Means of Achieving Success

It is obligatory for a Muslim to learn four matters.

First: is knowledge, which comprises of awareness about Allah, His Prophet and the religion of Islam based on evidence.

Second: is to act upon it (knowledge).

Third: is to call towards it.

Fourth: is to observe patience in case you face trouble due to it.

Evidence: Allah the Exalted says in Surat-ul-‘Asr, a short but comprehensive chapter in the Noble Qur’an:

وَالْعَصْرِ١ إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ٢ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ٣

(I swear) by the Time, man is in a state of loss indeed, except those who believed and did righteous deeds, and exhorted each other to follow truth and exhorted each other to observe patience. [103:1-3]

Imam Shafi’i (May Allah show him Mercy) said: “If Allah had not revealed any evidence to His creation except this Surah, it would have been sufficient for them.”

Lessons Learned:

• Allah has sworn by Time that all people are losers except those who adopt the means of achieving success and security.
• A Muslim is obliged to learn the distinction between the means of success and loss. The means of success are four, which are:
  1. Attaining a beneficial knowledge of Allah, His Prophet and His Religion such that this knowledge leads to action.
  2. Acting upon the religion that he has believed in by performing acts of obedience and abstaining from forbidden acts.
  3. Inviting others to the religion of Islam and propagating it among the people.
  4. Endurance in performing acts of obedience and perseverance when faced with difficulties caused by inviting others to Islam.
• These four means emerge from each other as action is based on knowledge and inviting people necessitates his adherence to the teachings of religion.
• It is binding on a Muslim to memorize these matters and teach them to others as this is a means to propagate knowledge and invite people towards good.