Being Successful: a Muslim's Perspective
You know what’s one thing I love most about our deen? It is all the personal development that comes from it, how when you learn about it with the right intentions, it all makes sense and allows you to become a better person everyday. Subhan’Allah.
Grades, wealth, fame, might be the first thing coming to one’s mind when thinking about success, with the influence of culture and past generations’ being undeniable: Wait, you’re not a doctor, a lawyer or an engineer? Your business doesn’t allow you to earn a 6 figure yearly income? You’re 30 and not married? You’re struggling to get pregnant? You’re not well known in your field? Well, you don’t qualify for the ‘successful’ label yet.
What is particularly interesting about this is how success is measured by how much people praise you and congratulate your life journey at a certain point instead of what matters to YOU.
Before diving into the Islamic approach of this topic, let’s take a moment to think about how we generally define success.
1. What is success?
Here is an unbiaised definition: success is simply a positive and beneficial outcome, the accomplishment of a purpose.
Let’s say you build an Ikea furniture: if it holds perfectly, looks like it is supposed to, and serves its purpose, then it is a success. It will be more gratifying if you don’t use the notice because we naturally thrive from witnessing the wonders of our brains and seeing the fruits of our hard work, but regardless, the outcome is positive and is beneficial to you.
Therefore, being successful means knowing what makes you happy and satisfied, working towards that goal and reaching it – meaning there isn’t one single way or only one right way to define it.
Success is simply a positive and beneficial outcome,
the accomplishment of a purpose.
What is astonishing about Islam is that Allah (swt) gave us all the keys to not only find success in this dunya (called Al Falah), but also in the Akhirah (called Al Fawz), something that the common definition of success does not include whatsoever. So why settle for that one if you can guarantee yourself eternal success?
By following the commands of our Creator, you are building success in ALL aspect of your life. But while you should make sure your definition of success does not translate into solely getting others’ validation, The All Mighty also shouldn’t take others’ “successes” as and example: “So let not their wealth or their children impress you.” [9:55]. Why? Because being successful as a Muslim is more than that.
By following the commands of our Creator, you are building success in ALL aspect of your life.
Contrarywise to common belief, the Quran does not forbid you to seek knowledge through studies, to search for love nor to aim for financial comfort at all. Allah (swt) praises hard work and efforts even more than the actual result. He also blesses people differently and did give some of us generous wealth to start with, ease through the best universities or in finding a partner.
But none of this is worth anything if your intentions aren’t pure, if you do not show righteousness and if you do not remember Him at all times. In addition, positivity attracts positivity and so the more you are showing wise, selfless and kind behavior for His sake, the more He will give you. If you’re not but He is still giving you, then my friend, you might be failing your test.
Think of a modest divorced stay-at-home mom and a multi billion-dollar oil company owner. Many will see the second one as more successful, right? But do you genuinely believe that is just how Allah (swt) sees it and how we as Muslims should see it? Isn’t that a bit reductive?
Islam is not a religion of extremes, but rather, is all about Al Wasatiyyah (the Middle Path, the Moderation) and Al Ihsan. As a result, to be successful here and after, you need to refocus on your spiritual journey, on nurturing your soul, on having steadfast tawakkul, on helping those that weren’t given the same chances in this world, and on remembering this: “And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger and fears Allah and is conscious of Him – it is those who are the successful ones.” [24:52]
And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger and fears Allah and is conscious of Him - it is those who are the successful ones.
[24:52]
