Climbing The Ladder Of Success (Tawfiq)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Tawfiq is success or the ability to attain what truly benefits you in this life and the next. How do we climb the ladder of success?

First, we have to know that tawfiq comes only from Allah, not from you or anyone else. As mentioned in the Qur'an, Prophet Shu'aib (alayhissalaam) said,

إِنْ أُرِيدُ إِلَّا ٱلْإِصْلَـٰحَ مَا ٱسْتَطَعْتُ ۚ وَمَا تَوْفِيقِىٓ إِلَّا بِٱللَّـهِ ۚ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ ﴿٨٨

... I only intend reform as much as I am able. And my success is not but through Allah. Upon him I have relied, and to Him I return. (88)

[Qur'an, Hud 11:88]

The best of guidance is when Allah grants you tawfiq. When Allah gives you tawfiq, your affairs are gathered together and you are able to achieve your goals. However, it is extremely important that you take the first step and put in your best effort.

In order for Allah to choose you for this specific form of guidance, you need to actively seek tawfiq from Him in all your affairs, big or small, for this world or the Hereafter.

Some Causes of Tawfiq

Having sincere intention

It is very important to have sincere intention in all your undertakings. Your intention must be correct--you are doing it to seek the pleasure of Allah Almighty. When your intention is sincere and when you wish for that which is good and correct, then Allah will grant you tawfiq. That is why the scholars mentioned sincerity to be from the biggest of causes of tawfiq. So wish for the truth and for yourself to attain goodness and correctness in your affairs and keep reminding yourself about the importance of a sincere intention in all you do for Allah.

Having certainty, trust in Allah and turn to Allah

Another cause for being granted tawfiq is to have yaqeen (certainty) that this tawfiq can only come from Allah and, very importantly, to rely on Him and turn to Him in repentance. How many times do people attribute success in their career or having done good deeds to themselves, without even thinking it was only by the tawfiq of Allah? So have true belief that tawfiq only comes from Allah, put your trust in Him and repent.

Desiring Paradise and asking for it

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said:

Whoever makes the Hereafter his preoccupation, then Allah places freedom from want in his heart, gathers his affairs, and dunya (worldly life) comes to him despite being reluctant to do so. And whoever makes dunya his preoccupation, then Allah places his poverty in front of his eyes, make his affairs scattered, and nothing of the dunya comes to him except that which has been decreed for him.

[At-Tirmidhi]

Allah gives tawfiq for the slave when he asks for Paradise, so ask for it.

A bedouin came to the Messenger of Allah whilst he was travelling and he took hold of his camel’s halter or reigns and said: O Messenger of Allah! Tell me of something that will draw me closer to Paradise and distance me away from the Hellfire. He said, the Prophet turned and looked to his companions and said: Indeed he has been granted tawfiq. Indeed he has been granted tawfiq. Then he said: What did you say? So he (the bedouin) repeated and the Prophet said: That you should worship Allah and associate none with Him, that you establish prayers, pay the zakah and join ties (kindred). Let go of the camel. [Muslim]

The bedouin’s will to attain Paradise is an example of tawfiq.

May Allah grant us the highest Paradise without reckoning. Ameen.

Praying the istikharah prayer

Praying this sunnah prayer when proceeding with decisions in your life means you seek tawfiq. Praying this prayer with the du'a for istkharah included in it is a cause for being granted tawfiq.

Asking for a good end

Realize the importance of being granted tawfiq in the last moments of your life. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said:

If Allah wishes good for a slave, he utilizes him. It was said: How does He utilizes him, O Messenger of Allah? He said: He grants him tawfiq to perform righteous deeds before death.

[At-Tirmidhi]

May Allah make us of those He utilized and grant us an excellent ending. Ameen.

Reflecting on your friendships

The righteous predecessors used to say: If a person of the sunnah is granted tawfiq, then the biggest blessing that Allah bestows on him is to give him tawfiq in finding (another) companion of the sunnah who takes him by the hand and leads him to the truth.

A beautiful example is Khaythamah ibn Abi Sabra who said: I came to Madinah and I asked Allah to facilitate for me in finding a righteous companion, so He facilitated for me Abu Hurayrah. I sat with him and said: Indeed I asked Allah to facilitate for me righteous companionship so I was granted tawfiq. He said to me: Where are you from? . . . (until the end of the narration). [At-Tirmidhi]

This is how those who were true to Allah in their intentions were granted tawfiq in meeting those from the Companion.

So ask Allah for tawfiq in friendships. May Allah grant us righteous companions. Ameen.

Being grateful whenever you are given tawfiq

Whenever Allah enabled you to carry out that good deed you wanted to do, thank Allah. And whoever is grateful, Allah will give him more.

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌۭ

And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.' " (7)

[Qur'an Ibrahim 14:7]

So be grateful for any tawfiq and He will give you more. May Allah make us of those who are grateful. Ameen.

May Allah make us of those who always ask for tawfiq, recognize tawfiq is from Him only and put our trust in Him. May Allah grant us tawfiq in all that is good, utilize us on His path and distance us from the Fire and all deeds that lead to it. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam