The Olympics – competing for success

As the world’s eyes turned to Paris for the opening ceremony of the Olympics in anticipation – what would France, which prides itself on its style, values, and history, display to the world? How would it showcase its renowned talent and creativity when it had the world’s attention?

By most accounts, as a grotesque spectacle. To use a French word – bizarre. Certainly incongruent with the event that it was introducing.

After all, the Olympics are the arena which showcases the peak of physical ability in a vast array of sports. In an event that harks back to the Ancient Olympic Games in Greece which began around 776 BCE and continued for nearly 12 centuries until they were revived in 1896, as the modern Olympics. They symbolise the pinnacle of what the human body can achieve.

All the competitors are focused on one thing. Success. They exert their efforts to attain the ranking as the best, their place in history, their medal and the glory. The recognition of their talent, their toned muscles, the exercise, the practice, the mental preparation and the skill, mastered over gruelling and intense sessions that push the human body to its limit. How long their record will stay unbeaten only history will tell.

Ultimate success

The Quran defines success in various verses. In Surat Tawbah, true and lasting success is defined clearly:  

وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتِ جَنَّـٰتٖ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ

 خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا وَمَسَٰكِنَ طَيِّبَةٗ فِي جَنَّـٰتِ عَدۡنٖۚ

 وَرِضۡوَٰنٞ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ أَكۡبَرُۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ,

Allah has promised the believers – men and women, – Gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein forever, and beautiful mansions in Gardens of ‘Adn (Eden Paradise). But the greatest bliss is the Good Pleasure of Allah. That is the supreme success. (9:72)

In Surat Aal-e-Imran, Allah says:

Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing). (3:185)

In Surat al Baqarah, Allah Almighty explains who will achieve this.

ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقۡنَٰهُمۡ يُنفِقُونَ

وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبۡلِكَ وَبِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ هُمۡ يُوقِنُونَ

أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدٗى مِّن رَّبِّهِمۡۖ وَأُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ

Who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them,

And who believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith].

Those are upon [right] guidance from their Lord, and it is those who are the successful. (2:3-5)

In our context, those who win a place in the Games are those who believe. They have a chance of winning, unlike those who do not believe. Those who do not believe forfeit their chance to compete for the great prizes. The prizes are rewarded based on sincerity and effort – not the end result, which lies in Allah’s hands.

Being the best

The believers are those who race towards their Lord, competing in the depth of their faith, as demonstrated by the extent that they purify themselves, are devoted to their Lord, and how much they do for others. Islam is as much about working on yourself as it is about team work and carrying others with you in the journey towards goodness.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said in various ahadith:

خيرُ الناسِ أنفعُهم للناسِ

The best of people are those that bring most benefit to the rest of mankind. (Daraqutni)

إِنَّ رَجُلاً سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَىُّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ خَيْرٌ قَالَ ‏ “‏ مَنْ سَلِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِ ‏”

The best of the Muslims is he from whose hand and tongue the Muslims are safe. (Muslim)

خيرُ الناسِ أحسنُهم خُلُقًا

The best of people are those with the most excellent character. (Tabarani)

خَيْرُ النَّاسِ خَيْرُهُمْ قَضَاءً ‏‏

The best of people are those who are best in fulfilling [rights]. (Ibn Majah)

While we applaud the Olympic athletes for their achievements on the track and their success, no success can beat having the pleasure of the One who created us, gave us life and the ability to think, to move and to feel, and to serve Him. There is no comparison between the unimaginable and everlasting experience of bliss and the fleeting moments of euphoria that one can feel in this world.

Real success is excellence in your dealings with Allah and with His creation. It is when you can look back at your life with satisfaction rather than regret; knowing you helped others along your way, that you were a source of relief and comfort, that you upheld the truth. Success is the legacy you leave behind, the good relationships you forged, the righteous children you raised and the parents you loved, respected and cherished.

In Surat al Maidah, Allah Almighty says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱبْتَغُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ ٱلْوَسِيلَةَ وَجَـٰهِدُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

O you who believe! Do your duty to Allah and fear Him. And seek the means of approach to Him, and strive hard in His Cause (as much as you can), so that you may be successful. (5:35)

The forerunners

In Surat al Waqiah, Allah Almighty describes the Day when the Games will be over. That day there will be three groups:

وَكُنتُمۡ أَزۡوَٰجٗا ثَلَٰثَةٗ

And you become [of] three kinds:

فَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ

Then the companions of the right – what are the companions of the right?

وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِ

And the companions of the left – what are the companions of the left?

وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ

And the forerunners, the forerunners –

أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلۡمُقَرَّبُونَ

Those are the ones brought near [to Allah]

فِي جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ

In the Gardens of Pleasure, (56:7-12)

The best role model

Of course the best man ever created was the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the best role model. He strived hard, excelled in every aspect. He managed to be successful in his public life as well as his private life. He was the best in word and deed. And he left the best legacy – his example and his teachings, which have reverberated down the centuries.

Internal success vs external success

While the usual markers of success are status, influence and wealth, these are in fact only a means and not an end. Money and assets are like nuts and bolts. They hold potential, but they have no intrinsic use – their value lies in what they create.

Islam brought a fresh set of lenses to a world that judged things on face value, on the material. It spun those ideas on their head. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) asserted that the strong one was the one who could control his temper, rather than the one who had the biggest muscles, he showed us that internal strength is greater than external power. That is why we see that the winners in the relentless attack upon the innocent in Gaza, are not those who kill innocent civilians in this unlawful war upon them, but their victims who have shown their dignity, faith and resilience.

We pray that we will be among those who ran the race, and who are among the sabiqoon – those who were the forerunners, who achieve the best prize – the ones who will have the pleasure of Allah Almighty and be able to see Him everyday. Ameen.

Related posts: