Here we present the foundation of our study of success; i.e. sections from the Qur’an from which one may infer secrets to success and avoiding failure in the present life (dunya) as well as the afterlife (akhirah).
Please note that the tafsir (exegesis) of the verses linked below has been extracted from multiple sources and edited for easier reading. For the original commentary in its entirety, please visit the sources indicated.
English translations of the Qur’an may vary from source to source and also within a single source. The Arabic language is comprised of a rich vocabulary and surpasses English in this regard. Human knowledge of Allah’s (Glorified and Exalted be He) words is limited and Arabic words may have multiple meanings according to context, usage, era, explanation supported by hadith, and understanding of the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), etc. It is important to keep these things in mind when reading a translation of the Qur’an.
The Foundational Attributes column links you to further verses, hadith, and sayings from the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) regarding one or more qualities we can extract from these verses.
The Applies To column indicates whether the verse relates to:
(A) Belief
(B) Attitude of mind and heart (piety, thinking process, ideas, thoughts, feelings, etc.)
(C) Actions both positive and negative
- Do (Required/Recommended) – Fard/Wajib/Mustahab
- Don’t (Prohibited/Undesirable) – Haram/Makruh
Verses Relating to Success
Chapter Name/Number:Verse
|
Foundational Attributes |
Applies To |
| Surah Al-Baqarah 2:1-5 |
humility, knowledge, charity, piety, wisdom |
attitude, actions |
| Surah Al-Baqarah 2:189 |
piety, trustworthiness |
attitude, actions |
| Surah Aal-Imran 3:104 |
teaching |
actions |
| Surah Aal-Imran 3:130 |
honesty, piety |
attitude, actions |
| Surah Aal-Imran 3:185 |
contentment, happy |
attitude |
| Surah Aal-Imran 3:200 |
perseverance, patience, consistency |
actions |
| Surah An-Nisa 4:1-13 |
co-existence, character, trustworthiness, integrity, honesty, justice, leadership, skillful, charity, piety |
attitude, actions |
| Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:35 |
piety, perseverance, persistence |
attitude, actions |
| Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:90 |
character, dignity, self-discipline |
attitude, actions |
| Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:100 |
wisdom, contentment |
attitude |
| Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:119 |
trustworthiness, honesty, integrity |
actions |
| Surah Al-A’raf 7:8 |
justice, conviction, motivation |
belief, attitude, actions |
| Surah Al-A’raf 7:69 |
gratitude, knowledge |
actions |
| Surah Al-A’raf 7:157 |
conviction, piety, commitment |
belief, actions |
| Surah Al-Anfal 8:45 |
courage |
actions |
| Surah At-Tawbah 9:20 |
conviction, perseverance, persistence |
belief, actions |
| Surah At-Tawbah 9:72 |
conviction, optimism |
belief, attitude |
| Surah At-Tawbah 9:88-89 |
conviction, perseverance, persistence, courage, charity |
belief, actions |
| Surah Tawbah 9:111 |
conviction, courage, humility |
belief, attitude, actions |
| Surah Yunus 10:62-64 |
conviction, piety |
belief, attitude, actions |
| Surah Al-Hajj 22:77 |
piety, humility |
attitude, actions |
| Surah Al-Mu’minun 23:1-11 |
conviction, humility, dignity, charity, generosity, self-discipline, contentment, honesty, trustworthiness |
belief, attitude, actions |
| Surah Al-Mu’minun 23:102 |
perseverance, persistence, consistency |
actions |
| Surah Al-Mu’minun 23:111 |
perseverance, persistence, consistency |
actions |
| Surah An-Nur 24:31 |
repenting |
actions |
| Surah An-Nur 24:51-52 |
conviction, piety |
belief, attitude, actions |
| Surah Al-Qasas 28:67 |
conviction, piety, repenting |
belief, attitude, actions |
| Surah Ar-Rum 30:37-38 |
justice, charity, |
attitude, actions |
| Surah Luqman 31:3-5 |
conviction, piety, charity |
belief, attitude, actions |
| Surah Al-Ahzab 33:70-71 |
conviction, justice |
belief, attitude, actions |
| Surah Ghafir 40:9 |
repenting |
actions |
| Surah Ad-Dukhan 44:51-57 |
piety |
attitude, actions |
| Surah Al-Jathiya 45:30 |
conviction, piety, character |
belief, attitude, actions |
| Surah Al-Fath 48:5 |
conviction |
belief |
| Surah Al-Hadid 57:12 |
conviction |
belief |
| Surah Al-Mujadila 58:22 |
conviction, character, justice, courage, integrity |
belief, attitude, actions |
| Surah Al-Hashr 59:9 |
character, charity, generosity, friendship, love, co-existence, compassion |
attitude, actions |
| Surah As-Saff 61:11-12 |
conviction, persistence, perseverance, charity |
belief, actions |
| Surah At-Taghabun 64:16 |
piety, charity |
attitude, actions |
| Surah Al-Buruj 85:11 |
conviction, motivation, character |
belief, attitude, actions |
| Surah Al-A’la 87:14 |
cleanliness, character |
attitude, actions |
| Surah Ash-Shams 91:9 |
cleanliness, character |
attitude, actions |
| Surah Al-Asr 103 |
conviction, teaching, patience |
belief, attitude, actions |
Verses Relating to Failure
Chapter Name/Number:Verse
|
Attributes to Avoid
|
Applies To |
| Surah Al-Baqarah:27 |
corruption, betrayal |
attitude, actions |
| Surah Aal-Imran:130 |
engaging in usury |
actions |
| Surah Aal-Imran:149 |
following disbelievers |
actions |
| Surah Al-Ma’idah:5 |
disbelief |
belief |
| Surah Al-An’aam:31 |
disbelief |
belief |
| Surah An’aam 6:21 |
disbelief, lying about Allah |
belief, attitude |
| Surah An’aam 6:135 |
disbelief, suppressing goodness |
actions |
| Surah Al-A’raf:9 |
lack of good deeds |
actions |
| Surah Yunus:17 |
disbelief |
belief |
| Surah Yunus:95 |
disbelief |
belief |
| Surah Yusuf:23 |
immorality |
attitude |
| Surah An-Nahl:116 |
lying about Allah |
actions |
| Surah Al-Mu’minun:117 |
disbelief, associating partners with Allah |
belief, actions |
| Surah Al-Qasas:37 |
corruption |
attitude, actions |
| Surah Al-Qasas:82 |
disbelief |
belief |
| Surah An-Naml:5 |
disbelief |
belief |
| Surah Az-Zumar:63, 65 |
disbelief, associating partners with Allah |
belief, actions |
| Surah Al-Fussilat:23, 25 |
disbelief |
belief |
| Surah Al-Mujadila:19 |
following Satan |
actions |
| Surah Al-Munafiqun:9 |
distraction from the ultimate purpose |
attitude, actions |
Further Resources
Qur’an, translation, recitation: www.quran.com
Qur’anic Commentary Altafsir.com
The Study Qur’an | [Video] “The Study Qur’an” | Dr. Maria M. Dakake & Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr