By Ammar Awais Hiba Magazine Writer, Islamabad
Failure can have a remarkably strong impact on human behaviour. From depression to acts of violence and even suicide, failure has been responsible for great misery and negativity among people.
However, failure is often nothing more than a temporary obstacle. In fact, the odd failure is integral for our internal growth and development. Someone who has never failed has never attained anything worthwhile.
Therefore, the important thing is being able to overcome failure and not allowing it to overwhelm us or crush our spirit. The Quran is filled with stories and examples of how the righteous refused to give up under the most challenging circumstances, and emerged victorious against the odds. Let’s discuss how the Quran points to the various critical traits needed to convert failure into success.
Admission
The first step is acknowledging our own shortcoming which may have led to the undesirable outcome. When Prophet Adam (as) and Hawwa (as) disobeyed Allah (swt) due to Shaitan’s incitements, and thus got expelled from Jannah, they were quick to acknowledge their error and repent: “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.” (Al-Araf 7:23)
Similarly, when Prophet Yunus (as) disobeyed Allah (swt), and was swallowed by a huge fish, he admitted his wrongdoing and supplicated to Allah (swt) for redemption: “There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.” (Al-Anbiya 21:87)
Analysis
An analysis of the failure, difficult as it seems, is essential to avoid repeating our errors and weaknesses. As the famous saying goes: “When Allah grants you a second chance after failure, do not repeat your earlier mistakes.”
Surah Aal e Imran contains a detailed analysis of the Battle of Uhud following the defeat of the Muslims after early gains in the deadly encounter. It draws the attention of the believers towards how the battle unfolded, the mistakes of certain soldiers, and what they should have done instead. Lastly, it consoles the believers, reminding them that everything happens by Allah’s will (swt), and urges them to move on.
Strategy
Overcoming failure often requires a convincing strategy based on careful planning. Consider how Prophet Nuh (as) was able to save the believers, along with species of various animals, from the massive flood by Allah’s (swt) will. Aware of the incumbent storm, he constructed the ship as a means of escape. He was not deterred from the task even though the disbelievers laughed at him for building a ship to travel upon land.
Similarly, Prophet Muhammad (sa) employed the ingenious strategy of digging a trench around Madinah to keep out the invading armies in the Battle of the Allies. This strategy proved instrumental in defending Madinah and keeping its inhabitants secure.
Expertise
Possessing sufficient skill is an obvious prerequisite to overcoming defeats. As mentioned in Surah Al Kahf, when a primitive tribe residing between two mountains complained to King Dhul-Qarnayn, about the frequent invasions by Gog and Magog, the warrior king, employed his expertise and the available manpower to great effect. By using iron sheets and molten copper, King Dhul-Qarnayn was able to construct a massive wall which the invaders could not scale or surpass.
Persistence
Attaining success often requires sheer dedication and perseverance. Many of the prophets lived among their nations for decades as they propagated the word of Allah (swt) and strove to change people’s ways. For instance, Prophet Nuh (as) lived among his people for 950 years, tolerating their abuse and addressing their arguments against the divine word.
Similarly, Prophet Ibrahim (as) persisted in preaching monotheism to the residents of his city for many years, using various methods and techniques to reason with them. While most people of his native city rejected his message, it went on to have a global appeal, earning him the unprecedented title of “Imam for Humankind” (Al-Baqarah 2:124).
Confidence
The last critical trait for overcoming failure is having faith in Allah’s (swt) help and in one’s own abilities. Two examples from the Quran stand out in this regard. First, when the army of believers under the Israelite king, Talut, was substantially outnumbered in battle, his soldiers expressed firm belief in their ability to gain victory with Allah’s (swt) aid. They declared: “How many a small company has overcome a large company by permission of Allah!” (Al-Baqarah 2:249)
Second, when Prophet Yusuf (as) was released from prison after being proved innocent, he requested the Egyptian king to give him charge over the country’s storehouses. This was a key government position which required great competence and foresight. Yet, Prophet Yusuf (as) expressed exemplary confidence in his abilities to perform the role effectively, saying: “Appoint me over the storehouses of the land. Indeed, I will be a knowing guardian.” (Yusuf 12:55)
In conclusion, it is worth remembering that nothing in life is permanent – including failures. We can rise from even the most hopeless of situations and turn things in our favour, following the examples of the prophets and other inspiring individuals. Therefore, it is important that we make every effort to overcome failures and setbacks, instead of allowing them to demotivate us, dampen our spirits, or stifle our creativity.
About author
