How to be successful: reflections from Islam sources
When the Quran mentions success it is usefully talking about being successful in the afterlife and in purifying the heart.
However, there are attributes and behaviours that can be extracted for success in the worldly life and affairs.
These may be as follows:
1). Patience (Sabr):
Patience is the quality of many successful people. It is defined as controlling oneself and not complaining, shouting or reacting in the face of adversity. It is not giving up when the going gets tough.
2). Steadfastness (istqamah)
Similar to patience, when we have decided something or belief in something we should stay steadfast with what we belief and what we truly think and want. As the Quran says: say I believe in Allah, then be steadfast.
3). Faith (Iman)
Believing in something and having faith in God are factors that help people. Knowing that God is there are hears are prayers are factors that help many people to keep going in the face of adversaries.
4). Goodness to parents
Maybe to some people they would see that being good to parents is not actually related to success. However, it is related in the great scheme of things.
Somehow, we see that many successful people have been good and supportive to their parents throughout their lives.
On the other hand, there are people who may work very hard and try very hard in life but not really get anywhere.
We often find that such people were not actually good to their parents.
Perhaps people can notice these things for themselves.
God has said that after belief in him we should be good to our parents and he blessed such people with success.
People are considered being good to parents when they deal with them in a gentle manner, visit them and see to their needs and provide for them. This is particularly important as they get older.
5). Keeping up the ties of kinship
Rather like keeping good relations with parents, keeping up good relationships with sisters, brothers, in-laws and others can help us in our lives.
Perhaps one of the reasons is that they will support us in our lives if we support them.
We also feel better when we have good relationships with those close to us, which may lead to more success.
6). Prayer and worship
Pleasing God remembering him and worshipping him make it more likely that He will increase our sustenance and fulfil our dreams and wishes.
Worship is more than simply praying, fasting, hajj and so forth.
Anything can be turned into worship by making the intention to become closer to God.
For example, sleeping can be a form of worship when a person intends to sleep and do other good things that God is pleased with.
Work is a form of worship when a person strives to make an honest living to support a family and themselves with what is allowed.
Marriage is a form of worship when intended to build a righteous family and live a good and righteous life.
Study is a form of worship when intending to learn things that will benefit themselves and others and improve those around them so that they come closer to God and benefit the world and improve themselves in some way.
Eating can be a form of worship when we do so to strengthen ourselves and our bodies to continue doing things for God and to worship him.
7). Charity
We are told that charity actually increases wealth rather than lessening it.
This is because God blesses it and will increase people when they give and share.
Charity is not only in wealth but also can be in time, knowledge, information, support and a kind word.
Many people who make good claim that they often find what they did returned to them or benefitted them in the end in some way.
8). Good attitude and optimism.
We are encouraged to have a good attitude and expect the best to find the best in life?
9). Sincerity, honesty and integrity
Liars often don't find success in the long run.
People avoid liars and in the ling run look for honest, sincere people to help them with their needs and affairs.
10). Learning from others and reflecting on their examples.
The Quran is full of examples from the lives of others.
It contains good examples from the lives of Prophets, righteous people and others.
On the other hand, we are told about people such as Pharaoh and other individuals or societies that did things wrong.
We are encouraged to learn from their examples.
In our lives we can learn from the examples of many people around us.
If we find good role models to look up to us can improve us.
However, if we take mis-guiduided people as role models we will end up as failures.
Therefore, we should pay attention to whom we look up to.
11). Supplication.
Many successful people claim that they would not have been successful if it were not for their prayers and asking God.
In fact, even people such as Britney Spears have claimed to pray a lot for success and found it accordingly.
If they can do so, then we are all better able to achieve success through prayer.
God has promised that He will answer our prayers if we are sincere and persistent.
He answers the prayers of all faiths and creed.
12). Kindness and goodness to others.
We often see that the most successful people in life are actually those who are in the service of others, they are good and kind people.
God blesses people when they help others and often returns the favours somehow.
People also love those who are good and kind to others.
People are turned away from those who are mean, cruel and unkind.
Such people may find that eventually it all comes back to them.
So, there we have twelve factors from Islamic sources and teachings that may help us achieve success in both this life.
When people believe and carry out things for the hereafter they will be rewarded thereafter as well.
We wish for the success of all kind and sincere people to achieve what they want in this life.
And the no success of all horrible, murderous and cruel people and those who just look out for themselves and to hurt others.
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