Relying on Allah in Business with Asha Karibou

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When you talk to Asha Kabiru, founder of Bold by Rai Coffee and Halaqa Tingz, one thing becomes immediately clear — everything she creates begins with faith, purpose, and an intention to serve her community. Known online as Life with Rai, Asha has built a life around bridging the gap between science and spirituality, while turning her ideas into impactful, ethical businesses.

During our recent conversation on the Muslimah Business Podcast, Asha opened up about how her journey began, the challenges she faced sourcing ethical coffee, and the power of dua in bringing her vision to life.

Turning Ideas Into Purposeful Businesses

Asha’s business journey started with a simple yet profound desire — to solve problems she saw around her.

“With Halaqa Tingz,” she shared, “I saw a common struggle among Muslim women in the DMV area. We needed a truly judgment-free space to grow intellectually and spiritually.”

What started as casual conversations in her living room eventually blossomed into a thriving nonprofit organization that now hosts monthly gatherings and workshops. Halaqa Tingz has become a space where Muslim women can connect, learn, and support one another — free from judgment and full of sisterhood.

But Asha’s entrepreneurial spirit didn’t stop there. Her love for coffee led her to launch Bold by Rai, a coffee brand built on ethics, impact, and intention.

“As an avid coffee drinker, people always assumed I’d end up in the coffee world,” she laughed. “But I had no plans — I just loved finding the best brew.”

That changed when global boycotts against major coffee brands began. Asha started researching the ethics behind the coffee industry and discovered how many well-known companies were connected to exploitative practices and human rights violations. “It didn’t sit right with me,” she said. “As Muslims, our ethics come first. I wanted to create coffee that was good for people, good for the planet, and aligned with my faith.”

Coffee for a Cause

That conviction became the foundation for Bold by Rai. Asha created a coffee brand for those who love their daily cup but also care about the world behind it — from the farmers who grow the beans to the communities they support.

“It’s not just coffee,” she explained. “It’s coffee for a cause.”

Every bag of Bold by Rai coffee supports local farmers and underserved communities. Ten percent of proceeds are reinvested into the communities that cultivate the coffee — particularly women farmers in Guatemala and Colombia, and even a Muslim coffee farmer in Jamaica.

Finding that Jamaican connection, however, was far from easy. “Sourcing Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee was my biggest challenge,” Asha shared. “Ninety percent of Jamaica’s coffee is exported directly to Japan, leaving the rest of us fighting for the remaining 10%.”

But Asha’s story took a turn that could only be described as divine alignment.

“One day, I was in the car with my husband, talking about how I couldn’t launch a coffee brand without Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. I felt like it just didn’t feel right as a Jamaican.” As the rain started to fall, she made dua — asking Allah to open a way.

Minutes later, she received a text from an organization she had worked with through Halaqa Tingz. “They said, ‘We didn’t know you love coffee!’ And subhanAllah, they connected me with a Jamaican coffee farmer — who was Muslim.”

The farmer’s work directly supports his local community, and Asha knew instantly that this was more than a coincidence. “It was a reminder that what’s meant for you will find you,” she said. “You do the work, make dua, and trust that Allah will make a way.”

From Nonprofit to Product-Based Business

Transitioning from running a nonprofit organization to launching a product-based business was a huge learning curve for Asha.

“With Halaqa Tingz, things were simpler,” she said. “But coffee — that was unfamiliar territory. I could taste a cup and say, ‘This is good,’ but that alone wasn’t enough.”

She had to learn about sourcing, packaging, roasting, and sustainability. “It wasn’t just about taste,” she said. “It was about ethics — ensuring that everyone involved in the process was treated fairly and that the planet wasn’t being harmed.”

Through consistency, community engagement, and a willingness to learn, Asha transformed her passion into a purpose-driven business rooted in Islamic values.

Faith at the Core of Every Decision

For Asha, faith is more than an inspiration — it’s the foundation of everything she does. She grounds her business decisions in the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:

“The truthful and trustworthy merchant will be with the Prophets, the truthful, and the martyrs.”

“I hold onto that,” she said. “It’s a reminder that profit can’t come at the expense of purpose. As business owners, we’re accountable not just for what we make, but how we make it.”

Her approach to business is guided by transparency, integrity, and social responsibility. Every decision — from sourcing to packaging — reflects those principles. “We care about profit,” she said. “But we don’t prioritize it over purpose.”

Building Community with Halaqa Tingz

While Bold by Rai connects people through coffee, Halaqa Tingz connects hearts and minds through faith.

The organization began with a Ramadan iftar at Asha’s home — a casual gathering where sisters could talk openly and connect spiritually. But that evening sparked something much bigger. “As I listened to everyone share their thoughts, I realized we needed more of this,” she said. “That same night, I decided we were going to make it happen.”

From living room meetups to structured events, Halaqa Tingz grew into a nonprofit dedicated to creating safe, empowering spaces for Muslim women. The team regularly surveys members, hosts in-person and virtual sessions, and adapts programs based on what the community needs.

“Our goal is to stay relevant without losing authenticity,” Asha explained. “We listen to our community and respond to their needs — that’s how we grow while staying true to our purpose.”

Balancing It All with Systems and Support

Asha wears many hats — entrepreneur, wife, mother, author, and community leader. When asked how she manages it all, she laughed and admitted, “Some days, it’s definitely a juggling act.”

Her secret? Systems and structure.

“I rely heavily on automations and planning ahead,” she said. “For example, all of Halaqa Tingz’ events are mapped out for the rest of the year. That frees up my time for creative planning, my family, and self-care.”

She also applies the same organized mindset at home. “With the kids, I set up routines — even things like picking out school clothes for the week on Sunday night. Those small systems keep everything flowing.”

Final Reflections

Asha’s story is a powerful reminder that faith and business don’t have to exist in separate worlds. Her journey shows what happens when you combine dua with discipline, tawakkul with hard work, and spirituality with strategy.

She summed it up beautifully:

“We do business plans and dua — together. Not one without the other.”

Her example is one every Muslim entrepreneur can learn from: lead with faith, serve with purpose, and trust that what’s written for you will find its way — in business, and in life.

Connect With Asha:

Instagram - Life With Rai

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