Al Manhaj lil Falah/Al Fawaz or the Islamic Methodology for Success (IMFS) is intended to be a manual for achieving the highest level of satisfaction, complete tranquility, ultimate freedom, absolute security and endless prosperity in worldly life and the eternal life.

It is a methodology for human transformation of worldly life for living, based on the Qur’an, hadith, shari’ah, mercy/compassion, peace, patience, love, and gratitude.

Overall Goals and Objectives

1. Improve society (irrespective of individual religious beliefs)
2. Transform human lives for the better
3. Teach the Islamic way of life
4. Reduce stress in daily life and provide sakinah (peace, serenity, tranquility) by practising the sunnah
5. Da’wah to Islam & renew its understanding
6. Help people live peacefully, happily, and successfully, with contentment and true faith by having an after-life centric (forward thinking) approach
7. Convince all mankind to strive for the highest level of Paradise (Al-Firdaus Al-A’laa)

 

وَذَكَرَ ٱسۡمَ رَبِّهِۦ فَصَلَّىٰ (١٥) بَلۡ تُؤۡثِرُونَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا (١٦) وَٱلۡأَخِرَةُ خَيۡرٌ۬ وَأَبۡقَىٰٓ (١٧) إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَفِى ٱلصُّحُفِ ٱلۡأُولَىٰ (١٨) صُحُفِ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ (١٩)

“And mentions the name of his Lord and prays. But you prefer the worldly life, while the Hereafter is better and more enduring. Indeed, this is in the former scriptures; the scriptures of Abraham and Moses.” [Qur’an; 87:15-19]

Specific Objectives

1. Serve as the tool for global Muslim youth (ages 9 – 39) to live based on the Quranic principles and strive to develop perfect moral character (khuluq al-adheem)
2. Serve as one of the fundamental resources in Islamic pedagogy and a global Islamic curriculum for Muslim youth education
3. Help answer practical questions about Islam (based on the Qur’an)
4. Ensure that all Muslim youth are aware of practical aspects of Islamic teachings (based on Qur’an and sunnah) in dealing with day-to-day situations with goals and objectives rather than simply performing rituals

فَأَيۡنَ تَذۡهَبُونَ (٢٦) إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكۡرٌ۬ لِّلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (٢٧) لِمَن شَآءَ مِنكُمۡ أَن يَسۡتَقِيمَ (٢٨)

“So where are you going? It [the Qur’an] is not except a reminder to the worlds; For whoever wills among you to take a right course.”
[Qur’an; 81:26-28]

Anyone looking to achieve true, long-lasting, and genuine success would–by taking guidance from these verses–look for the pathway to success in the Qur’an itself.

هُوَ خَيۡرٌ۬ ثَوَابً۬ا وَخَيۡرٌ عُقۡبً۬ا

“…He is the Best to reward, and the Best to give success.” [Qur’an; 18:44]

The Qur’an mentions two types of success: Falah (success mostly in this life) and al-Fawaz-ul-adheem (ultimate/great/supreme success), al-Fawaz-ulmubeen (evident success), and al-Fawaz-alkabeer (huge success) which can only be achieved in the hereafter (akhirah).

Various forms of the words fawaz and falah are mentioned throughout the Qur’an. IMFS aims to provide an outline of the rules, guideline and commands of Allah for achieving success in this life and the next by researching all instances of these two words in the Qur’an as well as extracting key virtues.

