9 Success Habits of Ahlul Jannah

One of the most important aspects of the Islamic identity is to redefine the paradigm - the perspective and frame of mind - of what is “success”. 

In the Qur’an, success is defined from two different perspectives: The Prize, and The Process

The Prize - the goal post, the endgame that we are all string for - is for the end result Hereafter: Success is defined as being saved from the Hellfire & entering Paradise

فَمَن زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ

“And whoever is saved from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful” (Surah Aali Imran, 3:185)

لَا يَسْتَوِي أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ وَأَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ

“Not equal are the dwellers of the Fire and the dwellers of the Paradise. It is the dwellers of Paradise, they are the truly successful. (Surah Al-Hashr, 57:20)

The Process, on the other hand, are the success habits of those who attain that prize. Practically speaking, Allah also outlines the actions and habits of what these successful people do to achieve that ultimate prize. 

Here are 9 of those Success Habits of those who attained that Great Prize:

1. Taqwa: Being conscious of Allah in our actions 

وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

“And have taqwa of Allah, in order that you may attain success” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:189)

This is further emphasized in surah An-Naba’ 

إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ مَفَازاً 

“Verily, for those who have Taqwa, they will be successful” (Surah An-Naba’ 78:31)

 

2. Obeying the Qur’an and Sunnah

وَمَن يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا

And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger (SAW) he has indeed achieved a great success (Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:71)

3. Purifying our souls from diseases of the heart such as envy, 

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ وَذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ فَصَلَّىٰ

“Indeed whosoever purifies himself, And remembers (glorifies) the Name of his Lord, and prays - he shall achieve success” (Surah Al-Ala, Verse 14-15)

4. Striving in His Cause - exerting your best efforts for His sake Alone

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَابْتَغُوا إِلَيْهِ الْوَسِيلَةَ وَجَاهِدُوا فِي سَبِيلِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

O you who believe! Do your duty to Allah and fear Him. Seek the means of approach to Him, and strive hard in His Cause as much as you can, so that you may be successful.” (Surah Al-Maidah 5:35)

5. Avoiding the haram intoxicants and gambling

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالْأَنصَابُ وَالْأَزْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), gambling, Al-Ansab, and Al-Azlam (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaitan's (Satan) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful” (Surah Al-Maidah 5:90)

6. Remembering the favors of Allah

فَاذْكُرُوا آلَاءَ اللَّهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

“So remember the graces (bestowed upon you) from Allah, so that you may be successful." (Surah Al-Araf, 7:69)

7. Dzikr (Remembrance) of Allah

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا لَقِيتُمْ فِئَةً فَاثْبُتُوا وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

O you who believe! When you meet (an enemy) force, take a firm stand against them and remember the Name of Allah much (both with tongue and mind), so that you may be successful.

(Al-Anfal, 8:45)

فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَانتَشِرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَابْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

Then when the (Jumu'ah) Salat (prayer) is finished, you may disperse through the land, and seek the Bounty of Allah (by working, etc.), and remember Allah much, that you may be successful.

(Al-Jumu'ah, 62:10)

8. Worshiping Allah 

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ارْكَعُوا وَاسْجُدُوا وَاعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمْ وَافْعَلُوا الْخَيْرَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

“O you who believe! Bow down, and prostrate yourselves, and worship your Lord and do good that you may be successful.” (Surah Al-Hajj, 22:77)

9. Repentance

 وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

And repent to Allah, O believers, all of you, so that you may be successful. (An-Nur 24:31)