Characteristics of the Successful Believers ~ Surah Al-Mu’minoon

Excerpts from ~ Ramadaan 1435 Programmesbismillahh

Characteristics of the Successful Believers ~ Surah Al-Mu’minoon

EXTRACTED from a Tafseer Lesson of Moulana Naeem Motala SB

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ
“Successful indeed are the believers”

الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ
“Those who offer their Salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness.”

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ اللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضُونَ
“And those who turn away from false, futile, vain talk, evil”

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِلزَّكَاةِ فَاعِلُونَ
“And those who pay the Zakaat.”

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ
“And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts)”

إِلَّا عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ
“Except from their wives or what their right hands possess (their slaves), for then, they are free from blame”

فَمَنِ ابْتَغَىٰ وَرَاءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْعَادُونَ
“But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors”

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَانَاتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَاعُونَ
“Those who are faithfully true to their Amaanat ( trusts etc.) and to their covenants”

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ
“And those who strictly guard their (five compulsory) Salaat”

أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْوَارِثُونَ
“These are indeed the inheritors”.
الَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ الْفِرْدَوْسَ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
“Who shall inherit the Firdaus (Paradise). They shall dwell therein forever.”

[Surah Al Muminoon]

A Brief Explanation of the Verses 

The word أَفْلَحَ ‘Aflaha’ means successful.

Mufassireen (commentators) have explained that the true meaning of ‘Falaah’ is when a person reaches the epitome of success, ie in every facet of his life, every action of his life, every movement of his life, he is absolutely successful and he encounters no hardship or loss whatsoever. This true and complete Success, can ONLY be achieved in Jannah where a person has no pain, no suffering, no fatigue, no hunger, ie in “Darus Salaam” (The House of Peace). However, Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala does give the Believers some solace, comfort and some type of victory and success in this world as well…..

The Sahaba RadhiyAllahu Anhum report, that when sitting around Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam, at certain times Jibraeel (AS) would come down with Wahi. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam would remain silent for some time. A very beautiful sound could be heard, which was similar to the ‘buzzing or humming of bees’. So, on one occasion when this happened, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam then turned towards the Qibla and made a Dua :

اللَّهُمَّ زِدْنَا وَلَا تَنْقُصْنَا، وَأَكْرِمْنَا وَلَا تُهِنَّا، وَأَعْطِنَا وَلَا تَحْرِمْنَا، وَآثِرْنَا وَلَا تُؤْثِرْ عَلَيْنَا، وَأرْضِنَا وَارْضَ عَنَّا
Allahumma zidna wa la tanqusna, wa akrimna wa la tuhinna, wa a’atina wa la tahrimna wa athirna wa la tu’thir ‘alayna, wa ardhina wardha ‘anna

“O Allah! Increase us (in Your Blessings) and do not decrease us, honour us and do not disgrace us, bestow upon us [from Your Bounties] and do not deprive us, give us preference over others and not others over us, and make us satisfied and be pleased with us.” ~ (Tirmidhi)

and then Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “Ten verses (of Surah Al Mu’minoon) were revealed to me now, via Jibraeel AS, from Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala, and whoever abides by these verses, he shall enter Jannah … These are: ‘Successful indeed are the believers…….‘{until the completion of these Ayaat (23:1-10).}

Sayyida A’isha RadhiyAllahu Anha was once asked: “ What was the character of the Prophet Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam? She replied: His character was the Quraan”~ (Sahih Muslim) … and then she recited these first ten verses of Surah Al Mu’minoon.

In some Riwayaat (narrations of Hadith), it is mentioned that when Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala created Jannatul Adan (Garden of Eternity), then HE told Jannah, : “Speak!”. Jannah then mentioned : 

 “قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ” 
Successful indeed are the Believers

Who are the True and Successful Believers?

The Noble traits of the Mu’minoon mentioned are :

1. Those who are Khashi’oon (those who possess Khushoo) with their Salaat (prayers)

Most of the Mufassireen have explained, the word Khashi’oon as : those who are ‘still’ in their Salaah; they do not shake around in Salaah; they have full concentration in Salaah; they are devoted and dedicated in their Salaah; their eyes are fixed on the place of Sajdah.
It is mentioned that in the beginning some of the Sahaba RadhiyAllahu Anhum, as they were reading Salaah, they would look towards the sky but when these verses were revealed they immediately began keeping their gaze fixed on the place of Sajdah. 

Ulema explain that if a person’s heart has devotion and concentration in Allah, and is able to ponder over the meanings of the verses as he is reciting, then the rest of his limbs will also develop this concentration and this type of Khushoo will come easily into a person.

