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Principles of Success in the Light of Seerah
It is a
well-known fact that the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) was the supremely successful
man in the entire human history. But he was not just a hero, as Thomas Carlyle
has called him. According to the Qur’an, he was a good example for all
mankind. He has shown us the way of achieving supreme success in this world.
By studying the life of the Prophet we can derive those important principles
which were followed by the Prophet. In short, the Prophet of Islam was a positive
thinker in the full sense of the word. All his activities were result-oriented.
He completely refrained from all such steps as may prove counter-productive.
1. First
Principle: To begin from the possible
This principle is well explained in a saying of Aishah. She said: "Whenever
the Prophet had to choose between two options, he always opted for the easier
choice." (Al-Bukhari) To choose the easiest option means to begin from
the possible, and one who begins from the possible will surely reach his goal.
2. Second
Principle: To see advantage in disadvantage
In the early days of Mecca, there were many problems and difficulties. At that
time, a guiding verse in the Qur’an was revealed. It said: "With every
hardship there is ease, with every hardship there is ease." (94:5-6).
This means that if there are some problems, there are also opportunities at
the same time. And the way to success is to ignore the problems and avail the
opportunities.
3. Third
Principle: To change the place of action
This principle is derived from the Hijrah. Hijrah was not just a migration from
Mecca to Medina. It was to find a more suitable place for Islamic work, as history
proved later on.
4. Fourth
Principle: To make a friend out of an enemy
The prophet of Islam was repeatedly subjected to practices of antagonism by
the unbelievers. At that time the Qur’an enjoined upon him the return of
good for evil. And then, as the Qur’an added, "You will see your direst
enemy has become your closest friend" (41:34).
It means that a good deed in return of a bad deed has a conquering effect over your enemies. And the life of the Prophet is a historical proof of this principle.
5. Fifth
Principle: To turn minus into plus
After the Battle of Badr, about 70 of the unbelievers were taken as the prisoners
of war. They were educated people. The Prophet announced that if any one of
them would teach ten Muslim children how to read and write he would be freed.
This was the first school in the history of Islam in which all of the students
were Muslims, and all of the teachers were from the enemy rank. Here I shall
quote a British orientalist who remarked about the Prophet
of Islam: He faced adversity with the determination to wring success out of
failure.
6. Sixth
Principle:
The power of peace is stronger than the power of violence
When Mecca was conquered, all of the Prophet’s direst opponents were brought
before him. They were war criminals, in every sense of the word. But the Prophet
did not order to kill them. He simply said: "Go, you are free." The
result of this kind behavior was miraculous. They immediately accepted Islam.
7. Seventh
Principle: Not to be a dichotomous thinker
In the famous Ghazwa of Muta, Khalid bin Walid decided to withdraw Muslim forces
from the battlefield because he discovered that the enemy was unproportionately
outnumbered. When they reached Medina, some of the Muslims received them by
the word "O Furrar (O deserters!)" The Prophet said "No. They
are Kurrar (men of advancement)."
Those Medinan people were thinking dichotomously, either fighting or retreating. The Prophet said no. There is also a third option, and that is to avoid war and find a time to strengthen yourself. Now history tells us that the Muslims, after three years of preparation, advanced again towards the Roman border and this time they won a resounding victory.
8. Eighth
Principle:
To bring the battle in one’s own favorable field
This principle is derived from the Ghazwa of Hudaibiyya. At that time, the unbelievers
were determined to engage Muslims in fighting, because obviously they were in
an advantageous position. But the Prophet, by accepting their conditions unilaterally,
entered into a pact. It was a ten-year peace treaty. Until then, the meeting
ground between Muslims and non-Muslims had been on the battlefield. Now the
area of conflict became that of ideological debate. Within two years, Islam
emerged as victorious because of the simple reason of its ideological superiority.
9. Ninth
Principle: Gradualism instead of radicalism
This principle is well-established by a hadith of Al-Bukhari. Aishah says that
the first verses of the Qur’an were related mostly to heaven and hell.
And then after a long time when the people’s hearts had softened, the specific
commands to desist from adultery and drinking were revealed in the Qur’an.
This is a clear proof that for social changes, Islam advocates the evolutionary
method, rather than the revolutionary method.
10.
Tenth Principle: To be pragmatic in controversial matters
During the writing of Hudaibiyyah treaty, the Prophet dictated these words:
"This is from Muhammad, the Messenger of God." The Qurayshi delegate
raised objections over these words. The Prophet promptly changed the word and
ordered to write simply Muhammad, son of Abdullah.
These were the principles through which the Prophet of Islam gained that success which has been recognized by historians as the supreme success.
In the end, I would like to repeat those ten principles of success:
1. To begin
from the possible
2. To see advantage in disadvantage
3. To change the place of action
4. To make a friend out of an enemy
5. To turn minus into plus
6. The power of peace is stronger than the power of violence
7. Not to be a dichotomous thinker
8. To bring the battle in one’s own favorable field
9. Gradualism instead of radicalism
10. To be pragmatic in controversial matters