It is accepted among Muslims that the Prophet of Islam (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) was the most successful man in the entire human history. Even non-Muslims are constrained to face up to the truth of the Prophet Muhammad's unparalled success in the history of mankind.
This is why Professor Michael Hart (the Jewish author of the 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History) made the following remarks about his choice of prophet Muhammad as the first of the hundred: "... He was the only man in the history who was supremely successful on both the religious and the secular level".
But the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) was not just a success or a mere hero, as some have called him. Allaah says in the Quran that he was a good example for all mankind:
"Indeed in the Messenger of Allaah (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the meeting with) Allaah and the Last day and remembers Allaah much." (Q33 [al-Ahzab]: 21)
By studying the seerah (life of the prophet) we can derive some important success principles, which were following by him.
BEGIN FROM THE POSSIBLE
The principle is well explained in a hadeeth from A'ishah (RA). She said:
"Whenever the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) had to choose between two (permissible) 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.
SEE ADVANTAGE IN DISADVANTAGE
In the early days of Makkah, there were many problems and difficulties. At that time; Allaah revealed a guiding verse that says:
"With every hardship there is ease." (Q95 [Sharh]: 5-6)
This means that if there are some problems, there are also opportunities at the same time.
For instance, the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) informed us that after Allaah created Paradise with its allure, He caused it to be surrounded by hardship. Angel Jibril (AS) said of it afterwards: "By your glory, I fear that no one will enter it"'. (Bukhari)
Such is the "hardship" that has to be endured for eternal bliss. The nature of hardship is that they are required in order to attain the more enduring goal of endeavour or of the goal of life itself. And the way to success is to ignore the problems and avail the opportunities. So when the man who has faced the worst hardship for the cause of Allaah is dipped into Paradise once, "By Allaah, no, O my Lord, never did I face any hardship or experience any distress." (Muslim)
CHANGE THE PLACE OF ACTION
This principle is derived from the Hijrah (i.e. migration). Hijrah was not just a migration from Makkah to Medina. It was to find a more suitable place for Islam work, as history proved later on.
'Ubaid bin 'Umar AI-Laithi and Ata bin Abi Rabah visited 'A'ishah and asked .her about the Hijrah, and she said:
"Today there is no (Hijrah) emigration. A believer used to run away with his religion to Allaah and his Messenger lest he should be put to trial because of his religion. Today Allaah has made Islam triumphant, and today a believer can worship his lord wherever he likes. But the deeds that are still rewardable (in place of emigration) are jihad and good intentions." (Bukhari)
MAKE A FRIEND OUT OF AN ENEMY
The Prophet of Islam (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) was repeatedly subjected to practices of antagonism by the unbelievers. At that time the Quran enjoined upon him the return of good for evil. And then, as the Quran added,
"You will see your direst enemy has become your closest friend" (Q4 [Fussilat]: 34)
It means that a good deeds in return of a bad deed has a conquering effect over your enemies. The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) himself advised;
Temper your love for your friend, for one day he may be your enemy, and temper your hatred for your enemy for one day he may be your friend. "(Tirmidhi)
TURN MINUS INTO PLUS
In 6 AH, the Muslims were turned back from performing hajj and were severely humiliated by the pagans of Makkah at he well of Hudaibiyah. Yet, the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) went ahead and signed the famous Treaty of Hudaibiyah with them. Several Muslims, including Umar (RA), thought of the situation as a humiliating defeat. Quite uncharacteristically, Umar (RA) asked the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam): "Aren't you truly the Messenger of Allaah? Isn't our cause just and the cause of our enemy unjust? Then why should we be humiliated in our religion?" The Rasul (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) responded:
"Yes, I am Allaah's Messenger and I do not disobey Him, and He will make me victorious." (Bukhari)
Indeed, Allaah gave him the assurance of a manifest victory thus turning the situation of minus into plus:
"Verily, we have given you (O Muhammad) a manifest victory. That Allah may forgive you your sins of the past and the future, and complete His Favours on you, and guide you on the straight path, and that Allah may help you strong help." (Q48 [al-Fath]:1-3)
ADAPT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
Always try to bring the struggle to our own favourable field. This is one other principle derived from the incident at Hudaibiyah. At that time, the unbelievers were determined to engage Muslims in an advantageous position. Hudaibiyah was their territory and the Muslims, who because they were not bearing heavy arms, were about 500km away from their base. But the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) adapted the situation to his advantage. With a simple resolution:
"By the name of Him in whose Hands my soul is, if they (i.e. the pagan Quraysh) ask me anything which will respect the ordinances of Allah, I will grant it to them." (Bukhari) .
Hence, he accepted their unilateral conditions and entered into a treaty: It was a ten-year peace treaty. Within two years, Islam emerged victorious because of this simple principle; it had time and peace to invite others into. Islaam as well as show them its beauty over any other system by the success it achieved in setting up the society.
BE PRAGMATIC
This is yet another lesson from Hudaibiyah. During the writing of the treaty, the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) dictated these words: "This is from Muhammad, the Messenger of God". Suhail bin 'Amr, the Qurayshi delegate, raised objections over these words saying, "If we knew that you are Allaah's Messenger we would not prevent you from visiting the Ka'abah and would not fight you." The Prophet (salallahu alqyhi wa sallam) promptly replied, "By Allah! I am the Messenger of Allah even if you people do not believe me." Yet he instructed the scribe, Ali (RA), to write simply Muhammad, son of Abdullah. (Bukhari) So even if others do not believe in your dreams just yet, deal with the situation in a pragmatic way. Be sure not to lose your conviction.
THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS
The power of forgiveness is stronger than the power of retribution. When Makkah was eventually 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 (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) 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.
NOT A 2 - WAY WORD
In the famous Battle of Muta, Khalid bin Walid decided to withdraw Muslim forces from the battlefield because he discovered that the enemy was disproportionately outnumbered them. When reach Medina, some of the Muslims received them with the word "O Furrar (O deserters!)"
The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, "No. They are Kurrar (Men of advancement). "The people of Medina were having the two-way approach or outlook to life: either fighting or retreating. The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) 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' (Fath al-Bari)
BE GRADUAL
A'ishah says that the first verses of the Quran were related mostly to Heaven and Hell. And then after a long time when the people's hearts had softened, the specific command is to desist from adultery and drinking were revealed in the Quran. (Bukhari) This is a clear proof that you should build the firm foundation gradually first before the main structure is rapidly put on it.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited