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.

Shahadat of our 9th Imam: Muhammed at-Takiyul Jawad(AS)

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim - In the name of Allah(SWT) the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.

The death of our pure 9th Imam saddens this night... to be poisoned by ones own spouse... May Allah never allow anyone to be betrayed in such a way.

to begin with let me give a small glance of the situation in which the Imam came into the position of Imamat(leadership). Firstly he was said to be around 7 years of age when the 8th Imam died, so he had not yet reached the age of maturity.

Secondly there had been numerous splits and divisions among the Muslims before that, first was the incident of Saqifah, next was after the death of our 3rd Imam; but that was resolved by the testimony given by Hajre Aswad that Imam Ali Zaynul Aabideen (AS) was the 4th Imam. then again after the death of the 6th Imam we have the Ismailies who split away not regarding Imam Musa al-Kadhim (AS) to be the 7th Imam. and then again after the 7th Imams death we have the Waaqifah, who stopped at the 7th Imam and believed that no Imam came after him, and we have those who believed in the other son of our 7th Imam instead of the rightful Imam, Ali ibne Musa, al- Ridha (AS).

So our 8th Imam made a point to make it clear to the people that his son Imam Muhammed at-Takiyul Jawad(AS) was the next Imam, and because he knew the skeptics would challenge our 9th Imam due to his age, our 8th Imam recited the verse from the Qur'an "Fa-asharat Ilayhi..." Refering to the incident of nabi Isa(Jesus) that even when he was just a few days old, he spoke to the people and told them he had been given the knowledge and that Allah had made him a prophet!

There are other incedences where young boys have been given the wisdom to lead, one good example from the Holy Qur'an is that of nabi Yahya. His father was old when he was concieved thus as a young boy he was given wisdom, "wa'aataynahul hukma sabiyyah..."

Another example is that of our 1st Imam, when the Holy Prophet (SAW) told his family about Islam for the first time, it was our 1st Imam who stood up three times when everyone was asked who would become his vicegrant. And on the fourth time was appointed although he was at max 12years old at the time.

One of the great achievements during our 9th Imams life was that of the instillation of the concept of Wukalaa. He appointed a wakeel in Khurasaan where the people did not have access to him. This concept went on and formed the basis for the wakeel during Ghaybat of our 12th Imam.

Ma'moon Rasheed, the tyrant of the time, married his daughter to the 9th Imam, and in the end she was the one who poisoned him. He is now burried next to his grandfather in Kadhmain.

He had numerous saying of which here are a few:

1) The most pious from among you is the one who has the best morals
2)The perfection of man is in wistfulness
3)Whoever depends on Allah, Allah will save him from all evil

for more details on his life and lessons we should learn from him, please follow this link:
http://www.al-islam.org/kaaba14/12.htm

Thus Zuhairs view: There are so many divisions in Islam, but only One path is the right one, and that is without a doubt Shia Ithna Ashri!!

Please feel free to bring forward any points which you would like to present. InshaAllah we will be all guided to the right path by Allah!