Quranic Ways to Success
Success: A word that has a variety of interpretations among a variety of people. The kind of interpretation depends on a person’s background and way of thinking. Similarly, the background and way of thinking also depend on the religion of that person. In addition to the interpretation of success, there is also a variety in the interpretation of the ways to success. We shall now discuss each aspect including the ways to success that Quran Kareem teaches us.
Other Interpretations:
It is usually thought that success is achieved when you possess enormous wealth and that money can buy happiness. However, this isn’t the complete interpretation and should never be thought of that way. Otherwise, we’ll be shaping our lives according to this foul belief. Inner peace and happiness is achieved when one is good to his family and his fellow beings that he encounters daily. In other words: Having friends leads to a happy life. Therefore, this will be a contradiction to the statement “Money buys happiness” because one can’t buy friends. If a person is rich but disliked, he can buy expensive stuff but that happiness would be only short-lived and he won’t have people to talk to. As for wealth, that is success for this life but it should be used wisely otherwise that wealth does not give us success in the future. Hence, true success is having inner peace and thus, this meaning should be understood by everyone.
Ways to success:
The way to success must be pure and free of all kinds of sin. It is usual that the wrong path to getting a promotion or acquiring huge sums of money seems very attractive. Such as: gambling, lying, framing someone, stealing etc. These may be quick ways of earning money but they are wrong and sure to land us in trouble later. They become the means of our own destruction. Hence, we ought to be working hard and patient for our earning if we wish to be successful in this life and the one after our deaths.
Quranic ways to Success:
Quran is a complete guide in this matter as it offers knowledge about the correct and beneficial ways to success. The Quran says that the believers i.e. those who worship Allah and believe in His oneness (along with many other beliefs of Islam) are on the right path to success. The way to success is to pray to Him, believe in His sovereignty, seek only His help in times of need and follow other teachings of the Quran Surahs and Hadith (the sayings of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W.). Allah Almighty has clearly mentioned the ways to success across numerous places in the Quran. For instance:
“And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful.” (The Quran 3:104)
“O you who have believed, do not consume usury, doubled and multiplied, but fear Allah that you may be successful.” (The Quran 3:130)
“O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be successful.” (The Quran 3:200)
There could not have been more clear instructions to mankind about success than this hence, we should not confuse ourselves with the wrong ways and follow the ways of the Quran.
Conclusion:
Since we’re given a straight forward guide from Allah, then this opportunity should be availed by following what it teaches, for it is a divine message and for our own good.