Allah Almighty created all humans from clay and made Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) the father of all. In this regard, the foundation is one, but humans differ in appearance, color, height, economic status, faith, and deeds. Some are rich, some are poor; some are generous, some are miserly; some are believers, some are disbelievers; some are righteous, some are wicked. Yet despite all this, humans agree on one thing: the desire for a prosperous life.
❀ A merchant works day and night to expand his business and earn profit, a laborer works hard sweating—both aim for prosperity.
❀ The worshiper remains engaged in obligatory and voluntary acts of worship, while the sinner remains in disobedience—but both want a life free of hardship.
So the question is:
➊ Does prosperity come to everyone?
➋ What are the real causes of relief from troubles?
➌ What is the path that leads to a pleasant life?
Today, almost everyone is troubled by some problem or another: employment, debt, illness, domestic disputes, disobedience of children, fear of enemies, separation from loved ones… Everyone desires salvation. The Quran and Sunnah show us a clear path for this.
First Principle: Faith and Righteous Deeds
The first and fundamental principle of a pleasant life is faith and righteous deeds. Allah Almighty says:
﴿ مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِّنْ ذَکَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثیٰ وَہُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْیِیَنَّہُ حَیَاۃً طَیِّبَۃً وَلَنَجْزِیَنَّہُمْ أَجْرَہُمْ بِأَحْسَنِ مَا کَانُوْا یَعْمَلُوْنَ﴾
Translation: “Whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer, We will surely grant them a good life, and We will surely give them their reward according to the best of what they used to do.”
And He said:
﴿ اَلَّذِیْنَ آمَنُوْا وَعَمِلُوْا الصَّالِحَاتِ طُوْبیٰ لَہُمْ وَحُسْنُ مَآبٍ﴾
Translation: “Those who have believed and done righteous deeds – for them is good news and an excellent provision.”
These verses clarify two conditions for a successful life:
◈ ➊ Faith
◈ ➋ Righteous deeds (with character, ethics, and adherence to duties)
And Allah Almighty is true to His promise:
﴿ إِنَّ اللّٰہَ لاَ یُخْلِفُ الْمِیْعَادَ﴾
Translation: “Indeed, Allah does not fail in His promise.”
Requirements of Faith and Righteous Deeds
If a person is a true believer and fulfills the requirements of faith, and at the same time is practical:
❀ Observes prayers regularly
❀ Pays zakat
❀ Does not skip Ramadan fasts without excuse
❀ Treats parents and relatives kindly
❀ Is truthful in transactions and fulfills promises
❀ Avoids deceit, fraud, and dishonesty
❀ Earns lawful sustenance
Then Allah grants goodness and blessings in this world and the reward of Paradise in the Hereafter is separate.
On the contrary, a person who is sinful, immoral, and ill-mannered—does not care for prayers, does not pay zakat, is lazy in fasting, neglects Hajj, mistreats parents, violates rights, adopts lying, deceit, dishonesty, and unlawful earnings—no matter how much effort he makes, he cannot attain a truly pleasant life.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَنْ ذِکْرِیْ فَإِنَّ لَہُ مَعِیْشَۃً ضَنْکًا وَّنَحْشُرُہُ یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَۃِ أَعْمیٰ ٭ قَالَ رَبِّ لِمَ حَشَرْتَنِیْ أَعْمیٰ وَقَدْ کُنْتُ بَصِیْرًا ٭ قَالَ کَذٰلِکَ أَتَتْکَ آیَاتُنَا فَنَسِیْتَہَا وَکَذٰلِکَ الْیَوْمَ تُنْسیٰ﴾
Translation: “And whoever turns away from My remembrance – indeed, he will have a depressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind.” He will say, “My Lord, why have You raised me blind while I was [once] seeing?” Allah will say, “Thus did Our signs come to you, and you forgot them; and thus will you this Day be forgotten.”
