Success in Islamic Perspective.

What is Success?

According to Wikipedia, "Success is the state or condition of meeting a defined range of expectations."

What is Success Today?

These defined ranges of expectations in today’s world have become very materialistic in nature. The one who possesses more expensive and extensive materialistic possessions is considered successful. With this mindset, on one hand, people are flaunting their riches on platforms like social media to showcase their success, and on the other hand, individuals witnessing this display are getting influenced and desperately trying to acquire the same for themselves. In the process, they are getting trapped in all kinds of debts and financial troubles. When they are unable to achieve their materialistic goals, they become ungrateful and dissatisfied with their lives, harboring hatred and envy toward those who have what they lack. This also leads to various emotional and psychological troubles.

Limited Access to Success.

In a society based on capitalism and materialism, where the rich are becoming richer and the poor are becoming poorer, the wealthy can access the best schools, top colleges, build great careers, and be successful. Meanwhile, the poor settle for much less and endure more difficulties since many lack access to good education, decent jobs, and a better lifestyle, resulting in comparatively rare success. This makes success in today's world a privilege, limited to those with the means to achieve it.

The Cost.

When society's focus becomes excessively materialistic, it results in a society deprived of its moral values—the core foundation of the well-being of any individual living in that society. As a result, it creates various social troubles and criminal behaviors that we can observe all around us.

Success in Islam.

Islam offers a definition of success that is completely opposite to this. Success in Islam is achieved through moral values rather than materialistic possessions. Following is how the success is defined in one of the verses of Quran:

The Qur’an, chapter 3, verse no 185:

“whoever is spared from the Fire and is admitted to Paradise has indeed been successful.”

To be spared from the fire and admitted to paradise, one does not have to be rich and successful by today's worldly standards. Understanding this better requires exploring a few authentic sayings of Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him):

"There was a branch of a tree that annoyed the people. A man removed it, so he was admitted to Paradise.” (Sunan Ibn Majah 3682)

"There is no man whose two daughters reach the age of puberty and he treats them kindly for the time they are together, but they will gain him admittance to Paradise.” (Sunan Ibn Majah 3670)

"A woman entered upon Aisha with her two daughters, and she gave her three dates. (The woman) gave each of her daughters a date, then she split the last one between them. She (Aisha) said: 'Then the Prophet(ﷺ) came and I told him about that.' He said: ' Why are you surprised? She will enter Paradise because of that.'” (Sunan Ibn Majah 3668)

These examples illustrate that, in Islam, success is based on having good moral conduct. A person who removes an obstacle from a road, a father who treats his daughters well, a mother who thinks of her daughter before herself—all these are considered successful. These parameters for success, rooted in Islamic teachings, promote goodness, restore moral values in society, and inspire individuals to strive towards becoming their best morally. This results in people taking care of each other, helping one another, thinking about others before themselves, and contributes to creating a morally healthy society.

As Islam generalizes success for everyone, irrespective of socio-economic status, any individual can become successful by being a good human being.