Islamic teachings remind us that success is not the one with mountains of wealth or status in the world. Yet, it is the person who tries to fulfil the obligations set out, in the Quran and the life of the Prophet. Though not strictly a habit, it is the key component in developing Islamic habits for success. Pray yourself and write letters to the Khalifa of the time requesting prayers. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَأْكُلُوا الرِّبَا أَضْعَافًا مُّضَاعَفَةً وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
“O you who believe! (Do) not eat the usury doubled multiplied. And consciously revere Allah so that you may (be) successful.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:130)
Successful people ask for forgiveness from Allah. Prophet ﷺ used to make Istighfar more than seventy times in a day. If we see our sole purpose in life to earn money or have babies, our mindset is focused on a task. Make an effort, do what is required and leave the outcome to God. Allah says:
تِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّهِ وَمَن يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا وَذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
“These (are the) limits (of) Allah, and whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, He will admit him (to) Gardens flows from underneath them the rivers – (will) abide forever in it. And that (is) the success [the] great.” (Surah an-Nisa 4:13)
Sadly, that task may be something that we never attain, regardless of how much energy we use in trying to. We spend so much time worrying about succeeding without accepting that the journey is one that will encounter struggles. In doing so, we can spend more energy on the task at hand because the level of worry we had is reduced. Allah says:
قُلْ سيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَانْظُرُوا كَيْفَ بَدَأَ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ اللَّهُ يُنْشِئُ النَّشْأَةَ الْآخِرَةَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَديرٌ
Say,” Travel over the land and then observe how He has originated the creation.” Then Allah shall bring about the genesis of the Hereafter. Indeed Allah has power over all things.” (Surah Al-Ankabut 29:20)
God tells us in the Quran that the inhabitants of the fire and the inhabitants of the garden are not alike. It is those who live in the garden that is the achievers, they are the successful ones. We are creatures that like to look at beautiful pictures yet are slow in taking the steps to create the picture. Success has different meanings for each individual. Allah says:
أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
“Allah has prepared for them Gardens flows from underneath it the rivers, (will) abide forever in it. That (is) the success the great.” (Surah At-Taubah 9:89)
What a beautiful understanding of success that Islam teaches us. That success isn’t when one accumulates wealth, power, or fame. Genuine success and Paradise is when one purifies their heart and soul. If you cannot see Him, then indeed Allah sees you.” It is this life of Taqwa, of keeping Allah ever-present in your consciousness, that leads to success.
Here are some Key Principles to Success in the way of Islam:
- Success means establishing an Islamic culture at home
- Successful people take time themselves to reflect
- Success means you should take care of yourself
- Success teaches us to practice in our daily life
- Success brings civilization and happiness
- Success leads to a balanced way of living
- Success holds a woman in high esteem
- Success brings trust in Almighty Allah
- Success purifying one’s heart and soul
- Success set out with a good intention
- Success build trust through sincerity
- Success means ask help from Allah
- A Muslim should also be fair in deals
- Don’t rush to do everything in one go
- Keep away from debates and arguments
- Keeping Allah present in your life (Taqwa)
- Never dreamed about success; worked for it
- A habit of punctuality to all aspects of your life
- Self-restraint is a core Islamic habit for success
- Success starting today and putting in that action
The Quran is the first bridge connecting humanity with the divine, through His own sacred words is gratitude and appreciation. Reminding us that whether anyone thanks Him or not, all gratitude and appreciation belong to Him. The Qur’an begins with loving appreciation and gratitude to Allah. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اصْبِرُوا وَصَابِرُوا وَرَابِطُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
“O you who believe[d]! Be steadfast and [be] patient and [be] constant and consciously revere Allah so that you may (be) successful.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:200)
The truly successful ones are those that give Sadaqa from whatever they have and see it as an increase, rather than a decrease, in their wealth. A good end that culminates in an eternal home of bliss is the reward for a successful life. Thus minor setbacks and difficulties are just a small glitch on the road to ultimate success. Allah says:
وَقِهِمُ السَّيِّئَاتِ وَمَن تَقِ السَّيِّئَاتِ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَقَدْ رَحِمْتَهُ وَذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
“And protect them (from) the evils. And whoever you protect (from) the evils that Day, then verily You bestowed Mercy on him. And that [it] (is) the success, the great.” (Surah Ghafir 40:9)
Understanding that our life is to worship our creator and to struggle to stay upon the path that is defined as the “straight path” is so important in helping us succeed in worldly aspects. When we understand there is more to life than what we are struggling with, we can put this difficulty into perspective.
Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:
- “Successful indeed are the believers.” (Quran 23:2)
- “He, indeed, prospers who purifies it.” (Quran 91:10)
- “Verily, for the righteous is decreed a triumph.” (Quran 78:32)
- “Verily, he, indeed, will prosper who purifies himself.” (Quran 87:15)
- “Verily, those who tremble with the fear of their Lord.” (Quran 23:59)
- “O ye who believe! Fear Allah and seek the means of approach unto Him and strive in His way that you may prosper.” (Quran 5:39)
- “He will indeed be successful who purifies his self, and he will indeed fail who corrupts his himself.” (Quran 91:9-10)
- “And my success cannot come from any source besides God. I have put my trust in Him.” (Quran 11:88)
There are many ways/principles in our daily lives that can make the path to success easier. The more one follows these rules, the more deserving of success one becomes. Just as abstaining from falsehood removes many wrongs/sins; in the same way, adopting some rules of success automatically applies the remaining rules in our lives; the foremost among them is the concept of prayer. Allah says:
وَأَقْسَمُوا بِاللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَانِهِمْ لَئِنْ أَمَرْتَهُمْ لَيَخْرُجُنَّ قُل لَّا تُقْسِمُوا طَاعَةٌ مَّعْرُوفَةٌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
“And whoso obeys Allah and His Messenger, and fears Allah, and takes Him as a shield for protection, it is they who will be successful.” (Surah An-Nur 24:53 )
Many things in Islam are permissible and there is a small list of things that are not. Self-restraint is a core Islamic habit for success in religious practice. However, you should apply this same habit for the rest of your life. When God’s Will helps in the practical field, it makes impossible things possible. Allah says:
لَا يَسْتَوِي أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ وَأَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ
“Not alike are the dwellers of the Fire and the dwellers of Paradise. It is the dwellers of Paradise that will be successful.” (Surah Al-Hashr 59:20 )
Successful people protect themselves with the shield of morning and evening adhkar. Adhkar protects you from the evils of humans, Jinns and Shaitan. It is also a treatment for worry, distress, evil eye and magic. A person is successful and on the road to ultimate success because of his attitude, his intention, and his ability to trust God’s promise. In a nutshell, morning and evening adhkar is sufficient as protection from everything including calamities.
