Whereas, its our religion alone which needs to be referred to, to understand how supreme success can be attained both in human and godly affairs. All we need to do is understand how our last prophet Mohammed Rasulallah-salallahu-alaihiwasallam led his multi-faceted life - in the establishment and spread of Islam.
He was a well known ' Saadiq' and 'Ameen' (Truthful and trustworthy) whom even the kaafirs trusted and left their precious belongings in his safe-keeping; he was the best example of a 'family' man; He was one with unyielding fortitude in times of acute distress and terrible catastrophe; He was a skilled strategist in leading a ragged army to victory against formidable enemy platoons many times larger and stronger. The list just goes on and on.
In fact in a present-day study (done by a Christian researcher) of the top hundred world/religious leaders across the ages, our prophet's (PBUH) name undoubtedly figured at the top.
To me, one of the most touching gestures of our beloved prophet (PBUH) was his hallowed approach in times of victories. He was known to enter the land of the vanquished, with his head and gaze lowered, so as not to make even the defeated kaafirs, feel belittled in the least. This attitude had a multi-pronged impact. He would immediately win the respect of most of those in the losers' camp and at the same time it used to instill more and more curiosity in the kaafirs in finding out the teachings of Islam. That's the incredible power of real triumph. Conquests which won not only the lands but also the hearts of those routed.
Are we spending a great deal of time reading books on success written by X,Y or Z. Isn't it time, we stopped looking out for weak victories and go for the real conquests by following the principles and practices of our very own prophet (PBUH). Let's just pause to think about that. Because Islam does not talk about a 'private' approach to salvation, it's about an entire way of life and interaction with the rest of the world we live in. Allah Hafiz.