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The Ultimate Success
Allah Ta'ala says in the Glorious Quran, "Successful indeed is he who has purified his inner-self."
So whoever has corrected his inner-self is successful. People's perception of success is very different. A person requires a house and feels that once he acquires a palatial
house, then he is successful. Another individual requires a shop and thinks that if he gets a shop in a certain spot, he is successful. A third person desires marriage to a certain girl from a particular
family, and feels that this is success. A fourth person does not have a job and he thinks to himself that if he gets a job at a certain place, he will be successful. At the time election arrives another
person feels that if he is successful in the electoral process and becomes a member of parliament, then he will be successful. Thus each individual's view of success differs.
The correct view of success, however, is the one outlined by The Creator of these views. What Allah Ta'ala explains as success is true success. Everything else is not
success but merely a deception which is temporary and will swiftly perish. Success is something that is everlasting. When one purifies the soul, two things are achieved. These are:
1) Excellent character, and
2) Righteous deeds.
These qualities will always be of assistance to man. They will assist him in this world, in the grave, at the time of resurrection, on the Pul-Siraat, at the time of weighing
one's action etc. Undoubtedly, whoever can easily achieve this type of success is truly successful.
A person has amassed immense, wealth having gathered heaps of notes. Should one termite, however, find its way to that wealth and consumes it, can this wealth be regarded as
success? Such a thing which one termite can easily destroy (May Allah Ta'ala forbid) is nothing but failure through and through. An individual who owns an aeroplane, generating revenue through it may
think that he is successful. If, however, a part of the plane is destroyed in mid-air and the plane crashes, every person aboard that plane will die. Is this success? Another individual owns a car
and deems himself to be successful. Whilst driving he meets up in an accident which destroys the car and kills the driver. Is this success? Another individual owns a train which is involved in an
accident resulting in the death of the passengers and much carnage. What type of success is this? In reality, success is not found in any of these.
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THE UNRELIABLE EMPIRE
Incidents have occurred where a tycoon boards his conveyance in the morning.
His pride and haughtiness has reached such a level that he is not prepared to speak to a black person. In the evening a person comes to him with a gun and says, "Sign this document (which states that I have sold all my belongings to so and so and I have received the money for it) otherwise I will shoot you." The tycoon is forced to sign the document and is then instructed to vacate the premises. He leaves with not even a single cent to buy his supper. None of these things are worthy of attaching one's heart to. They cannot be relied upon nor are they worth desiring. They are nothing but a deception and they have no significance in the eyes of Allah Ta'ala.
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GENEROSITY AT ITS BEST
True success is that which Allah Ta'ala has declared,
"Indeed successful is he who has purified his soul" (Verse: 14/87 ).
For example one has the trait of
miserliness which needs to be removed and replaced with generosity. How does one go about removing miserliness and replacing it with generosity? What is the definition of generosity? Is a generous person
one who compiles a thesis about generosity, providing strong proofs, and thereafter reads it out to someone? Or is a generous person one who writes a booklet about generosity and then publishes it? Or is
a generous person one who shows others the avenues of generosity.
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BAYAZID BUSTAMI, THE HAFIZ AND THE BARBER
In the writings of Hazrath Bayazid Bustami (R.A.) he states:
"I addressed my nafs and said: 'You are stingy!' My nafs replied: 'Why do you call me stingy? I am very
generous!' I said: 'No! You are stingy!' The nafs again said: 'I am generous!' Very well we shall see, I replied and agreed upon the following tests upon the nafs: I stipulated to my nafs that whatever
cash you possess, tomorrow it must be handed over to the first poor person you come across. If the sum is handed over with a happy heart then it will indicate that you are generous, but if it is given
with an unhappy heart then it indicates that you are stingy."
The next morning, when Hazrath Bayazid (R.A.) checked, he saw that he possessed fifty ashrafiyas (gold coins). He took these and proceeded. He soon came across a Hafiz who
was blind. He was sitting in the barbershop having his hair cut. The Hafiz from his very old and dirty clothes, seemed poor. Hazrath Bayazid (R.A.) approached him with respect and presenting the money to
him, said: "Hafiz Saheb, here are fifty ashrafiyas as a gift to you." The Hafiz Saheb replied: "It is a good thing you came along. I have nothing on me to pay the barber his fee. Give this money to him."
Hazrath Bayazid (R.A.) thought to himself: "This Hafiz is blind and does not realise how many ashrafiyas there are. "How can the barber's fee for a hair cut amount to fifty ashrafiyas?" The
Hafiz lifted his head and addressed Hazrath Bayazid (R.A.): "This is the very reason why you are stingy! Give it! Why are you not handing it over?"
He was referring to a very deep matter! Hazrath Bayazid (R.A) felt very ashamed, picked up all the ashrafiyas and placed them in front of the barber. The matter did not end there. The barber said: "The moment I saw the Hafiz's old and dirty clothes I resolved to attend to him solely for the pleasure of Allah Ta'ala. I am not going to spoil my niyyat for this bauble-heap. I do not want them." Hazrath Bayazid (R.A.) narrates: "The amount of humiliation I suffered at that time, I have never experienced at any other time in my life." He picked up the ashrafiyas, proceeded to the river and threw the whole amount into the river saying: "May Allah Ta'ala ruin you! Whoever attaches his heart to you, he becomes disgraced in this manner!".
More important than defining generosity, is to inculcate it into our lives. One does not become generous by defining generosity or by writing poetry and booklets about it.
Allah Ta'ala made the Sahaaba (R.A.) ,who were trained and nurtured by Nabi (S.A.W.) successful. They possessed the qualities of Nabi (S.A.W.) as they had purified their inner-selves." Look at the
biographies of the Sahaaba (R.A.) and see the great deeds of generosity that were accomplished at their hands.
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THE STORY OF HAZRATH ABDULLAH BIN JAFAR,
HAZRATH QAIS AND THE BLIND MAN
Once a few people were seated at a place discussing who is the most generous person of the time. Three outstanding individuals were identified, namely, Abdullah bin Ja'far
(R.A.), Qais (R.A.) and the third was a blind person (R.A.). It was agreed that these three people must be tried and tested in order to identify who the most generous is. One individual of the group
arose and went to Abdullah bin Ja'far (R.A.). At that time Abdullah bin Jafar (R.A.) was ready to mount his conveyance and proceed on a journey. He had loaded his camels with gold coins, food and
drink so that he would not have any difficulty in entertaining anyone en-route. Conditions at that time was such that many days would pass before reaching water. The individual testing him approached him
and said, "I am a traveller and I require a conveyance." Abdullah bin Jafar was ready to travel. The camels were loaded. The only thing left for him to do was to mount the camel. Remember, that asking
for a conveyance in that era was not as it is now, where one can borrow a car for an hour or two, go someplace and thereafter return the car and pay for the petrol. Sometimes if one does not pay for the
petrol, the owner of the car will ask for it. In that era when a conveyance was asked for, it was given and there was no question of return. Here the camel of Abdullah bin Jafar (R.A.) was ready and
fully loaded with gold, food and drink. Without any hesitation he handed over the camel to this person who took it happily to his friends and said, "I have received this from Abdullah bin Jafar (R.A.)."
Thereafter he went to Qais (R.A.). On reaching his house he discovered that Qais (R.A.) was not in. The maid-slave asked if the examiner had some work. He replied, "I
have work with Qais (R.A.), not you!" The maid slave said, "Never mind, inform me of your work." He replied, "You do not have the ability to do it." She again said, "Never mind, tell me what is your
problem." He replied, "I am a traveller and require transport." She said, "What is the need for Qais (R.A.) to be here when I have permission to do this?" So saying, she went to a herd of camels, picked
the best one, and handed it over to him. He returned with the camel and said, "The maid-slave of Qais (R.A.) had given this camel while he was not there."
Thereafter he went to the third person who was blind, cripple, and suffering from gout.
This individual was proceeding to the Musjid for Salaah, supported on the shoulders of two slaves while dragging his feet. In this condition the examiner went upto him and said, "I am a traveller and I need a conveyance." The blind man replied, "Today I own nothing more than these two slaves. I give you these two slaves. Take them, sell them and arrange for transport with the money." Saying this, he moved his hands from their shoulders. Because when he said, "I have given them to you," his ownership expired, so how could he leave his hands on their shoulders. Due to suffering from gout, he could not stand, hence he fell down and wounded his knees. He was blind as well as cripple. The examiner said, "You are more in need of the slaves. Therefore keep them and I will make some other alternate arrangements for my transport." The blind man replied, "Well, if you do not want them, then I free them because they had already come out of my ownership." The examiner returned and explained what had happened. The abovementioned incidents are true examples of exemplary generosity.
