1- Define your Success

If you don’t define it, you won’t be able to work towards it effectively. And remember, we only have limited time in this world. This is your time and your only chance! Set aside your ego and think about what your real goals in life should be.

2- Set Goals Based on your Definition

Now you are at the stage in which you know what success means to you, but you don’t have a plan or a strategy to live out that success. So start by setting goals in the three basic areas of your life: worship, relationships, and work.

For example set goals that you pray your prayers on time and evaluate how you did each week. Set goals that you convey what you read or learn to your spouse, parents, or children, even if it’s one verse or hadith. Set goals that you remember Allah while at work, add a dhikr slot to your working day, so you can complete certain tasks while doing dhikr.

3- Find Inspiration and Motivation

Setting goals isn’t enough. The next step helps you to find a way to convince your brain to stick to that goal and get inspired about how to move ahead.

The best way to find motivation is through seeking knowledge. For example:

The Quran is an intercessor, something given permission to intercede, and it is rightfully believed in. Whoever puts it in front of him, it will lead him to Paradise; whoever puts it behind him, it will steer him to the Hellfire. (At-Tabarani, on the authority of ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood)

Doesn’t this inspire you to set goals to get closer to the Quran?

4- Create Habits Surrounding your Goals

Goal-setting works best when you have habits surrounding your goal. If your goal is to understand the Quran then make it a habit to read the Quran with translation every day. Create spiritual habits, like daily praying the duha-prayer, daily reciting the Quran, even if it’s just a few verses.

5- Stop Procrastinating

There will be times when inspiration will stop flowing, life will seem heavy, and your time will get wasted. Here, the best advice would be to go back to step three, because this is the time when you need motivation and inspiration the most.

6- Seek the Companionship of Others Who Have High Aspirations

Umar ibn Al Khattab said:

A person is not given anything better (after Islam) than a righteous brother.

7- Stop Looking at Success Like a Distant Achievement

I’ve heard people saying: “Jannah seems so far away!” We don’t know when the angel of death will come for us, and that’s the time when you won’t be able to do any good deeds to invest in your hereafter. Your hereafter can start anytime!

Stop considering success as something distinct from you as an individual, merely something you hope to attain one day. Search for success in your day-to-day life; find success with the smallest bits of work that help you reach your goal, then stay committed to those habits and strive to live them daily!

From Understanding Quran.