How do we develop this Khushoo? 

We should read alot of Nafl Salaah, and try our level best to concentrate on what we are reciting when standing before Allah Ta’ala. In the beginning of our Salaah we have some concentration, but towards the end, our minds wander. Maintaining this concentration throughout is difficult, but we should make a concerted effort to atleast concentrate on the “meanings of the verses” that are being recited, or at least have this feeling that we are standing before our Allah Ta’ala in Ibaadah. We should endeavour to perfect this Salaah and develop this quality of Khushoo.

Salaah is not a ritual or some ordinary practice, rather it is something that Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala himself has ordained for us. It is a time when we ‘connect’ to Allah. Just as we display good manners and etiquettes infront of our boss or during a job interview and we ensure that everything is 110% in order, similarly in Salaah we should realise that we are standing before Allah Ta’ala. …The King of Kings!

If our minds wander aimlessly during Salaat or to our businesses and other  activities in our lives, then we will not be able to develop this type of Khashiyat in our Salaah.

2. Those who turn away from ‘Laghw’

These are those people who move away from all futile things.
Unlike the Believers, the disbelievers are heedless of the day of Qiyamah, because they are involved in frivolous pursuits and futile activities. A Believer is not such, but moves away from futile activities and places of Haraam useless entertainment.

3. And those who discharge their Zakaat

Some Ulema say that this verse was revealed in a Makki Surah, whereas Zakaat became compulsory in Madinah. The essence of what they explain is that the Sahaba (RA) were already ordained to discharge Zakaat in Makkah, but a fixed amount was not incumbent then. It was only ordained later in Madina.  

Others have taken the explanation to be, not “Zakaat of Maal” (purification of wealth), but the purification of the heart and soul. 
As Allah Taala states in another verse:

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ
Indeed whosoever purifies himself shall achieve success 87:14 ~ Surah Al ‘Ala

In this verse, Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala talks about the purity of our wealth as well as the purity of our hearts

4. And those who protect their Private Parts

These people protect their chastity and do not commit Zinna (fornication). One should control his desires. We are human beings and are created with desires. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala has given us permission and has commanded us to satisfy our desires with our pure spouses and our legal slaves (in previous times permission was granted to a master and his slave girl to have intercourse). But, beyond your halaal wife and legal slave, those who seek to gratify their sexual desires or have relationships with somebody else, that is not legal for them.

Also, there are occasions when your legal wife cannot fulfil your desires, eg: Haidh (Menses), Nifaas (Post Partum period) … Intercourse during these occasions will not be permissible.

Similarly, Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala has made homosexuality Haraam (prohibited) and it is against the natural inclination (fitrah) which Allah has placed in man. Imaam Shafee’e RA has mentioned that the prohibition of masturbation is deduced from this verse as well.

A person should at all times, save himself from Zinna.

5. And those who are faithfully true to their Amanaah (trusts) and to their covenants

These people are those who when entrusted with something, they do not breach that trust. If someone has entrusted them with anything, they are mindful about it.  They safeguard and protect those trusts. And, when they make a promise or take a pledge, they are true to their word. Whatever Amaanat (trust) has been given to them, they are not carefree and do not abuse the usage of those things. Many times we make a promise to some person and we do not meet those promises. This is not the true ettiquette of a Believer.

6. And those who strictly guard their (five compulsory Salaat ) at their fixed stated hours

For a person who is a true believer, Salaah is fundamental. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala mentions Salaah in the beginning of these ten verses and again at the end. Those who are protective over their Salaah; are mindful about the times of their Salaah……. they do not delay their Salaah. They continously have the concern … “What time is Azaan?” “What time is Jamaat?” “I must not miss my Salaah”. Their minds are continuously concerned about their Salaah. Amongst the A’amaal (deeds) of a person, the very first thing one will be questioned on the day of Qiyamah (Judgement) will be Salaah.

May Allah help us establish Salaah in our lives.

7. These are indeed the inheritors who shall inherit the Firdaus, they shall dwell therein forever.”

These believers, whose qualities have been mentioned, are the inheritors of the perpetual and eternal Jannatul Firdaus. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said that when you make Dua for Jannah, ask for Jannatul Firdaus (the highest level of Jannah whose roof is the Arsh of Allah).

These qualities are of a true Mu’min.

May Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala grant us the Taufeeq and Hidayah of trying to bring these beautiful qualities into our lives and may HE make us the Heirs of Jannatul Firdaus.


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