Have Faith and Be Strong!: Be Successful Person in This World and The Hereafter

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST GRACIOUS AND

THE MOST MERCIFUL

First of all, let me ask one question: " Who is the true successful person? Does money, a big house, a fancy car, a beautiful wife shows whether he is a successful person? "

Most of the youngsters (students) like me, ~~might be~~ think that the success is achieved when you get an offer to enter the university (work hard) then get your degree, have a good career, make a lot of money to buy their dream car, a big house or maybe a mansion? and so on. ~~Yea may be its true~~, I can't deny it.But as a Believer (Muslim) the success which we have been searching for our whole life is calling us everyday 5 times. What is that? Allah's calling us everyday 5 times by performing the Prayer (Salah).

Prayer is the basis of all good actions. Below are quoted two passages of the Quran, both of which list a number of good actions. Prayer comes before and after all good actions:-

A. Surah al-Muminun (23:1-11)

"Successful indeed are the believers. Those who offer their Salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness. And those who turn away from Al-Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk, falsehoods and all that Allah has forbidden). And those who pay the Zakat. And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts). Except from their wives or (the captives and slaves) that their right hands possess, -for then, they are free from blame. But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors. Those who are faithfully true to their trusts and to their covenants. And those who strictly guard their Salat (five compulsory congregational prayers at their fixed stated hours). These are indeed the inheritors. Who shall inherit the Firdaus (Paradise). They shall dwell therein forever."

B. Surah Al-Maarij: (70:19-35)

"Verily, man (disbeliever) was created very impatient; irritable (discontented) when evil touches him; and niggardly when good touches him. Except those devoted to Salat (prayers), those who remain constant in their Salat (prayers), and those in whose wealth there is a known right, for the beggar who asks, and for the unlucky who has lost his property and wealth, (and his means of living has been straitened). And those who believe in the Day of Recompense, and those who fear the torment of their Lord. Verily! The torment of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure. And those who guard their chastity (ie, private parts from illegal sexual acts), except with their wives and the (women slaves and captives) whom their right hands possess, -for (then) they are not to be blames. But whosoever seeks beyond that, then it is those who are trespassers. And those who keep their trusts and covenants, and those who stand firm in their testimonies, and those who guard their Salat (prayers) well; such shall dwell in the Gardens (i.e. Paradise) honored."

In these passages, the believers are said to have certain characteristics, the first of which they concentrate on their prayers. Other signs of believers are:

-They avoid vain and vulgar activities.
-They pay their Zakat regularly.
-They guard their chastity and avoid illicit relations. Their marital lives are confines to their wives and salve-girls (assuming such a situation exists in which the presence of slaves is justified).
-Those who do not betray covenants and trusts.
-Those who stand by their testimonies (as in Surah Al-Maarij.).

Prayer acts as a shield against evil. Allah Almighty says in the Quran:

"...Verily, As-salat (the prayer) prevents from Al-Fahsha (i.e. great sins of every kind, unlawful sexual intercourse etc. ) and al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism, and every kind of evil wicked deed etc.)..." (Al-'Ankabut 29:45)

The Prophet (pbuh) said:
"Prayer is the pillar of the religion" (Al-Baihaqi)

The Prophet (pbuh) also said:

"Islam is erected on five pillars: to testify that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger; to establish prayer; to pay Zakat; to perform Hajj to the Sacred House, and to fast in the month of Ramadan." (Bukhari, Muslim)

This Hadith makes the image very clear. Islam is like a building, supported by five columns. Remove just one column, and the entire building weakens.

Allah's Messenger (pbuh) also said:

"The first thing about which a mans is going to be questioned on the Day of Judgment is prayer. If it is found to be sound all his other reactions will be sound as well. If his prayer is not sound all his remaining actions would be spoiled." (Al-Tabarani)