Few practices always lead one to success.These are no doubt the hallmark of hardworking individuals. Irrespective of the origin or culture and custom of successful individuals, their secret of success remains the same.
This ‘secret’ is not new in origin, but has remained the same since time beginning. This secret is not a multi-complex new term, but has hanged about as the ‘tip of tongue phrase’ for majority of scholars, preachers or intellectuals.
The hush-hush is nothing other than the practice of “consistency”. As Anthony Robbinsstates,“It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It’s what we do consistently.”
“Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying basic fundamentals” – Jim Rohn. Solely right practices may not lead us to victory but consistency in them paves our path to success.
As Muslims, we believe in two worlds – this world and life after death, therefore we pray for success in both the worlds – “Our Lord grant us good in this world and good in hereafter and save us from the torment of hell-fire.” Chapter 2, Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 201.
With the fact that we have two worlds to face, we have to be victorious in both of them. This is only possible when we inbuilt in ourselves consistency.
Regularity always leads to the purpose, whether the destination is good or bad depends on ‘matters’ which we select to be consistent. Therefore opting on what to be consistent is our top priority.
This top-priority of ours is made simple, with the providence of the Quran and Sunnah by the Mercy of our Lord. One does not need to look around, fall in pits and holes or go through trails and errors to realise- what to categorise in the list of consistency.
Every law and order that is required for our success in both the worlds is clearly provided by our Lord; the rest we require for success is only consistency in following these commands and teachings.
RAMADHAN AND CONSISTENCY
By the Grace of Allah, each one us did witness a great month which has just come to an end. Whether the month did bring a difference in us or not, our inner voice answers it and better of it, Allah knows best.
We all know that, we did practise a variety of good acts during these blessed days. Consistency in following these acts in the upcoming 11 months is our key path to Jannah.
Ramadhan is a monthof training; training of any sort is provided with the only condition that we follow it consistently in the remaining days to develop our future. This is expected from the training provided in Ramadhan too.
Ramadhan provided us with a beautiful atmosphere to practise successful acts; all we require is to practise these behaviours even after Ramadhan, till we turn consistent with it and convert it to a permanent part of our life.
Allah says in the Holy Quran:
And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty (i.e. death). Chapter 15, Surah Al-Hijr, verse 99.
TIPS TO BE CONSISTENT
Once taken into account the value of attaining consistency, let us have a glimpse on tips to be consistent:
• Be Honest: When we pledge to follow a good act regularly and don’t abide by it, we fool none other than ourselves. So, the very first rule is to take an honest pledge within us without any hidden intention; as none can understand our capacity and capability better than ourselves.
•Make a list: The next rule is to prepare a list, knowing our priorities. Make sure the list is not too long but simple and balanced. The list must include addition of good acts and subtraction of bad acts.
•Start slowly but steadily: After planning comes the time for execution. Start from now but slowly; start with an easier task or small part of a big task. Many times, when we start with everything at once, in no time we return to square one – let us avoid this situation.
•Do it daily: This is the main bond to convert a good act into consistency. Never skip a day as that will break consistency and so the secret of success.
•Keep in touch with Motivations: Never deliberately fall in situations where there is a high chance of forgetting our path to success. Let us keep motivating ourselves with right sources and right environment.
•Inner conflict: One of the greatest distractions we may face in our path to success is our inner desires. Let us make an intention to fight our nafs; control our temptations to do the forbidden and undesired that may take us back to our bad old days.
•Dua: Last but not the least; the greatest quality of a Muslim is that no matter how hard he works, at the end of the day his hope is on Allah. Let us ask Allah to ease and accept our efforts to come closer to Jannah and gain His pleasure in every step.
Please join me to hold the great reward for consistency:
Verily, those who say: “Our Lord is Allah (Alone),” and then they Istaqamu [stand with consistency], on them the angels will descend (at the time of their death) (saying): “Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised!
“We have been your friends in the life of this world and are (so) in the Hereafter. Therein you shall have (all) that your inner-selves desire, and therein you shall have (all) for which you ask for.
“An entertainment from (Allah), the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” Chapter 41, Surah Fussilat, verses 30 – 32.
Let us not waste the past efforts of Ramadhan as a mere training month, but follow the good acts with consistency, to achieve the secret of success and ultimately Jannah.