Tawheed: The Greatest Requirement of Faith in Allah
To achieve prosperity, it is necessary to firmly hold on to the divine religion. The greatest commandment:
❀ Worship Allah alone
❀ Call upon Him alone
❀ Recognize only Him as the Owner of benefit and harm
❀ Understand “Giver, Helper, Fulfiller of needs, Remover of difficulties” in the true sense only for Allah
Those who bow before others besides Allah, offer vows and sacrifices to others, and seek help from others besides Allah, receive nothing but humiliation and disgrace.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَمَنْ یُّشْرِکْ بِاللّٰہِ فَکَأَنَّمَا خَرَّ مِنَ السَّمَآئِ فَتَخْطَفُہُ الطَّیْرُ أَوْ تَہْوِیْ بِہِ الرِّیْحُ فِیْ مَکاَنٍ سَحِیْقٍ﴾
Translation: “And whoever associates with Allah others [in worship] – it is as though he had fallen from the sky and was snatched away by the birds or the wind carried him to a remote place.”
Following the Messenger ﷺ: An Essential Requirement of Faith in the Messengers
Allah Almighty’s second major command: to follow the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and avoid disobedience. Innovations and turning away from the Sunnah cause trials in this world and deprivation in the Hereafter.
﴿ فَلْیَحْذَرِالَّذِیْنَ یُخَالِفُوْنَ عَنْ أَمْرِہٖ أَنْ تُصِیْبَہُمْ فِتْنَۃٌ أَوْ یُصِیْبَہُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِیْمٌ﴾
Translation: “So those who oppose the Messenger’s command should beware lest a trial strike them or a painful punishment be inflicted upon them.”
Summary of the First Principle
The foundation of a successful life is faith + righteous deeds. Remaining steadfast on Tawheed and complete adherence to the Sunnah is its essence.
Second Principle: Prayer
The second principle of a successful and prosperous life is prayer, which is the best means to attain closeness to Allah. The Noble Messenger ﷺ said:
(( أَقْرَبُ مَا یَکُوْنُ الْعَبْدُ مِنْ رَبِّہٖ وَہُوَ سَاجِدٌ فَأَکْثِرُوا الدُّعَائَ ))
Translation: “A servant is closest to his Lord when he is in prostration, so increase your supplications in prostration.”
Allah Almighty has commanded seeking help through prayer:
﴿ یَا أَیُّہَا الَّذِیْنَ آمَنُوْا اسْتَعِیْنُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلاَۃِ إِنَّ اللّٰہَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِیْنَ﴾
Translation: “O you who have believed! Seek help through patience and prayer; indeed, Allah is with the patient.”
Prayer is the comfort of hearts, the remedy for sorrows, and the means of Allah’s help in times of difficulty. That is why the Prophet ﷺ said:
(( … وَجُعِلَتْ قُرَّۃُ عَیْنِیْ فِیْ الصَّلَاۃِ ))
Translation: “The coolness of my eyes is in prayer.”
A Touching Story: The Reality of Seeking Help Through Prayer
Hafiz Ibn Asakir, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned in Tarikh Dimashq that a poor man used to carry people on his mule from Damascus to Zaidani and charge a fare. He narrated one of his incidents as follows:
Once a man boarded with me. On the way, he said: “Leave this path and take another route; we will reach faster that way.” I said: “I do not know that path, and this path is closer.” He insisted: “No, you must go this way; it is closer.” So we set out on this path.
Further ahead, there was an extremely difficult path descending into a deep valley, where many corpses were lying. He said: “Stop here!” I stopped. He got down and as soon as he descended, he attacked me with a knife. I ran away—I ahead and he behind me. Finally, I swore by Allah and said: “Take the mule and the load on it, just spare my life!” He said: “That is mine anyway; I will kill you before I die!”
I warned him of Allah, reminded him of the punishment for murder, but he did not listen at all. Then I said: “Just give me time to pray two rak’ahs!” He said: “Alright, pray quickly!”
I stood facing the Qibla in prayer, but the fear was so intense that not a single letter of the Quran came to my tongue. Meanwhile, he kept saying: “Finish quickly!” I was extremely shocked and distressed. Finally, Allah Almighty revealed this verse of the Quran on my tongue:
﴿ أَمَّنْ یُّجِیْبُ الْمُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاہُ وَیَکْشِفُ السُّوْئَ﴾
Translation: “Who is it that can respond to the distressed one when he calls upon Him and removes his suffering?”
Then suddenly I saw a horseman, holding a spear, appearing at the entrance of the valley. As he came, he struck the person who was trying to kill me with the spear. The spear pierced his heart and he died. I asked the horseman by the name of Allah: “Who are you?” He said:
“He has sent me who responds to the plea of the helpless and removes their distress!”
