SUCCESSFUL BELIEVER

Everyone wants to be successful. But what is true success? When we look at the Quran we find that there is a chapter that was revealed in honor of the believers. The chapter is Surah “Al-Mu’minun (23:1-11). Allah Almighty begins the chapter by Saying “Successful indeed are the believers” which  means, they have attained victory and are blessed, for they have succeeded.

Then Allah Almighty describes successful believers as:

Those who with their Salah are Khashi`un which means those with fear and with tranquillity. Khushu` in prayer is only attained by the one who has emptied his heart totally, who does not pay attention to anything else besides it, and who prefers it above all else. At that point Salat becomes a delight and a joy for eyes, as in the Hadith recorded by Imam Ahmad and An-Nasa'i from Anas, who said that the Messenger of Allah said:

«حُبِّبَ إِلَيَّ الطِّيبُ وَالنِّسَاءُ، وَجُعِلَتْ قُرَّةُ عَيْنِي فِي الصَّلَاة»

“Fragrance and women have been made dear to me, and Salah was made the joy of my eye”.

 And those who turn away from Al-Laghw which refers to falsehood, which includes Shirk and sin, and any words or deeds that, are of no benefit.

And those who pay the Zakah.

And those who guard their private parts. Except from their wives and their right hand possessions, for then, they are free from blame. But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors which means, those who protect their private parts from unlawful actions and do not do that which Allah has forbidden; fornication and homosexuality, and do not approach anyone except the wives whom Allah has made permissible for them or their right hand possessions from the captives. One who seeks what Allah has made permissible for him is not to be blamed and there is no sin on him

 Those who are faithfully true to their Amanat (trusts) and to their covenants. When they are entrusted with something, they do not betray that trust, but they fulfill it, and when they make a promise or make a pledge, they are true to their word. This is not like the hypocrites about whom the Messenger of Allah said:

«آيَةُ الْمُنَافِقِ ثَلَاثٌ: إِذَا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ، وَإِذَا وَعَدَ أَخْلَفَ، وَإِذَا اؤْتُمِنَ خَان»

“The signs of the hypocrite are three: when he speaks he lies, when he makes a promise he breaks it, and when he is entrusted with something he betrays that trust”.

And those who strictly guard their Salawat which means, they persistently offer their prayers at their appointed times, as Ibn Mas`ud said: "I asked the Messenger of Allah , `O Messenger of Allah, which deed is most beloved to Allah' He said,

«الصَّلَاةُ عَلَى وَقْتِهَا»

“Prayer at the appointed time”.  I said, `Then what' He said,

«بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْن»

“Kindness to one's parents”. Qatadah said: "At the fixed times, with the proper bowing and prostration.'' Allah begins and ends this list of praiseworthy qualities with Salah, which is indicative of its virtue, as the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

«اسْتَقِيمُوا وَلَنْ تُحْصُوا، وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ خَيْرَ أَعْمَالِكُمُ الصَّلَاةُ، وَلَا يُحَافِظُ عَلَى الْوُضُوءِ إِلَّا مُؤْمِن»

“Adhere to righteousness, you will never be able encompass it all. Know that the best of your deeds is Salah. None will preserve his Wuddu' except the believer”

When Allah Almighty described the believers with the praiseworthy characteristics and righteous deeds. Allah Almighty said:

These are indeed the heirs. Who shall inherit Firdaws. They shall dwell therein forever. It was recorded in the Two Sahihs that the Messenger of Allah said: “If you ask Allah for Paradise, then ask him for Al-Firdaws, for it is the highest part of Paradise, in the middle of Paradise, and from it spring the rivers of Paradise, and above it is the (Mighty) Throne of the Most Merciful”.