the West for the Muslims. Their societies are crumbling beneath their feet, scrambling to elect the next best politician for marginal increases in their lifestyle, while ultimately living depressing lives and without higher purpose.
I highly recommend reading these 2 articles:
Tech offers an escape, with the permission of Allah, from this decline:
- The ability to work remotely from anywhere in the world ✅
- Earn in strong currencies while living in Muslim countries ✅
- Shield your family from corrupt Western education systems ✅
- Build wealth independent of dying Western economies ✅
- Create solutions that benefit the Ummah (Building a company) ✅
I’m seeing a lot of fear-mongering on social media about AI taking over software engineering jobs. Is this true?
The question is not whether AI will take over software engineering jobs, but how it will change the market. The market is evolving but remains strong. AI is enhancing developer productivity rather than replacing jobs.
A better way to put it: “AI won’t take your job, but someone using AI will”.
Key factors for success:
- AI-enhanced development skills - You need to stay up to date with all the latest AI coding assistants, workflows, and tools. (You’ll see posts from me on my X account on this as well as discussions in our Discord server. I try to help everyone stay sharp on this)
- Portfolio of actual projects that solve real problems and have real users (not just another website clone from a YouTube tutorial)
- Full-stack knowledge - Deep understanding of frontend and backend development, with the ability to architect complete applications from the ground up
- Effective Communication - Ability to explain complex ideas clearly and effectively (Still very hard for AI to do perfectly)
- Business domain knowledge - Understanding specific industry needs. This will vary based on the industry you’re targeting.
Following this roadmap diligently, most people can become job-ready within 6-12 months, depending on learning pace.
What’s the roadmap to landing a tech job?
- Build a strong foundation in the most popular web development languages within 3-4 months: Complete the recommended frontend (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, TypeScript, React) and backend (Go, SQL, HTTP) courses
- Build portfolio projects: Use NextJS (a full-stack framework built on top of React) to create 1 substantial application solving a real problem - You’ll use our custom boilerplate: Titan
- Prepare for interviews: Start interview prep during months 6-9 (algorithms, system design)
- Optimize your presence: GitHub profile, technical resume, LinkedIn
- Network strategically: Leverage our community and online platforms
- Apply consistently: 10-15 targeted applications weekly (expect 50-100+ total applications)
Our community provides support at each stage through code reviews, portfolio feedback, and interview preparation.
What skills are most employable right now?
Our roadmap focuses on high-demand skills with staying power:
Frontend:
- HTML/CSS fundamentals
- JavaScript/TypeScript mastery
- ReactJS/NextJS (full-stack React framework)
- Web APIs
- Frontend Debugging and performance optimisation
Backend:
- Golang for high-performance backend microservices
- SQL database design
- HTTP client/server implementation
- Linux, Git, Docker fundamentals
- CI/CD workflows
This curriculum was selected because these technologies are used across all company sizes, have robust communities, and enable you to build production-quality applications from scratch.
What’s the job-hunting process like?
Getting hired requires a systematic approach across multiple areas:
-
Build your foundation: Create an ATS-friendly CV that quantifies your impact using the XYZ format (“Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]”)
-
Strategic job search: Target remote-first companies and use specialized job boards like We Work Remotely, Peerlist, and Stack Overflow Jobs
-
Boost your chances:
- Use Boolean searches on LinkedIn to find hiring managers
- Get real experience through platforms like TechFleet
- Secure employee referrals (10× your odds)
- Reach out directly to hiring managers using email-finding tools
-
Prepare for interviews: Practice with platforms like GreatFrontEnd and study system design fundamentals
-
Negotiate compensation: Research market rates using Levels.fyi and understand the full compensation package
Remember this is a numbers game—track your applications and don’t take rejections personally. Our community provides support with networking strategies, interview preparation, and compensation negotiation.
Learn more in our Application Process guide
Can I get company referrals through this network?
