Al-Falah: the ideal state of felicity

" On falah, the ideal state of felicity, it is ordained:"

''Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: they are the ones to attain felicity [Falah]. Be not like those who are divided amongst themselves and fall into disruption after receiving Clear Signs: for them is a dreadful penalty [3:104,105]

Al-Falah forms a part of call to prayer, much as falah forms a part of faith. It is a call to a state of felicity, the ideal state of individual and collective comfort, borne of happiness. The comfort level is not attainable without investing in all that is right, while setting aside all that is wrong. Without total commitment to invest in all that is fair, while scrupulously avoiding societal division and divisive elements, a collective state of felicity cannot be created.

The advent of Islam coincided with the development of a state in Medina that had 'Falah' written all over it. Medina was a great experiment in investment in all that is good and fair. It was a great experiment in creating a society free of divisions, it was a state that marginalized divisive elements. Out of the experiment grew a society that was untroubled by conflicts, untroubled by doubts--a by-product of divisiveness. It was a society sure of itself, united in approach. Richness of thought and spirit followed, material prosperity as well.

Medinite society attained a global reach, universal spread of message followed. It lasted as long as the unity held, and divisiveness that leads to disruption was checked.The society had seen the Clear Signs and imbibed the spirit that these signs held. The Clear Signs are still there for all to see, following them to attain such a collective state of comfort is still possible, if only investment in all that is good and fair is re-initiated and divisiveness checked.