What is success? Some may say have a peaceful life; it is to have a peaceful marriage, a peaceful divorce, to be cured from a disease, a painless and peaceful death, different meanings. Sheikh may say to die as a Muslim and some may say to live as a Muslim. It has to do with goals, to have goals to set goals, to achieve and reach them. Some people may have goals that make no sense.

In the Qur’an it says Success is he who purifies his soul. Is he who pursues this purification, every soul should taste death, think of death of nothing other than a transition, Islam didn’t come to talk to us about death, Islam is a religion of life. What does the meaning of Islam? (Submission) some little girl says, “ I thought Islam was a complete way of life. It came to tell you how to conduct your life. Your behavior is nothing other than a reflection of what you believe in. If success was all about this life, then it was not complete. Because there will come a day where we will have to leave whatever we have behind Islam is about the way of life. How do I live my life according to Islam?  Allah (SWT) says in the Quran:

The believers must (eventually) win through,- (23:1)

Those who humble themselves in their prayers; (23:2)

Who avoid vain talk; (23:3)

Who are active in deeds of charity; (23:4)

Who abstain from sex, (23:5)

Except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or (the captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (in their case) they are free from blame, (23:6)

But those whose desires exceed those limits are transgressors;- (23:7)

Those who faithfully observe their trusts and their covenants; (23:8)

And who (strictly) guard their prayers;- (23:9)

These will be the heirs, (23:10)

Who will inherit Paradise: they will dwell therein (for ever). (23:11)

• Prophet (saws):  How do we treat people, do you treat them according to our standards. True success is when things are coming from you, when your inner image is better than your outer image. He says, “Allah SWT looks at what’s in the inside.” You are not judged by your skin color, quality of your hair, weight, etc. Allah SWT looks at the state of your heart and the quality of your actions.
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  7 habits of highly effective people. How can you be effective? Actions, reactions and habits.  Knowledge, skill and desire you put them all together and you can be effective.
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  The 4 things we will be asked about ...what did we do with our wealth, youth, time, and knowledge?
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• We are all blessed to have all of this knowledge available. It’s sad that sometimes we are asked simple questions about Islam but we cannot even answer.
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  We should have a desire to want to improve. Everything about me is ok, but there are weaknesses that we should work on it, what are the weaknesses that you want to get rid of? Just lets work on them, and have it everyday as a struggle.
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  Putting everything into action. If you do not act upon it then what’s the point. Your life, your youth, your money and your knowledge. ACTIVISM (very important)
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  Desire, we maybe motivated for a while, defense mechanism or support system, your family, your wife and children, mother or father, friends, your community. A mentor a mualim, a sheikh someone that you can look up to.

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By: Br.  Mohammad Faqih

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