Potentially. We have some connections in the industry so you could get a referral from us if you stand out. We’ll also help you network with other people in the community (or just share your details with recruiters we may know at the very least).
What if I want my children to learn to code?
Teaching your children to code can be an excellent investment in their future, providing them with valuable skills that align with our goals as Muslims. Here’s how to approach it:
Setting up a safe learning environment
The below settings can be applied to the rented MacBook you’ll have purchased for them in the pre-requisites guide.
The other pre-requisites will still apply, no matter the age (reliable internet, work ethic etc.)
-
Parental Controls & Monitoring
- Install Qustodio for comprehensive monitoring on every device ($54.95/year for 5 devices)
- Track screen time across all apps
- Block inappropriate websites and apps
- Set custom schedules for device usage
- Get detailed activity reports sent to your email
- Remote screen viewing capability
- Instant pause functionality
- Install Qustodio for comprehensive monitoring on every device ($54.95/year for 5 devices)
-
Browser Setup & Content Filtering
- Use Firefox or Brave browser which have better privacy features than Chrome (and AdBlockers are built-in)
- Install these essential browser extensions:
- HaramBlur - Automatically detects and blurs potentially inappropriate content (images and real-time video on all websites)
- Unhook - Removes YouTube recommendations, Shorts and Trending sections to prevent addictive content
- BlockSite - Completely blocks specific websites and includes filters for adult content
-
Physical Setup
- Position the computer in a family area (not in bedroom)
- Setup the screen facing outward so you can see it from anywhere in the room
It’s important they cultivate a sense of ‘deep work’. When they are learning/building, they must be left undisturbed for a block of time. Attention is the currency of the 21st century. Building their focus will pay dividends in the future inshaAllah.
Learning Path
While our Software Engineer roadmap is suitable for all ages, we recommend you adjust the pace based on your child’s individual needs and abilities. Some children may prefer a slower, more gradual approach while others are naturally gifted and progress quickly through the material. The roadmap has been thoroughly vetted Alhamdulillah and contains no inappropriate content. The courses we recommend per section are very professional and beginner-friendly and are designed for any age group. We advise that you monitor their learning journey and be inquisitive - ask how it’s going every so often, but let them set their own pace. Allow them to make mistakes and learn through experimentation, as this builds problem-solving skills and confidence.
Community Support
Our Discord server is the core community of learners and builders (primarily Muslims) where your child can benefit from:
- Moderated Environment: Our server is highly moderated to ensure a safe, beneficial space (no NSFW content, trolling, no drama, or inappropriate speech. We occasionally banter amongst the brothers, but we try to keep it light-hearted and definitely nothing offensive)
- Mentorship: Access to experienced engineers and other learners who can answer questions
Children can join the Discord server under parent supervision:
- Create a Discord account for your child with your email address
- Enable 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) for security
- Monitor their interactions
As a parent, you can also join to observe discussions and understand how best to help support them inshaAllah.
Parental supervision guidelines
- Set clear time limits to avoid excessive screen time. Learning to code requires deep focus. 1 hour pomodoro sessions are a minimum (50 mins coding, 10 mins break). It’s important they get used to this deep focus early on inshaAllah.
- Balance coding with physical activity, reading Quran, and other essential activities.
- They will frequently be stretched and challenged when trying to learn new concepts, so regularly check-in with them and remind them of the bigger picture. Connect their striving to Islamic principles (patience, problem-solving, beneficial knowledge), and understanding that they are learning for the sake of Allah to benefit themselves and the Ummah inshaAllah.
Learning new concepts can be challenging (for all ages). It’s important to be there for them for emotional support but encourage them to persevere and figure out a solution (lots of advice on this through the blueprint). It’s incredibly important they get used to this idea of deep focus and self-agency so that they can build their resilience and become successful inshaAllah.
Start small with 1 hour a day a few times per week, and remember that the goal isn’t to push your child into a career prematurely, but to develop logical thinking skills and provide them with tools they may use in the future, inshaAllah.