Islam always plays an important role in the life of every Muslim. Be it in any field or sector, without Allah it is impossible to take a single step on the ladder of success.
Aliaune Thiam, popularly known as Akon also admits that Islam played a major role in his success. He calls Islam as the key
The half US and half Senegalese Singer-Rapper was speaking at an Entrepreneurial Festival at Sharjah, UAE. He was conveying an inspiring and important speech at festival where he mentioned the above fact.
A huge crowd gathered at the venue to listen to 46 year old Grammy winner’s journey from a car thief to a superstar Singer-Rapper and Social Entrepreneur.
During his speech, he admitted that whenever he is away from music, he finds most satisfaction then. He also said that his success in business & entrepreneurship is just because of his Islamic faith.
“Always perfect your craft,” he told the crowd, going on to add, however, that “sometimes things happen when you don’t want them to happen, and when God wants it to happen. And I think that’s a side that entrepreneurs dismiss – the spiritual side of your goal, or the spiritual side of your success.”
Akon credits spirituality as one of the things which helped him to stick to his objectives both in his business and music life.
“It makes you ask the question: what is success? Is it fame or fortune? Does that measure what success means to you? Or is it faith?” he questioned. “For me, real success is faith. If God is not smiling upon me I am not successful. I don’t care even if I have a billion dollars in the bank. And what good am I if have a billion dollars sitting in the bank in the first place?”
Akon had started a business project named Akon Lighting Africa Project which provides solar energy to around 14 African countries and employs more than 5000 people. He aims to do both social service and business through it while he is planning to launch his cryptocurrency name AKOIN.
While immensely proud of the company’s growth, Akon said his motivations are ultimately linked to reaching the light that’s beyond. “I don’t believe in having that much money sitting away without applying it to changing somebody’s life. Now I may not make a million dollars out of that transaction, but I may get a few good credits to go to paradise. I am cool with that.”
He went on to say that putting impact first can also lead to success. “If you are looking for financial gain then it’s very easy to structure because it is simply about profit and loss. I do it in a way that whatever I get myself into, I want it to have an impact. I want to get into a business to help. The most successful businesses in the world are those that solve problems or offer solutions to issues in life that we are facing.”
This is not the first time when Akon opened about his faith among his fans and public. Back in 2015, while he was in UAE, he spoke to The National about Islam, and he told about the relationship between his religion and his faith, “I was born a Muslim and, depending on what part of Senegal you came from, music was considered haram [unlawful] and there has always been a debate about Islam and music.
“I never looked at the performing aspect of the music itself but on the intention. Even if you look at the daily prayers in Islam we pray in melody, when we hear the call to prayer in any part of the world it is also done with melody, so no one can tell me that music is haram. Now this is my personal point of view and I am not speaking for anyone else.
“Now I am not in a position to judge any man and I don’t expect them to judge me as well, but no matter what decision you decide to make just do right by it. Because, at the end of the day, Allah is watching and he knows what is in your heart.”
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