Teachings of the Holy Quran

Quranic Principles for Success

Mawlana Rashid Ali Attari Madani

In last month’s article, we discussed the meaning of success and mentioned the matters by which success can be attained as mentioned in the Holy Quran. This included the following principles:

1. Piety

2. Commanding good and forbidding evil

3. Considering the truth as truth and fearing Allah Almighty

4. Staying away from Satanic deeds

5. Mentioning the bounties of Allah Almighty and expressing gratitude for them

6. Steadfastness in facing disbelief and seeking Allah Almighty’s help

7. Prayer and righteous actions (being good to one’s kin and good character)

8. Alongside faith (adopting humility and presence of heart in prayer, staying away from immodest speech, paying zakat, avoiding indecent acts, fulfilling trusts, keeping promises and being steadfast in offering prayer)

9. Modesty, proper veiling and chastity

10. Remembering Allah Almighty abundantly

Below are further 8 Quranic principles for success:

(1) Taking steps to purify the carnal-self

The carnal-self (nafs) plays an important role in a person’s life. If it is rectified, one will be successful, and if it remains corrupt then a person will only face loss. The Holy Quran mentions the purification of the carnal-self as a principle for success, just as it is mentioned in Surah al-AꜤlā:

قَدۡ  اَفۡلَحَ  مَنۡ  تَزَکّٰی (ۙ۱۴) وَ ذَکَرَ اسۡمَ رَبِّہٖ فَصَلّٰی (ؕ۱۵)

Indeed, he who purified himself will prosper. And he remembered the name of his Lord and prayed.[1]

Meaning, the one who believed, took the name of Allah Almighty, offered prayer, recited takbīr and purified his carnal-self, he has succeeded and reached his goal. It is mentioned in Tafsīrāt Aḥmadiyyah:

The meaning of تَزکّٰی is to give ṣadaqat al-fiṭr, and وَ ذَکَرَ اسۡمَ رَبِّہٖ refers to reciting takbīrāt on the way to the place of Eid Prayer, and prayer refers to Eid Prayer.[2]

(2) Honouring and obeying the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

Obedience to and honouring the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is a clear Quranic principle for success. It is stated in Surah al-AꜤrāf:

فَالَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا بِہٖ  وَ عَزَّرُوۡہُ وَ نَصَرُوۡہُ  وَ اتَّبَعُوا النُّوۡرَ الَّذِیۡۤ اُنۡزِلَ مَعَہٗۤ ۙ اُولٰٓئِکَ  ھُمُ  الۡمُفۡلِحُوۡنَ (۱۵۷)

so those who believe in him (the Prophet) and honour him, and help him, and follow the light which was revealed with him; it is they who are successful.[3]

(3) Accepting every decision of the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

One fundamental Quranic principle for success is to immediately accept the decision and judgement of the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in every matter. Just as Allah Almighty says:

اِنَّمَا کَانَ  قَوۡلَ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ  اِذَا دُعُوۡۤا اِلَی اللّٰہِ وَ رَسُوۡلِہٖ  لِیَحۡکُمَ بَیۡنَہُمۡ اَنۡ یَّقُوۡلُوۡا سَمِعۡنَا وَ اَطَعۡنَا ؕ وَ اُولٰٓئِکَ ھُمُ الۡمُفۡلِحُوۡنَ (۵۱) وَ مَنۡ یُّطِعِ اللّٰہَ وَ رَسُوۡلَہٗ  وَ یَخۡشَ اللّٰہَ  وَ یَتَّقۡہِ  فَاُولٰٓئِکَ  ھُمُ  الۡفَآئِزُوۡنَ (۵۲)

The word of the Muslims is only this that when they are called to Allah and His Messenger that He may judge between them, they say, “We hear and We obey”—and these people are the successful. And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, and fears Allah, and adopts piety so these very people are prosperous.[4]

Although the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم giving a judgement regarding a disputed matter is something associated with his physical life in this world, if a ruling regarding truth and falsehood is given even today in accordance with the teachings of Allah Almighty’s Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, then success lies in accepting the decision given in light of the Prophetic teachings with full submission.

(4) Spending on relatives and the poor

A person has natural love and affection for blood relatives, but the wealth of this world is so charming that it causes some people to forget these relations. Allah Almighty places great emphasis on being good towards kin, and this is something greatly encouraged by the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم too. To the extent that the holy Quran refers to spending on close relatives as a means of success. Allah Almighty says:

Did they not see Allah increases sustenance for whomsoever He wills and He lessens ˹too˺?[5]

Therefore, show good conduct to relatives and be kind to them. Give charity and be hospitable to them in fulfilling their rights. Likewise, spending on the poor and strangers to the area is also a principle of success. However, it is also necessary that the intention behind this is the pleasure of Allah Almighty.

