Explaining the Four Keys to Success

Question:

Please explain in detail the what is meant in the following statements:

Intentions are True.
Goals are True.
Means are True.
The way one took is True.


Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate. May His
blessings and
peace be on His Beloved Prophet, the best of creation, and his family,
companions, and followers

Shaykh al-Islam Shabbir Usmani said that if 4 matters are present,
success
is guaranteed:

1) one's intention must be true;
2) one's goal must be true;
3) the means one takes must be true; and
4) the way one takes the means must be true.

Allama Shabbir Usmani is author of Fath al-Mulhim, a commentary on
Sahih
Muslim considered by many (including Imam Muhammad Zahid al-Kawthari)
to be
the best commentary on Sahih Muslim, bar none. [Originally posted on:
blog.masud.co.uk/faraz.htm]

Explanation:

1. True Intention

A true intention is for one's action to be sincerely for the sake of
Allah.

Allah Most High says, "They were only ordered to worship Allah, making
their
religion sincerely His." [Qur'an, 98.5]

And, "Whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous
work, and make none sharer of the worship due unto his Lord." [Qur'an,
18.110]

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,
"Actions
are by intentions, and each person shall only have that which they
intended." [Related by Bukhari and Muslim, on the authority of Umar
(Allah
be pleased with him)]

Imam Ibn al-Mubarak (Allah have mercy on him) said, "How often is a
small
action made tremendous through its intention, and how often is a
tremendous
action rendered small through its intention." [Dhahabi, Siyar A`lam
al-Nubala, 8.400;

2. True Goals

Having a true goal entails that one's goal is something that is
pleasing to
Allah, in accordance to the guidance of the Messenger of Allah (Allah
bless
him and give him peace) that has been explained to us in the Shariah.

A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) relates that the Messenger of Allah
(Allah bless him and give him peace) said, "Anyone who acts in way not
in
accordance with this affair of ours shall have it rejected." [Related
by
Muslim]

3. True Means

Taking true means entails several things:

a) one take the most effective outward means to accomplish one's goals;
and
b) one take the most effective inward means, including complete
reliance
upon Allah, and ensuring that one's action is in accordance with the
general
guidance of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), and any
specific sunnas related to one's action.

4. True Way of Taking the Means

This entails that the way one takes the means be in accordance with the
spirit of excellence, wisdom, gentleness, dignity, and forebearance
that are
the essence of the way of the Beloved Messenger of Allah (Allah bless
him
and give him peace).

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalam,

Faraz Rabbani ( <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected])
Sunni Path - <http://www.sunnipath.com> www.sunnipath.com