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ADEE BIN HATIM'S GENEROSITY
A person came to Adee bin Hatim (R.A.), the son of Hatim Tai (who was renowned for his generosity) and said, "I am arranging a function at my place and many wealthy and
influential guests have been invited.
I require some cooking utensils and pots." Adee (R.A.) asked about the number of guests. He was informed of the number of guests and the date of the function. Adee (R.A.) replied, "Very well, I will send the utensils." This person counts the days going by but the utensils are not arriving. There are 10 days left, 9 days, 8 days, 7 days, 6 days, 5 days, 4 days, 3 days, 2 days, 1 day and still the utensils have not arrived! He is so concerned about the utensils not arriving, and moreso that the guests will not having anything to eat. The date of the function arrives. The guests arrive and only then does Adee (R.A.) send the pots and utensils filled with readily prepared exquisite dishes. This person gets extremely happy that not only has his honour been saved but he did not have to arrange the food as well. When he went to return the utensils, he said, "I asked for empty utensils. I did not ask for food." Adee replied, "Never has any utensil left from our house without any food inside. Sending empty utensils is against our family tradition." These were generous people. To define generosity is one thing and to have the quality of generosity is something else.
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ABDULLAH BIN JA'FAR AND THE ORCHARD
The very same Abdullah bin Jafar (R.A.) who was mentioned earlier was asked whether he knew anyone more generous then himself. He replied, "La Hawla …, I am nothing and my
generosity is nothing. All Arabs are more generous then me. At one place I had seen a lush and fruitful orchard which was in the care of a slave. He was irrigating it. I sat for a while watching him.
Then I asked him, "Which tree bears the best fruit?" He replied, "I do not know, I am only the guard, not the owner." (Note, that despite being the guard of the orchard he does not know which trees bears
the best fruit. We, the people of the madrassa, are also guards. Therefore we should watch our step.) I thought to myself, that this is an excellent person. So I requested the name of his master. He
replied that his master was so and so, who could be found at a certain place.
In the meantime, somebody brought two loaves of bread to him. On seeing the bread, a dog which used to stay in the orchard came up to him. He ate a morsel and fed the dog a
morsel. He fed the dog morsels which were the same size as the ones he ate until both the loaves were eaten. I asked, "What does your master pay you?" He replied, "The 2 loaves of bread which you have
seen me eat." I asked, "Why did you feed the dog one morsel with every morsel you ate?" He replied, "This dog is my companion. I guard the orchard and so does this dog. When it assists me in guarding the
orchard then it is my equal partner in whatever wage I receive." I deemed this slave to be very valuable. I approached the owner and said, "I have seen your garden and taking a liking for it, I wish to
purchase it." He agreed and we fixed a price which I paid. I then asked if he had any female slaves for sale. He replied in the affirmative, so I requested him to bring the best female slave, who I
purchased. I thereafter said to him, "I wish to purchase your slave who guards the orchard." He replied, "I do not want to sell him because he has been with us since childhood. We have brought him up and
he has a special relationship with my entire family." I then expressed my great desire to purchase him, after which he replied: "Very well, in that case I will sell him to you.
I took the female slave and went to the orchard and informed the slave (guard) that I had purchased the orchard. He replied, "Very well, May Allah bless you," so saying he
began to leave, thinking to himself that his work was over, because the orchard no longer belonged to his master. I said, "Wait, I have purchased this female slave as well". He replied, "May Allah shower
his blessings on her also." I then informed him that I had purchased him as well. He said, "This information makes me very sorrowful because I had stayed in this home since childhood and have a special
bond with this family. Nevertheless, since you have purchased me, May Allah bless you in me."
I then said, "I marry this slave girl off to you." He replied, "Very well, May Allah grant barkat." I then said, "I set you both free and give this orchard to both of you as a
gift." Initially, that person had stayed in the orchard as a guard and used to work therein and now, is being made the owner. This was the calibre of these people's generosity.
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STORY OF A GENEROUS MAN AND HIS FARM
A person once passed by a farm. A youngster stood up, made salaam, and said, My father has passed away." He replied, "May Allah forgive him and grant you patience and ease."
The youngster said, "Whilst I was going through his accounts, I found that you owe my father several thousand rands." He said to the youngster that he may come and take it whenever he wants. He then
instructed his servant saying: "Whenever this lad comes home for his money, give him this particular amount. He then continued on his way. After a few days, he happened to pass that way again. The
youngster again stood up to meet him and said, "I had miscalculated. Actually my father owes you several thousand rands and instead I have to pay you." He replied, "As you wish." The youngster said, "I
cannot pay the entire amount. He replied, "Pay as much as you can afford." The youngster said, "I do not have cash, but take this piece of land." He accepted this offer, spread a musallah on the land and
performed two rakaats of salaah. He thereafter made the land waqf and continued on his way.
This was the generosity of our pious predecessors. Generosity was not on their tongues, not in their writings, rather it was their second nature. Miserliness could not come
close to them. "Successful indeed is he who has purified his inner-self." For example, one removes miserliness from himself and replaces it with generosity.
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A KIND MAN WHO DID NOT MIND BEING IMPRISONED
One person went to a gentleman and said, "I am in distress, I owe a certain person some money. He apprehended me and I promised to pay him tomorrow. My problem is that, I do
not have any money to give him tomorrow and I fear he will disgrace me." The gentleman replied, "I do not have any wealth at present. However, here is a plan. I promise to give you so much money. I now
owe you this money, because a promise is a debt. Go to the court and lay a claim against me, that I owe you so much. I will say that I have no money. You must then say that I am lying and I do have the
money. The judge will imprison me and inform my relatives and friends who will bring the money in order to release me. Thereafter you can take the money and pay off your creditor." And so it happened
that for the sake of that debtor, the gentleman tolerated being imprisoned.
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HAZRATH ABU BAKR'S (R.A.) KINDNESS TO CHILDREN
Hazrath Abu Bakr (R.A.) was the best of mankind after the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). What a high-ranking personality but ponder over his condition? Whenever he
returned from a journey and the children saw him, they would run and cling to him. He would then seat a child in front of him and a child behind him. The children were not his own, rather they were the
children of the locality. Whenever he used to set off on a journey, the children would again cling to him. One child holding his sleeve, another his hand and another clinging to the tail of his garment.
This was the amount of compassion he had. Remember this is the condition of Ameerul Mumineen. Despite having such a high-rank, he did not think of himself as a great person.
Therefore, the goal and objective is to remove the quality of miserliness from the heart and replace it with generosity. Generosity is a quality of the heart. The hands are
the means and instruments of carrying it out.
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CONTENTMENT AND RELIANCE - THE BACKBONE OF GENEROSITY
The best type of affluence is the contentment of the heart. The person who is content can render great service. Because generally people
have this concern that I have spent so much of money, now, from where can I recover the lost wealth? However, this is not the case when one is content and has confidence in the King of kings with whom lies the treasures of everything, "Most certainly these treasures are with us" (Verse: 21/15). Have confidence on His treasures and not on the wealth in one's pocket. This is the highest form of confidence. The basis of miserliness is generally the feeling that if I am to give my wealth to another person, I will have nothing. This is my requirement. Later, where will I get it from? Even if I engage in a business venture, will I get it or not? Will I be successful or not? All these absurd thoughts trouble the mind. However, if one places his reliance on Allah Ta'ala thinking that He is The One who initially provided for me and He will provide again. If it is not with me, it is certainly in Allah Ta'ala's treasures. Allah Ta'ala has promised to provide. If He is The Provider, why should I be perplexed? Then to give generously will not be difficult. One will then be at ease whether one has wealth or not.
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GONE FOR BAKING
Once a person's wife kneaded some dough, left it in the tray and went out to get fire-wood from the locality. In the meantime a beggar came to the house. The husband looked
around the house but could not find anything else. He picked up the tray with the dough inside and gave it to the beggar. His wife returned with the fire-wood and asked, "What happened to the dough which
I left in the tray?" "It is gone for baking," replied the husband. She said, "Seriously what happened to it? Do not fool around." He replied, "I am serious, I am not joking. A beggar came, I saw there
was nothing else to give him so I gave him the dough. He will bake it for himself." She said, "May Allah guide you, now there is no food for the children." He replied, "Whether there is food or not that
I do not know, but for me to tell the beggar that there is nothing whilst the dough was in front of me, was impossible."
