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alladhīna hum fī ṣālātihim khāshiʿūna
—those who are humble in their prayers,
— Ali Quli Qarai
23Al-Mu’minūnالمؤمنونVerse 2 of 118
The Believers23. Al-Mu’minūnالمؤمنون
Al Mu’minūn
The Believers
MeccanVerse 2 of 118
23Al-Mu’minūnالمؤمنونVerse 2 of 118
The Believers
—those who are humble in their prayers,
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah al-Mu’minun , Verses 1-2
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
1. “Successful indeed are the believers, ”
2. “Who are humble in their prayers, ”
In The Holy Qur’an, there are eleven cases in which the Arabic word /falah/ (salvation) is used along with the word /la‘ alla/, (perhaps), and in only three cases the word /falah/ is mentioned without /la‘alla/ in a sense implying certainty. One of them is in this Sura, the other is in Sura Ash-Shams, No, 91, verse 9,
“He is indeed successful who purifies it”
and the third case is found in Sura Al-’A‘la’, No. 87, verse 14, where it says:
“Indeed, he will prosper who purifies himself.”
By comparing these three cases, it becomes clear that faith and purification are one in essence. The ultimate and supreme aim of every program in Islam is success and salvation. Many verses of the holy Qur’an that mention piety and religious decrees also aim to achieve piety:
“...so that you may guard yourselves (against evil).” 1
whereas the categorical aim of piety is:
“...and be in awe of Allah; that you may be prosperous.”
It is interesting that the most important and the ultimate definitive objective of the religion of Islam has manifestly been mentioned in its first testimony:
“Say there is no god but Allah, (so that) you will be successful.”
As we said earlier, the choice of the title, “Al-Mu’minun” for this Sura is because of the beginning verses of the Sura that enumerate the attributes of the believers in some short, lively, significant and comprehensive phrases. In addition, it is interesting that this Sura first mentions the delightful and glorious destiny of the believers before talking about their attributes in order to kindle the flames of love and enthusiasm in them for reaching this goal and great honour in their souls.
The Qur’an implies, having gained their final goal in all dimensions, the believers are prosperous. It says:
“Successful indeed are the believers”
The Arabic term /aflaha/ is derived from the word /falaha/ and /falah/. It originally means ‘cutting and splitting’ and is then applied to every kind of victory and achievement that results in man’s happiness and success. In fact, the successful, prosperous and triumphant persons manage to overcome obstacles that lie in their way to reach the goal. Of course, true success and salvation have such extended meanings that include both material and spiritual victories and both of them have also been considered with respect to the qualified believers.
Victory and success in the present world mean that man would live freely, independently, prosperously, and honorably and these good conditions are only achieved under the shadow of faith. Success in the Hereafter means to abide respectfully and prosperously under the mercy of Allah, showered by eternal blessings and having the company of purified and amenable friends. Twenty times every day and night we say /hayya ‘alal-falah/ (Come to success!) in the call to prayer and in the prologue to the daily ritual prayers, clearly declaring this final aim so that we do not lose our path.
Islam says:
“Those who have faith and purify their souls are indeed successful”.
But Pharaoh uttered the blasphemy:
“...whoever is uppermost this day will be indeed successful”. 2
The Arabic word /falah/ means to prosper. Maybe the reason that the farmer in Arabic is called a /fallah/ is because he makes the conditions ready for plants to grow and prosper. When a seed is placed in the soil, it rescues itself by 3 actions and reaches open space:
1) It plants its roots in the depths of the ground.
2) It absorbs the nutrients of the soil.
3) It moves the soil away from its path in its growth upward.
Like a seed, the human being must accomplish these three actions in order to free himself and reach the open space of monotheism delivering himself from false gods and the dark world of materialism:
1) He must fortify the roots of his beliefs through reasoning.
2) He must gain Allah-given potentialities as much as possible for spiritual development and perfection.
3) He ought to discard enemies and obstacles and pushes aside any deity other than Allah with the phrase ‘La ’ilaha ’ilia Llah’ (“There is no god save Allah”) in order to reach the open space of monotheism.
Who Are the Successful?
