Guaranteeing Success by “True” Conditions

The idea of striving for success is a central theme of both the Qur’an and Prophetic teachings. It is something ultimately sought by every human. But how is success achieved?
Shaykh al-Islam Shabbir Usmani, one of the great Muslim scholars of the 20th century and a leading voice in the Independence Movement in the Indian subcontinent, said we can understand from the Qur’an and Prophetic teachings that, if the following four conditions are present, success is guaranteed.
The Four Keys :
1) One’s intention must be true;
2) One’s goal must be true;
3) The means one takes must be true; and
4) The way one takes the means must be true.
How are these four conditions made “true”?
First: True Intention
A true intention is for one’s action to be sincerely for the sake of God.
God Most High says, “They were only ordered to serve God, making their religion sincerely His.” (98:5)
And, “Whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work, and make none sharer of the service due unto his Lord.” (18:110)
The Messenger of God (God bless him and give him peace) said, “Actions are by intentions, and each person shall only have that which he intended.” (Related by Bukhari and Muslim, on the authority of Umar – God be pleased with him)
The second Islamic century scholar and Sufi, Abdullah Ibn al-Mubarak (God have mercy on him), said, “How often is a small action made tremendous through its intention, and how often is a tremendous action rendered small through its intention.” (Dhahabi, Siyar A’lam al-Nubala, 8.400)
Second: True Goals
Having a true goal entails that one’s goal is something that is pleasing to God. What pleases God is seeking to make good one’s relationship with Him and to seek the good for oneself and for all creation.
Third: True Means
The Prophet (God bless him and give him peace) said, “The strong believer is better and more beloved to God than the weak believer, though there is good in both. Be avid for that which benefits. Rely on God, and don’t deem yourself incapable.” (Related by Muslim, on the authority of Abu Hurayra – God be pleased with him)
The “strong believer” in this hadith has been explained in various ways, but perhaps the best explanation is that the strong believer is the one who is able to take the best of means – outward and inward – in each situation.
Some sunnas in planning the right way of action include:
[1] Considering all options;
[2] Consulting those worthy of consultation;
[3] Carefully weighing the choices based on the greatest likely benefit;
[4] Consigning the matter to God by suspending one’s judgment before acting and performing the prayer of seeking guidance (istikhara); and
[5] Acting in the way one then feels is of the greatest likely benefit. It is a Prophetic promise that such action will be blessed.
Fourth: True Way of Taking the Means
This entails that the way one takes the means be in accordance with the spirit of excellence, wisdom, gentleness, dignity and forbearance that are the essence of the way of the Beloved Messenger Muhammad (God bless him and give him peace).
It entails striving to promote the good – for oneself and others – in one’s action and as one acts; and to strive to respond to all challenges that arise in the best way possible.
May God inspire us to all that is best and most pleasing to Him.
And God alone gives success.  By Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

 "Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire!" (The Holy Qur'an 2:201)  Ameen  "Renouncing the worldly life does not mean forbidding what is lawful or squandering wealth; rather, renouncing the worldly life means not thinking that what you have in your hand is better than what is in the hand of Allah; and it means feeling that the reward for a calamity that befalls you is greater than that which the calamity makes you miss." - Prophet Muhammad (saww)"O Allah, if you have written me among the wretched, then erase it and write me among the fortunate, for verily, you can erase whatever you will."  Umar b. al-Khattab

Be aware of the time one lives in; avoid the commerciality of the modern world which makes you want things you don’t need.  -Sheikh Nuh Keller

“If God wishes evil for a people, He opens up to them the paths to argument and bars them from good deeds.” -Imam Awza'i

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