Real Success and Failure
Success or failure in the Hereafter will be judged on the basis of divine moral values. Failure on that Day is real failure and success on that Day will be real success.
Chapter 64 of the Quran states: “It was He who created you; and some of you are those who deny this truth, and some who believe [in it]. God sees everything you do. He created the heavens and the earth for a purpose. He formed you and gave you the best of forms. To Him you shall all return. He knows whatever is in the heavens and on the earth. He knows all that you conceal and all that you reveal. God is aware of what is in your hearts.
Have you not heard about those who denied the truth before you and tasted the evil consequences of their conduct? They will have a painful punishment. That was because their messengers came to them with clear signs, but they replied, ‘Shall mortals be our guides?’ And so they rejected the truth and turned away. God has no need of such people; God is self-sufficient and worthy of all praise.
Those who deny the truth claim that they will never be raised up again. Say, ‘By my Lord, most surely you will be raised up again and then you will be told of all that you have done; and that is easy enough for God.’ Believe then in God and His Messenger, and in the light which We have sent down. God is fully aware of all that you do. When He shall gather you all for the Day of Gathering, that will be the Day of loss and gain; and whoever believes in God and does good deeds shall be forgiven their sins and admitted to Gardens through which rivers flow, where they shall dwell forever. That is the supreme triumph.” (64: 2-9)
One who is successful here becomes very happy, but one who meets with failure is looked upon with contempt. In this world, however, success is as valueless as failure is.
The place of true success or failure is the Hereafter. One is a failure if he fails in the Hereafter and successful if he is successful in the Hereafter, and the criterion for success or failure there is entirely different from that of this world, where it is based on outward materialism. Success or failure in the Hereafter will be judged on the basis of divine moral values. At that time, people will be surprised to see that the whole significance of things has completely changed. Gaining, which was considered as such will actually turn out to be losing, while what was considered as losing will turn out to be gaining in the real sense. Failure on that Day is real failure and success on that Day will be real success.
