Rethinking Success: An Invitation to Profound Fulfillment 🌸

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بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
(ALLAH in the name of The Most Affectionate, the Merciful.)

قَدۡ أَفۡلَحَ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ
Undoubtedly, he attained to his goal who purified.
Al-Quran (87-14)

Rethinking Success: An Invitation to Profound Fulfillment 🌸

What truly defines success? For many, the answer varies dramatically. It could be a prestigious degree, a high-paying career, professional status, establishing a massive business, a notable family name, immense wealth, or widespread fame. These are the markers of achievement we often pursue in this world.

The Enduring Question: What Are We Trading for "Success"? 🤔

In the pursuit of these worldly goals, we sometimes find ourselves engaging in activities that compromise our values—perhaps unethical dealings, neglecting our families, or even forgetting the spiritual core of our existence: our Creator (Allah) and His Beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). We rationalize neglecting our spiritual duties, like prayer, by claiming a lack of time.

If we attain worldly milestones through these compromises, have we truly succeeded?

The answer, from a profound spiritual perspective, is no. The purpose of our creation extends beyond the fleeting gains of this life. Success isn't just about what we accumulate here; it is fundamentally about our preparedness for the Afterlife (Akhirah). The rewards of this life are perishable, whereas the ultimate success in the Afterlife is imperishable. Compromising our morals and faith jeopardizes that enduring, true success.

A Guiding Light from the Qur'an 🕌

The Divine criterion for true success is beautifully encapsulated in the Qur'an:
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ
Phonics: Qad aflaḥa man tazakkā
Translation: " Undoubtedly, he attained to his goal who purified." (Surah Al-A’lā, 87:14)

This verse teaches us that the successful people (Al-Mufliḥūn) are those who purify their hearts and actions by obeying the instructions of God. When we align our lives with His guidance, we achieve success in every domain.

Sometimes, despite our best efforts and obedience, we might not see immediate worldly success. Remember, this is often a deeper form of success—a test (imtihān) from the Creator, designed to elevate our status and multiply our rewards in the Afterlife.

Insights from Real Life: 📈📉
Consider these two lessons that highlight the spiritual truth about sustenance:

  1. A man was working a suitable, though junior, job but couldn't save a penny. In his fourth year, he remembered a powerful repeated recitation (Wazīfah/Dhikr) for goodness and blessings in sustenance (Rizq):
    سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ العَظِيمِ
    Phonics: Subhān Allāhi wa-biḥamdih, Subhān Allāhil-ʿAẓīm
    Meaning: Glory be to Allah and all praise is due to Him, Glory be to Allah the Great.

He began reciting this between the Sunnah and Fardh prayers of Fajr. Within two months, though he hadn't found a better job, his monthly salary allowed him to save 25%—something he couldn't do before. He learned a profound lesson: Barakah (blessing) is not just in the numbers; it is a spiritual grace.

  1. Another person, running a restaurant, was struggling to make a profit. Desperate, he introduced alcoholic drinks, thinking it would save his business. After a year, the business still failed to break even, and he was forced to close.

The Moral is clear: the first person's faith was strengthened, and he experienced divine blessing. The second person lost not only his business in this life but also compromised his success in the Afterlife.

The Ultimate Takeaway: Surrender and Alignment ✨

The greatest lesson is to fully surrender (taslīm) and align our goals with the divine will. We must follow God's laws and instructions, trusting that true blessing (Barakah) is found in obedience.

May Allah keep us, our descendants, and all Muslims, among the group who truly love Him and His Beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and are, in turn, loved by Them, Aameen. 🙏

It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr said:

“It was said to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): ‘Which of the people is best?’ He said: ‘Everyone who is pure of heart and sincere in speech.’ They said: ‘Sincere in speech, we know what this is, but what is pure of heart?’ He said: ‘It is (the heart) that is pious and pure, with no sin, injustice, rancor or envy in it.’” Sunan Ibn Majah 4216 Book 37, Hadith 117

Bazam-e-Ghous-e-Azam (R.A) (بزم غوث اعظم (رحمة الله عليه: A nonprofit guided by Hazrat Faqeer Sufi Jawaid Iqbal Khan Qadri Irshadi Muhammadi, dedicated to education, weekly spiritual gatherings, and spreading love for Allah, His Prophet ﷺ, and humanity.

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