Attaining True Success

 

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim - In the Name of Allah, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful!!

In this world, it is part of every human being's nature to wish for success in whatever he or she endeavors. Therefore there is a need to have a goal first, and then strive to attain it, so that we are successful.

So what is our true goal?

After understanding that there is only one true God and that He would never leave us without clear guiding principles by which to live our lives; we would be in a better position to understand what exactly that goal is.

When we look into the guiding principles that God has set for us, and when we find that we are doing ok when it comes to the basics, like performing our prayers and other acts of worship that are mandatory, but at the same time when we feel like something is missing from our lives, and that we want to progress towards getting closer to God, then what should we do?

We turn to the Qur'an and look for the next step to attain true success...

Four checks are clearly mentioned in sure mu'minoon to ensure success. These four are:

1. Khushoo in Salaat
2. Turning away from Laghw
3. Making sure to perform Zakaat
4. Protecting ones private parts

If we actively check these four in our daily lives and strive to attain them, success in these goals will then lead us to true success in our lives.


We then turn to ahadith of our Masumeen and find other goals which complement these 4, such as ethics and morals, sincerity and being good to others...


Imam Ali (AS) has sain in Nahjul Balagha, 
"Admonish your brother (in faith) by exhibiting kindness towards him."

Zuhair's View

We can attain true success by striving for the goals set for us clearly in the Qur'an and ahadith.

Death

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim - In the Name of Allah; the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

It is within the nature of man to have his actions motivated by a goal. This nature is present in every human being, whether we are aware of it or not. Each and every action we do has to have a goal we plan on achieving, even self sacrifice for the sake of someone else, the goal is the happiness of the other person; although a selfless goal, but a goal none the less.

This goes on to prove that since we are living life, there must be a goal we have in mind, or else we wouldn't choose to live anymore, but on the contrary we find our lives are very precious to us. Some may find that the goal they choose to be their primary goal to live life is very insubstantial and trivial; in that it could perish easily before they themselves live life fully, and thereby causing them to be catapulted into the realm of depression.

But for those who know the truth; that this life is but a passing phase that even the prophet Nuh (Noah) after having lived for hundreds of years, when asked, said it felt like he had just moved from the sun into the shade... for these people who know that after this life is when the true existence actually begins... for them their choice of goals is the true choice, a goal which has nothing to do with this inconsequential world, but rather a goal which s not deterred by the eminent death lurking in the shadows at every turn; the goal of attaining cloaseness to the Only Existence Which has Existed and Which will Exist for eternity!!

We find that this goal is the only goal which makes sense logically, for every other goal is temporary. And yet we find those who don't believe in the Existence of God; but can't they see, death itself is a proof that God has to exist?? Is there anyone alive today who can claim to be abstained from death???

What is death? We find that a human being who has incurred this phenomenon known as death may still have his organs working, but something seems to have been removed from him. Isn't it obvious then that there must be a spiritual aspect to life? where once the person is dead, the spirit has to have left his body? And then comes the question that if this is so, then where does the spirit go after death, and where does the spirit come from before birth??

In the verse mentioned in the beginning we find that we will be returning to The Knower of the unseen and the seen after our deaths, and that He will inform us of what we used to do. The journey known as Barzakh, begins at this time, where we are tried continuously. And then we have Qiyamah(The Day of Judgement) where our deeds will be weighed. All this gives us reason to live the life of a pure Muslim, but even more than that is the reason of Allah(SWT) Himself deserving to be worshiped.

We are supposed to look at death as something to look forward to and not to fear it, as Imam Ali (AS) says about the Lovers of God:

"With their bodies they associated with this world while their souls in suspense in the company of the highest ones. Had not been their terms which had been ordained by God on them, their souls would not have stayed in their bodies."

But at the same time we need to consider this life as a time to prepare ourselves as Allah does not create anything without purpose, and thus we have the narration from Imam Hassan which states:

"Behave , in this world , in such a way as if you will be living forever , and for the world hereafter act in a way as if you'll die tomorrow."

Thus Zuhairs View:

We need to prepare ourselves for death, because it could come to us at any moment, and in regard to death we should have two opinions, the first is that we are returning to our Lord, and thus we should pleased to be closer to Him. But on the other hand this life given to us is a gift from Him, so we should make the most of it and attain as high a station as possible within the short time available.

Please feel free to add or agrue any of the points i have brought about. May Allah(SWT) Guide us all to the right path, on which are the purified ones, and away from which are the unjust and wrong doers.

Gaza: Who are the real terrorists?

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim: In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

Today in Palestine the number who have died has exceeded 1100 people. They say that out of these more than 300 are children, including those infants below a year of age.


A few days ago, some Israeli soldiers told civilians to take refuge in a house and a day later; when they were around 120 people inside, they shot rounds of shells from a tank, destraying the house and killing 30 people, and a small boy of 13 years was telling the media of how they had been starved for so long and he began listing the people he knew who had died in the house...


For the past few days Israel has been using illeagal phosphorus weapons, which cause a fire which cannot be put out easily, because spraying water on that fire causes leathal fumes and doesn't reduce the fire.
The war crimes taking place are major and pictures of children who have been deliberately killed are plenty. What is happening is wrong and should be stopped!


There is no excuse for what Israel has done and is continuing to do; rockets fired can be prevented by other means, killing civilians is not one of them. Israel has prevented food and medical supplies from reaching the civilians, then has come in and mercilessly killed more than 1100, any one supporting what they are doing or even acting neutral and saying that they deserve to defend themselves is blind!


As a person who may not have influence to change the entire situation, we are put in a position where we can either try to do something small or to ignore the entire situation, I urge you to at the very least have this in your hearts at all times, people are dying, children, women, innocents, civilians. A prayer once a day, a thought of the situation, a conversation started among friends, keep the fire of Imam Hussein (AS) alive in our hearts!!


Those who do injustice shall be punished rightfully by the Most Just! Let us pray that our Imam of this time returns to us quickly in our hearts and in reality so that he can provide victory to the true worshippers of The Almighty!!


When Bush said that he would launch a "war on terrorism" it was such a contradictory statement because of the fact that by sending American troops to all four corners of the globe, U.S. were the ones causing terror in the hearts of so many, thus wouldn't he have to fight himself???


Thus Zuhairs View:
Israel are oppressing the people of Gaza and Palestine as a whole, and have been doing so ever since they occupied the territories which did not rightfully belong to them.


May Allah give the people of Gaza Sabr, and provide them with a relief which is quick and long lasting so that they may continue their lives in peace. And may we all be guided unto the right path, on which are the infallibles and away from which are those who are unjust.