Success has been promised to the believers by Allah Almighty, as He says in the Holy Qur’an:

“Surely, success does come to the believers” (1).

What exactly is success, and what does it signify? If we pose this question to the average American, they might respond by naming figures like Bill Gates or the President of the United States, or Elon Musk, associating success with positions of power and influence. But does wealth and power truly define success? Is there any evidence that those with wealth and authority are happier than the rest of us?

If we look up “success” in a dictionary, it will be described as “the achievement of a goal.” Perhaps this gives us a better framework: to be successful is to achieve a goal. At this point, one might ask, what goals are worthy?

A simple study of the Holy Qur’an will provide the answer, as right at the beginning of Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah Almighty says that the Holy Qur’an “is a perfect Book; there is no doubt in it; it is a guidance for the righteous” (2).

And who are the righteous? The answer lies in the following verses:

“Who believe in the unseen and observe Prayer and spend out of what We have provided for them, and who believe in that which has been revealed to thee, and that which was revealed before thee, and they have ­rm faith in what is yet to come. It is they who follow the guidance of their Lord and it is they who shall prosper” (3).

In the commentary of this last verse, His Holiness Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad (may Allah be pleased with him) explains that “… when a man has fulfilled all the conditions of righteousness in respect of both belief and actions, then he may be sure not only of being rightly guided but also of being a master of guidance whose success in this life as well as in the life to come is assured” (4).

It is remarkable, thus, that Allah Almighty did not limit the believers’ success only to matters of religion or only in the hereafter. In fact, Allah said, “it is they who shall prosper”.

This notion of prosperity is reflected in some of the most renowned scientists of all time, many of whom were Muslim. During the Golden Age of Islam, Muslim scientists such as Al-Khwarizmi and Avicenna laid down the basics of math, medicine, physics, astronomy, and architecture.

Modern atheists often say that there is an inherent conflict between religion and science. However, Muslim scientists—both historical figures such as the ones mentioned above and contemporary scholars such as Professor Abdus Salam, have proven this notion to be misguided. They have shown clearly that the Holy Qur’an is a comprehensive guide for all humanity, rich in spiritual wisdom and scientific insights. From the creation of the universe and the existence of Black holes to the processes of rain formation and fetal development, as well as principles relevant to modern communication systems, this Holy Book encompasses a wealth of knowledge.

No matter what field one seeks success in, the path to it is found in the Holy Qur’an. All the knowledge we have acquired and learned from history is contained in the Holy Qur’an. Even more extraordinary is that innovations still to be created are also hinted at in this Holy book. Perhaps only with the passage of time, and only when these are manifested to us at their appointed time, will we be able to understand which our eyes are blind to today.

As the Holy Qur’an encompasses all that we have ever known, we also must reflect on the purpose of our existence. Allah Almighty says in the Holy Qur’an:

“And I have not created the Jinn and the men but that they may worship Me” (5).

We learn through this verse that the primary purpose of our existence is to worship God Almighty. That is our ultimate goal as human beings. So how can we do that? What pathways will lead to God and, ultimately, to our success? The answer has been beautifully laid out by His Holiness, the Promised Messiah, and Mahdi, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) in “Our Teachings”. He says:

“The affairs of the world are intricate and complex, whether they relate to the responsibilities associated with kingship and administration, whether they relate to combat or battle and warfare, whether they relate to the subtleties of natural science and astronomy, whether they relate to the method of diagnosis and treatment in the field of medicine, or whether they relate to trade or agriculture. Success in any of these fields is difficult, rather well-nigh impossible, to come by until one finds a clear avenue of approaching the subject at hand. When confronted by difficulty, any intelligent person compels himself to ponder night and day, for hours on end, to devise a means by which to resolve the problem at hand. All professions and inventions, or any other intricate and complex matter, can only be undertaken once the right approach has been adopted. Thus, to achieve success in worldly or religious objectives, the most effective prayer is that of seeking the right path. When one approaches anything from the correct avenue, then with the grace of God, such a person undoubtedly can succeed in attaining their goal. God, in His power and wisdom, has set out a proper way of achieving everything. For example, no ailing person can be efficaciously treated until an effective approach for the identification and diagnosis of their ailment is followed and the heart is led to believe that the proposed course of action shows promising signs of success. In fact, nothing in the world can be achieved until the correct method is undertaken for that purpose. And so, one who strives towards an objective must first discover the correct way of achieving it. Thus, just as one first requires a correct path to attain success in worldly matters, so too, since time immemorial, to become a friend of God and to receive His love and grace, a correct path has always been required” (6).