Upon living a life based on the Qur’anic commands relating to “success” and “ultimate success”, one will achieve the following (God willing):

1. Endless Prosperity (Barakah) – Allah’s blessings, success in this life and next life through the mercy of Allah in sha Allah
2. Complete Tranquility, Serenity, Inner Peace (Sakinah)
3. Ultimate Freedom and Satisfaction – Freedom from our own egotism, arrogance, base/lower desires, overeating, economic materialism, and impulsivity through daily prayers and knowledge
4. Absolute Security – A comprehensive firewall for protection from Shaytan (Jinn and human) through utilization of the Dhikr, Tahara, Tahajjud, Ruqyah (DTTR) algorithm (the license key to this firewall being the sending of praise upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him):

 

a. Tahajjud – Loosely translated as “the night prayer”, Tahajjud is a highly recommended prayer observed typically in the last part of the night. It is a time of approaching Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He), seeking closeness and a response to our needs. Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) as saying, “When half of the night or two-third of it is over, Allah, the Blessed and the Exalted, descends to the lowest heaven and says, ‘Is there any beggar, so that he be given? Is there any supplicator so that he be answered? Is there any beggar of forgiveness so that he be forgiven?’ (And Allah continues it saying) till it is daybreak.” [Sahih Muslim]

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلۡمُزَّمِّلُ (١) قُمِ ٱلَّيۡلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلاً۬ (٢) نِّصۡفَهُ ۥۤ أَوِ ٱنقُصۡ مِنۡهُ قَلِيلاً (٣) أَوۡ زِدۡ عَلَيۡهِ وَرَتِّلِ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ تَرۡتِيلاً (٤)

“O you who wraps himself [in clothing], arise [to pray] the night, except for a little – half of it – or subtract from it a little or add to it, and recite the Qur’an with measured recitation.” [Qur’an; 73:1-4]

وَمِنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ فَتَهَجَّدۡ بِهِۦ نَافِلَةً۬ لَّكَ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَبۡعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامً۬ا مَّحۡمُودً۬ا (٧٩)

“And from [part of] the night, pray with it as additional [worship] for you; it is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a praised station.” [Qur’an; 17:79]

It is reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Hold fast to Qiyam al-Lail, for it is the practice of the righteous before you, and indeed Qiyam al-Lail is a means of nearness to Allah, a means of prevention from sin, an expiation for bad deeds, and a barrier for the body against disease.” [Tirmidhi]

Narrated `Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her, “The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to offer thirteen rak`at of the night prayer and that included the witr and two rak`at (Sunna) of the Fajr prayer.” [Sahih Bukhari]

It is also narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to observe thirteen rak’ahs of the night prayer. Five out of them consisted of Witr, and he did not sit, but at the end (for salutation). [Sahih Muslim]

“The most beloved fast to Allah is the fast of Dawud, for he used to fast one day and not the next. And the most beloved of prayer to Allah is the prayer of Dawud; he used to sleep half of the night, pray one-third of the night and sleep one-sixth of the night.” [Ibn Majah]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Night prayer is offered as two rak`at followed by two rak`at and so on, and if you want to finish it, pray only one rak`a which will be witr for all the previous rak`at.” Al-Qasim said, “Since we attained the age of puberty we have seen some people offering a three-rak`at prayer as witr and all that is permissible. I hope there will be no harm in it.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]

It has been narrated that someone saw Al-Junayd (RA) after his death in a dream. Al-Junayd (RA) was asked:  “What news do you have, Abul Qasim?” He replied:  “Perished are the speeches and vanished are the allusions, nothing benefited us except the prostrations which we made in the middle of the night.”

 

b. Tahara – This refers to purity of the soul, the body, and the environment and is an essential aspect of being Muslim. It is a prerequisite for many acts of worship and is recommended as a general state of being. “Cleanliness is half of faith” [Sahih Muslim]

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلتَّوَّٲبِينَ وَيُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُتَطَهِّرِينَنَ

“Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves.” [Qur’an; 2:222]

 

c. Dhikr – In general this refers to the remembrance of Allah in various ways, although the term is more specifically used to refer to litanies repeatedly recited silently within the mind or aloud. There are many virtues of this.