(5) Staying away from the enemies of Allah Almighty and His Messenger

No matter the position one holds in society, he knows that he will feel love towards and be in harmony with the one who is his, and he will never see eye to eye with the one who holds enmity with those whom he loves. Islam, which is the true religion of humanity, has given us a universal principle that whenever we love someone, it will only be for the sake of Allah Almighty and His Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, and whenever we have animosity towards someone, it will only be for the sake of Allah Almighty and His Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

The holy Quran has very clearly mentioned this principle of love and hate, and called it a means of success, referring to those who act upon it as “The Group of Allah”. It is mentioned in Surah al-Mujādalah:

لَا تَجِدُ قَوۡمًا یُّؤۡمِنُوۡنَ بِاللّٰہِ وَ الۡیَوۡمِ الۡاٰخِرِ  یُوَآدُّوۡنَ مَنۡ حَآدَّ اللّٰہَ وَ رَسُوۡلَہٗ  وَ لَوۡ کَانُوۡۤا  اٰبَآءَھُمۡ  اَوۡ اَبۡنَآءَھُمۡ  اَوۡ  اِخۡوَانَہُمۡ  اَوۡ عَشِیۡرَتَہُمۡ ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ  کَتَبَ فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِہِمُ الۡاِیۡمَانَ وَ اَیَّدَھُمۡ  بِرُوۡحٍ مِّنۡہُ ؕ وَ یُدۡخِلُہُمۡ جَنّٰتٍ تَجۡرِیۡ مِنۡ تَحۡتِہَا الۡاَنۡہٰرُ خٰلِدِیۡنَ  فِیۡہَا ؕ رَضِیَ اللّٰہُ  عَنۡہُمۡ وَ رَضُوۡا عَنۡہُ ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ حِزۡبُ اللّٰہِ ؕ اَلَاۤ اِنَّ  حِزۡبَ اللّٰہِ ھُمُ الۡمُفۡلِحُوۡنَ (۲۲)

You will not find people who believe in Allah and the Last Day befriending those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they be their fathers, sons, brothers, or relatives. They are those in whose hearts Allah has imprinted faith, and He has helped them through a Spirit from Him. He will admit them to Gardens beneath which rivers flow, and they will reside in them forever. Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him; this is the group of Allah. Pay heed, for it is only the group of Allah who are successful.[6]

The holy Quran makes it clear that it does not befit the believers to befriend the enemies of Allah Almighty and His Messenger; they can never do this and their faith would not allow this.[7]

(6) Avoiding stinginess and desiring altruism

In the holy Quran, Allah Almighty speaks about the greatness of the noble Companions رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهُم, and He mentions such actions of theirs that are beloved to Him. These actions, alongside being principles of success, are also the foremost means of compassion, showing humanity, being sympathetic and having mutual concern. One of these attributes is that despite being in need themselves, they sacrifice their own things for others and avoid the greed of the carnal-self, just as it is mentioned in Surah al-Ḥashr:

وَ الَّذِیۡنَ  تَبَوَّؤُ الدَّارَ وَ الۡاِیۡمَانَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہِمۡ یُحِبُّوۡنَ مَنۡ  ھَاجَرَ  اِلَیۡہِمۡ وَ لَا یَجِدُوۡنَ  فِیۡ صُدُوۡرھمۡ حَاجَۃً  مِّمَّاۤ اُوۡتُوۡا وَ یُؤۡثِرُوۡنَ  عَلٰۤی  اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ وَ لَوۡ کَانَ بِہِمۡ خَصَاصَۃٌ ؕ     وَ مَنۡ یُّوۡقَ شُحَّ نَفۡسِہٖ  فَاُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ  الۡمُفۡلِحُوۡنَ ۚ(۹)

And those who made this city and faith an abode before them they love those who migrated to them, and they do not find any jealousy within their hearts for what they were granted, and they give preference over themselves even if they themselves are in need. And whosoever was saved from the greed of his soul, then it is they who are successful.[8]

(7) Speaking the truth

Another principle of success is to speak the true word, just as Allah Almighty mentions in the noble Quran:

یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللّٰہَ وَ قُوۡلُوۡا  قَوۡلًا  سَدِیۡدًا (ۙ۷۰) یُّصۡلِحۡ  لَکُمۡ  اَعۡمَالَکُمۡ وَ یَغۡفِرۡ لَکُمۡ ذُنُوۡبَکُمۡ ؕ وَ مَنۡ یُّطِعِ اللّٰہَ  وَ رَسُوۡلَہٗ  فَقَدۡ  فَازَ  فَوۡزًا عَظِیۡمًا (۷۱)

O you who believe! Fear Allah and speak the true word. Allah will reform your deeds for you and forgive your sins. And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly attained supreme success.[9]

Ṣadr al-Afāḍil رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه mentions some further benefits of a true word:

Speak truthfully and justly, and guard your tongue and your words; this is the essence of goodness. If you do this, Allah Almighty will rectify your affairs, give you the ability to do good deeds, accept your obedience and forgive your sins.[10]

(8) Patience and steadfastness

Showing patience and remaining steadfast upon faith in the face of hardships and worries in matters of the religion, and particularly any opposition to faith, is a matter of great fortune and a means of success.[11] Allah Almighty clearly states about the patient and those who are steadfast upon faith:

اِنِّیۡ جَزَیۡتُہُمُ  الۡیَوۡمَ  بِمَا صَبَرُوۡۤا ۙ اَنَّہُمۡ  ہُمُ  الۡفَآئِزُوۡنَ (۱۱۱)

Indeed, today I have recompensed them for their patience that they are prosperous.[12]

Steadfastness is a major thing, and it is said steadfastness is greater than a saintly marvel. The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم highlighted the importance of steadfastness, saying:

وَاَنَّ اَحَبَّ الاَعْمَالِ اِلَى اللَّهِ اَدْوَمُهَا وَاِنْ قَلَّ

“Indeed, the most beloved of actions to Allah Almighty are the most consistent, even if they are less.”[13]