Then I took my mule and belongings and returned safely.
This story is clear evidence that when a believing servant asks Allah for help through prayer, Allah does not leave him helpless, but opens a way in unexpected ways during difficult times.
Priorities of Prayer: Obligatory, Sunnah, Nafl, and Tahajjud
Remember that first and foremost, it is necessary to perform the obligatory prayers because they are the pillars of the religion. After that, Sunnah and Nafl—especially the Sunnahs before and after the obligatory prayers—then Tahajjud.
Among the many benefits of Tahajjud, one great benefit mentioned is that Allah grants the one who prays Tahajjud healing from physical illnesses. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( عَلَیْکُمْ بِقِیَامِ اللَّیْلِ،فَإِنَّہُ دَأْبُ الصَّالِحِیْنَ قَبْلَکُمْ،وَہُوَ قُرْبَۃٌ إِلٰی رَبِّکُمْ، وَمُکَفِّرٌ لِّلسَّیِّئَاتِ،وَمَنْہَاۃٌ لِلْآثَامِ،وَمَطْرَدَۃٌ لِلدَّائِ عَنِ الْجَسَدِ ))
Translation: “You should certainly stand in prayer at night, for it was the habit of the righteous before you. And standing at night brings you closer to Allah, erases sins, prevents evil, and removes physical illness.”
Summary of the Principles of Prayer
When sorrow, distress, and troubles make the heart restless, perform ablution and stand before Allah, weep and supplicate in prostration, repent for sins, and pray for relief from difficulties—by Allah’s command, restlessness will end, peace will be established, and paths will become easy.
Third Principle: Taqwa
The third great principle for a successful and prosperous life and relief from troubles is Taqwa, especially for those who remain worried due to unemployment, poverty, and debts.
Taqwa means that a servant fears Allah in such a way that it prevents him from disobedience and forbidden acts. When this fear becomes firmly rooted in the heart and a person becomes pious and avoids the forbidden, Allah has made a clear promise for him:
﴿ وَمَنْ یَّتَّقِ اللّٰہَ یَجْعَلْ لَّہُ مَخْرَجًا ٭ وَّیَرْزُقْہُ مِنْ حَیْثُ لاَ یَحْتَسِبُ﴾
Translation: “And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out and will provide for him from where he does not expect.”
And He said:
﴿ وَمَنْ یَّتَّقِ اللّٰہَ یَجْعَلْ لَّہُ مِنْ أَمْرِہٖ یُسْرًا﴾
Translation: “And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out.”
Also He said:
﴿وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَہْلَ الْقُریٰ آمَنُوْا وَاتَّقَوْا لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَیْہِمْ بَرَکَاتٍ مِّنَ السَّمَآئِ وَالْأَرْضِ﴾
Translation: “And if the people of the cities had believed and feared Allah, We would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth.”
From these verses it is clear that by adopting piety:
◈ Paths to escape difficulties open up
◈ Ease is created in matters
◈ Doors of provision and blessings are opened
Self-Accountability: Desire for Prosperity and the Reality of Disobedience
Now let us examine ourselves: we desire prosperity but continue disobedience—for example, laziness in prayer, lying, backbiting, gossiping, usurious transactions, mistreatment of parents and relatives, watching films and listening to songs, etc. So is prosperity possible in such a state? Can troubles be removed this way?
Remember: Prosperity is far from disobedience; there is even a danger of losing the current blessings. The incident of Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) and Hawwa (peace be upon her) teaches this lesson: when they approached the forbidden tree and tasted from it, they were deprived of blessings and sent down to the earth. Today, if we keep committing sin after sin and then desire prosperity—it is merely a misconception. If one truly wants a prosperous life, complete avoidance of disobedience is necessary.
Fourth Principle: Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness
Whatever calamity befalls a person—whether physical illness, mental or spiritual distress, business loss, or domestic disputes—all are the result of their own sins. Therefore, the most effective means of relief from these hardships is sincere repentance and abundant seeking of forgiveness, because Allah loves those who repent and removes their troubles.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَمَا أَصَابَکُمْ مِّنْ مُّصِیْبَۃٍ فَبِمَا کَسَبَتْ أَیْدِیْکُمْ وَیَعْفُوْ عَنْ کَثِیْرٍ﴾
Translation: “And whatever affliction befalls you, it is because of what your own hands have earned; and He pardons much.”
