The Quran's Formula for Success

Life seems very unsure these days. The global economy is in turmoil, and wars and unrest spot the globe.  Serious and extreme hardships have hit developing nations, some which have already been suffering for years.  Here in California, the national and state economies are in major downturns, resulting in layoffs, home foreclosures, business bankruptcies, and dreams such as college or retirement deferred.

For many of us, the issues abroad and at home aren’t just headlines; they affect us personally, deeply.  It’s enough to make us wonder if we’ll make it.  As spiritual people, as Submitters, we are blessed with the following guidance on hardship from the Quran, which can bring us reassurance:

2:286 GOD never burdens a soul beyond its means: to its credit is what it earns, and against it is what it commits…

2:155 We will surely test you through some fear, hunger, and loss of money, lives, and crops. Give good news to the steadfast.

Despite how rough things are going, we know from these verses that God won’t give us challenges we aren’t up to, and that these difficulties are a part of our life test. 

It’s why we’re here, showing our true character and earning our redemption.  With faith and steadfastness, we can overcome, and we will be rewarded, inshAllah (God willing).

Now, I don't want to glaze over or make light of what kind of terrible hardships people in other countries are facing.  And God willing, I pray we and our loved ones will survive through these times and make it through.

But I was thinking about our loftier goals. Our hopes go beyond survival.  I think many of us are driven by the need to succeed.  Many people reading this message are overachievers, dedicated to performing as the best professionals, parents, academics, and servants of God.

We want more than to make it– we want to attain the highest level of achievement possible.  Dare I say, we wish to perform to perfection! While only God is perfect, striving to our own personal best is doable. So how do we achieve this success we are so hungry for?

Searching the Quran for a formula for success, you’ll come up with about 28 verses related to achieving success.  Some of the formula is common sense, like steering clear of the harmful things that may risk your future:

5:90 O you who believe, intoxicants, and gambling, and the altars of idols, and the games of chance are abominations of the devil; you shall avoid them, that you may succeed.

And mentioned right beside the pitfalls of drugs, we see idol worship – thinking any being or thing other than God Almighty can help you – is a road block to success. God makes it clear that a healthy spiritual condition is prerequisite to success.  Time and again, the emphasis is that success depends on belief, worship, and the good actions – things that strengthen our soul.

22:77 O you who believe, you shall bow, prostrate, worship your Lord, and work righteousness, that you may succeed.

That’s faith in action!  God also reminds us that we should not be so single minded in our earthly pursuits that we forget God’s  purpose on Earth for us:

5:35 O you who believe, you shall reverence GOD and seek the ways and means to Him, and strive in His cause, that you may succeed.

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