Failure can have a powerful impact on human behaviour. It can cause great misery and negativity among people, like depression, violence, and even suicide. However, failure is often just a temporary obstacle. We fail to perceive that difficulty or ease is just a snapshot in time- change is inevitable. The odd failure is integral for our internal growth and development.
Therefore, it’s important to be able to overcome failure, not allowing it to overwhelm us or crush our spirit. The Noble 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. Here are some traits highlighted in the Quran that help convert failure into success:
Accept Failure
The first step is to acknowledge our shortcomings or weaknesses that 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)
Analyze Weaknesses
An analysis of the failure, difficult as it seems, is essential to avoid repeating our errors and weaknesses. Surah Aal e Imran contains a detailed analysis of the Battle of Uhud- why did the Muslims suffer defeat after early gains in the deadly encounter? It draws the attention of the believers towards how the battle unfolded and the perils of not obeying the Prophet (sa) and delineates 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.
Plan Alternatives
Overcoming failure often requires a convincing strategy based on careful planning. Nuh (as) preached to his people for almost a century before he appealed to Allah (swt) for help against his disobedient nation. Once he realized his Dawah wasn’t succeeding, he devised a plan to save the believers and species of various animals from the massive flood by Allah’s (swt) will. Aware of the oncoming storm, he constructed the ship to escape. He was not deterred from the task even though the disbelievers laughed at him for building a ship to travel upon land.
Capitalize on Skills
Possessing sufficient skill is an obvious prerequisite to overcoming defeats. As mentioned in Surah Al Kahf, when a primitive tribe 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 men to great effect. By using iron sheets and molten copper, King Dhul-Qarnayn constructed a massive wall that the invaders could not scale or surpass.
Focus and Persevere
Attaining success often requires sheer dedication and perseverance. Many 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 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 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).
Practice Tawakkul
Tawakkul is having faith in Allah’s (swt) help and putting all of one’s abilities into effect. An example from the Quran stands out in this regard. First, when the army of believers under the Israelite king, Talut, was substantially outnumbered in battle, his soldiers firmly believed 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). A believer knows that triumph is not a result of resources, numbers, or strength but is ultimately decreed by Allah (swt).
Be Patient
Nothing in life is permanent – including failures. We can rise from even the most hopeless situations and turn things in our favour, following the examples of the Prophets and our pious predecessors. Therefore, we must overcome failures and setbacks instead of letting them demotivate us, dampen our spirits, or stifle our creativity. Every Prophet patiently spent decades to many years before relief and success came to them.
Conclusion
In reality, Allah (swt) knows and accepts our failures. Why? Because the nature of Dunya and all in it is neither permanent nor perfect. Similarly, human behaviour, thinking, and faith also dip and sour. Hence, we cannot be successful every time. We have to trust Allah (swt), obey Him, and invoke Him to help us get back on our feet again every time we fall or fail. Rest assured, He will never disappoint us.