A Heartfelt Plea
What is Success?
Mawlana Muhammad Imran Attari – Chairman of Dawat-e-Islami’s Central Executive Committee
The Muslim nation’s success in this world and the Hereafter is based upon learning the teachings of Islam, acting upon them, and developing virtuous character. If Muslims are made aware of this regularly and are given proper education, noticeable positive effects will be seen in society. In one of his lectures addressed to students, Mawlana Muhammad Imran Attari shared valuable pearls of wisdom regarding the secrets of personal and social development. Here are some of those beneficial insights:
1. Everyone desires success. True success is when our condition becomes better than before. The first step in this is improving our character, bettering our actions, and adhering to Islamic law.
2. Certainly, adopting an Islamic appearance and lifestyle is true success. When Muslims embody these qualities, the world can never overpower them; people with such traits are never defeated.
3. If Muslims truly desire progress, they should populate masjids, and become examples of honesty, trustworthiness, and truthfulness like their pious predecessors. They must also show love for the religious fraternity and bring those who dislike religiosity closer to faith via good character.
4. The nation which forgets the teachings and ways of its elders is extremely unwise.
5. The downfall of a Muslim is due to forgetting the teachings of their predecessors. It is true that whenever a Muslim remained steadfast in practise, they rose to greatness, and whenever they became neglectful, they declined.
6. A secret to success is that a person should keep their needs limited, as when one’s needs are few, there will be no need to ask from others.
7. The truly wealthy person is he who is content at heart. Only he who has no desire for wealth or status can be content.
8. Reduce your usage of social media, as it leads to the love of fame and wealth.
9. If you avoid unnecessary activities and mind your own business in this era of tribulations, you have achieved success.
10. Live an exemplary life, such that people write about your character and conduct after you die.
11. A major obstacle to success in today’s era is bad company and the excessive and improper use of mobile phones.
12. Today, we have made the standard of honour a nice house, expensive clothes, and high status, even if we must take loans to attain them. True honour is being a steadfast believer and practising Islam.
13. Wearing clean clothes is encouraged in Islam, but taking pride in expensive clothes is not appropriate. The honour of garments fades the moment they are removed. That is why it befits a believer to value sound intellect, modesty, and good deeds.
14. No matter how well-dressed an ignorant person is, he is not looked at with respect. His ignorant words and traits inevitably bring him disgrace and humiliation. One should not seek honour and dignity in a luxurious house or lavish clothing.
15. Someone said to Sayyiduna ꜤUmar رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, “Please take fine clothes and a good mount with you.” He replied, “It is Islam that has granted us honour, not clothes or a means of transport.”
16. You chase the camera for fame. Build your character in such a way that the camera chases you.
17. Desire for success exists in the heart of every living nation and every living person.
18. One of the main reasons for the downfall of nations is inaction. The sun rises in the East and sets in the West, so whenever you move towards Western culture, you too will decline.
19. Every person should consider the propagation and service of Islamic knowledge and Islam itself as part of their duties, and include spending a fixed amount on a monthly basis for this purpose among their essential needs.
20. Plan to provide your children with Islamic education and encourage them towards it, so they may benefit from the blessings of a spiritual life.
21. Let the young recognise the rights of their elders, and the elders show kindness to the young, so that the bond of religious love and brotherhood may be strengthened and the miseries of internal conflict and strife may be avoided.
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