2012- To Be A Successful Believer!

Happy New Year Everybody!

When it comes to New Year Celebration, we would be surrounded by warm wishes and prayers for better future and greater success not forgetting making new year resolutions.

You don’t have any resolutions yet? Let me assist you to create one. J

First, flip out your Quran and refer to the 23^rd Chapter i.e.: Surah Al-Mu’minun (The Believers). Too lazy? Then just read on first. I will explain my understanding of these 11 verses below.

 

In the name of Allah , the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

1.    Successful indeed are the believers;

2. Those who humble themselves in their prayers;

3. Who avoid vain talk or shun vain conversation;

4. Who are active in deeds of charity or payers of the poor-due;
5. Who guard their modesty or abstain from sex,

6. Except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or (the captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (in their case) they are free from blame,

7. But those whose desires exceed those limits are transgressors;-
8. Those who faithfully observe their trusts (keepers of their pledge) and their covenants;
9. And who (strictly) guard their prayers;-
10. These will be the heirs,

11. Who will inherit Paradise: they will dwell therein (for ever).

[Note: I got the Arabic text from here and the translation are a mixed between there and here. Well, I didn’t actually mix it but I added on for better understanding. That’s why you see the “or” in the translation.]

Now, let’s get into business shall we?

In the first 11 verses of Surah Al-Mu’minun, Allah SWT tells us that the Believers are indeed successful. (If you are a Believer, say Alhamdulillah and Yay. You can also let out a sigh of relieve here...Fuh!).

Allah SWT then went on to explain the characteristics of a successful believer in the following 8 verses. He began by the categorization of a successful Believer by mentioning FIRST, those who are khusyu’ in their prayers and ENDS with those who guard or take cares of their prayers.

See how important prayers is?

In between, He states that a successful believer will avoid vain talks, do charity, abstain from illegal sex and only do so legally and observe trust and covenants.

Now if a Believer do all of the above properly, Insha Allah, he will inherit Paradise. Not ENTER but INHERIT.

Inherit means it is your right to get it. But only if you fulfil the obligations mentioned in verse 2-9.

That’s pretty literal right? If you had happened to read the translation of Surah Al-Mu’minun, common sense would dictate that you would be able to decipher the above meaning.

Now, let me share with you this.

In life, when we explain about someone’s background or credentials, we would always be interested with his most successful achievement right? When we want to introduce a Medical Doctor for example, we don’t tell about his primary education first but we say “Dr. Abdullah obtained his PhD in Islamic Finance from INCEIF”. Then we go on to say that he got his Masters from Azhar University after completing his degree from the International Islamic University Malaysia. We might even go on to share his secondary school and primary school thereafter.

This is the norm when we introduce someone. We start from the most successful achievement and move downwards. It would be bizarre if we share one’s kindergarten, primary, secondary education first before moving up to illustrate that he is a Medical Doctor or a PhD Candidate in the end. This sort of dilutes the effect of one’s achievement. Probably because it is only expected that he would have passed all the lower levels before he could achieve his most current successful accomplishment.

Khusyu’ in prayers is the ultimate level of achievement for a Believer. That’s like the most awesome character of a Believer. That’s why Allah SWT mentions Khusyu’ as the best illustration of a successful Believer. Because it is the ultimate character, you cannot just suddenly get it. Just like a PhD holder, one cannot just wake up one day and say, “I think I want to be a PhD holder”. It doesn’t work that way. You need to make sure that you have the necessary qualifications and background before you can even be considered to be a PhD candidate. This is the same when we want to be Khusyu’ in our prayers. It takes a lot of effort, perseverance, preservation, discipline etc.

So if we want to be a successful Believer, we must have Khusyu’ in our prayers. Ok. How do we go about doing that?

Well, as I have mentioned above, the illustration to one’s achievement is normally done by mentioning the best and down to the most primary level. If we want to start achieving the ultimate goal, the idea is to start at the starting steps of being a successful Believer.

This, my dear readers, is your cue to go straight to verse 9 and read the characteristics backwards all the way to verse 2.

Verse 9 only asks you to guard your prayers.

You can read my previous post on Random Facts About Prayers Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI and Part VII for some basic reading. Also click on the “Islam” Category in In My Chambers.

Then you make sure to observe your trust and covenants. Have Amanah and never ever lie.

Then you abstain from illegal sex and only do so legally. Get married if you are single. Only go to bed with your wives if you are married. And most importantly, for husbands and wives, please each other for the sake of Allah.

Then you do charity.

Then you avoid vain talks.

Perfect all these characters and then Insha Allah you will be able to get Khusyu’ in your prayers.

Then you will not only be a Believer, but a successful Believer who will inherit Paradise.

I think this would be a great new year resolution and let’s see if we can be a successful Believer.

Don't worry if your just about to start. Islam is not only about scoring in your exams but Islam acknowledges the journey towards acing your exams. If you are just about to start, then let's start together. if you have already started, then please do share with us your experiance. Hopefully, at the end of the day, we get to complete it successfully together.

Get your friends and family to do so with you. Wouldn't it be nice to have your friends and family in Paradise together?

So 2012, may you bring us all a greater success!

Blog adjourned.

(Alhamdulillah. I finally got to share this knowledge. I first heard it in the show "Parables in the Quran" hosted by Moez Massoud. Then I continued with some research and got better understanding from my Spiritual Teacher. May Allah continue to guide them and grant them His blessings and make them Successful Believers too!)