Editor’s Note:
Continuing the series, this article moves from foundational questions about Islam, the Qur’an, and human nature to the development of Qur’anic personality and the meaning of true success. It explores how Qur’anic principles shape character and behavior, the role of the Prophets as examples, and the path toward success in the Hereafter.
How is Qur’anic Personality defined?
Explanation: A Personality that has been totally submitted to God and behaves in strict allegiance to the will of the Almighty is an individual who benefits both self and society. Such enlightened individuals are endowed with vision and enriched with the desired Qur’anic principles, enabling them to behave appropriately in conformance with the wisdom and commands of the Qur’an. They are the Personalities entitled to achieve the grand success of the Hereafter.
{Verily, Abraham was a man who combined within himself all virtues, devoutly obeying God’s will, turning away from all that is false, and not being among those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God.} (An-Nahl 16:120)
The Prophets and their companions, as exemplary Personalities, shall always remain role models for contemporary and future aspirants on the path of developing Qur’anic Personalities.
How is Success defined by the Qur’an?
Explanation: The success of the Hereafter is defined as a Grand Achievement, realized as the Highest Triumph, Absolutely Cherishing. It is winning the pleasure of God Almighty. Successful individuals are qualified to attain permanent residence in Paradise—the place of eternal bliss and happiness.
{These are the bounds set by God. And whoever pays heed to God and His Apostle, He will bring him into gardens through which running waters flow, therein to abide; and this is a triumph supreme.} (An-Nisa’ 4:13)
The grand success is reserved exclusively for Qur’anic Personalities living in total allegiance to the words of God. Such righteous personalities, as individuals, are built on Qur’anic principles of justice, love, gratitude, compassion, honesty, piety, etc.
Is there any Methodology to Support Personality Development?
Explanation: Yes. The Qur’an provides extensive support through various verses related to personality ingredients and behavioral performance:
- Critical value elements indispensable for the development of Qur’anic Personalities.
- Personality pitfalls standing as hurdles in the development of Personalities, viz. ignorance, arrogance, narcissism, hypocrisy, ingratitude, lust, etc.
- Inspirational stories of Prophets and their companions as sources of motivation.
- Mirror Templates to evaluate the overall process of personality transformation at various stages.
- Monitoring and self-correction based on Mirror Templates of Personality Assessment and Evaluation.
Is Personality linked to Skilled Individuals or Professionals with distinctions?
Explanation: No. Personality is a man with commonsense who behaves righteously. They are devout practitioners of virtues.
{[But,] verily, they who attain to faith and do righteous deeds shall [in the life to come] have gardens through which running waters flow – that triumph most great!} (Al-Buruj 85:11)
They are observed as ordinary persons indulging in fair business transactions, walking with humility, showing love to fellow man, spending judiciously, behaving wisely, caring for the poor and orphan, talking in a moderate tone, free from arrogance, and enriched with a host of such Qur’anic attributes indispensable to personality.
It is a Wholesome Personality with distinction in behavioral performance rather than skills acquired or expertise in professionalism. Even a professional not behaving righteously is a personage falling short of the status of Wholesome Personality.
Paradise and Hell as goals are incidents of the Hereafter. Can anyone perceive these goals beforehand?
Explanation: All individuals are blessed with the freedom to act and choose actions leading to predefined goals of consequences, viz. Paradise or Hell.
The hours of freedom to act voluntarily are an opportunity to learn, rectify, nourish, nurture, and grow into a wholesome personality destined to reach the triumph of Paradise.
Without a wholesome personality, Hell, by default, is the destiny of all poor and ill performers—deniers, indifferent, hypocrites, or those defiant of God’s call of mercy.
On the Day of Judgment, people can see the reality of Hell with their naked eyes, but it is the day of repentance for those who fail to succeed.
{And on that Day hell will be brought [within sight]; on that Day man will remember [all that he did and failed to do]: but what will that remembrance avail him?} (Al-Fajr 89:23)
The Qur’an, as a book of wisdom, is an inspiration to people with commonsense who are truly wise to act promptly and exploit available resources of time, money, health, and possessions to prepare for the misfortunes of tomorrow.
What is the real status of Prophets revealed through the Qur’an?
Explanation: The Prophets are just like ordinary human beings. The only distinction of the Prophets over others is their status as the first direct recipients of revelation from God.
The contents of revelation comprise Wisdoms as primary ingredients to nurture Personality. The Prophets, despite being the first recipients, are pioneers in adopting the Qur’anic principles.
The Prophets of all times are primarily the first of Muslims. Like ordinary men, Prophets have no superiority over another man. Anyone can adopt Qur’anic principles to build his/her personality and secure success in the Hereafter.
{Say thou, [O Prophet:] “I am but a mortal like you. It has been revealed to me that your God is the One God: go, then, straight towards Him and seek His forgiveness!” And woe unto those who ascribe divinity to aught beside Him} (Fussilat 41:6)
The manufactured texts of theology compiled by man over time falsely attach tints of superiority with fabricated stories, mysterious tales, and acts of arcane enchantments not at all related to prophethood.
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