“ISLAMIC STUDIES”

“MINIMUM CITERIA REQUIRED FOR THE DIVINE SUCCESS

FOR THE HUMANS”

Allah Almighty has created this whole universe and hence He must have left some guide for us.
Therefore, Allah (SWT) has provided us Quran which is the ultimate guidance for whole
mankind. Quran is and it claims to be the utmost manual for us. Allah (SWT) has stated many
times to follow Him as instructed in the Quran and practically followed by The Prophets. The
Quran is the most complete and detailed that we have been blessed with. Allah (SWT) has said to
follow its principles as showed by His Last Prophet (S.A.W) and those before him in order to
succeed in both worlds; especially to attain paradise. This life that Allah has given us is an exam;
so one may ask what should be the bare minimum requirement to succeed in this life’s test. Its
answer lies in the surah called Surah al-Asr, having only three ayats. Imam Asha’fi has stated
that if this would have been the only Surah revealed by the Allah Almighty; it would have been
enough to escort the whole humanity on the rightful path.

Allah has stated in this Surah;

“By the Time, Verily Man is in loss, except those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and
recommend one another to the truth and recommend one another to the patience.”

According to the above verses, it’s a must to obey Allah (SWT) and follow His orders and live
life in accordance with Quranic Principles. One should be True Believer of God by heart,
suggests to speak only Truth and nothing else; and also to only do Good Deeds. Also to have
Patience and suggests others to do too. These are the least minimum one can follow in order to
achieve success.

Allah has said in Surah Hud that;

“Except those who are patient and constant, and do deeds of righteousness; for them is
forgiveness and a great reward.”
There are four levels or principles that leads to one’s succession. These are:

1. Faith In Allah Almighty

2. Righteous Deeds
3. Recommend One Another To The Truth
4. Recommend One Another For The Patience

1. FAITH (AND ISLAM)

Allah states in The Quran that:

“O you who have believed, believe in Allah and His Messenger and the Book that He
send down upon His Messenger and the Scripture which He sent down before. And
whoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last
Day has certainly gone for astray.”

Therefore, one must believe all the aspects Allah has mentioned. Our faith should be there as it is
the ultimate requirement. Faith in Allah and His Principles is the key factor for one to succeed.

Once Hazrat Umar bin al-Khattab (RA) said: While we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah
(PBUH), one day, a man appeared in very white clothes with very black hair. He came in and sat
facing the Prophet (PBUH), with his knees touching the Prophet's (PBUH), knees, and placed his
hands on the thighs of the Prophet (PBUH), and said, '0, Mohammad (PBUH)! Tell me, what is
Islam?' The Prophet (PBUH), replied, 'Islam is to testify that there is no true god except Allah
(SWT), and Mohammad (PBUH) is the Messenger of Allah (SWT), perform the Salah, give the
Zakat, observe Fasting of Ramadan, and perform the Hajj if you can afford it.' The man said,
'You have told the truth.' Hazrat Umar (RA) told, we were amazed; he asked him and yet he
approved his answer.'

The man further asked, 'Tell me what Emaan (Faith) is?' The Prophet Mohammad(PBUH), said,
'Emaan is to believe in Allah (SWT), and to believe in His angels, His Books, His Messengers,
and to believe in the Final Day, and in the al-Qadar and in its good & bad consequences.' 'You
have told the truth,' he said.
Then he asked, 'Tell me, what Ihsan is?' Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said, 'It is to worship
Allah (SWT) as though you see Him. Although you do not see Him, yet He sees you.'

He said, 'Tell me, when is the Final Hour?' The Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), said, 'The one who
is asked has no more knowledge about its timing than the one who is asking.'…. Then the man
left. The Prophet (PBUH), was thinking for a while, and then he asked Hazrat Umar (RA), 'Do
you know who the questioner was?' Hazrat Umar (RA) said 'Allah (SWT) and His Messenger
know best, 'Prophet (PBUH) said. 'That was Jibreel (AS). He came to teach you your Deen."

There are three levels of Deen, which are:

1. Islam
2. Emaan
3. Ihsan

ONE IS IN LOSS; ALLAH SWEARS BY TIME

Allah (SWT) has neither swears by anything usually but in this Surah, He Swears by Time.
Emphasizing on its importance and seeking our attention that how a man is in loss as the day
finishes. The word Asr means “fleeting away” or “declining day”. Maghrib is very prominent
moment of the day as the day is ending. Allah says Man is in Loss when He doesn’t
acknowledge the passage of time and not gain anything. As one does not follow Allah
Almighty’s guidance and life his life in accordance to it. Life is short and one should live life
according to rules set by Allah. The Man is in loss when his time is finished in this world and he
has not followed Allah’s orders, for example; not done any good deeds, has not spoken truth etc.
All have failed and are at lost except those who has full filled His conditions.

2. RIGHTEOUS DEEDS

The second requirement is to do righteous deeds. Good Deeds refers to actions done to please
Allah Almighty. The doings that are done with good intentions and are said to be Good Deeds by
Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) has said in Surah Hud that:

“Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds. That is a reminder for the mindful.”
The good deeds that are done to please and fulfill Allah and human’s rights.

Prophet (PBUH) once said:

“The most beloved of you to Allah is the best of you in character”

3. SUGGEST TRUTH TO OTHERS

Allah (SWT) has always guided and stated numerous time to tell truth and nothing except it.
Islamic teachings guides us to speak truth and advice others to not to lie too.

Allah has said in the Quran that:

“O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).”

4. GUIDE OTHERS TO PATIENCE

Islam disciplines us to have patience always. Allah (SWT) rewards us always for our patience
and good deeds. Allah (SWT) tests His true followers of their patience in times of hardships.

Allah has said in Quran:

“Indeed….Allah is with those who patiently endure”

Once some Ansari asked something from Prophet (PBUH) and he gave them. Next time they
asked again from him and he gave them. And next time they asked something from the Prophet
(SAW) again, he gave them again till all that he had finished. And again, he said “If I had
anything, I would not keep it away from you. (Remember) Whoever abstains from asking others,
Allah will make him contented, and whoever tries to make himself self-sufficient, Allah will
make him self-sufficient. And whoever remains patient Allah will make him patient. Nobody can
be given a blessing better than greater than patience.

CONCLUSION

Therefore one can achieve bare minimum success and their foot in paradise by following these
four qualities.