Inspiring Muslim Entrepreneur : Hajera Memon of Shade7

Salaam and Welcome to another edition of “Boss ladies who inspire” post where I introduce amazing Muslim entrepreneurs who are rocking the Muslim world. I am so honored to feature and introduce one of the most inspirational entrepreneur, a dear friend and sister Hajera Memon of Shade7.

Hajera is the most sincere, painstakingly patient Muslimah Entreprenuer who puts nothing but ihsan in her work. Her resilience, determination and hard work has resulted into a range of remarkable children books. Let’s hear about her Journey.

1. What ignited the spark in you to start Shade7? What motivated you to go forward?

Having made the decision to resign as a finance lawyer because I wasn’t comfortable with it being a pure and halal income due to the types of interest based transactions I was involved in, I wanted to consciously choose a beneficial career path which focused significantly on my akhira (the afterlife), rather than just my dunya (this life).
I wanted to spend my time seeking knowledge, putting it into action and making it accessible and enjoyable for others, especially youngsters.
I always felt that we had the best stories in the Qur’an; stories that are truly rich and packed with inspirational gems and everlasting wisdom. They can help us get through our daily lives if we can spend time studying them to unlock their treasures.
My motivation was and continues to be, making these magnificent stories accessible to children in a fun and interactive way, so that the whole family can enjoy them together in shaa Allah.
Another key motivation is the sadaqah jaariyah (ceaseless charity) element of Shade 7 Publishing; I was consciously looking for what would benefit me when I pass away. Beneficial knowledge is a great legacy to leave behind and also to spend your life working on.

I pray I, and those that support me with this work, will always have the patience and motivation to continue to work hard and strive in this path until we meet our Lord. Ameen.

2. Tell us about Shade7 and its mission.

Founded in 2012, Shade 7 strives to creatively make a positive contribution to the world by designing a long-term source of beneficial knowledge which can help children learn more about religion – and in particular – Islam, through learning resources that are creative, interactive and fun.
Drawing on Islamic principles, Shade 7 seek to bring religious stories and principles to life in an interactive, memorable and inspirational way. Though specifically targeted to a younger demographic, our Quranic stories for children can be enjoyed by the entire family.
We also aspire to touch all faiths, not just Muslims, and welcome those from all walks of life to gain a unique view and understanding of the Quran through our stories that are accessible, fun, and filled with universal values.
The mission behind the name
“Seven types of people will be shaded by God under His shade on the day when there will be no shade except His.” Prophet Muhammad SAW (Source: Sahih Bukhari & Muslim)
Of the seven, one of them will be “a youth who grew up in the worship of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic”.
It is on this principle that Shade 7 strives to support the religious, spiritual and educational development of all children. Our work seeks to provide children fun activity and novelty books based on Quranic and Prophetic stories that introduce the beauty, might and majesty of Allah and His message.

3. Tell us a little about you.

I was born and raised in London in the United Kingdom. I’m an only child, which is pretty rare for a Pakistani family! Both my parents are from big families and I have a lot of cousins all over the world.
I have a passion for charity work and especially orphans as my mother lost her father when she was 6 years old and her youngest brother was just 2. Growing up hearing stories of how my grandmother raised my mother and her 7 siblings, I’ve always wanted to help and support those without the love and security of both parents.
Parents are a huge blessing for those of us who still have them in our lives and I pray Allah swt always protects them, grants them good health and a long life. Ameen.

4. What has been your most satisfying moment in business?

I think the arrival of a new book is always truly special. Your hard work, efforts, stresses and sacrifices for a year if not longer, to produce something that you hope will delight young hearts and bring joy and benefit to many families, is so humbling and rewarding – to hold it in your hands and be ready to gift it to others makes everything worthwhile.

5. What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?

I think the biggest things have to be around sacrificing something familiar, a routine and stability of a good income, which you have worked hard for. Having said that, I think everything worth doing has an element of sacrifice and as Muslims, our deen teaches us so much about the reward of sacrifices made with the right intentions and for the sake of Allah swt.

As Hajj approaches, I reflect upon the story of Hajar (AS), who I was named after and our beloved Prophet Ibrahim (Peace be upon him) and their son Ismaeel (Peace be upon him). These stories really put everything into perspective when it comes to sacrifices and I then wonder if I would call any of my challenges a real sacrifice!

6. What three pieces of advice would you give to college students who want to become entrepreneurs?

1. Know your motivations and be clear of your “Why” and purpose. Your business idea doesn’t have to be a faith based one, but it should be something positive and/or of benefit to people. It should solve a problem and make things better and more efficient for society. Our deen teaches us that money is simply a means, and often a test, so we have to be even more conscious that we use it for good in shaa Allah.
2. Spend time doing your research around your idea. Having a good grasp of the issues surrounding your business idea and being able to present this articulately will not only help you to attract the right support and mentorship (often without having to ask!), but will also help you identify and overcome your obstacles faster. When you know what you want and need, the ask is much easier.
3. Persevere and stay patient. If you’re doing something for the right reason, to make things better, you will always face challenges and it won’t necessarily be smooth sailing. This is where your initial motivation and driving force will be key. In business, things are often out of your control, so many unanticipated surprises and situations crop up and you have to be able to deal with them patiently – it’s certainly a quality I continue to learn and develop on my journey!

7. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?

That’s a hard one – there are so many! I think my favourite businesses are the ones that offer really practical and simple solutions or alternatives to everyday problems. A recent one I admire is Transferwise, who make international payment transfers a fraction of the cost compared with banks or other providers.

Businesses like Dropbox, Trello and Skype that help us stay connected with the world for free are also ones that provide such beneficial solutions at no or little cost to the user and I always have an admiration for their founders whenever I use these incredibly simple tools on a daily basis!