This was the level of his sense of honour that he could not entertain even the thought that, that Being who initially gave him, will not give him again. He will most certainly
give again. This reliance on Allah Ta'ala is an essential principle. Whoever achieves this reliance will be the accepted servant of Allah Ta'ala.
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ZIKR IN ABUNDANCE
"Successful is he who purifies his inner-self and takes the name of his sustainer in abundance" (Verse: 14,15/87). Zikrullah has been greatly emphasised in the Quran and
Hadith. Salaah is a fixed ibadah which is performed 5 times a day. Fasting is also fixed. It is fardh to fast for one month in the year. Haj is fardh once in a lifetime. However regarding zikr, Allah
Ta'ala says "O you who believe, remember Allah Ta'ala in abundance and glorify Him in the mornings and evenings" (Verse: 41,42/33).
The basis for tasbeeh in the morning and evening lies in this verse. Abundance of zikr is also mentioned in this verse. It is mentioned in a hadith "Make zikrullah in such
abundance that people begin to say that you are mad." But do not make zikr in such a way that Allah declares you as mad. That will happen by making zikr in an incorrect manner, or on wrong occasions, or
by distressing the creation, or disturbing people's sleep with loud zikr, etc. Continue making zikr of Allah together with taking into consideration people's rights.
"And he takes the name of his Sustainer" (Verse: 15/87). When should one take the name of his sustainer? On all occasions. At the time of eating one says Bismillah, at the
time of sleeping one reads Bismillah, on awakening one reads Bismillah, when entering the market one reads Bismillah, on all occasions one should take the name of Allah.
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BELIEF IN THE UNSEEN
"Instead you prefer the worldy life." The general condition of the people is that they prefer the worldly life, because it is something that can be witnessed. Whereas, the
life of the hereafter cannot be seen by us. It is the unseen that we are commanded to believe in. Unfortunately, our confidence is on what we can see, the worldy life. We think to ourselves that, if I
give the money in my pocket to the poor, what will happen to me? Where will I obtain the money again?
Coming back to the incident of the person who gave the dough to the beggar, whilst the conversation was taking place between himself and his wife, a person brought freshly
baked bread wrapped in a cloth together with a platter of gravy as a gift. His wife said, "He truly did go to bake the bread and has done it very quickly. I could not have baked it so swiftly, and he
brought gravy as well." This person's dealing with the creation of Allah Ta'ala was that he gave the beggar dough. Allah's dealing with him was that He blessed him with baked bread and gravy. So
howsoever a servant deals with Allah Ta'ala, Allah Ta'ala will deal with him accordingly.
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TRUST IN ALLAH
Considering oneself to be the lowest and most helpless and to understand everything to be in Allah Ta'ala's control is the basic principle. Only with His permission will I
acquire anything. Without it I cannot acquire anything.
If one has bread in the hand, one should not think that I will eat this bread. Rather one should have this in mind that if Allah permits, I will eat this bread, otherwise not.
How many times it has happened that after putting a morsel of food in the mouth, the morsel did not go down. The essential thing is that which is destined by Allah Ta'ala, which is not within our sight
nor our knowledge, will take place. Generally we have reliance on the things of the world because we can see it whereas the requirement is that we have reliance on the unseen, the divine decree of Allah.
That if Allah destines it, I will receive it, otherwise not. "You prefer the worldly life whereas the hereafter is better and eternal" (Verse: 16,17/87).
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THE FAITHFUL COMPANION
The worldly life and its possessions will perish. A person gathers a lot of wealth. However when he dies, will he take his wealth and treasures with him in the grave? No, he
will not take anything. All will be left behind. A person cultivates a beautiful orchard, constructs a magnificent building, buys a car, opens up a business and factories, becomes a member of different
parties and does everything else. Which of these will accompany him in his grave? None of them. The only thing that will accompany him is excellent character and righteous deeds. May Allah Ta'ala enable
us to practice accordingly, Aameen.
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Audio Majlis of Hadrat Mufti Ebrahim Salejee on Tasawwuf and Islaahun Nafs in detail in the English language. | 
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