Entrepreneurial resilience of mualaf single mothers: exploring common success factors in small business ownership

This qualitative research aims to investigate the entrepreneurial resilience of a specific and usually ignored group of Mualaf single mother. Compounded difficulties come from single parenting, financial vulnerability, and the spiritual and social change related with religious conversion for these women. Many have started and maintained small enterprises despite such challenges, displaying great resiliency and adaptability. Focusing on both inner and outward aspects, the study seeks to find the elements influencing their entrepreneurial success. Employing a phenomenological methodology, the research gathers information from selected single mother mualaf entrepreneurs under project of Rakyatprenuer via semi structured interviews. Participants are chosen via intentional sampling to guarantee insightful, experience dependent feedback. Thematic analysis of the gathered stories helps to find major patterns, problems, and coping strategies. Preliminary themes include the role of faith and spiritual motivation, personal determination, support from the Muslim community, and the ability to turn past adversity into entrepreneurial strength. These women often demonstrate a strong sense of purpose rooted in both parental responsibility and religious conviction, using their businesses as vehicles for financial independence and personal transformation. This research hope contributes to a deeper understanding of how faith, identity, and motherhood intersect in the context of entrepreneurship. It fills a gap in the literature by highlighting the experiences of women at the intersection of gender, religion, and socioeconomic struggle. The findings aim to inform policymakers, NGOs, and community organizations working on inclusive entrepreneurship, faith-based support systems, and women's empowerment. By amplifying the voices of resilient single mother mualaf entrepreneurs, the study offers valuable insights into building effective, culturally sensitive support strategies.