The Concept of Success and Ways to Reach It

The concept of success linguistically and idiomatically:

The word success is known in the Arabic language as the infinitive form for the verb succeeded (succeeded, succeed, success), which means reaching the goal, achieving the desired aim, and succeeding in work.

The concept of success is defined idiomatically with several concepts that differ from one person to another according to their interpretation and as they see it. Someone thinks that success is their earning a higher income than they used to earn. Another thinks that success is achieved through charity and helping others. And another sees success in obtaining a raise or promotion at work. In general, the concept of success relates to a meaning similar to that, which is achieving the desired goal, striving for it, and obtaining what they worked hard to earn with all the obstacles and the many failed attempts that led to the final success.

The meaning of success is not limited to the possibility of reaching the desires and goals set and achieving them only, such as material, practical, social, physical, and other goals. Rather, it goes beyond feelings. The overwhelming feeling of joy, pride, satisfaction, conviction, determination and consistency to achieve these goals and the overwhelming feelings that appear when reaching them is a success in itself. It is considered one of the important and basic factors that enable reaching the peaks of success.

The concept of success from the point of view of successful people:

Most people define their success within a narrow field. They think that achieving some goals, such as earning money, fame, influence, or promotion is the maximum success that they can reach. It is possible that their success will stop after they reach their goals, which may cause discouragement and sloth for the person themselves and prevent them from continuing to progress, moving forward, and trying.

We see some people look with astonishment or jealousy, especially at the successful people whose name is mentioned in newspapers, magazines, and television. Those are who made differences in the world, left the results of their successes in it, and made it to a level of progress, development, and change that benefited all human beings. Others look at creative, successful people as role models. Some may even try to reach their level, and this leads to many additional successes that elevate societies and benefit everyone.

The following are some of the concepts of success mentioned by one of the most important successful people in the world. Each of them differed in their perception of success in relation to the other:

Billionaire Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, said: "With my company's market value, resounding success, and the wealth and change that Microsoft has brought, my priority is to achieve good and healthy social relationships, try to improve the lives of others, and make a difference in the lives of others, especially those in need". He also emphasized that success is measured by your role in the happiness of the people close to you, and their love for you. It is important and wonderful how you feel when you make a difference when you invent something, raise children, adopt orphaned children, or help the needy and the underprivileged.
“Focusing on passion at work is the basis. Loving what you do, doing it with all your passion, enjoying and being satisfied and admiring the way you chose to achieve it is success for me,” said author Maya Angelou.
Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, said: “There are many people who measure the level of success they have reached by the amount of money they have earned, or the number of people they associate with. But in my opinion, true success must be measured by the amount of your joy, happiness and satisfaction with what you do and achieve.

As mentioned above, success and its concept differs from one person to another. Some of them see happiness as success. Some see their superiority as success. Some see helping others as success. And some of them see connecting with the right person, earning more money, or a promotion as success. However, by comparing all people with famous successful people, we see that most of them limit and restrict their success to the personal level, and they do not try to continue to achieve another success. When they reach their goal, they stop moving forward and achieve more success. However, famous successful people are linked by a specific thing, which is that they were distinguished by a certain thing that affected the lives of many people - if not all people - and achieved their success and reached the world. Their success brought qualitative shifts, developed the life we live, and changed it radically. This is what made them successful and famous as well.

The concept of success in Islam:

Success in achieving goals has always been one of the most prominent foundations advocated by the Islamic religion. The word "success" is one of the words that inject pride and joy into the hearts of believers. As all Muslims strive to make their lives full of successes, they also seek to gain God's approval and work to win Heaven and the bliss of the Hereafter.

The holy prophet - may God’s prayers and peace be upon him - said: “Oh God, I ask you for the best question, the best supplication, the best success, the best work, the best reward, the best life, and the best death.” The prophet of God emphasized diligence with good actions, commitment to religious and practical duties, helping others, and striving for success in all fields. This is because success is a lofty goal and only the one who trusts in God and the patient diligent can achieve it.

The measure of success in Islam:

Success in Islam has specific metrics that are followed to reach it. These metrics are:

Supplication to God and approaching Him. That is by praying, performing religious duties to the fullest, doing good actions, helping others for the sake of God, promoting virtue and preventing vice, and avoiding every forbidden thing that angers God.
Honoring parents, good dealing with them, and seeking their satisfaction. This is because the success of family relationships is a way for God to pave the ways of success for His servant and the achievement of other goals.

Success factors in Islam:

The following are the factors identified by Islam to achieve success:

Setting goals and working to achieve them. An example of this is the quest of the Prophet Muhammad - may God’s prayers and peace be upon him - to spread the Islamic religion and call to it. He followed many ways and means to achieve his goal in spreading the true religion and the call to worship the one God who has no partner. He succeeded remarkably.
Determination and persistence to achieve goals. An example of this is the insistence of the Prophet Muhammad to call and convey the message of God, defying all the difficulties he faced and the temptations presented to him by Quraysh to abandon his religion and his message.
Facing difficulties. An example of this is what the Prophet Muhammad faced in terms of difficulties, harm, armed campaigns, wars and blasphemy for his message by Quraysh and others. However, the Prophet and his companions were always ready to confront, suppress them, and raise the banner of the true religion high.
Planning and knowing the reasons and ways to reach success. An example of this is that the Prophet Muhammad was always planning and conscious of all the goals he wanted to achieve, which made it easy and certain to achieve it. This is all the result of his belief in God Almighty and his desire to convey his message to the whole world.

Ways to reach success:

The ways to achieve success are also easy and effective. We will mention them as follows:

The easy, clear, and inexpensive beginning: So, work hard and put in front of you two options to either succeed or fail. In the end, you will know that if you fail, you can start and try again.
Putting goals in mind: So, always focus on defining the goals to be achieved. Work towards completing them in the best way.
Coordination of goals. Therefore, put the goals within the list of achievement and priorities and coordinate them correctly. Try to complete each goal correctly and separately. Do not mix the goals and do not work to achieve them together. Then you will run into a lot of problems and waste time and effort.
Keep learning: A man must continue to learn. No one is born a scientist. Humans are ambitious and they seek development and progress on their personal level. Therefore, you must learn and benefit from the experiences of others, keep reading, and embrace all the cognitive aspects of your goals to help you achieve them.
Mingling with people and avoiding isolation: Social relations increase experience, encouragement, and the spirit of competition to achieve goals and succeed in them.
Confidence and acceptance of failure: You must remain confident in yourself and in your goals, no matter how many failed attempts and obstacles are in your way. Accept your failure, and know that without failure, there would be no success at all.

Quotations about success:

There are many aphorisms about success. We have chosen some of them for you as follows:

“Success is not the end, and failure is not fatal. It is the courage and persistence to keep going that matters.” - Winston Churchill.
“Keep in mind that your determination to succeed is more important than anything else.” - Abraham Lincoln.
“Try not to be a man of success, but to be a man of value.” - Albert Einstein.
“Success is not in not making mistakes, success is in not repeating a mistake” - Bernard Shaw.
“If you are not afraid of what people will say, you have taken the first step to success” - Paulo Coelho.
“Failure strikes those who always sit and wait for success to come to them.” - Ibrahim al-Fiqi.

And so many phrases said by influential people, celebrities, scholars, and writers whose successes became famous in history and until our time.

In conclusion:

Whoever seeks glory stays up all night, and whoever wants success must strive to achieve it. No one can succeed without effort. The one who is lazy and depends on others is not equal to the one who strives, is patient, faces difficulties, and depends on themselves. Just as laziness is a choice, so success is a choice and it is up to the one who has the choice. So, choose wisely.