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It is always negative. The transgressors never succeed (6:21, 10:17); the disbelievers never succeed (23:117, 28:82); the wicked never succeed (6:135).
[10:69] Proclaim: “Those who fabricate lies about GOD will never succeed.”
So, we can clearly see what will prevent our success, and God is very clear in what we need to do to find success. God is so Merciful. He gives us chance after chance to succeed in this world, and more importantly, He shows us the ways to find success in the all-important Hereafter.
[3:200] O you who believe, you shall be steadfast, you shall persevere, you shall be united, you shall observe GOD, that you may succeed.
[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.
[5:100] Proclaim: “The bad and the good are not the same, even if the abundance of the bad may impress you. You shall reverence GOD, (even if you are in the minority,) O you who possess intelligence, that you may succeed.”
[22:77] O you who believe, you shall bow, prostrate, worship your Lord, and work righteousness, that you may succeed.
As we begin a New Year, let us make a resolution to seek the ways and means to God in all our activities, to be steadfast, to reverence God and to work righteousness every day. May God give all of us the true success, the only success that matters—admission into Paradise, to enjoy eternity in God’s presence.
One blessed day after meditation on GOD, I was inspired, “I want you to know that you did nothing out of your own, you are a by-product of My inclination towards mercy.” MãshãAllãh, what a merciful GOD.
It’s humbling to know that our creator redeems us out of His inclination towards mercy. That for no other reason than His Mercifulness are we still here, MãshãAllãh!
Repentance: Cleaning the Slate
[9:11] If they repent and observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), then they are your brethren in religion. We thus explain the revelations for people who know.
[2:160] As for those who repent, reform, and proclaim, I redeem them. I am the Redeemer, Most Merciful.
[11:61] To Thamûd we sent their brother Sãleh. He said, “O my people, worship GOD; you have no other god beside Him. He initiated you from the earth, then settled you in it. You shall seek His forgiveness, then repent to Him. My Lord is always near, responsive.”
So why should we not worship and strive in the cause of the Most Merciful and ask His forgiveness every day and night to make it back? What could be more important, since the GOAL of our third and final chance is to be redeemed.
[7:102] We found that most of them disregard their covenant; we found most of them wicked.*
**7:102 This life is our last chance to redeem ourselves,
but most people are proven to be stubbornly rebellious and evil (see the INTRODUCTION).
Among the gifts from the Most Merciful to help us make it back is meditation—an important form of worship. [39:9] Is it not better to be one of those who meditate in the night, prostrating and staying up, being aware of the Hereafter, and seeking the mercy of their Lord? Say, “Are those who know equal to those who do not know?” Only those who possess intelligence will take heed.
May GOD keep guiding us on the right path, inshaAllah.
* * * * *
[102:1] You remain preoccupied with hoarding. [102:2] Until you go to the graves. [102:3] Indeed, you will find out. [102:4] Most assuredly, you will find out. [102:5] If only you could find out for certain. [102:6] You would envision Hell. [102:7] Then you would see it with the eye of certainty. [102:8] Then you will be questioned, on that day, about the blessings you had enjoyed.
All of us sometimes become more preoccupied with this world and the wonderful things in it than we should be. But we don’t want to be preoccupied until we go to the graves. Then it’s too late. That’s not the time you want to find out. Throughout Quran, people are always pleading on the Day of Judgment to be sent back, promising to do better.
[23:99] When death comes to one of them, he says, “My Lord, send me back. [23:100] “I will then work righteousness in everything I left.” Not true. This is a false claim that he makes.
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