Success in this world

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  In Dr. Muhsin Khan's Quran translation the word "success" appears 83 times in 82 verses. None of these verses says that a successful person is the one who had got wealth, money, mansions, wives, children, fame, good education or status. The first few verses of Surah Al Baqarah high lights the qualities of a successful person in this world.
2. This is the Book (the Qur'an), whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqun[the pious and righteous persons who fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)].
3. Who believe in the Ghaiband perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat),and spend out of what we have provided for them [i.e. give Zakat, spend on themselves, their parents, their children, their wives, etc., and also give charity to the poor and also in Allah's Cause - Jihad, etc.].
4. And who believe in (the Qur'an and the Sunnah)which has been sent down (revealed) to you (Muhammad Peace be upon him) and in [the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel), etc.] which were sent down before you and they believe with certainty in the Hereafter. (Resurrection, a recompense of their good and bad deeds, Paradise and Hell, etc.).
5. They are on (true) guidance from their Lord, and they are the successful (Baqarah 2-5).
 So by reading these verses we know that real success in this world is achieved bybelieving in Allah (swa) and using this worldly life to harvest good deeds so that the good deeds will sustain you in the Hereafter! Our Prophet Muhammad (saw), his companions and the salaf had said countless statements that belittle this worldly life.
Life of this world and the hereafter.
      Allah (swa) says in Quran “Truly, this life of the world is nothing but a (quick passing) enjoyment, and verily, the Hereafter that is the home that will remain forever.”(40:30)
      From this verse we know that this worldly life is short lived and all the blessings and mercy of Allah (swa) is in the Hereafter which is eternal.  But the reality is that knowing all this we are investing this worldly life heedlessly accumulating wealth and materialistic needs. Is this is the success you acquire?
Allah (swa) says “And know that your possessions and your children are but a trial and that surely, with Allah (swa) is a mighty reward”. (8:28)
      So if all these materialistic possessions are worthless compared to the rewards of Allah (swa) how can we use these possessions and worldly life to benefit us for the Hereafter? 
   The second Caliph of the Muslim Umar bin Khattab (ra) said that “Zuhud (modesty) in this life brings comfort to the heart and the body”. Imam Ahmed described Zuhud towards this worldly life as pertains to having short hopes.
      Hassan Al Basari said “I met some people who would not feel elation at anything that they earn in this life, nor grieve for anything in it that they do not acquire”.
      Yahya bin Mu’adh said “How can I not love a life in which I have my provision, earn my livelihood and live to perform acts of obedience on account of which I earn Paradise”.
      Al –Hassan Al-Basari said “Stay away from busying aspects of life, and surely, life has abundant aspects. Every man who indulges in an aspect of life that fills his time, then that door he opened will open ten more doors of busying aspects of life.”
      Ibn As-Simaak said “If life lures one to taste its delights because his heart covets life, the Hereafter will make him taste its bitterness because his heart turned away from it”.
Status of our Ummah.
      The Muslims throughout the world had been deluded by the beliefs, ethics and cultures of non-Muslims. The western beliefs, ethics and cultures are deliberately introduced to Islamic communities by non-Muslims as a part of long term propaganda to weaken our faith so we can be defeated and the richness of our lands can be stolen. Since the day Islam was sent down by Allah (swa) as a religion for the Human kind, the enemies of this religion had tried to stop the expansion of the Islamic small empire by force. But they were defeated by the fearless Muslims who desired Martyrdom over this materialistic world.
     So the enemies of Islam started a psychological war. The aim of this war was to delude the Muslims in materialism. When the Muslims chose the materialism over the eternal blessings of Hereafter the Muslims were defeated by the enemies of Islam.  If you look at the Islamic world today, we can see that Muslims are heedless of their covenant to Allah (swa) and they are running after the worldly materialistic needs while Muslim brothers and sisters are massacred in front of the whole world.
Final advice.
     One of our salaf said “O son of Adam, you need your share from this life, but more so, you need your share in the Hereafter. If you take care of your share in this life first, you will lose share in the Hereafter and will soon lose your share in this life, as well. If you take care of your share in the Hereafter first, you will also win your share in this life and enjoy it perfectly”.
     So my brothers and sisters wake up from the illusions of this world which the Satan had beautified us ! Had the time not arrived to ask forgiveness for the countless sins we have committed ! Or are you a slave of Allah (swa) or are you a slave of this world and Satan ? Those who follow their desires and lusts in this world, Allah (swa) will full fill their needs in this world but in the Hereafter they will be at loss.