What pathway leads to God efficiently? This has been explained in detail in the commentary of the above-mentioned verse (“And I have not created the Jinn and the men but that they may worship Me”). His Holiness Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad (ra) says:

“This [The urge to search after God] being the great object of man’s existence, the Qur’an has not failed to prescribe ways and means to attain it:

The first means towards attaining this end is the right knowledge and firm faith in a Living God and the recognition and realization of His beauty and goodness, because beauty and goodness are the two incentives to love” (7)

Hence, as pointed out before, attaining knowledge is a primary way to connect with God. All sciences lead to God. And the study of this universe and its elements and its history… are all pathways to God and, ultimately, to success. The second means to attain nearness to God is prayer.

The third pathway to God, to success, mentioned by His Holiness Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad (ra) is by “Spending one’s money and time and applying one’s faculties, and sacrificing one’s life as well as using one’s knowledge and wisdom in the cause of God” (8).

Then, “another important means to attain this supreme object is to keep company with the righteous and to imitate their example because man is by nature inclined to imitate a model and he constantly feels the need of it.

Last but perhaps the most crucial factor that helps man to attain this great and noble object are pure dreams, visions, and revelations from God. As the road that leads to God is very mysterious and intricate and is full of difficulties and dangers, the spiritual wayfarer may depart from the right course or despair of attaining the goal. The grace of God, therefore, continues to encourage and strengthen him in his animates him with a still more zealous desire to pursue his journey eagerly” (9).

Having outlined the pathway to success, we may now ponder what distinguishes two scientists working in the same field—one with faith in God and the other, an atheist. Does belief in God enhance a person’s ability to excel in their work? We might consider the many scientists who have made significant contributions to science and progress yet are neither Muslim nor believers, but they would seem to be successful in their respective fields of study. A succinct Hadith provides clarity: Deeds are judged according to intentions. When conducting the same research, one person intends to gain knowledge about the creation of God to gain His nearness. The other simply looks for fame and worldly benefits. Who is more successful? Without a doubt, he is the one who is fulfilling his primary goal of worshiping God. We should never forget that intention is a fundamental aspect of all Islamic practices. In this context, what ultimately leads to one person’s success over another is the intention behind their actions. If your intentions are correct, and you strive to seek God through knowledge by spending your wealth or by praying, you will find success not only in your worldly pursuits but also in your spiritual journey. Allah Almighty is Al-‘Alim, “the All-knowing.” According to the classical Arabic dictionary Aqrab Al-Mawarid, the attribute of Al-Alim signifies “the One Who possesses perfect knowledge and also bestows that knowledge to others” (10). So, all knowledge belongs to Allah the Almighty, and true success can only come from Him and through Him.

References:

1. The Holy Qur’an, 23:2

2. The Holy Qur’an, 2:3

3. The Holy Qur’an, 2:3-6

4. The Holy Quran, Five Volumes Commentary (Chapter 2, Verse 3), page 43, Vol. 1, Islam International Publications, Reprinted in U.K., 2018.

5. The Holy Qur’an, 51:57

6. Ahmad, Mirza Ghulam. Noah’s Ark, pp. 94-95, Islam International Publications Ltd., Reprinted in U.K. in 2018

7. Holy Quran, Five Volumes Commentary (Chapter 51, Verse 57), page 2996, Vol. 5, Islam International Publications, Reprinted in U.K., 2018.

8. Ibid.

9. Ibid.

10. https://www.reviewofreligions.org/19777/the-attributes-of-allah-4/ [Accessed on Nov. 4, 2024]