1- Worshippers:
“...and worship your Lord, and do good, that haply you may prosper.” 3
2- Those whose deeds are valuable and heavy:
“...Then whoever’s scales be heavy, those are they who shall be prosperous.” 4
3- Those who avoid jealousy:
“...And whoso is saved from his own avarice such are who are successful.” 5
4- Allah’s party:
“...Beware! Verily the party of Allah are the successful ones.” 6
5- Those who remember Allah much:
“...and remember Allah much, that you may be prosperous.” 7
6- The God-fearing:
“...So be in awe of Allah, O’ possessors of intellects, that you may be prosperous.” 8
7- Warriors for faith:
“...and strive hard in His way, that you may be prosperous.” 9
8- Penitents:
“...And turn unto Allah all together, O believers, in order that you may succeed.” 10
Some Traditions On Success and Salvation
1) Imam Ali (as) said:
“Anyone whose passions are overcome by (his reason and) his wisdom would be successful.” 11
2) He also said:
“Follow knowledge and disobey ignorance so that you may prosper.” 12
3) The Prophet (S) said:
“Successful is he who renders his soul sincere for faith, makes his heart clean and sound, makes his tongue veracious, makes his psyche calm, makes his morals fair, makes his ears heedful and makes his eyes watchful” 13 .
4) Imam Ali (as) said:
“O’ People! Steer clear through the waves of mischief by boats of deliverance, turn away from the path of dissention and put off the crowns of pride. Prosperous is he who rises with wings, or he surrenders and finds peace.” 14
5) Qummi narrates a tradition from Imam Sadiq (as) who said:
“When Allah, the Mighty, created Paradise, He told it to speak. It said:
“Successful indeed are the believers.” 15
The next verse looks at the attributes of the believers, and in this context, at first and foremost, singles out the importance of the ritual prayer. It says:
“Who are humble in their prayers”.
The Qur’anic term /xaši‘un/ (who are humble) is from the word /xušu‘/, meaning the state of spiritual and physical modesty, which is adopted outwardly by the body in man when in the presence of a great person or an important truth. Here, the Holy Qur’an does not count merely performing the ritual prayer itself as a sign of the believers, but it considers ’humility‘ in the ritual prayer as one of their attributes. This refers to the fact that their prayers are not meaningless and some soulless words and movements.
When they perform the ritual prayer, they give their complete attention to Allah, detaching themselves from all other than Allah and thus achieving a meeting with Him. They are so absorbed in contemplating and supplicating to the Divine presence that every particle of their beings is influenced by it. They see themselves as a mere atom in the presence of an Unlimited Being and as a drop in a Vast Ocean. For the believer, every moment of this prayer is a lesson of self-development and training in being truly human and a means for refining the heart and soul.
An Islamic tradition indicates that the Prophet (S) once saw a man playing with his beard while praying. The Prophet (S) said:
“If he was humble in his heart, limbs of his body would also be humble.” 16
This statement refers to the fact that humility is an inward state that affects one’s exterior. The great spiritual leaders of Islam were so humble in their prayers that when they were in a state of prayer they became estranged from all other than Allah. There is a tradition that says when the Prophet (S) was standing to perform the prayers, he would occasionally look up to the heavens, but when this verse was revealed, he began looking downwards from that time onwards and never raised his head while at prayer.
Some Points
1- The Prophet (S) said:
“One who is not humble in his ritual prayer, never receives its virtue.” 17
2- Allah, The Almighty, said to Christ:
“Shed tears for Me from your eyes and be humble (and modest) in your heart.” 18
3- Imam Ali (as) said:
“There is no goodness in a heart that is not humble, and in an eye that does not shed tears (out of fear of Allah) and in a deed that has no benefit.” 19
4- Amir ul Mu’mineen Ali (as) said:
“Whoever is humble (and modest) before the grandeur of Allah (Glory be to Him), the disobedient will bow down before him and whoever takes Allah as a supporter his difficulties will be solved.” 20
5- The Prophet (S) was asked about humility. He said:
“It is humbleness (and modesty) at the time of the ritual prayer and that the servant (of Allah) focuses his whole heart upon Allah, the Almighty and Glorious.” 21
Footnotes