What do we learn from the Euros 2020? Lessons on success
What do we learn from the Euros 2020? Right now we witness football fever all around us. All the teams are chasing success, and pursuing the trophy. There is only one trophy…who will bring it home? We hope it comes to the UK.
Interestingly, we can learn many lessons about achieving success from the Euros.
We sometimes misunderstand some verses from the Qur’an. For instance. Allah Almighty says:
“Oh, you who believe. If you stand up for Allah he will support you and he will strengthen your foothold.” (47:7)
In another ayah Allah Almighty says:
“There is no victory except from Allah, the Almighty, the Wise.” (3:126)
In another verse Allah Almighty says:
“If Allah supports you there is none who can defeat you. But if he fails you who is there to help you after him?” (3:160)
Similar verses to these talk about victory (nasr) as well. We always tend to understand that victory comes simply because we are believers and therefore Allah Almighty will support us. Is it enough to be a believer to get victory, in business, sport, real life, relationships, etc.?
The answer is no. Allah Almighty from His wisdom has a system in place and whoever wants success must follow the system. If you don’t follow the system, regardless of your imaan, you will fail.
Even if you are the most pious person, if you don’t follow the system you will fail. Imaan is not a blank cheque that you cash to get whatever you want. You need to follow the system.
How do you support Allah?
This is why Allah Almighty says:
“O you who believe! If you support Allah, He will support you.” (47:7)
What does it mean for you to support Allah Almighty? Scholars commented on this ayah saying, His support is obvious to us but how do we support Him? They said we support Him by supporting His servants. By giving a hand to those who need your support. By keeping the commitment between you and Allah. By keeping the promises you have given to Allah Almighty, and your covenant with Him to obey His commands and adhere to His shariah and refrain from what He prohibited. This is how you show support for Allah Almighty. If you do this then you will get His support.
The recipe for success
Support does not come free of charge. Success does not parachute down on you just because you are a believer. It requires effort, it requires many ingredients.
For instance, taking the example of the Euros 2020, you need to have a vision, a target. You need to have a plan in place to execute. You need to have knowledge. You need to have the right people. You need the right programme, and you need practice. You need determination, dedication, and sacrifice. You need to sacrifice your time, effort, money, and whatever else it takes to succeed. You must work hard.
Formula for success
- Have a vision (target)هدف
- Plan to execute it خطة
- The right knowledge معلومات صحيصة: علم
- The right people اختيار الفريق المناسب
- The right programme وضع البرنامج المناسب
- Determination العزيمة
- Dedication المواظبة
- Sacrifice التضحية
- Hardwork العمل الدؤوب
- Patience الصبر
- Obediance
- Sincerity
- Discipline الانضباط
- Consistency الاستمرارية
- Tawakkul
Do not give up
It is not enough to say ‘I am a believer, success will be mine no matter what.” Success will not be yours if you are lazy. If you have no determination, if you fall at the first hurdle. You have to work hard. You need patience. If you have no sabr, then you cannot have success. Edison failed repeatedly until he eventually succeeded.
If you give up the first time you will not have success. You also need discipline. Discipline is a feature of our rituals such as salah, fasting and hajj. Allah Almighty has made discipline in in-built requirement of our lives and this trains us to achieve success.
Complete what you begin
We must have consistency. Without consistency you cannot achieve anything. The Prophet (peace be on him) loved consistency. Whenever he started something, however small he would keep at it. We must follow this example to achieve success, no matter what the project.
Aisha reported God’s Messenger (peace be on him) as saying:
“The acts most pleasing to God are those which are done most continuously, even if they amount to little.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Aisha is reported to have said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) was asked about the act most pleasing to Allah. He replied:
That which is done continuously, even if it is small. (Muslim)
Ummah level success requires unity
On top of this, for believers, on an ummah level, we must have unity to achieve victory and obedience to Allah Almighty. We must have sincerity (ikhlas) and reliance (tawakkul) on Allah Almighty.
We must understand reality and be able to articulate our narrative clearly. Don’t let anyone hijack your narrative. Deliver it the way it represents you.
We must have the ability to prioritise what is important.
One of the most difficult challenges is managing conflicts within the ummah. This is our biggest failure. We need a mechanism in place to facilitate reconciliation. If we can overcome our divisions, sects and factions and work towards a common goal, Allah Almighty would give us victory.
Bread does not bind itself
We need all these ingredients. You cannot make bread from flour alone. You also need water, salt, and yeast and then you have to knead it and prove it to get it right. Then it all comes together and rises and baked at the right temperature it becomes the perfect golden freshly baked loaf.
Of course we need faith in Allah Almighty, but you don’t ask Allah Almighty) without fulfilling the requirements yourself.
I ask Allah Almighty to help us achieve victory on a personal and communal level. Ameen
Shaykh Haythm Tamim – Thought of the Week, 9th July 2021
Transcribed by Zayn Khan
Related posts
Lessons in victory – Surat al Ahzab
You are not tested beyond your capacity
The Formula for Success from Surat ArRum
Why did Allah not unite the ummah?
- Why should you follow up one good action with another one?
- Don’t be a Ramadani person – Be a Rabbani person.
- How do you pray Salat al-Kusuf – the prayer during a solar eclipse
- The test of will – Tarawih Reflections 30
- Why humans can’t be gods – Tarawih reflections 29
Shaykh Haytham Tamim
Shaykh Haytham Tamim is the founder and main teacher of the Utrujj Foundation. He has provided a leading vision for Islamic learning in the UK, which has influenced the way Islamic knowledge is disseminated. He has orchestrated the design and delivery of over 200 unique courses since Utrujj started in 2001. His extensive expertise spans over 30 years across the main Islamic jurisprudence schools of thought. He has studied with some of the foremost scholars in their expertise; he holds some of the highest Ijazahs (certificates) in Quran, Hadith (the Prophetic traditions) and Fiqh (Islamic rulings). His own gift for teaching was evident when he gave his first sermon to a large audience at the age of 17 and went on to serve as a senior lecturer of Islamic transactions and comparative jurisprudence at the Islamic University of Beirut (Shariah College). He has continued to teach; travelling around the UK, Europe and wider afield, and won the 2015 BISCA award (British Imams & Scholars Contributions & Achievements Awards) for Outstanding Contribution to Education and Teaching.
Recommended Posts
Don’t be a Ramadani person – Be a Rabbani person.
April 10, 2024
The test of will – Tarawih Reflections 30
April 09, 2024