Source: Sheikh ‘Abdul-Razzaaq Ibn ‘Abdul-Muhsin al-Badr
The Affairs through which Success is Achieved 1
Those well-acquainted with the ways of Allah have agreed that success is not something in which Allah has left the people to their own means, and that failure is for the slave to rely upon his own self. Among the things which deserve our attention when it comes to this subject are the affairs through which success is achieved. These can be summarized as follows:
-Pious intention, which is the foundation of actions, as well as what they are based upon and what makes them upright.
-Being abundant in supplicating and asking Allah. For whoever has been granted the ability to supplicate has been granted both the key and the doorway to success.
-Sincere reliance upon Allah, just as comes in the statement of Shu’aib (peace be upon him), (And my success is not but through Allah. Upon him I have relied) (Surah Hud 88).
-Rectifying one’s self by means of knowledge, for knowledge is a light for its possessor. And whoever has been misled from this issue has only been misled due to his lack of religious knowledge, which is the greatest gateway to success and happiness in both this life and the hereafter.
-Exerting one’s self in worship and acts of obedience – both those which are obligatory and those which are optional.
-Accompanying pious and upright people, and distancing one’sself from evil and corrupt people. For whoever opens up the door of associating with evil and corrupt people has unleashed a great deal of failure and deprivation upon himself according to how much he associates with these people.
And success comes from Allah alone.
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