فَٱذۡكُرُونِىٓ أَذۡكُرۡكُمۡ وَٱشۡڪُرُواْ لِى وَلَا تَكۡفُرُونِ (١٥٢)

“Therefore remember Me (by praying, glorifying, etc.). I will remember you, and be grateful to Me (for My countless Favors on you) and never be ungrateful to Me.” [Qur’an; 2:152]

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَطۡمَٮِٕنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۗ أَلَا بِذِڪۡرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطۡمَٮِٕنُّ ٱلۡقُلُوبُ

“Those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah – Islamic monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah, Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.” [Qur’an; 13:28]

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “He who utters a hundred times in a day these words: لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد، وهو على كل شيء قدير / La ilaha illallahu, wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in Qadir (there is no true god except Allah. He is One and He has no partner with Him; His is the sovereignty and His is the praise, and He is Omnipotent),’ he will have a reward equivalent to that for emancipating ten slaves, a hundred good deeds will be recorded to his credit, hundred of his sins will be blotted out from his scroll, and he will be safeguarded against the devil on that day till the evening; and no one will exceed him in doing more excellent good deeds except someone who has recited these words more often than him. And he who utters: ‘Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi (Allah is free from imperfection and His is the praise)’ one hundred times a day, his sins will be obliterated even if they are equal to the extent of the foam of the ocean.” [Sahih Muslim]

Remembrance of Allah is “spiritual vitamin” for the heart and soul. When the soul is deprived of dhikr, it is like depriving the body of food. Dhikr helps drive Satan away and weaken his impact on our minds and actions. It is a means to overcoming anxiety and worry, and feeling peace, and joy instead, bringing light to the inner and outer self.

It is reported that one of the Companions said, “O Messenger of Allah, there are many injunctions of Islam for me. So tell me something to which I may hold fast.” He said, “Keep your tongue wet with the remembrance of Allah.” [Tirmidhi]

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah and Abu Sa’eed bore witness that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “No people sit in a gathering remembering Allah, But the angels surround them, mercy covers them, tranquility descends upon them and Allah remembers them before those who are with Him.” [Darussalam]

 

d. Ruqyah – This is a protective reading from the Quran and the Hadith. It can be performed daily either on one’s own or performed by another person (such as a qualified shaykh) to cure evil eye, possession of Jinn, black magic, and most harms and evils in general.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) as saying, “The influence of an evil eye is a fact; if anything would precede the destiny it would be the influence of an evil eye, and when you are asked to take bath (as a cure) from the influence of an evil eye, you should take bath.” [Sahih Muslim]

Narrated Ibn `Abbas, “The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to seek refuge with Allah for Al-Hasan and Al-Husain and say, “Your forefather (i.e. Abraham) used to seek refuge with Allah for Ishmael and Isaac by reciting the following: ‘O Allah! I seek refuge with Your Perfect Words from every devil and from poisonous pests and from every evil, harmful, envious eye.'” [Sahih Bukhari]

 

Grand Vision

• Obtain Al-Firdaus Al-A’laa (AAA)
• Fulfill the desire to meet Allah Azza Wa Jall (mighty and majestic)
• Earning the pleasure of observing Allah’s “Face” (wajh)

 

 Life Mission

Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says in the Qur’an:

وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ (٥٦)

“And I did not create the Jinn and Mankind except to worship me.” [Qur’an; 51:56]

So the life mission of a Muslim is to be in continuous daily worship (24x7x365) and, as defined by Ibn Taymiyyah, “ibadah” is a comprehensive noun encompassing everything that Allah loves and is pleased with, whether in speech or actions, outward and inward.

 

 

Further Resources

[Book] Purification of the Soul (chapter 6)

[Book] Provisions for the Hereafter

[Video Playlist] Words of Wisdom: Purpose of Education, etc. – Dr. Recep Senturk

[Book] Parent-Child Relations: A Guide to Raising Children

Daily Remembrances Adhkar | Adhakr Protection From Satan And From Any Harm

Night (Tahajjud) Prayer Supplication | (Qunut of Witr) Prayer Supplication