While explaining the benefits of seeking forgiveness, Allah Almighty says:
﴿فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرُوْا رَبَّکُمْ إِنَّہُ کَانَ غَفَّارًا ٭ یُرْسِلِ السَّمَآئَ عَلَیْکُمْ مِّدْرَارًا ٭ وَیُمْدِدْکُمْ بِأَمْوَالٍ وَّبَنِیْنَ وَیَجْعَلْ لَّکُمْ جَنَّاتٍ وَّیَجْعَلْ لَّکُمْ أَنْہَارًا﴾
Translation: “So I said: Ask forgiveness from your Lord; indeed, He is ever Forgiving. He will send rain from the sky upon you in abundance, give you wealth and children, and make for you gardens and rivers flowing beneath.”
All these blessings are actually signs of prosperity and happiness, and their path passes through seeking forgiveness.
Fifth Principle: Supplication
The fifth principle for attaining a prosperous life is supplication, that is, directly asking Allah Almighty, because all treasures of prosperity are with Him, and He alone is the one who delivers from hardships.
It is narrated from Hazrat Salman Farsi (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( إِنَّ اللّٰہَ حَیِیٌّ کَرِیْمٌ یَسْتَحْیِیْ إِذَا رَفَعَ الرَّجُلُ إِلَیْہِ یَدَیْہِ أَنْ یَرُدَّہُمَا صِفْرًا خَائِبَتَیْنِ))
Translation: “Indeed, Allah Almighty is modest and generous; when a servant raises his hands to Him, He feels shy to return them empty and unsuccessful.”
There are definitely three benefits of making dua:
➊ The dua is accepted
➋ It becomes a provision for the Hereafter
➌ A forthcoming calamity is averted
All of these are proven by authentic ahadith.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَإِذَا سَأَلَکَ عِبَادِیْ عَنِّیْ فَإِنِّیْ قَرِیْبٌ أُجِیْبُ دَعْوَۃَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ﴾
Translation: “And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me.”
Sixth Principle: Remembrance of Allah
For the peace of troubled hearts and the tranquility of disturbed souls, the sixth principle is the remembrance of Allah.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿اَلَّذِیْنَ آمَنُوْا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوْبُہُمْ بِذِکْرِ اللّٰہِ أَلاَ بِذِکْرِ اللّٰہِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوْبُ﴾
Translation: “Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Indeed, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.”
The best remembrance is La ilaha illallah, then recitation of the Quran, then tasbihat such as:
❀ SubhanAllah
❀ Alhamdulillah
❀ Allahu Akbar
❀ La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah
It is unfortunate that today many people resort to songs and movies to lighten their sorrow, even though these are forbidden and cause more restlessness instead of peace of heart.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( لَیَکُوْنَنَّ مِنْ أُمَّتِیْ أَقْوَامٌ یَسْتَحِلُّوْنَ الْحِرَ، وَالْحَرِیْرَ، وَالْخَمْرَ، وَالْمَعَازِفَ))
Translation: “There will certainly be people among my Ummah who will consider adultery, silk, alcohol, and music to be permissible.”
Seventh Principle: Gratitude
The seventh principle of a prosperous life is gratitude. Allah Almighty has promised that blessings increase with gratitude:
﴿وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّکُمْ لَئِنْ شَکَرْتُمْ لَأَزِیْدَنَّکُمْ وَلَئِنْ کَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِیْ لَشَدِیْدٌ﴾
Translation: “If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.”
Gratitude should not only be with the tongue but also through actions. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to stand in prayer for long nights until his feet would swell. When Hazrat Aisha (RA) asked the reason, he said:
(( أَفَلَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَکُوْنَ عَبْدًا شَکُوْرًا ))
Translation: “Should I not be a grateful servant?”
