وَخَيْرَ النَّجَاحِ
wa khayran-najaah (the best of success)
This phrase is found in a supplication attributed to the Prophet ﷺ in Imam al-Hakim’s al-Mustadrak ‘ala as-Sahihayn (1928), published by Dar al-Minhaj al-Qawim (Syrian Arab Republic).
DEFINITION AND LINGUISTIC MEANING
The term النجاح (an-najaah) in Islamic terminology refers to attaining good and achieving one’s goals. There is an important distinction between success and its lasting benefits:
- النجاح (Success): Initial attainment of good
- الفلاح (Prosperity/Lasting Success): Permanence in that good state
Success (an-najaah) is the attainment of good, while prosperity/lasting success (al-falaah) is remaining in that goodness.
This definition highlights that true success is not merely achieving something temporarily, but rather obtaining lasting good that endures.
WHAT CONSTITUTES THE BEST SUCCESS IN ISLAM?
1. Success Followed by Lasting Prosperity
There is a supplication that captures this concept:
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ صِحَّةَ إِيمَانٍ، وَإِيمَانًا فِي خُلُقٍ حَسَنٍ، وَنَجَاحًا يَتْبَعُهُ فَلَاحٌ، وَرَحْمَةً مِنْكَ، وَعَافِيَةً، وَمَغْفِرَةً مِنْكَ، وَرِضْوَانًا.
“O Allah, I ask You for the soundness of faith, faith accompanied by good character, success (najaah) that is followed by true lasting prosperity (falaah), mercy from You, well-being, forgiveness from You, and Your Pleasure.” [Musnad Ahmad (8272)]
(Note: This hadith is classified as weak by Sheikh al-Albani)
2. Success of the Hereafter Over Worldly Gains
The scholars emphasise that true victory or success is that of the Hereafter. The true victory is only the victory of the Hereafter, not the spoils and earnings of this world. However, the “People of the Hereafter” are not deprived of Allah’s immediate bounty in this world. The “People of the Hereafter” are those who prioritise the eternal life over the temporary worldly existence. They are characterised primarily by their asceticism (zuhd) in worldly matters and their yearning for the Hereafter.
3. Components of True Success
According to the hadith narrated by ‘Abdullah ibn Amr رضي الله عنه, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“He has succeeded who has submitted (to Islam), is provided with sufficiency, and whom Allah has made content with what He has given him.” [Sahih Muslim (1504)]
This hadith outlines three pillars of success:
- Islam (submission to Allah)
- Sufficiency [كفاف (kafaaf) – having enough provision]
- Contentment [قناعة (qanaa‘ah) – being satisfied with what Allah has given]
THE ULTIMATE SUCCESS: PARADISE AND THE PLEASURE OF ALLAH
“The best success” is not simply achieving wealth, status, or worldly accomplishments. It is attaining the Pleasure of Allah and success in the Hereafter. The Qur’an often describes this as الفوز العظيم (al-fawz al-‘adhzeem), “the supreme success”.
The scholars explain that true prosperity and ultimate success will be realised on the Day of Judgement, when a person is admitted into Paradise while the Lord of the Worlds is pleased with him. If he achieves this, he has won the tremendous victory after which there is no loss. Allah says in His Book:
“Whoever is kept away from the Fire and admitted into Paradise has truly succeeded.” [The Noble Qur’an, Surah Ali ‘Imran, 3:185]
“Allah will say: ‘This is a Day on which the truthful will profit from their truth.’ For them are Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise) – they shall abide therein forever. Allah is pleased with them and they with Him. That is the great success (Paradise).” [The Noble Qur’an, Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5:119]