قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ   

Winners indeed are the Believers,

    The believer (the good Muslim) has been given an everlasting assurance: he or she is promised the real success, the true gain.  For one thing he gains meaningfully because during his life now he lives in righteous manner—he has the Islamic way to direct him.  Thus he lives a balanced virtuous life with less problems.

    But if smooth sailing is not at hand, he is promised by Allah an everlasting life:  he will find happiness and blessings in Paradise, thus in the long run the believer is truly successful.

  الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ   

Those who in their Salat are reverent

    But who is a believer?  A believer is the good practicing Muslim with full knowledge and appreciation of Islam.  Being fully aware of Allah a believer stands in reverence in Salat, concentrating in worship, and absorbed in his veneration.

    The believer knows his net worth and his insignificance in the presence of the Almighty, that he needs Allah's mercy, forgiveness, and love.  When in Salat, a believer is representing himself to Allah in humility and performing his duties as a man who loves Allah and appreciates Him.

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ اللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضُونَ   

Those who turn from what is vain,

    A believer is one who does not like to indulge in gossip or to talk behind someone's back.  He is a man who does not waste his time on frivolous conversation or trifling matters.

    Gossip will sooner or later damage someone's reputation, and it is uncalled for.  Time is valuable and rather than spend it in trivial things, a believer puts it to good use, enjoining what is good (the Islamic) and forbidding what is bad (the un-Islamic).

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِلزَّكَاةِ فَاعِلُونَ  

Those who in deeds of purification are active,

    A believer is one who puts his time and effort into positive productive endeavors.  A believer is a man who likes to help people, cooperate with others, and bring projects to completion.  A believer invests his time into social welfare, starting with his family.

    The deeds of purification (Zakat) are many and legion, and may include:

Ø  helping the poor,

Ø  correcting the wrong,

Ø  educating the Islamicly ignorant,

Ø  holding Islamic meetings,

Ø  contributing time for a worthy project,

Ø  assisting the needy,

Ø  visiting the sick, and

Ø  even helping solve disputes, among other things.

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ  

And those who guard their private parts (sexual fidelity)

    A believer is a chaste person, he observes sexual fidelity strictly and conforms to it until he or she is married.  Sexual perversion is not allowed in Islam, be it homosexuality or other unnatural forms of sex.

    Sex is a basic right to every human, male, and female.  Sex should be enjoyed within its natural bounds, within the framework of Islam.  To do it otherwise is one of the gravest sins, and it is apt to lead to many unexpected problems, many are destructive.  Islam prescribes only correct, right, and healthy sex during married life, and it is sex without misuse.

    Sex outside its prescribed bounds is simply forbidden in Islam, be it before marriage, or with anyone other than the married partner.

إِلاّ عَلَى أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ  

except with their wives or those whom their right hands possess

then verily they are not to be blamed

    This is a further comment about the bounds of sex.  Islam prescribes the right use and enjoyment of sex only with a partner within the sphere of a married life.  This rule is straightforward and clear, and it applies both to male and female.

    In addition to the above Allah gives permission for sex to another side.  In the years past, when a war broke out and was over, a good many captives were at hand, and many of the captives were women.  According to Islamic injunctions, he who has a woman captive, is allowed to have sex with her, and the offspring will be regarded legally as their children and treated as such in all legal rights and inheritance.

فَمَنِ ابْتَغَى وَرَاء ذَلِكَ فَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْعَادُون  

But whosoever seek beyond that,

then it is these who are the transgressors—

    This is a re‑emphasis about sexual relationship, since sex is of such importance.  In essence, what Allah is saying is the one who allows himself to be sexually involved in any form outside the marriage bounds is a violator and transgressor, a person who does a lot of harm to himself and to others.  Such a person will have committed a grave sin and will be asked by Allah about his violations and dealt with accordingly.

    A believer knows his bounds and he enjoys his sexual relationship within the set bounds, and refrains from it with anyone else no matter how intense his desires are.  He will avoid being in places of temptation, will not allow himself to be involved, and hold true to his or her spouse.

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لأمَانَاتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَاعُونَ   

Those who (honestly) manage their trusts and keep promises,

    A believer holds to his obligations, be they trusts or covenants.  He is a man who does his utmost to keep his word, fulfill obligations, and carry out responsibilities.

Ø  If a believer is entrusted with an item he will keep it safe and return it to its people as agreed upon.

Ø  If a believer is entrusted with a duty or task he will do his best to fulfill it well.

Ø  If a believer becomes a judge, ruler, director, chief, doctor or whatever, he will do his best to perform well and has his Allah's consciousness as a witness.

    A believer does his work remembering Allah is watching him every second.

Ø  This also applies to promises and covenants, be they verbal or in writing.  A believer sticks to his word no matter what the circumstances are and does accordingly unless the two parties agree to change it.

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَى صَلَوَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ   

Those who (strictly) guard their Salats.

    A believer keeps regular Salat in a desire to be closer to Allah and out of obedience to Him.  A believer remembers Allah often and calls upon Him in Du'aa often, since by doing so he is in frequent silent prayer.

    To sum it up, a believer will:

1. pray in humility,

2. avoid vanity,

3. be active in charity,

4. have sexual purity,

5. be true to his trusts,

6. be true to covenants,

7. have an earnest desire to be closer to Allah.

These!  They are the (real) heirs;

Allah promises the believers that they gain on two fronts:

§ in the present life on earth, and

§ the eternal life to come.

    It is implied that believers receive their benefit in this life now by having lived righteous life, that of virtue, which is the best.  Such a life makes possible to live in a better manner and better society.

Who inherit Paradise.  There they shall abide (eternally).

    When Allah (swt) promises He fulfills.  Allah gave mankind Islam, and those who apply it will reap very well during life, but, better still, they will reap the grand prize in the eternal life.

    For every action there is reaction, and for the good work one does, there is a great reward.  When Allah gives He gives generously and will give the believer Paradise, the Eternal Garden of Bliss.