Eighth Principle: Patience
The eighth principle for achieving prosperity and happiness in the world is patience. That is, when a believer faces any hardship, distress, or trial, he should be content with Allah’s decree, adopt patience and endurance instead of panic and complaint, and hope for reward and recompense from Allah. By doing so, Allah erases his sins and grants him inner peace.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّکُمْ بِشَیْئٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوْعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنْفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِیْنَ ٭ الَّذِیْنَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْہُمْ مُّصِیْبَۃٌ قَالُوْا إِنَّا لِلّٰہِ وَإِنَّا إِلَیْہِ رَاجِعُوْنَ ٭ أُوْلٰئِکَ عَلَیْہِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِّنْ رَّبِّہِمْ وَرَحْمَۃٌ وَّأُوْلٰئِکَ ہُمُ الْمُہْتَدُوْنَ﴾
Translation: “And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, who, when disaster strikes them
(( مَا یُصِیْبُ الْمُسْلِمَ مِنْ نَصَبٍ وَلَا وَصَبٍ وَلَا ہَمٍّ وَلَا حَزَنٍ وَلَا أَذیً وَلاَ غَمٍّ،حَتّٰی الشَّوْکَۃُ الَّتِیْ یُشَاکُہَا إِلاَّ کَفَّرَ اللّٰہُ بِہَا مِنْ خَطَایَاہُ ))
Ninth Principle: Reliance on Allah (Tawakkul)
The ninth principle of a prosperous life is reliance on Allah, meaning to trust only in Allah in every situation. The only way to be free from fear of enemies, uncertainty about the future, and scarcity of sustenance is this.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ قُلْ لَّنْ یُصِیْبَنَا إِلَّا مَا کَتَبَ اللّٰہُ لَنَا ہُوَ مَوْلَانَا وَعَلیَ اللّٰہِ فَلْیَتَوَکَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ﴾
Translation: “Say, ‘Nothing will ever befall us except what Allah has destined for us; He is our protector.’ And upon Allah let the believers rely.”
And He said:
﴿ وَمَنْ یَّتَوَکَّلْ عَلَی اللّٰہِ فَہُوَ حَسْبُہُ ﴾
Translation: “And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him.”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( لَوْ أنَّکُمْ تَوَکَّلُوْنَ عَلَی اللّٰہِ حَقَّ تَوَکُّلِہٖ لَرَزَقَکُمْ کَمَا یَرْزُقُ الطَّیْرَ ))
Translation: “If you were to rely upon Allah as He should be relied upon, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds.”
Tenth Principle: Contentment
The tenth principle is contentment. That is, to be satisfied with the sustenance Allah has given and instead of looking at those who have more with envy, to look at those who have less than oneself.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( اُنْظُرُوْا إِلیٰ مَنْ ہُوَ أَسْفَلَ مِنْکُمْ،وَلاَ تَنْظُرُوْا إِلیٰ مَنْ ہُوَ فَوْقَکُمْ ))
Translation: “Look at those who are below you, and do not look at those who are above you, so that you do not belittle the blessings of Allah.”
And He said:
(( مَنْ أَصْبَحَ مِنْکُمْ مُعَافیً فِیْ جَسَدِہٖ،آمِنًا فِیْ سِرْبِہٖ،عِنْدَہُ قُوْتُ یَوْمِہٖ فَکَأَنَّمَا حِیْزَتْ لَہُ الدُّنْیَا ))
Translation: “Whoever wakes up in the morning healthy, peaceful, and has food for the day, it is as if the whole world has been gathered for him.”
Eleventh Principle: Proper Use of Free Time
Free time is a great blessing from Allah Almighty, but most people waste it in frivolities. Instead, one should study the Quran, Hadith, Seerah, and the lives of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them).
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( نِعْمَتَانِ مَغْبُوْنٌ فِیْہِمَا کَثِیْرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ: اَلصِّحَّۃُ وَالْفَرَاغُ ))
Translation: “There are two blessings in which many people are at a loss: health and free time.”
Twelfth Principle: Relieving the Distress of Muslims
The twelfth principle of prosperity is that you relieve the difficulties of your Muslim brothers. Allah Almighty will ease your difficulties.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( مَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ تُسْتَجَابَ دَعْوَتُہُ وَأَنْ تُکْشَفَ عَنْہُ کُرْبَتُہُ،فَلْیُفَرِّجْ عَنْ مُعْسِرٍ))
Translation: “Whoever wishes for his supplication to be accepted and his distress to be removed, let him relieve the hardship of a needy person.”
Conclusion
If we truly want a dignified, peaceful, and prosperous life, we must not limit these principles to mere reading but make them a part of our practical life. May Allah grant us the ability to act upon them. Ameen.
