The global job market is shifting faster than most people realize. Automation, AI, and economic pressure are reshaping entry-level work, while traditional career paths feel increasingly fragile. For many young people, the challenge is no longer just finding a job, it’s finding work that is sustainable, scalable, and aligned with their values.
For many Muslim communities, that challenge carries an added layer of complexity. Many online income models promise speed, but rely on practices that raise ethical concerns. Others offer motivation without execution. The result is a growing gap between ambition and viable, halal pathways to ownership.
Against that backdrop, a recent initiative by Muslim entrepreneur Abu Lahya highlights a different response: investing in skills before income. Earlier this year, Abu Lahya announced a large-scale donation to the Muslim community by purchasing thousands of business books and giving them away for free. The goal wasn’t publicity or recruitment. It was literacy. “I know there are thousands of Muslims around the world that want to make money online but can’t afford education.”
In times of economic uncertainty, shortcuts are tempting. But shortcuts rarely compound. Sustainable income, especially in online business, depends on understanding systems: how value is created, how deals are structured, how clients are served, and how trust is built over time. Without that foundation, even the most motivated individuals stall.
That distinction is particularly relevant in influencer marketing, a fast-growing sector that is often misunderstood. When approached irresponsibly, it becomes noisy and extractive. When taught properly, it can be ethical, accessible, and effective, especially for beginners.
Programs like the IMA Accelerator focus on this distinction: not selling a dream, but teaching execution.
The story of Eyoub El Habib reflects why this approach resonates. Before building his business, Eyoub worked long restaurant shifts—often 10 to 11 hours a day—while balancing university studies. His situation wasn’t unusual. He was disciplined, capable, and exhausted.
Learning the fundamentals of influencer marketing, how outreach works, how services are delivered, how to price ethically, how to operate professionally, changed the trajectory of his work.