How to
be successful
"How
to be successful", read the title of the book. A shiny paperback
sitting on the display shelf of the local bookstore. Underneath the
title is a picture of a handsome man leaning on an immaculate Rolls
Royce car. In the background a beautiful woman smiles from the
entranceway of a huge mansion. Yes, a picture right out of
"Lifestyles of the rich and famous" (an American television
program which features rich and famous people). The picture tells a lot
about what we consider to be success. These kinds of books have been
popping up everywhere these days, with no end in sight. Most of the
books have the same theory: To be really successful, you must make more
money, a lot more! The American dream? No, nowadays most everybody's
dream, regardless of nationality. However, as we all know, some dreams
start good and then turn into nightmares. “...But
the Mercy of your Lord is better than the (wealth of this world) which
they amass.” Quraan 43:32 What
is true success? Surely true success is not the material gains of this
short life. When the man pictured next to the Rolls is dead and buried,
all of his expensive cars, beautiful mansions and millions of dollars
will instantly belong to someone else (not to mention the beautiful
woman). His fame will soon be forgotten. He will only take two things
with him into his grave: his faith and his deeds, be they good or bad.
Everything else will be left behind in this world. This faith and these
deeds will be the measure of his true success on the Day of Judgment. “Allah
will say: “This is a Day on which the truthful will profit from their
truth: theirs are gardens under which rivers flow in (in Paradise), they
shall abide therein forever. Allah is pleased with them and they with
Him. That is the great success (Paradise).” Quraan 5:11 True
success in this life means utilizing this life to obtain the ultimate
goal, the highest achievement, the attainment of salvation, success in
the hereafter. The fulfillment of all desires. “Allah
has promised to the believers, men and women, Gardens under which rivers
flow to dwell therein forever, and beautiful mansions in Gardens of Eden
('Adn Paradise). But the greatest bliss is the good Pleasure of Allah.
That is the supreme success.” Quraan 9:72 Does
this mean we should abandon all of our efforts and ambitions of gaining
wealth in this life? No! God's bounties are His to distribute as He
pleases. He loves it when His creation asks only Him to supply their
needs. The ownership and seeking of worldly wealth is not forbidden in
Islam. But at the same time, we must never forget our final goal. Thus,
we should use our wealth to help us obtain the true success, the success
on the Day of Resurrection! “Then,
when the (Friday) prayer is finished, you may disperse through the land;
and seek the Bounty of Allah: and remember Allah much, that you may
successful” Quraan 62:10 So,
we should seek the bounties of Allah (God) the Most High. But all the
while, remembering that it is Allah alone who provides all things. The
believers are those that when they receive the bounties of God, they say
“Alhamduli11ah” (All
praise is due to God Alone). They
realize that any wealth they have received is from God, not from their
own cleverness, and when they don't receive any wealth or face some
difficulty, they are patient to the will of Allah.
On the other hand, the disbelievers think that when they receive
some wealth in this life, it is from their own brilliant ideas,
ingenuity or hard work, and when they face some difficulties, they think
that God is punishing them! “Oh
mankind! Remember the grace of Allah upon you! Is there any Creator
other than Allah who provides for you from the sky and the earth? None
has the right to be worshipped but He. How then are you turning away
(from Him)?” Quraan 35:3 We
must not be deceived into thinking that the worldly pleasures of this
present life are the true signs of success. They are temporary! True
success is not temporary! Also we must not be deceived by Satan, our
enemy: “Oh
mankind! Verily, the promise of Allah is true. So let not this present
life deceive you, and let not the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you
about Allah.” Quraan 35:5 It
may be that the people who we think are the least successful in his life
are actually the most successful. Why? Because they will succeed in the
next life, which is forever! While this life is only temporary. So next
time your browsing through your local store and you come across one of
the various “How to be successful” books:
think, is that really the success you are looking for? Hey,
why no stroll on over to the religious section and see if a good
translation of the Quraan is available. The true success manual!! “Know
that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual
boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children, as
the likeness of vegetation after rain, thereof the growth is pleasing to
the tiller; afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow, then
it becomes straw. But in the Hereafter (there is both) a severe Torment
(for the disbelievers, evil doers), and Forgiveness from Allah and (His)
Good Pleasure (for the believers, good doers), whereas the life of this
world is only a deceiving enjoyment.” Quraan 57:20
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