Sometimes you might feel sad for not achieving your goals. Maybe you wanted to get high grades or a good job, but you failed at achieving that. You might think you’ve failed. It’s at times like that, when its important to put things into perspective.
First of all, everything that has happened and will happen is already written. So you’re “failure” was already written, and there’s nothing you can do about it after the fact.
Secondly does you receiving worldly things equal success? In other words when you’re dead, does it matter if you were rich or poor? No it doesn’t. It only matters when you’re alive. How long might you live? 60, 70, 100 years? How long will just the day of judgement be?
تَعْرُجُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ فِي يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ
[Quran: Chapter 70, verse 4]
The angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him during a Day the extent of which is fifty thousand years.
Thirdly, Allah tells us in the Quran who are the successful people.
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١﴾ الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ ﴿٢﴾وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ اللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضُونَ ﴿٣﴾ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِلزَّكَاةِ فَاعِلُونَ﴿٤﴾ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ ﴿٥﴾ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ ﴿٦﴾ فَمَنِ ابْتَغَىٰ وَرَاءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْعَادُونَ ﴿٧﴾ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَانَاتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَاعُونَ ﴿٨﴾ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ ﴿٩﴾ أُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْوَارِثُونَ ﴿١٠﴾ الَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ الْفِرْدَوْسَ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
[Quran: Chapter 23, Verses 1-11]
Certainly will the believers have succeeded: (1) They who are during their prayer humbly submissive (2)And they who turn away from ill speech (3) And they who are observant of zakah (4) And they who guard their private parts (5) Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed – (6) But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors – (7) And they who are to their trusts and their promises attentive (8) And they who carefully maintain their prayers – (9) Those are the inheritors (10) Who will inherit al-Firdaus. They will abide therein eternally.
So although we might be sad from time to time, for not succeeding in this life, we must understand that our success or failure is already written, this life is short, and true success is following the commands of Allah. All the things we want in this life, can be attained in the next life, but will be forever.
We want good food, a good home, safety and security, happiness and so on. All these things are guaranteed for the inhabitants of paradise. So rather than making this life the only focus, we must try to achieve success in both.
فَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَمَا لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَاقٍ ﴿٢٠٠﴾ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ ﴿٢٠١﴾أُولَـٰئِكَ لَهُمْ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا كَسَبُوا ۚ وَاللَّـهُ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ
And among the people is he who says, “Our Lord, give us in this world,” and he will have in the Hereafter no share.(200) But among them is he who says, “Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” (201) Those will have a share of what they have earned, and Allah is swift in account.
[Quran: Chapter 2, verse 200-202]
It’s important to keep this in mind for ourselves, but also for our young ones. To help achieve that, we must try to produce material that reminds them of this reality. That is why I’ve been making cartoons and books to reach that goal. May Allah grant us all success.
Help me to make more Islamic material for our ummah. Check out my books for Muslim children! Jazaka Allahu khayran!