Success is the pursuit of an ideal state you wish to achieve. The clearer you can envisage that achievement, whatever it may be, the greater the chances of working towards it. It is the notion of having a set ambition and then focusing on the journey to get you there. It is about knowing where the goalposts are so you can shoot in that direction. Almost like a diligent student, knowing that at the end of toil and hardship they will attain the job or position they dream of.

I often think about the level of detail and description Allah portrays to us regarding Jannah: the fruits of which there will be no shortage nor depletion; the meat of birds; the rivers of wine, milk, and pure honey; the reclining couches; pleasant conversations between the inhabitants of Jannah; and the glow on the faces of those who will attain Jannah. These descriptions, in such colourful and graphic detail, not only motivate us to pursue the path to heaven but also give us a real sense of what succeeding looks like. 

When we are given descriptions of Jannah, don’t just gloss over them. To get the most out of them, reflect deeply on what true success will look like in an abode where sadness is not even a concept, never mind a reality. By reflecting on these verses, you will find yourself almost breathing, tasting, and smelling the fragrance of Jannah, its fruits and its rivers, or perhaps drinking from the special concoction of Tasneem (a highly exalted, pure, and refreshing spring or fountain in Jannah , specifically reserved as a supreme drink for those nearest to Allah.  (Al-Mutaffifin 83:27-28)

True success resides in that abode. Read its descriptions, reflect deeply on them, desire them, and pursue them relentlessly, as Allah says after describing Jannah: “Indeed, this is the great attainment. For the like of this let the workers [on earth] work” (37:60–61).

We pray Allah makes us among those whom Allah has described as: “Indeed, I have rewarded them this Day for their patient endurance—that they are the attainers [of success]” (23:111).


Remember to reflect, reflect to remember!

I look forward to reading your reflections on this theme!

May Allah reward you! 
#TrueSuccess ​ ​

Jazza khallahu hyran for such beautiful reminder 

We all are aware that how beautiful surah Rahman is. One of my favorite about this Surah is its first 4 ayahs. 
Because those 4 things described in 4 ayahs have a 'top' level.
55:1  ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ
'The Most Compassionate'
This name of Allah s.w.t is one of His most favorites. This attribute of Allah is for everyone no matter if they are righteous or evil. This name shows the unconditional love and care of Allah s.w.t. 

55:2 عَلَّمَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ 
'taught the Quran,'
The biggest rehm of Allah s.w.t is Quran. He gave us Quran , it highlights that how much He loves and cares about us that He sent down the ultimate guidance to take us out of the darkness towards the light. Not only that if He shows His biggest mercy to anyone, He teaches them Quran, He attaches their hearts to Quran. The ilm of Quran is the biggest and highest ilm He gave.

55:3 خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ
'created humanity,'
Humans are the top creations of Allah s.w.t. 

55:4 عَلَّمَهُ ٱلْبَيَانَ
'˹and˺ taught them speech.'
The thing that distinguishes us from the rest of the creation is the ability to 'ٱلْبَيَانَ (bayaan)'. Bayaan means speaking with clarity, making things so obvious that it can't be doubtful. So this bayaan feature is in all of us. Every creature looks for food and survival, same as humans but there must be a thing which creates a difference between us and other creatures, and that is not intellect, ability to think or even 'speaking' because Allah didnt use word 'speaking', He used 'bayaan'. 

Now as  a human being we should use this ability to 'teach Quran'. Quran is already 'crystal clear'. We should ask Allah s.w.t that we become among those who do tadabbur and seek clarity. 
Another thing is this hadith ''The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it.' 
So best of us are those who use our power to learn and teach Quran. This hadith is narrated by 'Uthman bin Affan', and his name also matches the rhythm of these ayahs. SubhanAllah.

If you have thoughts kindly share in the comments, also please share thoughts on ayah no 5 and 6. Jazakumullahu khair

مَرَجَ ٱلْبَحْرَيْنِ يَلْتَقِيَانِ
He released the two seas, meeting [side by side];

بَيْنَهُمَا بَرْزَخٌ لَّا يَبْغِيَانِ
Between them is a barrier [so] neither of them transgresses

فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?

يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُمَا ٱللُّؤْلُؤُ وَٱلْمَرْجَانُ
From both of them emerge pearl and coral

فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?

وَلَهُ ٱلْجَوَارِ ٱلْمُنشَـَٔاتُ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ كَٱلْأَعْلَٰمِ
And to Him belong the ships [with sails] elevated in the sea like mountains

فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?

(Ar-Rahman, 55:19-25)

These seven verses of surah Al-Rahman is regarding the ocean. This is one of the evidence that Quran is the word of Allah and not created by Rasulullah S.A.W. In these verses, Allah revealed how He, being Ar-Rahman had let water from two seas to move freely and meet each other; and yet, with His Ar-Rahman attribute has created برزخ , an invisible barrier between the two seas so they do not cross each other. Next, Allah mentioned that from both freshwater and saltwater, there are pearls and corals. Lastly, Allah mentioned regarding big ships sailing in the sea like mountains. Within the verses about the ocean, Allah questioned us 3 times with فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ. 
Hence, it is an instruction for us to reflect deeply on the creations of the sea!

We know from science class that the two bodies of water are the freshwater and saltwater. Freshwater from the river will flow into the sea, but there is no mixing of water. Both freshwater and saltwater maintain their properties and from each of them we can get pearls and corals. Previously, we only know of pearls harvested from saltwater. However, nowadays we can get pearls from freshwater mussels too. What about corals? Corals are invertebrate animals only found in the oceans (saltwater). At present, I have not found any report of freshwater corals. However, messages from al Quran is always true. We have not discover about it yet, but maybe years later, we will find freshwater corals.

How does this reflect into our lives?

I am reminded of a verse in surah Al-Hujurat:

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَٰكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ

O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.
(Al-Hujurat, 49:13)

In this verse, Allah mentioned that He has created peoples of different tribes so that we may know one another, and the most noble in His Sight is the one who is the most righteous. Hence, we should travel, meet people of different nations and get to know them. But like the two bodies of water that do not cross each other, we also should not encroach on other peoples’ territory.

In world history, we have seen many examples of human interaction. Most usually began due to trade where people crossed the oceans on large ships carrying their goods. However, human greed led certain civilizations to colonize other lands and enslave their original inhabitants, exploiting their riches, while the owner of the lands live in poverty. This causes injustice to people.

Thus, surah Al-Rahman teaches that human interaction shouldn’t be of ‘the conquered’ and ‘the conquerors’. Islam teaches us to meet others and spread goodness. Those who have certain skills or knowledge should impart their knowledge to others and let the people whom they taught discover and develop their own potentials. Hence, they will be able to develop their own lands. When every nation prosper, peace will ensue. Like how both freshwater and saltwater produce pearls and corals of different qualities, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.

Another thing to learn from the sea is to not give up and be in despair when we haven’t found our strength. Just because we haven’t found freshwater corals, does not mean that they do not exist. We just have not discover them yet. The same goes to human potentials. Some people may not be as clever or as skillful as the others. However, when they discover their potentials, they will be successful later on.

I shall end this post with my secondary school motto. The motto was ‘We are Number One, Be the Best, Beat the Rest’. However, our principal modified the motto into ‘We are Number One, Be the Best, LEAD the Rest’. May Allah bless her for her wisdom! This is how a Muslim should be! We should be the best, but we lead others to become better!

Wallahu a’lam.